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McCartan
leads the way for Down to Ulster Final - 22/06/03 2003
Ulster Football Championship - Semi Fianl
Down
2-10 v Fermanagh 0-11 
@ 4.15 p.m. Clones, Sunday 22nd June 2003
 Gregory
McCartan was man of the match with some out standing catching and fielding of
the ball throughout this close encounter with Fermanagh. Both teams had their
changes to win the game as the game swung in favour from Fermanagh to Down in
the first half - then back to Fermanagh and then finally back to Down in the closing
stages of the game. But it was another McCartan, James that give Down the advantage
to win the game, with a 56th minute goal. Fermanagh started
the stronger, which saw them open up an early lead with two Raymond Gallagher
frees, and with full forward Stephen Maguire winning his battle with Brian Burns,
Fermanagh looked dangerous. Ryan Keenan slotted over a third point for the Ernemen,
but Down soon found their feet and pressed forward with purpose, Michael Walsh
and Dan Gordon causing the Erne defence real problems. Gregory McCartan slotted
over two frees, and when Ronan Murtagh and Colm McCrickard also hit the target,
Paddy O'Rourke's side led by 0-6 to 0-4. And they stretched their lead when Gordon
won a penalty and McCartan drilled home the kick. Two late Fermanagh scores from
Gallagher and Ronan McCabe reduced the deficit, but it was Down who went in with
a 1-7 to 0-6 lead.  The
game swung dramatically in Fermanagh's favour early in the second half, when they
reeled off four points through Ronan McCabe (2), Maguire and Gallagher to draw
level. Down were reduced to 14 men after only four minutes into the half when
full back Burns was sent off after picking up a second yellow card. Fermanagh
were ahead by the 14th minute of the half through Colm Bradley Down 1-07 Fermanagh
0-11.
Prospects looked bleak for Paddy O'Rourke's men, but
while Fermanagh initially profited by coming from behind to briefly take the lead,
they failed to drive home the advantage. Down never gave up and O'Rourke introduced
ex Fermanagh player Shane King to the fray and 1991 and 94 All Ireland winner
James McCartan to see if they could help lift the Down side. Then came a dramatic
twist the two substitutes combined for a second Down goal. Former Fermanagh star
Shane King slipped the ball to James McCartan, who blasted to the net from close
range.  After
the goal Down never looked back. Things got worse for Fermanagh when defender
Ryan McCloskey received a second yellow card, and they too were down to 14. Liam
Doyle hammered home the advantage with two converted frees, and Down led by five
- a lead they held onto. The ever young Mickey Linden gave Down a further lift
when he joined the Clones party as late substitute.
Down
(SF v Fermanagh): M McVeigh, J Clarke, B Burns, B Grant; J Lavery, A Molloy, M
Cole; S Ward, G McCartan; L Doyle, B Coulter, C McCrickard; M Walsh, D Gordon,
B Murtagh. Down 2-10 G McCartan 1-4 J McCartan 1-0 Murtagh
0-1 McCrickard 0-1 Doyle 0-3 Coulter 0-1 Fermanagh: R Gallagher;
M Lilly, B Owens, R McCloskey; S McDermott, K Gallagher, N Cox; P Brewster, M
McGrath; T Brewster, Ray Gallagher, R Keenan; R McCabe, S Maguire, C Brady.
Fermanagh 0-11 R Gallagher 0-4 Keenan 0-2 McCabe 0-3 Bradley 0-1 Maguire 0-1
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