| Down
produced their best hurling in years as they brushed
aside Kerry to open their NHL Division 2 Section
I campaign with an impressive eleven points victory
in Portaferry yesterday.
Down cut the Kerry defence to ribbons and three
of the Kerry goals came in the four minutes of
injury time which gave the scoreboard a better
look
Down owe their victory to a brilliant half back
line of Gabriel Clarke, Gary Savage, who was the
man of the match, and Simon Wilson while the half
forward line of Gerard McGrattan, Paul Braniff
and Brendan McGourty and Gareth Johnson at full
forward tore Kerry apart.
Down made a brilliant start and led by 1-3 to
no score after just three minutes. Paul Braniff
took a Johnny McGrattan pass to send to the net.
It was the twelfth minute before Shane Brick pointed
a 65 for Kerry's first score.
Two minutes later Liam Boyle finished a good move
with a goal. The free taking became a personal
duel between Johnny McGrattan for Down and Shane
Brick while Gerard McGrattan weighed in with three
points as Down led by 1-12 to 1-6 at half time.
Down increased their lead with five unanswered
points on the resumption. It was midway through
the half before Shane Brick had Kerry's first
score from a free.
Down's reply was immediate when Gareth Johnson
scored Down's second goal.
Down picked off points at random with Johnny and
Gerard McGrattan, midfielders Gerard Adair and
Andy Savage, Martin Coulter and Paul Braniff all
slotting over points.
DOWN:
Graham Clarke; L. Clarke, S. Murray, E. Dorrian;
Gabriel Clarke, G. Savage, S. Wilson; A. Savage
(0-2), G. Adair (0-1); G. McGrattan (0-5), P.
Braniff (1-5), B. McGourty (0-1); M. Coulter (0-1),
G. Johnson (1-5), J. McGrattan (0-8).
Subs:
J. Convery for G. McGrattan.
KERRY:
T. Flynn; B. Blackwell, A. Healy, J, Griffin;
C. Harris (0-1), J, McCarthy, P. O'Connell; I.
McCarthy, C. Flaherty; J. Egan (1-1), L. Boyle
(1-0), M. Conway (0-1); S. Brick (0-6), J. Bunyan,
J. M. Dooley (1-2).
Subs:
K. O'Sullivan for I. McCarthy; D. Young for J.
McCarthy; M. Lucid (1-0) for M. Conway; E. Fitzgerald
for J. Griffin. |
