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By Patrick Murphy -
Down Hurling PRO
Down 3-20 Warwickshire 1 – 4
Down Junior Hurlers opened their
Leinster Shield campaign with a
comfortable win over Warwickshire at
Ballela. The home team was on top in
all sections of the field and its
superiority was never seriously
challenged.
First half goals from Aidan Brown and
Artie McGuinness reflected a fine
performance from all the forwards, who
played as unit and worked the ball well
between them. With John Murphy’s
free-taking punishing the visitors at
every opportunity, the home team were
comfortably ahead at half-time by 2-11
to 0 – 2.
Manager, Paddy Braniff, introduced five
substitutes in the second half to
broaden the experience of the panel and
they all played well. Although
Warwickshire did manage a goal ten
minutes from time, Down responded with
one from Jonathan McCusker and the
visitors were a well-beaten team in the
end.
There were no weak points in the Down
squad and they showed maturity and skill
in their ability to play together so
well in their first outing of the
season. The half-back line of McGrath,
Conway and Daniel McCusker was
particularly impressive.
Among a very lively forward line Aidan
Brown, Artie McGuinness and Jonathan
McCusker played well. Next Sunday’s
match against Longford in Ballela will
present the Down men with a much stiffer
challenge.
Team: D Kearns, R Kerr, B McAleenan, P
McCusker, D McCusker, F Conway (Capt.),
J McGrath, J Murphy, D Doran, J Brown, C
Sloan, D McGovern, J McCusker, A
McGuinness, A Brown.
Subs used : L Deegan for R Kerr; K
Fegan, for C Sloan; M Murphy for A
McGuinness; R Mulligan for D McCusker
and D McCann for P McCusker.
Scorers: J Murphy 0-7 (0-4 frees); J
McCusker 1-2; A McGuinness 1-2; A Brown
1-1; D Doran 0-2; D McGovern 0-1; C
Sloan 0-1; J Brown 0-1 (free).
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