Brave Down display unable to withstand Rebels charge

28 July 2021

CORK’S camogs left Páirc Esler on Saturday secure in the knowledge that they done enough to win a place in the knockout stages of the All-Ireland Senior Championship.

However, it was not a convincing performance from a team with designs on winning back the title they last held in 2018.

Given the results in the opening round, Paudie Murray chose to rest three of his key players – Ashling Thompson, Ciara O’Sullivan and Méabh Cahalane – but brought O’Sullivan on during the last quarter to steady the ship against a Down side that put them under a lot of pressure throughout.

Indeed, Down manager Derek Dunne can be pretty pleased with his side’s performance on a sweltering hot afternoon.

Down set themselves up tactically to stifle the pace that the Cork attack displayed in beating Dublin the previous weekend by 2-19 to 0-12.

He was forced into re-jigging the team from the narrow defeat to Waterford — the experienced Clonduff pair of Paula O’Hagan and captain Sara Louise Graffin both had to sit out the game. Graffin may be available in time for this weekend’s visit of Dublin in the final group game, but O’Hagan won’t play.

Liatroim’s Dearbhla Magee and Karen McMullan formed the new midfield partnership with McMullan ping back in a sweeper role and Magee putting in an extraordinary shift to claim player of the match.

Niamh Mallon again pushed her close with seven scores, the pick of them a pair midway through the second half. Sorcha McCartan hit the other three points in another power-packed performance. But it was a fine team performance with everyone from goalkeeper Catherine McGourty — who saved a two-pointer from going over the bar from a sideline — through to Anna Rogan, Lauren Clarke and Mallon up front putting in a big shift.

Probably the only disappointing moment over the hour was the move that led to the goal in the 26th minute.

Down seemed to have closed out a quick Cork break with the sliotar going lose around 45 metres out.

However, Fiona Keating managed to emerge from a ruck for a free run on goals and the Courcey Rovers player hit the net from 25 metres out.

That score gave Cork a 1-6 to 0-4 lead, the first time there was a real gap between the teams. Down however stuck to their game plan and the gap was never allowed to grow.

The cold facts are that Down are still in search of a first win that would secure senior championship camogie next season. Two players accounted for all their scores while nine contributed to Cork’s total.

Cork were two points up inside two minutes with scores from Amy O’Connor and Orla Cronin, but McCartan settled the home side with two of the next three points and it was 0-3 to 0-2 at the first water-break.

Before that crucial goal in the 26th minute, points from Laura Hayes and Katrina Mackey (free) had been cancelled by two from Mallon, the latter finishing an excellent team move.

Izzy O’Reagan broke clear for a Cork point just before the goal and Laura Hayes delivered another monster point from distance immediately after it, but a point from Mallon on the half-time whistle left it 1-7 to 0-5 in favour of the Munster side for the break.

Mallon and McCartan hit points on the re-start but scores from Linda Collins and two from Katrina Mackey kept Cork ticking over during the third quarter.

They were still under pressure and not allowed much time in possession. After the second water-break, Mallon hit two wonder points, one from distance, the other a result of persistence from the Portaferry forward closer to the target.

The introduction of Ciara O’Sullivan stretched a tiring Down defence during the last quarter. She scored a quick point and won a couple of frees that kept the play at the wrong end of the pitch from a Down point of view.

And so, for Down, it comes down to the last game in the group, the visit of Dublin to Páirc Esler this weekend. Most people saw it that way before the games started.

Down put in better performances against Cork and Waterford than Dublin, but unfortunately they don’t count now.

The winner on Saturday will be secure in the Senior Championship for next season – Down’s goal at the start of the competition.

Down: C McGourty, C Caldwell, A Savage, B Fitzpatrick, D Savage, B Savage, C Rocks, D Magee, K McMullan, A McAleenan, A Keown, S McCartan (0-3), N Mallon (0-7, 4 frees), L Clarke, A Rogan.

Subs: C Cowan for A McAleenan (53).

Cork: A Lee, E Murphy, A Egan, L Coppinger, S McCarthy, L Treacy, L Hayes (0-2), H Looney (0-1), O Cronin (0-1), I O’Regan (0-1), F Keating (1-1), C Sigerson, K Mackey (0-4, 3 frees), L Collins (0-1), A O’Connor (0-1).

Subs: C O’Sullivan (0-1) for A Egan (47).

Referee: Gavin Donegan (Dublin).

Down 0-10

Cork 1-13

ALL-IRELAND CAMOGIE CHAMPIONSHIP

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