Hurlers make light work of Armagh in derby tie

Hurlers make light work of Armagh in derby tie

16 May 2018

DOWN hurlers went on a scoring spree when they blitzed Armagh at McKenna Park in Ballycran on Saturday afternoon.

Armagh, so often Down’s nemesis in the recent past, were simply outplayed by Marty Mallon’s demons and his side’s 28-point win could well have been much, much more.

Things were pretty even after a steady start, but all that changed in the 13th minute when Daithi Sands finished to the net after skipper Declan McManus blocked a shot from Eoin McGuinness.

Things went from bad to worse for the visitors when Davy Bridges was red-carded after an incident with Paul Sheehan.

Down were now in cruise control and raced into a 1-9 to 0-2 lead before Eoghan Sands netted a second goal in the 27th minute to put daylight between the sides.

Armagh had a second player — Eoin McGuinness — controversially sent off after picking up a second yellow and there simply was no way back for the visitors.

John Corvan kept Armagh honest in the second half, but further goals from Daithi Sands (2), Declan McManus and Oisin McManus gave Down a facile win.

Manager Mallon was realistic after his side’s unexpected huge victory: “We weren’t really tested as Armagh are in disarray following a change of management and the loss of several experienced players.

“Fair play to them getting together and coming up. You just have to beat what’s in front of you, but it doesn’t really tell us anything,” he said.

“That’s not being harsh on Armagh. Their league form would have suggested that was going to happen. We’re happy, although we don’t really know where we are at for London this weekend. 

“We had a lot of young fellas playing, very young and five of our defenders were under 21,” he added.

Mallon singled out Liatroim’s Ruairi McCrickard for special mention: “Ruari McCrickard is still a teenager. It’s his first game, coming from a junior club and he had a storming game there at centre back. There’s a lot of young lads and they are all gaining experience, that’s all you can ask for.”

Down: S Keith, B Byers, M Hughes, Peter McManus, M Fisher (0-1f), R McCrickard, L Savage, D McManus (1-0), M Magee (0-2), P Og McCrickard (0-1), C Bailie (0-1), P Sheehan (0-6, 0-5f), D Sands (3-3), D Toner (0-3), E Sands (1-3). Subs: O McManus (1-1), for bailie, E Coulter for Byers, T Murray for Sheehan, J Crowe for Keith, Paul McManus for Fisher. 

Armagh: F Woods, O Curry, P Gaffney, A Fox, C Clifford, A McGuinness, D Bridges, N Curry (0-6f), J Corvan (0-2), D McKenna, P McGrane, S Renaghan (0-1), D McCreesh (0-2), E McGuinness, B Short. Subs: D Magee for Short, C McAnallen for McKenna, D Grant for Curry, G McKeown for A McGuinness, D Gaffney for Renaghan.  

Down 6-21

Armagh 0-11

CHRISTY RING CUP