Down into last four of Ulster campaign

Down into last four of Ulster campaign

17 April 2024

“BUT in this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes,” wrote Benjamin Franklin. 

Given their more recent history in the Ulster Senior Football Championship, the late American statesman might well have added “and a first round defeat for Antrim”.

Last week was a difficult one for the Saffrons. It began with a loss in the Ulster minor championship to Armagh while scoring just two points. 

Midweek they shipped a 5-16 to 0-3 trouncing by Derry in the U-20 championship and then on Saturday they departed the senior championship after the first match for the tenth consecutive season.

But on their way out they flagged up some short-comings in the Down team suggesting that they are a long way off a run in stage two of the Sam Maguire Cup.

Down took the lead after just 45 seconds. Ryan McQuillan’s point in the 14th minute tied the teams briefly on 0-2 each. 

The rest of the game saw the home team lead and for the most part, dominate general play.

However, they allowed Antrim to hang in with some hope of perhaps creating a goal chance that might have stolen a victory.

The Saffrons did manage a couple of chances to net one, most notably when Eoghan McCabe blasted over in the 59th minute.

Had that hit the net, Antrim would have been a point behind.

But you always felt that Down had much more to offer, maybe not on this Saturday evening game in Páirc Esler, however. 

Yes, they were better than their opponents but overall it was a forgettable win and their supporters will not have been given much promise of a long summer run. 

But then again, the object was to reach the semi-final. They didn’t need to do anything more and certainly will not carry the favourites’ tag into the semi-final the weekend after next. 

At half-time, Down looked to be well on their way to victory when they led by 0-6 to 0-3 having played into a breeze that had pulled down two frees that normally would have gone over the bar.

Ryan McEvoy carried the ball in for the first score; he didn’t mean to take it within scoring range, but the space opened and he drove into it.

Pat Havern tapped over a free soon after and, although O’Hare had to be alert to a goal chance in the ninth minute that went out for a 45 for Byrne to point, Down was the dominant team.

Mícheál Rooney fired over, Odhrán Murdock fisted one, Oisín Savage, just in for Havern, tapped over a free and Ryan Johnston took a mark to hit an outrageous point off the outside of his boot. Without raising too much expectation they were in a good place at half-time.

Admittedly the breeze fell a little after the break, but Down couldn’t push on. Savage, from a mark, and Guinness with his fist opened the gap to five points. But two frees kept Antrim hanging on.

Twice the home side went four up, and each time they were pulled back by an Antrim team that seemed to be growing in confidence.

Savage pointed a free and then there was a delay of six minutes while Antrim’s full-back Eunan Wash was removed by stretcher after an accidental collision that kept Liam Kerr out of the goal area.

When play resumed, Down quickly posted two points through Shane Annett and Guinness. It shut out the game for Down. 

There were points from frees for McQuillan and Ruairí McCann, but no threat to the home side’s progress.

Down: J O’Hare, P Fegan, R McEvoy (0-1), C Doherty (0-1), M Rooney (0-1), P Laverty (capt), D Guinness (0-2), S Johnston, O Murdock (0-1), C McCrickard, L Kerr (0-1), R Johnston (0-1m), B O’Hagan, P Havern (0-1f), D Magill.

Subs: O Savage (0-3, 1m, 1f) for P Havern (24), E Brown for C McCrickard (47), S Annett 0-1for B O’Hagan (52), R Magill for S Johnston (61), R Mason for D Magill (70+4).

Antrim: M Byrne (0-1, 45), R Boyle, E Walsh, K Keenan, D Lynch, J Finnegan, D McAleese (capt), C Hynds, M Jordan (0-1), C Hand (0-1), P McBride (0-1), E McCabe (0-1), R McQuillan (0-3, 2f), R McCann (0-1f), D McEnhill.

Subs: N Burns for D McEnhill (h-t), P McAleer for R Boyle (52), E Hynds for E Walsh (65), P Shivers for R McQuillan (70+6).

Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry).