Emmett Trainor in action for Down Hurlers
v Derry
An awe-inspiring Derry defensive
display killed off Down’s hope of progressing
in the Christy Ring Cup. This was a match
won by sheer hurling skill and hard work rather
than by tactics and when it came to the crunch,
Derry were the better hurlers.
They led by 1-6 to 0-5 after
16 minutes. Down had scored through three
Paul Braniff points from play and one from
a free. Gareth Johnson and Emmett Trainor
added one each, but Derry were finding their
scores easier to come by. Derry corner forwards,
Michael Kirkpatrick and Sean Leo McGoldrick,
made good use of the wind and they knocked
the ball over the bar with ease.
The Derry goal might have
been avoided by more effective Down defending
and the Derry defence were giving nothing
away at the other end. Further points from
Braniff (2), McGourty and Steven Clarke kept
the Down men in touch, but at half-time Derry
led by
1-11 to 0-10.
Down were expected to do
better when playing with the wind in the second
half. They got off to a great start when Brendan
McGourty scored a fine point from a sideline
cut. But Derry then scored three points in
a row. Johnson hit back with one. Then Derry
scored two in a row. Down began to look for
goals and they might have had a few but for
Paul Braniff’s decision to go it alone
when there were other options available on
a few occasions.
Brendan Ennis
Braniff, Andy Savage and
Stephen Clarke knocked over points but Derry
were now able to trade point for point until
the end of the match. The Derry defence was
magnificent, with their half-back line of
Brunton, Henry and Hinphey outstanding. Their
first touch and their all-round vision allowed
them to walk the ball out of defence time
after time.
With Down now playing with
two forwards up front, it became a game of
hurler against hurler and Down’s hurling
was just too flat on the day. Derry were more
clinical in their use of the ball and while
Down hurled with wonderful heart, they appeared
that little bit off the pace compared to the
Derry men, who in the end finished up worthy
winners by a margin of five points.
Kevin McGarry
Down: Graham Clarke, Liam
Clarke, Stephen Murray, Fintan Conway, Simon
Wilson (0-2, frees), Kieran Courtney, Gabriel
Clarke, Andy Savage (0-1), Ruairi McGrattan,
Emmett Trainor (0-1), Brendan McGourty (0-2,
0-1 sideline) Kevin McGarry, Conor Woods,
Gareth Johnson (0-2), Paul Braniff(0-7, 0-3
frees).
Subs: Stephen Clarke (0-2) for Conor Woods;
Michael Ennis for Ruairi McGrattan; Brendan
Ennis (0-1) for Emmett Trainor; Eoin Clarke
for Kevin McGarry; Paddy Hughes for Fintan
Conway
