Despite being out-hurled for long periods of the game, Down gained a deserved draw against a strong Derry team in Casement Park.  Derry looked fitter and more focussed throughout the 70 minutes and few Down players could be said to have played well.

Gary Savage showed glimpses of why the management had invited him to return but  lacked consistency  at centre forward.  He did put Eoin Clarke through to send the ball to an empty net four minutes before the break to give Down a half-time lead of 1-7 to 0-9.  Six of Derry’s nine scores came from Ruairi Convery frees (including a penalty) and, apart from Fintan Conway, the Down defence did not look comfortable facing the quick ball to the Derry forwards.

Down's Emmett Trainor scored Down's only goal four minutes before half time

Derry went ahead by a point from a Convery 65 just ten minutes from full-time and although Down scored three more points, that man Convery kept Derry on level terms with two more frees.  He scored 10 points from placed balls in total and added another from play.

Apart from slogging it out toe-to-toe with their opponents, Down appeared to lack a pattern to their play, but they did show plenty of heart.  For next Saturday’s replay at the same venue, they must show the same heart but also use their heads.

Down: Graham Clarke, Liam Clarke, Stephen Murray, Fintan Conway, Gabriel Clarke, Aaron Dynes, Michael Ennis, Andy Savage, Brendan McGourty (John Murphy 67), Ciaran Coulter (Paddy Coulter 45), Gareth Johnston, Emmett Trainor (Jerome Trainor 55), Eoin Clarke, Gary Savage, Andy Bell (Kieran Courtney 45).

Scorers:  B McGourty 0-4, E Clarke 1-0, G Johnston 0-3 (0-1 free), F Conway 0-3

(0-2 frees, 0-1 65), G Savage 0-1, J Trainor 0-1, A Savage 0-1.

Brendan McGourty - Down's top scorer with four points