After suffering three defeats in a row, Down
minors hinted at better times ahead when they
produced their best display of the league
in their final outing on Tuesday evening.
The opponents were Maeth, who have already
won their opening game of the Leinster championship
and travelled to ballela in full hope of reaching
the Ulster Minor league final at the end of
the month. But a much improved Down performance
was enough to earn the locals a worthy draw.
TRAILING
Though mainstays like Padraig O’Rourke,
JP O’Hare and Ben O’Reilly were
still absent, this side probably bore more
resemblance to the one we will see v Tyrone
in the championship than any the selectors
have fielded to date. Understandably, it took
them some time to gell. Meath went 0-6 to
0-1 up after twenty minutes, Downs only point
coming from paul devlin. Luke Turley did point
two mighty 45s between then and half time,
but Down still trailed by a daunting 0-3 to
00-8 as the teams turned around.
SET BACK
Things briefly looked more promising as Paul
devlin, Conor Poland and jarlath Brannigan
pointed on the restart, but a Meath goal towards
the end of the third quarter pushed the visitors
into a 1-9 to 0-6 lead. Down were only beginning
to come good , however. Robbie White came
off the bench to score a point and then a
super Down move carried the ball the length
of the park via Gerad McAnulty, Chris Duggan,
Jarlath Brannigan and Paul Devlin into the
hands of Conaire Harrison who slammed it to
the Meath net! And as Down swarmed forward
in the closing minutes, Jarlath Brannigan
held his nerve to convert the two frees which
gave the home team a well-merited draw.
CAUGHT THE EYE
Several players caught the eye in what was
Downs final competitive outing before they
travel to Omagh for the Ulster championshipquarter
final in June. Sean Armstrong pulled off a
marvellous save in the first half to prevent
meath moving out of sight. Conor O’Hare
did well on his debut at wing back, while
Conor Poland and Chris Duggan settled well
at midfield after the interval. Jarlath Brannigan
was Downs best player, with Luke Turley also
doing well on the 40 and both Robbie White
and Ryan Brady making good impacts off the
bench.
Down scorers; Jarlath Brannigan [0-3]; Connaire
Harrison [1-0]; Paul Devlin [0-2]; LukeTurley
[0-2]; Conor Poland [0-1]; Robbie White [0-1]
Down team: Sean Armstrong [Bredagh]; Ronan
Sloan [Attical], Michael Higgins [Ballymartin],
Caolan Lynchehaun [Mayobridge]; Conor O’Hare
[Ballymartin], Gerard McAnulty [St Johns],
Barry Kane [Kilcoo]; Christopher Duggan [Bosco],
Conor Poland [Longstone]; Paul Devlin [Kilcoo],
Luke Turley [Loughinisland], Jarlath Brannigan
[Downpatrick]; Darren O’Hagan [Clonduff],
Connaire Harrison [Glasdrumman], Paul McPolin
[Clonduff].
Subs used; Robbie White [Ballyholland]; Ryan
McAlenan [Warrenpoint]; Conor McClean [Kilcoo];
Ryan Brady [Mayobridge]; Paddy McKinney [Loughinisland].
