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Longford 0-12 Down 2-6
James McGrath who was soild and dependable through out.
Down Juniors were fortunate to force a
replay in the Leinster Shield Final
against Longford in Tullamore on
Saturday evening. Down had defeated a
depleted Longford team in the league
stages of the competition but this time
Down were without 4 first team players.
Down, playing with the strong wind,
started brightly. Eoin McGuiness
pointed in the opening minute. Three
minutes later Johnathan McCusker danced
through the Longford defence to slot the
ball to the net.
Eoin Mc Guiness who scored Down's second goal toe draw the game
After 20 minutes Longford began to
dominate possession but the scoring on
both teams was curtailed by the wind,
which few players were judging
correctly. Points from Warrenpoint’s
John O’Kane and Clonduff’s John Murphy
ensured that Down lead 1-5 to 0-5 at
the break.
Playing with the wind and 10,000
screaming supporters Longford were the
better team in the second half scoring 6
points with out reply. An under pressure
Down relied heavily on their defence to
pull them through. The tactic of John
Brown and John Murphy dropping back as
added cover for the half backs stifled
the Longford scoring.
With 4 minutes remaining Longford led by
3 points. The inability of Down’s
forwards to convert the ample scoring
opportunities with which they were
presented seemed to have cost them the
match. But they redeemed themselves
when a Johnathan McCusker shot rebounded
to Eoin McGuiness for him to score the
goal that drew the game.
Eammon Hardy who had an uncertain
start but a superb second half.
The
replay is scheduled for Newry next
Sunday on the same billing as the Down
vs Monaghan senior football championship
match.
Down: D Kearns, J McGrath, B McAleenan,
P McCusker, D McCusker, A McGuinness, M.
Mc Cartan, J Murphy, D Doran, J Brown, E
McGuinness, E Hardy, J McCusker, D
McGovern, J O’Kane. Subs: M Murphy for
J O’Kane.
Scorers: J McCusker 1-0, J Murphy
0-4(0-2 frees), E McGuinness 1-1, J
O’Kane 0-1. |
