Down Hurlers of to winning Start in Joe McDonagh Cup

Tuesday 23rd April 2024

Joe McDonagh Cup, 20^th Apr 2024, McKenna Park Ballycran

Report Dermot Donelly  Photo Philip Walsh 

Down 3-24   Meath 0-25

An eight-point win doesn’t really tell the dominance of Down second half display, as Meath trailing by five points at the break, were kept to just two points from play for the remainder of the game. Padraig O’Hanrahan gave a near flawless exhibition in free taking throughout the day, with an impressive 16 dead ball conversions from all angles and distances, as he kept Meath in the contest when their attack had sputtered and faltered to a halt, as their hosts teamwork & defensive unit performance built a winning platform as very happy Ronan Sheehan heaped praise on his charges after the game.

“The boys were excellent! They used the ball really well to create five clear goal chances”, “Overall our defence was excellent, particularly the full backs with Matt Conlon outstanding, highlighted by the fact we only allowed Meath to just two points from play in the second half”.

Meath opened the scoring when the lively Eamon Óg Ó Donnchadha slotted over from the narrowest of angles inside the first minute. Pearse Óg McCrickard levelled shortly after from a free, before Meath’s Padraig O’Hanrahan had his first placed ball completion to help the visitors to a slight advantage, that is until Tim Prenter sprinted clear after fifteen minutes to smash high to the Meath net and level the contest, 1-3 to 0-6. From there Down never looked back and points from the Sands brothers, Paul Sheehan and half backs Tom Murray & McCrickard gave Down a well-deserved 1-15 to 0-13 half time lead.

O’Hanrahan & Finn Turpin traded scores in the opening few seconds of the second half, but when Prenter raised a second green flag with two minutes played, Down was now out of sight. Nicky Potterton & Simon Ennis got second half scores for the Royals, but as Downs free count started to escalate, O’Hanrahan kept the Royals within pouncing distance with another ten placed balls to Keep Meath alive. Sheehan said “We’d be disappointed with the free count and our discipline needs to be better.” “I think if the game had been closer than some of those frees probably wouldn't have been called, but no doubt we can't concede 15 frees the next day out”.

Although looking stronger as the game approached the final quarter the hosts still only had a four advantage, until Paul Sheehan played a cross field ball to Daithí Sands, who despite being heavily marshalled by Sean Geraghty managed to slip free and get his shot in passed Charlie Ennis for Down’s third green flag and a comfortable seven-point cushion.

Looking forward to next weeks’ trip to Tralee Down manager said “It looks like we have clean bill of health from today and Pearse Óg got some game time, after his injury against Laois whilst we are hoping to have Danny Toner and John McManus back for the trip”. He went on to add “but, I’m delighted with the win today, it’s a massive step towards our primary goal of McDonagh Cup safety”.

Down: S Keith, M Conlan, C Cassidy, D Mallon, T Murray (0-1), R McCrickard (0-1), C Taggart (0-1), D Hughes (0-1), L Savage (0-1), P Sheehan (0-5, 3f), P Óg McCrickard (0-3, 2f), E Sands (0-3), D Sands (1-2), F Turpin (0-1), T Prenter (2-2)

Sub: C Egan for P Og McCrickard, P Savage for Turpin, O MacManus (0-2, 1f) for E Sands, M Fisher (0-1) for Sheehan, B Trainor for Prenter

Meath: C Ennis, J Ennis, S Geraghty, D Shine, K Gorman, J Toher (0-1), J Kelly, S Ennis (0-2), N McLarnon (0-1), T Shine, S Quigley, S Martin (0-1), P O’Hanrahan (0-17, 15f, 1 65’), N Potterton (0-1), E Óg Ó Donnchadha (0-2)

Sub: A Kelly for Martin, J Walsh for T Shine, M Burke for J Ennis, L Leavy for McLarnon

Referee – Colm McDonald (Antrim).