Conor McGurk Cup Rd2: QUB 1-14 DOWN 2-22

Tuesday 11th January 2022

Conor McGurk Cup Rd2: QUB 1-14 DOWN 2-22

This was a much-improved performance from Down. Still without the Ballycran contingent and dealing from a limited pick of players, Down left the Dub with 2pts and a solid eleven-point win. Down shot into the lead in the tenth minute, a long delivery in from John McManus found Daithí Sands who headed for the square and from the narrowest of angles under heavy pressure flicked to the back of Adam Murtagh’s net from close range for a three-point lead. Further points from Sands, Paul Sheehan and PJ Davidson pushed the favourites out to six points shortly after the first water break. Twenty minutes gone and a brilliant interception and pass from Pearse Óg McCrickard left Marc Fisher open and his low shot beat a diving Murtagh for Down’s second green flag, as Down ended the half with a comfortable 2-13 to 0-8 lead.

The second half saw Queens match Down on the score board and with ten mins played a long range free from Queens landed inside the Down square, but as Down failed to clear the threat the resulting tussles meant Aidan McAleer had no option but award a penalty. Daire Murphy flashed the sliotar past Conor McLornan in the Down goals to close the gap to nine points.

Queens hit the next few scores, but John McManus, Padraig Doran, Barry Trainor, Donal Hughes & Oisin MacManus matched the hosts and kept Down out of reach as Ronan Sheehan’s men finished the game with an eleven-point win.

Scorers: D Sands 1-4, P Sheehan 0-5, M Fisher 1-1, O MacManus 0-3, P Óg McCrickard 0-2, O McDermott 0-2, PJ Davidson 0-1, P Doran 0-1, J McManus 0-1, B Trainor 0-1, D Hughes 0-1

Photos by Brendan Digney