| Down U21 Hurlers win first Ulster title since 1990
- 22/07/2002
U21 Hurling Championship: Down..............3-12 Derry 1-12 | | Down
U21 hurlers with Ulster U21 Cup after defeating Derry in the final | Ulster
Hurling Officer Seamus McGrattan presents Ulster U21 Cup to Down captain Paul
Braniff after they had defeated Derry in the Ulster final in ballinascrteen |
Down clinched their first Ulster Under-21 title since 1990 with
a 3-12 to 1-12 victory over a gallant Derry in the final at Ballinascreen on Wednesday
night.
This was a pulsating clash and credit must be given
to both sides for producing such terrific displays in the awful wet and slippery
conditions. Down led from start to finish and were deserved winners but Derry
pushed them all the way. Down got off to a perfect start with corner-forward Steven
Clarke goaling twice in the fourth and fifth minutes consecutively. These goals
provided the platform for victory and with captain Paul Braniff in superb free-taking
form, Down always looked favourites for victory. Derry kept in contention however
with a succession of frees from the very impressive Paul Doherty. His six points
plus scores from Ruairi Convery and Paul Quigg left them trailing 2-6 to 0-8 at
the half time break. Points from Braniff and Gareth Johnson keeping Down ahead
in a very entertaining first half. Two Braniff points at
the start of the second half put Down five clear, but with Doherty in fine form
for Derry they reduced the gap to just one point after Doherty buried a 21-yard
free to the back of the Down net. Down were not to be denied however and further
points from Braniff and a goal two minutes into injury time from Johnson secured
victory for the Mourne Men and ended their 14 year famine in this grade. With
only four minutes of normal time left, Down led by just a single point. But in
the end it was the goals which secured Down's victory. Corner-forward
Stephen Clarke who scored two inside a minute in the first half and the clincher,
an overhead double by Gerard Johnson, came two minutes into injury-time.
The Derry goal was a 20-metre free by their top marksman Paul Doherty who finished
the game with 1-08. Down defeated Antrim by 4-13 to 3-8 in
Ballycran last week. At the end of the game the U-21 Hurling
Cup was presented to the Down captain, Paul Braniff by Ulster Hurling Officer,
Seamus McGrattan amid great scenes of jubilation. Mr. McGrattan complimented both
teams on a tremendous game of hurling, and added they were a credit to themselves
and to their respective counties. While the honours went to Down and deservedly
so, he had words of praise for the Derry side who played their part in what was
a memorable decider. "The game of hurling is alive and well in both counties on
this performance,'' he added. Down - R. Murray; G. Dynes,
R. Conlon, S. Roddy; J. H. Hughes, G. Clarke, F. Conway; B. McGourty 0-1, D. McCusker;
A. Dynes 0-1, Paul Braniff 0-7, E. Clarke; S. Clarke 2-1, G. Johnston 1-1, M.
Gilmore 0-1.
Subs: Paul Smith for M. Gilmore; D. Flynn for D. McCusker. Derry
- J. McGeehan; N. Convery, C. Brunton, S. Kelly; P. Murphy, Liam Hinphey, K. Hinphey;
P. Doherty 1-8, A. McCloskey; S. McBride, R. Convery 0-1, C. McKeever 0-1; C.
Quinn, P. Quigg 0-1, P. Farren.
Sub: D. Magill 0-1 for C. Quinn. Referee:
G. Devlin from Armagh.
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