Ulster Minor Hurling League

Down 2-6 Derry 2-14

Down Minor hurlers had an unfortunate start to their Ulster League campaign loosing to Derry by 2-14 to 2-6 on Saturday.  Referee Gareth Duffy had little to do in a free flowing and good tempered match played on a well tended Ballela pitch.  The first half was fairly even with Derry four points up at the break scoring 1-6 to Down's 1-2.   

Down emerged with an early surge in the second half but it was Derry who were putting the scores on the board, stretching their lead to 6 after just 6 minutes.  After Derry's second goal the gap was just too much and despite  Down's most effective forward Malachy Magee scoring 2-2 in total the rest of the team fell short on the day.  

Manager Mick Branniff was pleased with the first half performance but was disappointed by the way Derry pulled away in the second half.  He pointed to the Derry full forward line as the difference between the teams as they accounted for 2-9 of the total. 

This is Down's first competitive game of the year.  Whilst the league is important the management will be looking at this game with one eye on the teams meeting in the quarter finals of the Ulster Championship later in the year.   The league continues next Saturday when they play a in the second round against a very strong Antrim team in Casement Park at 12.30 (to be confirmed). 

Down Team: Danny Grant, Fergal Rodgers, Aaron O'Prey, Daniel Mc Manus, Thomas Mc Manus, Michael Taylor, Ben Toner, Karl Maxwell, Niall Mc.Mullan, James Coyle (0-2 frees), Chris Conlon, James McDermott (0-1), Gavin McCall (0-1 free) , Malachy Magee (2-2), Scott Nicholson.