South Down began their defence of the Leinster
Hurling Shield with an easy win over Leitrim
at Carrick-on-Shannon.
Played on a hot afternoon,
the game was always in the Down men’s
control and it was only when they eased off
in the last quarter that Leitrim came into the
game.
Although they were missing
several players through injury, South Down began
sharply with points from John Murphy and John
O’Kane (free). Then a Danny Doran effort
was saved under the crossbar by the Leitrim
goalkeeper but David McGovern showed great alertness
to follow the ball in and hit it to the net.
Further points from Murphy
and O’Kane (free) left the Mourne men
ahead by 1-4 to 0-2 after 15 minutes. Eoin McGuinness
and Karl Maxwell (free) put seven points between
the teams but a Leitrim goal ten minutes before
the break gave the home side some heart.
Down continued to dominate
and points from McGovern, O’Kane (free)
and Murphy left the visitors ahead 1- 9 to 1-4
at half time.
At the end of the third quarter
the gap had widened to 1-13 to 1-4 as Karl Maxwell
and Colm O’Neill helped themselves to
two points apiece. It was at this stage that
the Down men eased off and Leitrim scored three
unanswered points from frees. In injury time
they scrambled a soft goal but Down had added
two more points by that stage through O’Neill
and McGovern.
Near the end South Down pulled
up but still recorded a good victory. There
will be sterner tasks ahead if the Leinster
Shield is to return to the Mournes.
South Down: Gary McMullen,
Liam Deegan, James McGrath, Paul McCusker, Alan
Higgins, Daniel McCusker (Capt), Gary Courtney,
Daniel Doran, John Murphy (0-3), Artie McGuinness,
Colm O’Neill (0-3), Karl Maxwell (0-3,
0-1 free), John O’Kane (0-3, all frees),
David McGovern (1-2) and Eoin McGuinness (0-1).
Subs: Ronan Mulligan for E
McGuinness (50 mins) and Michael Murphy for
O’Kane (50 min)utes
