Down Advance to All Ireland Hurling Semi-Finals

Sunday 5th June 2016

The immaculate settings of the National GAA development centre in Abbottstown was the venue for the meeting of Down and Sligo in the quarter final of the Corn Michael Hogan (Div 1 of U17 Celtic Challenge). Having won Group F, Sligo came into the game confident of progressing to the next round but found their opponents from the Mourne county in scintillating form from the outset.

The game was only two minutes old when the irrepressible Conor Mc Crickard cut through the Sligo defence to lash home the first of his three goals and put Down five points clear. Five minutes later, Conor Mc Crickard careered through for his 2nd goal after great work by his cousin Ruairi and Chrissy Hynes, thus setting Down on the road to victory.

A succession of good points from Ruairi Mc Crickard, Ronan Blair and Conor McCrickard had Down 2-5 to no score ahead before Sligo registered their first point from a free.

Taking a grip of proceeding around the middle of the field through the efforts of Callum Smyth at centre back supported by the energetic Michael Mc Key at midfield, Down continued to press home their advantage heading into half time 2-11 to 0-2 ahead.

Within two minutes of the restart, Down had billowed the net again when great work by Ronan Costello set up Ruairi Mc Crickard to lash the ball to the Sligo net to put the result beyond any doubt. 

Sligo tried hard to get into the game scoring a succession of nice points but they couldn't breach the Down full back line inspired by Jake Carlin and Eoin Kelly for the goals they really needed to get back into game in a meaningful way. With 15 mins left, Down added a fourth goal from the outstanding Conor Mc Crickard who ran through the Sligo defence yet again after good work by Lorcan Mc Caughey created the additional opening. With Cathal Coulter, Liam Mc Carthy and Chrissy Hynes sweeping up around centre field a constant stream of possession into the lively Tim Prenter, Daniel Kelly and Padraig O Deorain saw Down push even further ahead by 4-18 to 0-6 approaching the end of the game.

The sides swapped two points apiece to close out the game and leave Down awaiting their semi final opponent from among North Galway, South Kilkenny or Offaly when the draw is made on Monday.

The players will be looking forward to the challenge of being the first Down team in almost 25 years to compete in a National A semi final, on this performance there is little doubt they will do their county and province proud.

Down: Conor Mc Lornan (Carryduff); Eoin Kelly (Ballygalget); Jake Carlin (Bredagh); Niall Mc Farlane (Bredagh); Cathal Coulter (Ballygalget); Callum Smyth (Portaferry); Michael Napier (Bredagh) 0-1; Michael McKey (Shamrocks) 0-1; Tom Murray(Portaferry); Chrissy Hynes (Shamrocks); Ruairi McCrickard (Liatriom) 1-6; Daniel Kelly (Portaferry) 0-1; Tim Prenter (Ballygalget) 0-1; Conor Mc Crickard (Liatriom) 3-5; Ronan Blair (Portaferry) 0-3; Liam McCarthy (Ballycran); Lorcan Mc Caughey (Carryduff); Padraig O Deorain (Portaferry) 0-1
Ronan Costelleo (Bredagh) 0-1; Ronan Murphy (Portaferry); Conor O Sullivan (Bredagh)

Photos by: Ronan Mc Caughey