On Sunday last, Down Senior Hurlers opened their competitive season with a trip to Carrig in Co. Tipperary to play Offaly in the opening game of the 2005 Walsh Cup. Despite being beaten 0-16 to 0-10 the youthful Down Team competed manfully with their illustrious opponents for much of the game. Offaly the County who last Year played Div. 1 National Hurling League, won three of their games in the opening phase, competed in the relegation section of phase two and due to unique results were relegated, entered the game with additional determination to show the new Div. 1 team that they were better than Down.
Simon Wilson, Capt., playing in midfield, had the distinction of registering the first score of the game with a 60metre free within 90seconds of the start of the game after Gabriel Clarke had been fouled. The referee, S. Whelan, Wexford, outlined to the Management and Players the additional ‘fouls’ which would incur a Yellow Card and thus a 10minute playing time period in the SIN BIN, unfortunately three players, two from Down, Simon Wilson and Gary Savage along with Niall Claffey, Offaly were to find themselves in it. Within twenty four minutes Down who were defending into a very strong Winter sun were only trailing 0-4 to 0-5 with scores from Brendan mc Gourty, 0-2, and Simon Wilson 0-1 from a 65, in fact the second Mc Gourty point was the score of the day when Graham Clarke from an accurate puck out found Stephen Clarke who beautifully controlled the ball first time and immediately laid it off to Brendan to score with ease from some 30Mtrs out. By half time Offaly had extended their lead to 0-7 to 0-5 with Damien Murray 0-3, Michael Cordial, Neville Coughlan, Stephen Brown and Brian Carroll being their scorers and Stephen Clarke completed Down’s scoring in the opening half.

By the eight minute of the second half when Simon Wilson, was yellow carded and sin binned, (First player to be sin binned in an official hurling competition!), Offaly had extended their lead to 0-11 to 0-6, two minutes later Gary Savage joined Wilson in the sin bin, instead of Down folding they in fact recorded two points from Martin Coulter and Stephen Clarke to Damien Murray’s free, awarded for the Savage yellow card. Down continued to battle to the end and finished the game strongly despite tough underfoot strength sapping conditions. Eoin Clarke and Simon Wilson completed the scoring for Down.

At this stage last year Down lost in the opening game of the same competition and they finished up as winners on Div. 2 of the National League, the management and players surely would have taken a lot of positives from the game in preparation for their campaign in Division 1. However should the Sin Bin continue, Down and other Counties are very quickly going to have to learn that referees have been instructed to carry out their duties, therefore misdemeanours will be punished with periods in the Sin Bin at the expense of their colleagues.

Down, with probably the youngest inter county panel, gave 100% commitment and in Paddy Hughes at Left corner back had a player who epitomises what is good in Down Hurling with a display of defending in the air on the ground and long and short passes to team mates. He was strongly aided by Liam Clarke, Stephen Murray and Paddy Monan in defence, whilst Andy Savage and Simon Wilson were smaller than their opponents they certainly competed equally, the forwards tried but lack of match practice and the underfoot conditions allowed both sets of defenders master their opponents.
Down team: Graham Clarke, Liam Clarke, Stephen Murray, Paddy Hughes, Gabriel Clarke, Gary Savage, Paddy Monan, Andy Savage, Simon Wilson, Emmett Trainor, Brendan Mc Gourty, Stephen Clarke, Eoin Clarke, Martin Coulter, Paul Smith. Subs: Richard Murray, Aaron Dynes, Darren Flynn, Ciaran Coulter, Johnathan Mc Cusker (E. Trainor), John Doherty, Andrew Bell (P. Smith) G. Johnston.

Offaly were best served by Brian Mullins, Goals, Barry Teehan, Niall Claffey Joe Brady, Michael Brady and Neville Coughlin, Midfield, and Ger Oakley, Brian Carroll and Damien Murray.