Allianz National Hurling League 2B: Down v Meath (tomorrow, 2pm, Ballycran)
DOWN hurling folk have long memories, but they don’t need to cast their minds back too far to remember how last year’s bid to break free from the clutches of Division 2B fell spectacularly at the final hurdle.
Going to Meath on the last day, they just needed to avoid being beaten by more than nine points to guarantee a spot in the League decider. Their destiny was in their own hands.
But after an awful start, the Ardsmen found themselves on the receiving end of a trimming in Trim.
Eleven points was the difference in the end, the rampant Royals cutting loose to dampen Down’s promotion hopes in the most brutal fashion.
The manner of that defeat is still fresh in the players’ minds as they welcome Meath to Ballycran tomorrow, Down’s destiny once again in their own hands.
They sit top of 2B on scoring difference and if Down win, they are into the League final on Easter Sunday.
Should they lose, the only result that can deny them a place in that decider is a draw between Armagh and Mayo at the Athletic Grounds, with all three teams currently locked on six points.
“It’s a League semi-final really – that’s the way we’re looking at it,” said Down boss Michael Johnston.
“We’re very conscious of what happened last year, and we have learned lessons from that. But you’ve seen in the League this year that any team can beat any other on any given day.”
Down must do without two of their most consistent performers for the visit of the Royals, with the suspended pair of John McManus and Caolan Bailie still missing.
Full-back McManus was red-carded 26 minutes into their defeat to Mayo a fortnight ago, while Bailie won’t feature in the red and black until the Ulster Championship after being handed a suspension following an altercation with the referee at the end of that clash with the westerners.
Danny Toner assumed free-taking duties in Bailie’s absence for last week’s handy victory over Donegal, and he could play a crucial role tomorrow.
Ryan Gaffney scored 0-13 from frees in Armagh’s win over Meath last week – half the Orchard’s final total – and, if the Royals are as indisciplined tomorrow, Down need to be in a position to take advantage.
That loss to Mayo at Pairc Esler was a bitter pill to swallow, admits Johnston, but he believes it could prove to be a blessing in disguise.
He said: “We were disappointed with that performance against Mayo and we are where we are now because of our own inability to put Mayo away. We could have been qualified for the League final and all.
“But two years ago Down walked through the League and Wicklow got them in the League final and beat them out the gate, so sometimes you learn more from losing than you do from winning.”
Between Mayo a few weeks ago and their last League meeting with Meath almost a year to the day, Down know they can’t afford to make the same mistakes tomorrow.
If lessons have been learnt, now is the time to prove it.
