BY PATRICK MURPHY

An under-strength Down senior team put up a spirited performance against a strong Dublin side in a senior hurling challenge at the official opening of Ballela’s new pitch.

All Down’s players had already played a match earlier in the day – the Ards men for their clubs and the non-Ards players for the county juniors just two hours previously against Leitrim. But despite Dublin’s advantage in fitness, Down managed to score a highly respectable 3-11 during the 70 minutes.

Dublin started the fresher team but points from Eoin Clarke, Ciaran Coulter (2), John Murphy and Colin McManus kept the home team in touch by 0-11 to 0-5 at half-time.

In the second half Down began to play a passing game for the first time this year and it produced two excellent goals in the first five minutes.  The first was from a smartly-struck, Gareth Johnston free.  The second was one of the finest moves of the game involving Murphy and Johnston, which the impressive Coulter finished to the net in style.

He also scored Down’s third goal ten minutes later – a performance which made him Down’s man of the match.  The other Down forwards also looked lively throughout, but Dublin kept pegging away at points and their superior fitness on the day told in the end.

Manager Gerard Coulter can take great heart from this display for the forthcoming championship.  Missing were regular midfielders Any Savage and Brendan McGourty along with Paddy Hughes, Paddy Coulter, and the injured Simon Wilson and Gary Savage.

With the right focus and a greater emphasis on their passing, Down have the potential to go far this summer.

Down: Graham Clarke, L Clarke, A Dynes, F Conway, M Ennis, S Murray (Capt), R McGrattan, Gabriel Clarke, J Murphy, K Courtney, G Johnston, C Coulter, E Clarke, J Trainor, C McManus.  Subs: E Trainor for J Trainor; G Hughes for R McGrattan. 

Scorers: C Coulter 2-4, G Johnston 1-1, E Clarke 0-2 (0-1 free), C McManus 0-2 (0-1 free), J Murphy 0-1, G Clarke 0-1.