Exiles dispensed by four goals

Sunday, May 15

Down, as expected, advanced into the semi-final of the Ulster SHC by beating London at Casement Park - but it was no cakewalk for the Mournemen.

Despite the 4-25 to 1-17 scoreline, London can take a lot out of this game as they fought hard for three-quarters of the action and put it up to Down around the middle of the field.

In the opening stages, the visitors played some really good hurling and their darting runs forward, particularly by Jim Ryan, bothered Down at the back. The losers led by 0-4 to 0-1 after five minutes but a sixth-minute goal by Gabriel Clarke levelled the argument before Brendan McGourty sent over his second point to give Down the lead which they never again lost.

Down continued on top with a further five points but Jim Ryan hit two for London and Mick O'Meara and Dave Bourke rifled over two more to keep the Exiles well in the game.

Indeed, London should have gone ahead in the 27th minute when Fergus McMahon was clear in a one-and-one situation with Down 'keeper Graham Clarke but the full forward fluffed his shot with Clarke clearing the danger.

Within a minute Down snatched their second goal when Martin Coulter rounded JJ Burke and shot into an empty net to give the Mournemen a 2-7 to 0-8 lead on the way to a 2-12 to 0-10 half-time advantage.

London maintained a stiff challenge during the third quarter with Mick O'Meara and Michael Harding in fine form in midfield. Harding was also

accurate from frees, tossing over three in 17 minutes to keep his side in touch.

At that stage Down led by 2-16 to 0-15 and then turned up the pressure with eight points against three from London. That left the Mournesiders leading by 2-15 to 1-17, Kevin McMullen having goaled for London. In the closing minutes Martin Coulter fired a close-in free to the London net and Emmet Trainor added another goal for a comprehensive 4-25 to 1-17 victory.

"We learned from that game that we can be opened up at the back and that is something that we have got to work on before we meet Derry next Sunday evening," said Down manager John Crossey.

"However, I have got to be happy with the result and we have got something to go on."

SCORERS:
Down - M Coulter 2-3 (1-1f), B McGourty 0-6, S Wilson 0-5 (4f), G Johnston 1-2, E Trainor 1-1, E Clarke 0-2, P Braniff 0-2, S Clarke 0-2, P Monan 0-2.
London - M Harding 0-5f, M O'Meara 0-3, KMcMullen 1-0, E Kindlon 0-2, J Ryan 0-2, D Bourke 0-2, J McCaughan 0-1, M Gordon 0-1, F McMahon 0-1.
WIDES: Down 12, London 12.
BOOKINGS: L Clarke, S Murray, S Wilson (Down), B Ford (London).