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Waterford
4-27 Down 1-7
Having
performed heroically against Cork
the previous week, Down hurlers
looked like causing an upset in the
first half hour against Waterford in
Dungarvan.
Five minutes
before half-time, Down trailed the
potential all-Ireland champions by
just a goal, on a score-line of 2-6
to 1-6. Down’s scores came through
a goal and a point from Emmet
Trainor, three points from Brendan
McGourty, a point from play by
Gareth Johnston and a Paddy Coulter
free.
Waterford upped
their game in the closing minutes of
the first half, but a well-taken
point from corner back, Fintan
Conway, kept the Down men in touch
on a half-time score of 2-10 to
1-7. Waterford manager, Justin
McCarty, was sufficiently worried at
that stage to need a new game plan.
After the break
he added all-star forwards John
Mullane and Tony Browne to his
attack to support the somewhat
shackled Eoin Kelly and Dan
Shanahan. But with only Brendan
McGourty offering any service from
midfield, the Down defence was
unable to withstand the tide and
what had been a competitive match up
to then turned into a rout.
With Graham
Clarke’s puck-outs hanging too long
in the breeze, Down’s forward won
little possession and they failed to
score in the second half.
Best in defence
for Down were Stephen Murray, Paddy
Hughes and Fintan Conway, who once
more showed he is worth his place at
this level. Emmet Trainor was again
the pick of the forwards and Ciaran
Courtney caught some fine balls.
Substitute John Murphy also
impressed with his tenacity in
winning some good possession in the
last ten minutes, but by then Down
were a well-beaten team.
Down: Graham
Clarke, Liam Clarke, Stephen Murray
(Capt.), Fintan Conway, Michael
Ennis, Paddy Hughes, Gabriel
Clarke, Aaron Dynes, Brendan
McGourty, Kieran Courtney, Gareth
Johnston, Darren Flynn, Paddy
Coulter, Emmet Trainor, Eoin Clarke.
Subs: Ciaran
Sloan for Flynn (45 mins); Greg
Hughes for Dynes (50 mins); John
Murphy for E Clarke (55 mins) and S
Roddy for Gabriel Clarke (65 mins).
Scorers, E
Trainor (1-1); B McGourty (0-3); G
Johnston (0-1); P Coulter (0-1); F
Conway (0-1). |
