20 April 2008
DOWN’S Allianz National
League Division Three campaign ended on a disappointing
note when a late goal denied them victory over
Fermanagh at Pairc Esler on Sunday.
With just five minutes left
Ross Carr’s men appeared to be coasting
to the finish line as they led by four points
and seemingly had the game under control.
But the Erne side, already promoted to Division
Two, finished powerfully by knocking over three
points and a killer goal to leave the Marshes
with a somewhat fortunate win.
It was especially depressing as before Fermanagh
hit that goal on 68 minutes, the visitors had
never been in the lead and in truth never deserved
to be either.
Also in a two-minute spell in the last quarter
Down would have goaled twice but for exceptional
goal-keeping from Fermanagh’s Ronan Gallagher
who bravely blocked when first Dan Gordon and
then Benny Coulter looked set to net.
For this match Ross Carr didn’t start
his U21 stars Kevin McKernan and Paul McComiskey,
who were in action less than 24 hours previously
in the All Ireland semi-final at Navan.
But in front of a packed Pairc Esler stand the
Mourne side got off to a fine start with Ambrose
Rodgers, Saval’s Peter Turley and Aidan
Carr pointing in the opening six minutes.
Ciaran McElroy and Dan Gordon then traded scores
before Ryan Keenan and McElroy reduced the Mourne
lead to 4-3.
Down then stepped up a gear with Aidan Carr
knocking over two accurate frees and Benny Coulter
putting Down four points in front with a superb
first time effort after a defence-splitting
John Clarke pass.
With seven minutes to the break the home side
were in control but Fermanagh ended the half
on a positive note as they pointed three times
in quick succession - from Keenan, Eamon Maguire
and Jonathan McGurn.
On the restart the red and black-shirted side
resumed their dominance with Clarke and two
excellent Ronan Murtagh efforts finding the
target with Fermanagh splitting those scores
with a James Sherry point.
At this point the visitors introduced Tom Brewster
who swiftly made his presence felt with a couple
of incisive scores.
On the other hand Down could have finished off
the visitors but for those two aforementioned
goal-keeping saves.
Still Down kept pressing and on either side
of the hour they added a further three points
from Carr, Rodgers and substitute Paul McComiskey,
who ended a surging run with a fisted score.
Just five minutes were left when McComiskey
pointed with many fans leaving the ground thinking
Down had secured victory.
But Fermanagh were not quite finished and after
Keenan and Tommy McElroy knocked over the bar,
the visitors struck a deadly blow, Ryan Keenan
blasting into the back of the Down net after
keeper Brendan McVeigh had made an acrobatic
save. And in injury time Fermanagh added another
point (from Keenan) to ensure victory.
Now Ross Carr will need to galvanise his troops
for Down’s next match, the high-profile
Ulster Championship encounter against Ulster
title-holders Tyrone at Healy Park, Omagh, in
May.
Down: Brendan McVeigh, Luke Howard, Ciaran McGovern,
Martin Cole, Aidan Carr, Liam Doyle, Kevin McGuigan,
Ambrose Rodgers, Dan Gordon, Stephen Kearney,
Ronan Sexton, Peter Turley, John Clarke, Ronan
Murtagh and Benny Coulter with subs Darren O’Hanlon,
Daniel Hughes and Paul McComiskey.
