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Down
U21's Down and Out - 15/03/03
2003
Ulster U21 Championship - Preliminary Round
Down
0-10 Monaghan 1-08
@
3.30 p.m. Newry, Sat 15th March 2003
 Down
failed to win this U21 Championship game against Monaghan
that was well within the reach and it was nothing more than
poor shooting that proved Down's undoing.
From the start a hungerer Monaghan side
lead by ex Meath All Ireland winner Colm Coyle took the
game to the home side and were not afried to shoot. Monaghan
alternated the play between the long ball direct balls and
carrying the ball forward in numbers.
During the first half Down had the majority
of play but were very waseful in front of goal shooting
some 11 or 12 wides during this half which cost them when
the final whistle went.
Sheeran put Down ahead with a point on
5 minutes but Monaghan equalised with a Damian Larkin a
point. During the next 15 minutes Down wasted alot of attackes
shooting wide, hitting them short and giving the ball away
at various times. Within a four-minute period Down hit four
wides, while Monaghan added thier second just before the
20-minute mark - with only their second attack in the game.
Danny Hughes added Down's second score when he was able
to find space and put the ball over the bar. Monaghan forward
Paul Finlan pointed with a minute remaining before half
time and Hughes added two within a minute to give Down the
lead at the interval. Half Time Score: Down 0-4 Monaghan
0-3
Monaghan levelled the game three minutes
after the restart through Dessie Moane, and they followed
this up shortly after with Damian Larkin point. Down came
more involved in the game and applied pressure on the Monaghan
backs. Coulter and Turley changed their type of play and
moved forward with the ball instead of sending long balls
to the forward line, however Monaghans defence regrouped
and started to defended in numbers, which made it difficult
for Down to penetrate and get the scores they needed.
Monaghan playing with the wind still seemed to have a slight
advantage over the home team. The sides exchanged points
and Monaghan added another through a free. Stephen Kearney
added a point for Down with 13 minutes remaining in the
game and to leave only one point between the sides.
Down had an extra spring in their step
and started to run at the Monaghan defence in waves. Down
drew level and Hughes again found space and crossed the
ball into the square with the goalkeeper and defenders missing
it as they watched the ball bounce and go over the bar.
Down now had the lead.
With ten minutes remaining Monaghan sent a wind aided long
ball out of defence to Moane escaped his marker, fisted
the ball to Niall Larry, who buried the ball into the Down
net. Down quickly responded with a Ronan Murtagh point,
Down looked somewhat dumbstruck with the Monaghan goal,
as it this stage of the game Down were in total control
and playing their best football of the game. A converted
Monaghan free left two points the difference with four minutes
of normal time still remaining. Down stuck to their task
and kept plugging away as Monaghan had 12 men behind the
ball defending their lead. Gordon kicked a high ball between
the posts and a draw looked possible.
Down had everyone up front looking for the equaliser and
it was Damian McGrady who was smothered in blue and white
jersey’s that managed to get the ball between the posts
with a minute still to run. A draw looked like a fair result,
but a minute into time and with only two remaining Mayobridges
Benney Coulter received received a straight red for an off
the ball incident.
Moane edged Monaghan in front. Down continued
to pressure but Monaghan would not give an inch. Ronan Murtagh
almost had an equaliser but he was falling backwards as
his hopeful shot went centimetres the wrong end of the post.
Sexton. Monaghan held on to win the game by two points
Down manager Gerry Doherty was bitterly disappointed with
the bad kicking, “Obviously the disappointing aspect is
the fact I think we had 70 per cent of the play and we squandered
too many opportunities, someone said we had 17 or 18 wides.
And 17 or 18 wides in championship football you just don’t
survive you pay the penalty. We have paid the ultimate penalty
and are out of the Championship.”
Down Team: John Gibney, Paul McCartan,
John Clarke, Gearad McEvoy, Colm Murtagh, Damian McGrady,
Martin Rafferty, Benny Coulter, Peter Turley, Declan Sheeran,
Stephen Kearney, Barry Doran, Danny Hughes, Ben Gordon and
Ronan Murtagh.
Monaghan Team: Philip Maguire, Padraig
Kernan, Rory Trainor, Niall Flanagan, Noel Coyle, Ashley
Gibson, Stephen Fitzpatrick, Francie Murtagh, James Connelly,
Derek Mc, Gary McBride, Paul Finlan, Niall Larry, Dessie
Moane and Damian Larkin.
Photos
from Down v Monaghan U21 Ulster Championship match 15/03/2003
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