Down in pole position

Down in pole position

20 March 2019

DOWN had to dig deep — and then some — to come away from Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday with two more precious points.

A win or draw for Paddy Tally’s this Sunday against Louth at Pairc Esler would be enough to send Down into a Division 3 final at Croke Park at the end of the month and secure promotion back into Division 2.

However, Down left it extremely late before securing the spoils and it took a point in added time from Donal O’Hare to kill off a game Carlow offering in a controversial conclusion to the game.

Three minutes injury-time had been played when Diarmuid Walshe converted a free to tie the game for the home side.

With the home fans waiting on the final whistle, play was allowed to continue and O’Hare was again Down’s saviour with a last-gasp winner.

The game was far from being a classic with referee, James Bermingham, booking five Carlow players and seven from Down before issuing red to Shane Redmond from the home county and Kevin McKiernan and Paul Devlin from Down.

Carlow led 0-7 to 0-4 at the interval with Darragh Foley using the wind well in the half landing six points from placed balls.

Down used the elements to their advantage after the break and points from Paul Devlin, Conor Poland, Darren O’Hagan and O’Hare had the visitors in the ascendancy.

Carlow then hit back with Eoghan Ruth pouncing on a loose ball in the square before beating an exposed Rory Burns up breaking ball in the big square and eased the ball home to level at 1-10 to 0-13.

Caolan Mooney restored Down’s lead with a point, but Carlow refused to go away. Devlin picked up his red card after a second yellow and Diarmuid Walsh levelled with a free three minutes into added time.

That seemed to be it, but the referee let play continue and O’Hare showed great composure to send the winning point over the bar from quite a way out.

Carlow: Robert Sansom, Chris Crowley, Shane Redmond, Conor Lawlor, Benny Kavanagh, Eoghan Ruth (1-0), Ciaran Moran, Brendan Murphy (0-1), Sean Murphy, Jordan Morrissey (0-1), Sean Gannon, Darragh O’Brien, Conor Crowley, Darragh Foley (0-7f), Daniel St Ledger. Subs: Shane Clarke for Kavanagh, Diarmuid Walshe (0-2f) for Conor Crowley, Conor Doyle for O’Brien.

Down: Rory Burns, Kevin McKiernan, Ruairi Wells, Ryan McAleenan, Pierce Laverty, Colm Flanagan, Darren O’Hagan (0-1), Johnny Flynn, Caolan Mooney (0-1), Daniel Guinness (0-1), Conor Poland (0-2), Conor Maginn, Jerome Johnston, Conor Johnson, Donal O’Hare (0-05, 4f). Subs: Ryan Johnston (0-1) for Laverty, Ceilium Doherty for Guinness, Paul Devlin (0-4), Brendan McArdle for Flanagan, Barry O’Hagan for R. Johnston.

Carlow 1-11

Down 0-15

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