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 Down
pull away with uncommon ease - 31/03/2003 - 14/03/03
Allianz
National Hurling League Division 2A
Down
1-13 v Roscommon 1-13
@
3.30 p.m. Athleague Co Roscommon on Saturday 29th March
2003
ARTICLE TAKEN FROM IRISH NEWS - 31/03/2003
- by Matt Fitzpatrick
AFTER a slow start Down gradually settled
and in a blistering second half saw off the Roscommon challenge
in this hurling league Division 2A in Athleague on Saturday
to cement their placer in the second round of the competition.
A couple of dozen spectators saw a fast,
open and attacking game in the spring sunshine with some
excellent moves and brilliant scores that kept interest
alive.
Down manager Jimmy O’Reilly was well satisfied
with his side’s display: “We knew it would be tough. Roscommon
at home are always hard to beat. When we got over the early
Roscommon scores we took the game to them. “Martin Coulter
took some terrific scores while Stephen Clarke and Gerard
McGrattan, especially in the second half, along with Gary
Savage gave us that added strength and power which nullified
the Roscommon men.”
Roscommon started like a whirlwind with
corner-forward Darragh Mulvey pointing four frees. But once
the Down defence got to grips with the game, centre half-back
Gary Savage, who had an outstanding game, Gabriel Clarke
and left-half Mick Braniff shut out the strong Roscommon
attack and cut off the supply to Mulvey.
Goalkeeper Graham Clarke was at his brilliant
best, bringing off a great first half save, an equally brilliant
stop from Colm Kelly in the second half and crowned an outstanding
display with the last puck of the game he saved a Colm Kelly
penalty.
The defence needed to be at its best as
Adrian Kelly, Darragh Mulvey and Adrian Coyne were most
dangerous in the Roscommon attack. New Down captain Simon
Wilson led by example at midfield and along with Gerard
Adair they shaded the exchanges with the tall and powerful
striking Colm Kelly and Mervyn Connaughton.
While the Down defence had their stars
the star of the afternoon was corner-forward Martin Coulter.
He tortured and tormented the Roscommon defence, scored
three goals and six points of Down’s total and set up the
other goal from Stephen Clarke who also had a terrific game.
With Gerard McGrattan back to his very
best they really gave Padraic Kenny, Michael Keaveney, Marty
Healy and Tom Reddington a harrowing afternoon.
Martin Coulter shot Down ahead with a point
from a free inside the opening minute. Four pointed frees
by Darragh Mulvey and another from centre half-back Tom
Reddington saw Roscommon lead by 0-5 to 0-1 after ten minutes.
Twice points were exchanged before Down
took control in the 12 minutes before half time. They scored
a goal and six points in that period with Simon Wilson lobbing
over two long range frees and martin Coulter taking a brilliant
pass from Mick Braniff to slam the ball to the net. Coulter
also added three points and Gareth Johnston one as Down
led by 1-8 to 0-8 at half-time.
Twice in the eight minutes after half
time points were exchanged before Down moved into overdrive.
Martin Coulter and Gareth Johnston set up Stephen Clarke
for a goal after 12 minutes. Ten minutes later Martin Coulter
blasted home another and completed his hat-trick seven minutes
from time with another net shaker and although Adrian Kelly
managed a late Roscommon goal a Down strolled to victory
in the end.
STAR MAN
Martin Coulter (Down)
When Down announced their team it was noted that free scoring
forward Paul Braniff was not available. That put an extra
burden on his other attacking partner Martin Coulter. The
Ballygalget corner-forward accepted the responsibility scoring
three goals and six points to become the highest individual
scorer in the league so far this year. All his goals were
gems but it was his quick thinking and deft flick for Stephen
Clarke to notch his goal that showed his quick hurling brain.
MATCH STATS
Roscommon:
S Curley; M Keaveney, M Healy, P Kenny; N Cunniffe,
T Reddington (0-1), M Mulvey; M Connaughton (0-1), C Kelly
(0-3); T Kelly, A Kelly (1-1), S Sweeney; D Mulvey (0-6),
A Coyne (0-1), E Kelly.
Subs: P Downey for T Kelly; B Burns for A Coyne; I Connaughton
for S Sweeney; D Kenny for P Kenny.
Down:
Graham Clarke; L Clarke, E Dorrian, Gabriel Clarke;
M Pucci, G Savage, M Braniff; S Wilson (0-3), G Adair; G
McGrattan, A Dynes, E Trainor; M Coulter (3-6), G Johnston
(0-2), S Clarke (1-1).
Subs: E Clarke for G Adair; T Coulter for A Dynes.
Referee:
P Green (Galway).
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