Road test worry for Down as they cruise past Antrim
DOWN had an easy passage to the Ulster semi-final, where they will meet the winners of today’s clash between Derry and Donegal.
However, they’ll worry about the lack of roadtesting after a pretty abysmal Antrim challenge that was up before the end of the first half.
A horrible mix-up from a kick-out proved to be Antrim’s undoing just prior to the break, a Chris Kerr delivery bobbling along to Niall Delargy who was much too casual in reaching it, allowing Shay Millar to steal in and transfer to Kevin McKernan who hit the net.
That made the half-time score 1-9 to 0-5, but it was always coming after Down’s pressure on the Antrim restarts had made them a liability.
While they placed two backs of three in front of Kerr he was forced to go long, where Peter Turley ruled the skies for Down, a one-handed catch in the first half was a particular highlight.
Antrim had come with a cautious game-plan that involved just leaving Niall McKeever and Ryan Murray up front on their own, but they hadn’t the numbers breaking in sufficient numbers to hurt the home side.
Down moved the ball around the packed central channel and although they hit plenty of wides – eight in the first half alone, were not to be discouraged from shooting.
Their greater physical power told throughout as the belief seeped out of Antrim. McKernan’s goal, as it turns out, was only the second they had conceded throughout the year.
In truth, though, their League campaign in the bottom rung was scant preparation for Down who, although relegated from Division 2, were massively off the pace.
DOwn: M Reid; C Flanagan (R McAleenan 56), B McArdle, A Doherty; D O’Hagan, N McParland, C Mooney (D McKibbin 56); P Turley, N Donnelly; K McKernan (Dornan h-t BC), C Maginn, S Millar; D O’Hare (N Madine, 67), C Harrison (C McGrady 60), R Millar (J Flynn 51)
Scorers: O’Hare 0-7 (5f), McKernan 1-1, Dornan, Maginn, Doherty (2f), S Millar 0-2, Mooney, McArdle, Harrison 0-1.
AnTRIm: C Kerr; P Healy (M McCarry, 70), P Gallagher (C Duffin, h-t), N Delargy; K O’Boyle, R Johnston, J Laverty (D Lynch, 56); P McAleer (O Eastwood, 63), N McKeever (S Beatty, 50); M Sweeney, C Murray, R McCann (K Healy, 50); R Murray, M Fitzpatrick, P McBride
Scorers: McBride 0-4 (2f), R Murray 0-4 (1f), C Murray, K Healy 0-2, C Duffin, M Fitzpatrick 0-1. Referee: D O’Mahony (Tipperary)