Christy Ring Cup quarter-final: Down v Roscommon
(Saturday, Ballycran, 2pm)
HAVING got back to winning ways last week with a dogged one-point win over Derry, Down return to home soil against Roscommon on Saturday - and will be hoping for a much better performance than when they last took the field at Ballycran.
A fortnight ago, London came over the water and stormed the fortress at McKenna Park. The Exiles carried their impressive National League form into the Christy Ring Cup and left Down - with confidence still fragile in the wake of their Division 2B promotion play-off defeat to Armagh - wondering where to go from here.
Travelling to Owenbeg last Saturday, they were looking down the barrel of a possible relegation play-off date and a disastrous drop to Nicky Rackard hurling next year. With those fears now allayed after a battling display, they can go into Saturday’s game against Roscommon with the shackles off and a semi-final spot in the competition they won in 2013 up for grabs.
The Rossies have picked up national silverware even more recently than the Ards men, having lifted the Nicky Rackard Cup last summer and the Connacht men have made significant strides in recent years.
They narrowly missed out on promotion from Division 3A last year, but bounced back to romp through hurling’s fifth-tier, before beating Donegal in the play-off to finally reach 2B. Coming into last week’s clash with Christy Ring Cup favourites Antrim, they had won 13 matches in-a-row.
The Saffrons, despite the managerial upheaval that blighted the end of their own league campaign, went into that game as 1/6 favourites - but the Rossies showed they are more than comfortable at this level.
With 50 minutes on the clock, Justin Campbell’s men led by three points in Dunloy, before a couple of late goals from Conor Carson and substitute Nigel Elliott saw Antrim through.
Down boss Michael Johnston had plenty on his own plate earlier that day up in Derry, but he will have noted Roscommon’s performance. Having managed against them several times while in charge of Armagh, he has a fair idea what to expect on Saturday.
The St John’s man expressed his frustration earlier this week at the special eligibility, rule which has allowed Roscommon to call upon players from the nearby hurling stronghold of Galway.
But those concerns will be put to one side on Saturday as his side eyes a spot in the last-four. Having arrived at Owenbeg last Saturday with just 19 players, Johnston is relieved to welcome back a host of new players who are vying for a place in the starting 15.
John McManus, Chris Egan, James Lavery, Padraig Flynn, Jordan Doran, Conor O’Neill and Matt Conlan are in contention, although the Ards men are without the suspended Caolan Bailie, as well as Steven Dineen, Paul Sheehan, Michael McCullagh and USA-bound Rian Brannigan.
Coming out on the right side of a typically tight all-Ulster battle with Derry was a welcome boost, but it has to be taken into account that Roscommon had 11 points to spare against the Oak Leafs the week previous.
Having faced Ulster opposition in the last two weeks, nothing will surprise the Rossies in Ballycran today. But Down will be eager to bury the ghosts of that defeat to London, and go in as slight favourites for a semi-final spot.
