South Down claimed victory with a comprehensive
win over a physical Fermanagh in Ballela
on Sunday. Fermanagh had topped the table
with 3 straight wins and appeared favourites
against a South Down team who had yet to
perform as a cohesive unit in 2008. South
Down’s league campaign rested on this
match: if they lost they would miss out
on the playoffs.
Focused from the start, South Down opened
the scoring with a point in the first minute
from a Ciaran Sloan free. Tom Jennings added
a goal and a point before Sloan knocked
in 2 more goals to leave the score 3-2 to
a 0-1 after 10 minutes.
South Down then lost their centre half back
Artie McGuiness to injury. However, their
scoring momentum continued with 3 points
from John Murphy. Eoin McGuiness, John Brown
and Karl Maxwell added points and with a
few more Sloan frees the half time score
was 4-12 to 0-3. Cohesion and self-belief
had certainly returned to the South Down
camp.
After the restart it became clear that
Fermanagh had been shaken into action by
their half time team talk. They were still
second to the ball but they left an impression
when they got there. Down midfielders Daniel
Doran and John Murphy both retired with
serious hand injuries and Ciaran Sloan limped
off with bruised ribs. Through out, the
experienced defence held fast and Fermanagh
were still not scoring.
South Down became unnecessarily physical
themselves and substitute Alan Higgins received
a second yellow for probably getting involved
where he shouldn’t have. Though South
Down were a player short they continued
scoring. Substitute John O’Kane netted
from close range, as did clubmate Karl Maxwell,
Down were now well clear. The numbers were
levelled when Fermanagh’s Dermot Curran
received a second yellow. But the physicality
continued and in the closing minutes the
physios were rarely resting.
The measure of a team’s desire to
win can be seen in both defeat and victory.
When defeated by Monaghan and after beating
Cavan, few players reacted at the final
whistle. There was little sorrow or joy.
At the whistle this time the South Down
players noticeably celebrated their victory.
The pride and passion in themselves and
their jersey had returned.
South Down now play Leitrim in their final
league game. With a growing injury list,
manager Paddy Braniff will once again have
to utilise the strength and depth of his
squad. With Monaghan close at their heels
Down remain under pressure to win, as that
second League playoff spot is still up for
grabs.
Down: D Kearns, N Conway, B McAleenan, P
McCusker (M Murphy 50), J McGrath, A McGuiness
(A Higgins 10), D McCusker (Capt), D Doran
(John O Kane 31), J Murphy(L Deegan 45)
, E McGuinness, J Brown, T Jennings, K Maxwell,
C Sloan (S Rodgers 55), J McCusker,
Scorers: C Sloan 2-8 (0-2 frees); E McGuinness
1-2; J O’Kane 1-2 (0-2 frees)T Jennings
1-1, K Maxwell 1-1, J Murphy 0-3, J Brown
0-1
