Mourne men storm home to seal promotion

A towering second-half performance against a disjointed Clare side at Páirc Esler saw Down stride into Division 2.

The visitors had no answer to the Mourne side’s pace, commitment and cohesion as they cemented their place in the Division 2 final against Westmeath.

“We just missed out on promotion last year and that was hard to take but I must say it’s a big change to be going to Croke Park next weekend to play in the divisional final,” said Down boss Conor Laverty,

“The players put in a big effort and I think the whole squad have put their shoulder to the wheel for the county of late .”

It was the home team who hit the ground running by chalking up 1-2 in the opening seven minutes. A point from a Pat Havern free signalled their early intent and when Ceilum Doherty ghosted in for a fifth-minute goal, Down were already beginning to look comfortable.

Clare then stunned their hosts in the ninth minute when a flowing move culminated in Aaron Griffin drilling the ball to the Down net – and when Ciarán Downes tacked on a point, Clare were suddenly into their stride.

Down es and Do her ty exchanged points, but when the visitors’ goal keeper Stephen Ryan plundered a sublime point from all of 50 metres it left the home side ahead by 1-7 to 1-4 at the break.

But they were to take a much firmer grip on the game in the second half.

When Odhran Murdock converted a penalty in the 50th minute and Danny Magill followed this up with another three-pointer minutes later, Down cantered towards the finishing line.

SCORERS – Down: C Doherty, D Magill 1-2 each; P Havern (3f) 0-5; L Kerr (2f) 0-3; O Murdock (pen) 1-0; M Rooney, R Johnston, D Guinness 0-1 each. Clare: C Downes 0-4; D Coughlan 0-2; A Griffin 1-0; S Ryan (f), E McMahon, M McInerney, T Kelly 0-1 each DOWN: J O’Hare; P Fegan, R McEvoy, C Doherty; M Rooney, P Laverty, D Guinness; J Flynn, O Murdock; D Magill, L Kerr, R Johnston; F McElroy, P Havern, J Guinness. Subs: J McGovern for J Guinness (19 mins), O Savage for McGovern (39), C Francis for Mooney (64), R Magill for Kerr (67). CLARE: S Ryan; M Doherty, R Lanigan, M Garry; I Ugweru, A Sweeney, D Walsh; B McNamara, G Murray; E McMahon, C Downes, D Coughlan, C Rouine, A Griffin, C Murray. Subs: C Rouine for Murray (28), M McInerney or Rouine (53), T Kelly for Sweeney (55), D O’Donnell for McMahon (62), S Griffin for A Griffin (65). REF: D Coldrick (Meath)