Mournemen victorious in extra time against Sligo

26 June 2024

DOWN senior footballers have once again made the final of the Tailteann Cup after a victorious Croke Park classic against Sligo on Sunday.

Goals, a penalty, a red card and extra-time were just some of the ingredients which best described this tasty encounter between the Mournemen and the Yeats County, with the latter being picked as the underdogs before the first blast of referee Derek O’Mahoney’s whistle.

But with the eight minutes of added time near up Down would eventually thank the boot of Ryan McEvoy, whose score levelled the tie although he couldn’t convert a last-gasp 45 and it went on to extra-time.

McEvoy would continue to come up trumps and after a surging run into the heart of the Sligo box the Kilcoo man was unfairly pulled to the ground and a penalty kick was the outcome.

The reliable Odhrán Murdock stepped up and dispatched low into the net to put daylight between the sides in the second half of extra-time and on the way to an eventual energy-zapping two-point victory for Conor Laverty’s charges.

Signs were there early that this wouldn’t be a stroll in the park for Down after a close opening exchange of points saw Sligo raise their first green flag with 18 minutes on the clock.

In a deflating blow to Down, Sligo’s Cian Lally did the hard work before setting up team-mate Patrick O’Connor, who buried his effort into the net beyond Mourne custodian John O’Hare.

But, Down remained composed and finished the half nicely with top scorer on the day Pat Havern finding his range and firing over three points to add to his three he had converted earlier.

Sligo still entered the half-time interval a point ahead by 1-6 to 0-8, however, a quick restart from Down saw substitute Liam Kerr enter the fray and make his appearance known with a score to ease his county ahead.

The back and forth continued before Sligo threatened to rip up the pre-match as they landed their second goal, and this time it was Canice Mulligan with the major as he palmed into the net from close range.

The momentum was certainly with Sligo but then, in the 61st minute, a halt to play was called when Nathan Mullen’s tackle left Down sub Oisin Savage needing medical attention.

The result of this brash tackle from Mullen was a red card for him and what has now been confirmed by Savage’s Loughinisland club as a broken jaw and surgery required for the young Down star.

As unwelcome as this incident was, it allowed the game to catch its breath which perhaps Sligo did not want as Laverty began instructing his men.

Down found their groove as the game eventually carried on and with a healthy amount of added time they had what it took to bridge the gap.

Skipper Pierce Laverty landed two points and although Sligo snuck ahead once more, up stepped McEvoy to send the tie to extra-time before Down kicked on with the help of a penalty to grab their place in the final.

Down will now face Laois in the decider at Croke Park on Saturday, July 13.

Down: J O’Hare; C Doherty, R McEvoy (0-2), P Fegan; S Johnston (0-1), D Guinness (0-1), P Laverty (0-2); D Magill (0-1), P Havern (0-7, 4f); P McCarthy, F McElroy, M Rooney (0-1); J McGovern (0-1), O Murdock (1-0 pen), D Magill.

Subs: Liam Kerr (0-3) for McElroy (h-t), Oisin Savage for Ryan Johnston (53), Conor McCrickard for McGovern (58), Ryan Magill for Danny Magill (65), Eamonn Brown for Savage (66), Caolan Mooney (0-1) for Havern (73), Ryan Johnston for Shealan Johnston (75), Danny Magill for Havern (82), Brown for Doherty (87).

Sligo: Aidan Devaney; Evan Lyons, Eddie McGuinness (0-1), Paul McNamara; Brian Cox, Darragh Cummins (0-2), Nathan Mullen (0-1); Paul Kilcoyne, Canice Mulligan (1-0); Cian Lally, Alan McLoughlin, Sean Carrabine (0-4, 2f); Lee Deignan (0-2), Patrick O’Connor (1-1), Niall Murphy (0-3, 2f).

Subs: Mark Walsh (0-1) for O’Connor (66), Mikey Gordon for McNamara (69), Eoghan Smith for McLoughlin (69), Donal Conlon for Lally (76), Luke Casserly for Deignan (e-t), David Quinn for Carrabine (76), O’Connor for Kilcoyne (80), Pat Spillane for Mulligan (86).

Referee: Derek O’Mahoney (Tipperary).

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