Nerveless Johnston saves Mournemen at death

2 May 2018

DOWN meticulously plotted their way past Armagh at Pairc Esler on Saturday night, but it was tough going at times and the issue only resolved after extra time.

James McCartan’s charges held a 0-7 to 0-4 lead at the break, but they failed to score in a wearisome second half as Armagh hit back to draw level.

Somehow, Down found a second wind and points from the exciting Sheelan Johnston (0-3) and Adam Crimmins put an end to Armagh’s resolute resistance.

Down almost got the perfect start. With only 40 seconds on the clock, Ryan Connolly burst past his marker and unleashed a fierce shot that crashed into the crossbar and flew to safety.

Armagh weren’t to look a gift horse in the mouth and Eoin Woods pointed them into a second minute lead.

This was quickly cancelled out by a sizzling retort from Kilcoo’s Justin Clarke before his club mate Johnston gave Down a 0-3 to 0-1 lead after 10 minutes.

Both sides were pressing at kick-outs and with 12 minutes gone Down were denied a goal for the second time. A searing Connolly pass picked out an unmarked Clarke, but Caolan McParland produced a magnificent save to keep his effort out.

Connolly pointed Down into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after 15 minutes, but just when it looked that the home side were gaining the upper hand, Armagh hit back with points from Connor Doherty and Louis Hughes.

Two converted frees from Clarke gave Down a 0-6 to 0-3 lead by the 26th minute, but Armagh were like a dog with a bone and steadfastly refused to give way.

Their endeavour was rewarded in the 30th minute when James McCormack pointed a 21m free, but Down had the last say of the half with Johnston also converting a free to send his side into the break with a 0-7 to 0-4 lead.

The second half produced only three scores and all of them for Armagh in a chess-like game where every move was countered by the opposition.

Woods reduced the arrears in the 31st minute before Downpatrick’s Tom Smyth got on the end of a deft pass from Johnston, but his palmed effort was saved by an alert McParland.

Down had another goal chance in the 50th minute, but Brandon Boyd’s solo effort rolled agonisingly across the goal line.

Another Woods point left a single score in it and with the 60 minutes up Doherty levelled the scores with pinpoint accuracy to send the game to extra time.

Down were now a different proposition and dominated both periods with Johnston ruling the roost.

He gave Down a 0-8 to 0-7 lead with their first score in over 35 minutes with a converted free and five minutes into the second period doubled that lead with a point from play.

Crimmins made it a three-point lead before Caolan Reavey gave Armagh some respite with a well taken score.

However, it was fitting that Johnston had the final word for Down with a converted free and finally kill off a dogged Armagh.

Down: D Sheridan, D Fegan, L Toal, R Tumilty, P Brooks, G Fitzpatrick, L Brannigan, A Morgan, M Cunningham, S Campbell, J Clarke (0-3, 2f), P McMullen, T Close, R Connolly (0-1), S Johnston (0-6, 4f). Subs: T Smyth for Close, B Boyd for Brooks, E Brown for Tumilty, P Quinn for Clarke (black card) A Crimmins (0-1) for Connolly.

Armagh: C McParland, L Rice, R Duffy, S McVerry, L Finnegan, M King, N McCorry, J Martin, J Cunningham, T O’Hare, L Hughes (0-1), E Woods (0-3), P Finnegan, C Doherty (0-2), J McCormack (0-1f). Subs: P Murray for McVerry, D McCarthy for O’Hare, O King for Martin, A Davidson for Finnegan, P McGrane for Duffy, C Reavey (0-1) for McCormack.

Down 0-11

Armagh 0-8

ULSTER MFC 1ST ROUND

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