The party is over for Down’s finest

The party is over for Down’s finest

8 August 2012

DOWN’S dreams of All-Ireland glory were shattered in Croke Park on Saturday by a rampant Mayo side.

Playing their third game in successive weeks, Down, after a reasonable opening quarter in which a Kalum King goal brought them level, fell to pieces.

It was mostly Mayo who dictated the play and at the finish were going through the motions as Down faded completely with the Connacht champions easing through to a semi-final meeting with champions Dublin.

After a good showing against Tipperary in the Qualifier a week previous, Down faded into oblivion as they slipped to a disastrous defeat.

The loss through injury after 20 minutes of Niall McParland had an effect on a porous Down defence, but truth to tell, Mayo were too good for the Mourne rearguard in which Kevin McKernan, Darren O’Hagan and Benny McArdle played hard, but with little success.

Dan Gordon was moved from full back to centre half back in a switch with McArdle, but even that change failed to steady a rocky Down defence. They found Alan Dillon, Cillian O’Connor, Michael Conroy and Kevin McLoughlin for too mobile with their power play and inter-passing.

Ambrose Rogers and Kalum King worked overtime at midfield, but found Barry Moran and Aidan O’Shea hard to overcome. The Down attack at times moved well with Aidan Carr, most accurate from frees, while Benny Coulter also worked hard.

These two were the only Down attackers to get on the score sheet. Liam Doyle, when he replaced Conor Maginn at half-time, showed up well, but they found the strong Mayo half back line of Lee Keegan, Donal Vaughan and Colm Boyle, assisted by Keith Higgins, hard to overcome.

Mayo attacked from the start and got a real boost when after five minutes Jason Doherty punished slack marking by the Down defence and raced in for a goal.

Two minutes later Andy Moran added a point. Down’s opening score came from Aidan Carr after ten minutes before points were exchanged between Carr and Cillian O’Connor from a free.

Midway through the half Down got a glimmer of hope when Ambrose Rogers set up Kalum King who shot to the Mayo net.

It was exciting play now as twice points were exchanged as the sides remained level ten minutes from the interval after Aidan Carr pointed a free.

Eight minutes from half-time Cillian O’Connor pointed a Mayo free a lead they never again lost. From the kick out Kevin McLoughlin secured possession.

He raced through from midfield, slipped the ball to Michael Conroy who cut inside and slipped the ball past a helpless Brendan McVeigh. Mayo were on fire and two points from Cillian O’Connor frees saw them lead by 2-7 to 1-4 at half-time.

Two Cillian O’Connor points in the five minutes after half-time were negated by Down scores from Liam Doyle from a free and Benny Coulter. The third Mayo goal arrived eight minutes into the half. Barry Moran was fouled and as the Down players stood static, the Mayo man took a quick free.

The ball went to Cillian O’Connor who passed to the unmarked Michael Conroy and he palmed the ball into the net. That score ensured a semi-final place for Mayo.

Points were exchanged at regular intervals in the final quarter with a late added time goal from Benny Coulter putting a better look on the scoreboard, but Down were still 12 points behind as Mayo advanced to the semi-finals.

Down: B. McVeigh, D. O’Hagan, D. Gordon, C. Garvey, N. McArdle, B. McArdle, K. McKernan, A. Rogers, K. King (1-0), A. Carr (0-7, 0-5 frees), M. Poland, C. Maginn, E. McCartan, C. Laverty, B. Coulter (1-1). Subs: A. Brannigan for McParland (22), D. O’Hare for McCartan (33), L. Doyle (0-1 free) for C. Maginn (ht), D. Turley for C. Garvey (43), D. Rooney for B. McArdle (60).

Mayo: D. Clarke, K. Keane, G. Cafferkey, K. Higgins, L. Keegan (0-1), D. Vaughan C. Boyle, B. Moran, A. O’Shea (0-1), K. McLoughlin (0-2), C. O’Connor (0-7. 0-6 frees), A. Dillon (0-4), M. Conroy (2-1), A. Moran (0-1), J. Doherty (1-0). Subs: A. Freeman for Moran (50), R. Feeney for Doherty (60), E. Varley (0-1) for Conroy (65), J. Gibbins for O’Shea (65); C. Barrett for Keegan (66).

Down 2-9

Mayo 3-18

ALL-IRELAND QUARTER-FINAL