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Antrim 2-24 Down 0-4.
One of Down's Better players on the day
Brendan McGourty.
Antrim devastated an abysmal Down team
in the Ulster Hurling Final at a rain
soaked Casement Park.on Sunday. It was
the worst Down performance in the Ulster
Championship since its restart in 1989.
During the opening 10 minutes it was
still a competitive affair, though
Antrim went ahead 1-2 to 0-0 Down were
battling hard. They were rewarded with
2 points from centre half forward Ciaran
Courtney in the 12 th and 15 th minute
and at 1-3 to 0-2 it was far from over.
Antrim then gave full forward Johnny
Tosh a roaming role, this pulled Stephen
Murray outfield and left the Antrim
inside forward line with ample room to
play in. At half forward Antrim’s Neil
McManus was in scintillating form, his
first touch was perfect and his
athleticism gave Paddy Hughes a lot of
bother. With Tosh and McManus given
free reign Antrim scored 10 points with
out reply.
Emmett Trainor Breaks free of his man
Down emerged in the second half and for
the opening 5 minutes put it up toAntrim.
Paddy Coulter was unlucky in missing a
goal and Gareth Johnston knocked over a
point. It didn’t take long for the
Herron Brothers and Tosh to refind their
form and begin the Antrim onslaught
again.
In
the second half Antrim brought on 5
substitutes. In the soggy conditions
the fresh legs caused more pain for the
Down defence where Brian Mc Fall hit 1-1
and Paddy Richmond had a goal disallowed
for overcarrying.
Brendan Mc Gourty hit Down’s fourth
point 5 minutes from time but Antrim
still came scoring a further 4 points in
the last 5 minutes to leave the score
2-24 to 0-4.
Many in Down were hoping the rain may
have levelled matters but it was a big
factor in exposing the gulf in class.
Antrim were fit, driven, first to the
ball and had the ability to control the
ball inspite of the weather conditions.
Down, especially in the second half,
were sluggish and disinterested and
lacked many of the basics of hurling
especially picking the ball off the
ground.
The
Down football team have “Pride and
Passion” embroidered inside their
jerseys, where as the Down Hurlers do
not. With a only 2 substitutions during
such a poor performance maybe the
management leave the players on the
field in too much of a comfort zone to
require pride and passion in their
jerseys to maintain their places on the
field.
Gabriel Clarke shields the ball at all
costs
Down start their Christy Ring campaign
on the 23rd of June. Before
this match they were one of the
favourites. Whilst still well capable
of winning it, today’s result shows how
much they still have to do to get there.
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