Down edge out Cork at Páirc Esler;
Allianz Football League Division One
Down 1-19 (1- 4-11) Cork 2-15 (2-5-5)
By Steve Malone at Páirc Esler
Down gave their Division Two ambitions a huge shot in arm with a magnificent comeback win.
Down made a few changes to the team that was announced during the week with goalkeeper John O’Hare to make way for Ronan Burns to make his county debut between the sticks, while as against Roscommon, Gareth McKibben replaced Kilcoo’s Miceal Rooney and Burren’s Ryan Magill took the corner forward spot instead of Conor McCrickard.
It was all Cork for much of the opening half, with five first half two-pointers building up a seven point break at by half-time, but Down displayed courage and a bit of swagger in the second half and Pat Havern’s crucial two-pointer put the Mourne men ahead for the first time of the game on 64 minutes.
Brian O’Driscoll had the chance to take the two league points down the long road home, but his pressure two-pointer free drifted wide and with it Cork’s hopes of back-to-back wins.
It is a massive victory for the Mourne men, who take on Meath in Newry next and they’ll be aiming to build on this result and performance.
Chris Óg Jones bagged the opening goal on 12 minutes to give Cork the lead and while Down replied with points from Oisin Savage, Odhran Murdock and Pat Havern, the Rebels kept pulling away with five two-pointers, with three of them coming from play. O’Driscoll, Maguire and Sean McDonnell raised the orange flag as did Mark Cronin from frees.
Cork had cruised into the 1-11 to 0-4 lead, but Down finished the half with the last three scores, from keeper Burns and Savage and they missed a glorious chance for a goal, with James Guinness blazing wide from close range.
Down made short work getting back into the groove early in the second as James Guinness and Pat Havern launched two pointers and Guinness added on a single point.
However, Cork pulled away again with Sean McDonnell netting and they seemed to have weathered the Mourne storm, but Down refused to let up and Murdock pointed before Danny Magill lashed into the net to make it a one-point game.
Then on 64 minutes, Havern landed his two-pointer free to steer Down ahead for the first time of the game.
There were four frenzied additional minutes and Cork could have regained the lead at the death but O’Driscoll’s effort dropped wide, which was the last kick of the game, much to Down’s relief.
Scorers for Down: Pat Havern 0-8 (1 tp, 3tpf), Danny Magill 1-1, Odhran Murdock and James Guinness (1 tp) 0-3 each, Oisín Savage 0-2 (1f), Ceilum Doherty and Ronan Burns (45) 0-1 each.
Scorers for Cork: Mark Cronin 0-6 (2 2ptf), Seán McDonnell 1-2 (1 2pt), Chris Óg Jones 1-0, Brian O’Driscoll (tp) and Rory Maguire (tp) 0-2 each, Sean Walsh, Eoghan McSweeney, and Patrick Doyle (f) 0-1 each.
Down: Ronan Burns, Peter Fegan, Ryan McEvoy, Patrick McCarthy, Gareth McKibben, Pierce Laverty, Caolan Mooney, Daniel Guinness, Odhran Murdock, Ceilum Doherty, James Guinness, Danny Magill, Oisin Savage, Pat Havern, Ryan Magill.
Subs: Conor McCrickard for McKibben (45’), Aaron McClements for Oisin Savage (55’), Eugene Branigan for Mooney (55’), Miceal Rooney for J Guinness (59’).
Cork: Patrick Doyle, Maurice Shanley, Daniel O’Mahony, Neil Loughran, Brian O’Driscoll, Rory Maguire, Matty Taylor, Sean Walsh, Colm O’Callaghan, Paul Walsh, Sean Porter, Eoghan McSweeney, Mark Cronin, Chris Og Jones, Sean McDonnell.
Subs: Tommy Walsh for S Porter (29’), Cathail Maguire for E Sweeney (55’).
Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry).
Allianz Hurling League Division 1A
