Poor Down stunned by hot Derry

Poor Down stunned by hot Derry

4 July 2012

DOWN senior hurlers kissed goodbye to hopes of an Ulster SHC title when they were overpowered by Derry in this semi-final in Casement Park on Sunday.

Apart from a period before half-time in which they scored five points, Down were playing catch-up. Aside from this spell, Derry mostly controlled the game with their towering full forward, Ruairi Convery pulverising the Down defence both from play and placed balls.

Apart from Eoin Clarke and Michael Ennis, the Down attack was without firing power with Paul Braniff  (inset) fighting a lone battle against the strong Derry defence in which Liam Hinphey, Conor Quinn

and Ruairi McCloskey were very strong.

Derry too had the better of the midfield exchanges, despite the hard work of Andy Savage and Paul Keith, but it was the Derry attack led by Ruairi Convery, assisted by Alan Grant and Paddy McCloskey, that overpowered the hard worked Down defence in which Conor Woods, Sean Ennis and Joe Smyth played their hearts in their efforts to stem the tide of Derry attacks.

To complete Down’s Day of woe they finished the game with 13 players. They had to play most of the final quarter without left half back Fintan Conway.

The Kilclief club man

received two yellow cards followed by a red while in the final minute of the game right half back Ben Toner suffered the same fate.

Derry opened strongly and led by 0-7 to 0-0 after 12 minutes with Oisin McCloskey, Kevin Hinphey, Paddy Henry, Paddy Kelly and Convery all splitting the posts with well taken points with Henry’s point being one of only four similar scores from Derry during the game.

Down’s opening score came midway through the half from Paul Braniff who added another a minute later from a free. Derry replied with three points before the Derry ‘keeper brought off the first of three brilliant saves from the rampaging Braniff.

Ten minutes from half time Derry led by 0-11 to 0-4 before a great Down fight back brought points from Paul Keith, Michael Turley and a Braniff 65 after another save by the Derry ‘keeper. Ruairi Convery and Keith exchanged points to leave half time Derry 0-13 Down 0-7.

Derry completely dominated the third quarter coring seven points to three for Down by Braniff. In this spell the brilliant Convery scored four times while full back Conor Quinn also lobbed over from long range.

Paul Sheehan pointed for Down, but three Convery points and one from substitute Liam Craig saw Derry lead by 0-24 to 0-11 before Down substitute Scott Nicholson lobbed over two late points to end a rather lifeless and disappointing semi-final.

Derry will now meet Antrim in Sunday’s final at Casement Park.

Derry: D. McDermott, S. McCullagh, C. Quinn (0-1) M. Warnock, R. McCloskey L. Hinphey, C. McSorley, O McCloskey (0-3), K. Hinphey (0-2), P. Henry (0-3, 0-1 free), P. McCloskey (0-1), A. Grant (0-3), S. Farren, R. Convery (0-9, 0-3 frees), P. Kelly (0-1). Subs: S. McGuigan for P. Henry (51), L. Craig (0-1) for S. Farren (51), C. Gilmore for C. Quinn (58), B. Quigley for P. McCloskey (66), J. McCloskey for L. Hinphey (68).

Down: G. Clarke, J. Smyth, M. Hughes, S. Ennis B. Toner, C. Woods, F. Conway, A. Savage, P. Keith (0-2), D. Hobbs, M. Ennis, E. Clarke, A. O’Prey, P. Braniff (0-7, 0-3 frees, 0-1 65), M. Turley (0-1). Subs: C. Mageean for D. Hobbs (41), S. Nicholson (0-2) for A. O’Prey (54), P. Sheehan (0-1) for M. Turley (54), D. McManus for A. Savage (56).

Derry 0-24

Down 0-13

ULSTER SHC SEMI-FINAL