Down come good
at last when in a Group B Dr. McKenna Cup game
at Pairc Esler, Newry under lights on Wednesday,
17th of January they outscored visiting Donegal
on a scoreline of 5-14 to 0-13. This victory
which was badly needed, keeps the Mourne side
Dr. McKenna Cup hopes alive, after they lost
their opening round game to Tyrone in Omagh
last week.
This thrilling
16 points success duly ends Donegals interest
in the McKenna Cup, and now means that a win
for Down over UUJ on Saturday evening next will
see them through to the semi-finals as outright
winners of Group B,
Cavan qualified
from Group C last night after Queen’s
recorded a 0-16 to 1-11 win over Antrim in Casement
Park, Belfast last night - which means that
the fourth semi-final spot will now go to either
Fermanagh or UUJ.
In last night’s
encounter at Newry the home side dominated play
from the off and playing some great attacking
football they literally had Donegal on the run,
and were good value for their nine points lead
at the break.
Donegal introduced
their star forward Colm McFadden into the action
before the interval break and he signalled his
entry into the action with a point.
Donegal got
something of a lifeline in the opening minutes
of the second-half when centre-forward Kevin
McKernan received a second yellow card followed
by a red, and they were down to 14-men. Donegal
then seized the initiative and two points from
McFadden and Bradley reduced the leeway to seven,
and we looked to have a game on our hands. Just
as they seemed to be coming back into the fray,
Donegal lost the services of their centre-half
back Eamon McGee, and despite a brief rally
when Ryan Bradley pointed three frees, Down
finished the game on a high with a number of
scores including goals from sub, Packie Downey
and Danny Hughes.
This was a badly
needed win for the Down side and their team-manager
Ross Carr who to his credit always had belief
in this group of players. However, one big win
in the McKenna Cup doesn’t make them a
good team.
They will be
hoping to continue on their winning ways this
Saturday evening against UUJ, and a successful
in the remainder of the McKenna Cup could just
be the boost this Down side need ahead of the
NFL campaign in the coming weeks.
Donegal while
they won’t be too worried with going out
of the McKenna Cup competition, will nevertheless
be disappointed with the fact that they were
second-best against Down on the night and conceding
5-14 in a competitive game has to be a worry
for Brian McIver and his management team. The
great win over Tyrone last Sunday is a distant
memory, and they will have to regroup quickly
ahead of the NFL campaign which commences on
February 3rd next.
Down - B. Connell;
C. McGovern, G. McArdle, M. Cole; C. Murney,
Liam Doyle, K. McGuigan; Dan Gordon 0-1, J.
Lynch 1-2; J. Fegan 0-1, K. McKernan 0-1, Danny
Hughes 1-4; J. McAreavey 2-3, C. Magee 0-1,
Ronan Sexton 0-1.
Subs - Ronan Murtagh for Liam Doyle; P. Downey
1-0 for C. Mage; P. Turley for J. Lynch; John
Clarke for J. McAreavey; D. O’Hanlon for
M. Cole.
Donegal - M.
Boyle; M. Maguire, N. McGee, M. McGowan; C.
Byrne, E. McGee, S. McGowan; J. Friel, Kevin
Cassidy; D. Walsh, F. McGlynn, O. Doherty 0-1;
Kevin McMenamin 0-5, Ryan Bradley 0-5, J. McLoone.
Subs - S. McHugh for C. Byrne; C. McFadden 0-2
for M. Maguire; K., Rafferty for J. Friel; D.
Langan for O. Doherty; D. Boyle for Kevin McMenamin.
Referee - P.
Hughes from Armagh.
