Costello in right place to turn tide for Dublin and end Down revival

DUBLIN kept Down at arm’s length and picked up a fifth League win in a row without expending too much energy in Newry last night.

The League and All-Ireland champions did what they had to do to maintain their unblemished start to the season, Cormac Costello top-scoring with 1-4.

Unexpectedly, Down led by 1-2 to 0-1 after eight minutes but Costello’s 18th-minute a goal proved to be a big score and the Dubs led by five at the half-time interval.

Down twice hit the woodwork late on but are doomed to relegation despite this muchimproved display.

They at least they played with a belief and conviction which had been sadly lacking in previous games and they dared to dream early on when they led by 1-2 to 0-1 – largely thanks to a rare howler by Stephen Cluxton.

The Dublin captain rose to collect Donal O’Hare’s attempt at a point but allowed the ball to slip through his hands into the back of the net, in front of several hundred Dubs supporters standing behind the town goals in Páirc Esler.

Down’s good start hardly spread panic through the Dublin ranks, but they responded in typical fashion and reeled off the next seven points.

Within four minutes, they had turned a five-point deficit into a two-point lead with Costello’s free and Paul Flynn and Ciarán Kilkenny points were followed by a Costello goal after 18 minutes.

Kevin McManamon’s shot was blocked down and Costello drilled home the rebound from close range.

Jim Gavin’s side free-wheeled through the second quarter with McManamon and Kilkenny tagging on further scores and Costello chipping over a couple more frees.

Down failed to score for 27 minutes before Donal O’Hare’s free left them trailing by a respectable 1-8 to 1-3 at the break.

Dublin hit three of the first four points after the break but took their foot off the gas for a spell, and Down took full advantage with three points in a row.

Dublin didn’t score for 13 minutes until Dean Rock nailed a ‘45’. Once they sensed any danger, Dublin simply went through the gears and finished with points from Jonny Cooper and Paddy Andrews.

DUBLIN: S Cluxton; P McMahon, J Cooper (D Daly 64), D Byrne; J McCarthy, M Fitzsimons, J Small; B Fenton (D Bastick 52), S Carthy (E Lowndes 46); P Flynn (S B Carthy 44), D Connolly, C Kilkenny; C Costello (T Brady 58), K McManamon (P Andrews 46), D Rock.

scorers: C Costello 1-4 (0-4f), D Rock 0-3 (1f, 1 ‘45), C Kilkenny, K McManamon, P Flynn 0-2, J Cooper, P Andrews 0-1.

DOWN: M Cunningham; G Collins, G McGovern, D O’Hagan; J Flynn, A Carr (L Howard 52), D O’Hanlon; P Turley, M McKay; C Maginn, R Mallon (P Devlin 48), K McKernan (J Murphy 6); C McGovern, D O’Hare, B O’Hagan (C Harrison 52).

scorers: D O’Hare 1-2 (2f), J Murphy 0-2, D O’Hanlon, P Devlin, M McKay 0-1.

referee: D O’Mahony (Tipperary).