Sport

Down left wondering how they didn't beat Antrim in Loughiel

Antrim's Ciaran Clarke comes under pressure from Down's John McManus during Saturday's Christy Ring Cup semi-final at Loughgiel <br />Picture by Seamus Loughran&nbsp;
Antrim's Ciaran Clarke comes under pressure from Down's John McManus during Saturday's Christy Ring Cup semi-final at Loughgiel
Picture by Seamus Loughran 
Antrim's Ciaran Clarke comes under pressure from Down's John McManus during Saturday's Christy Ring Cup semi-final at Loughgiel
Picture by Seamus Loughran 

Christy Ring Cup semi-final: Antrim 1-24 Down 0-23

IF ANTRIM go on to win the Christy Ring Cup on June 4, they will remember a rainy day in Loughgiel and how hard Down pushed them in what was an epic semi-final encounter with their old foes.

The Ards men left Fr Healy Park wondering how they didn’t win. Apart from a 10-minute spell at the start of the second-half when the hosts hit 1-6, Down hurled as well, if not better, than their opponents.

In securing their place at Croke Park next month, Antrim owe a debt of gratitude to two men: their irrepressible forward Ciaran Clarke, who split Down's posts no fewer than 16 times and assisted for Conor Carson's game-changing major in the 37th minute. The other person was goalkeeper Chrissy O'Connell. The Loughgiel netminder made a fabulous stoppage-time save to deny Conor Mageean a goal that would have put Down up by a point. As it was, Clarke (free) and Carson still had time to grab a point apiece to put a bit of daylight between the teams at the final whistle.

With the game slipping from Down's grasp, they had three players sent-off in the closing stages. James McGrath lashed out at Clarke and received a straight red. Moments later, Conor O'Neill picked up a second yellow card and late substitute Jordan Doran was shown a straight red after the final whistle. 

MATCH STATS


Antrim: C O’Connell; O McFadden, T McCloskey, C McKinley; S McCrory, N McAuley, M Burke; C Johnston, E Campbell (0-1); E McCloskey (0-1), J Dillon (0-1), N Elliott; C Johnston (0-1), C Carson (1-1), C Clarke (0-16, 0-13 frees, 0-1 ’65); Subs: J Connolly for N Elliott (h/t), N McKenna (0-3) for J Dillon (h/t), S McAfee for Ciaran Johnston (59); Yellow cards: E McCloskey (1), Conor Johnston (65)


Down: S Keith; M Conlan, P McFlynn, J McManus; C O’Neill, C Taggart (0-3), J McGrath; S Ennis, F Conway; C Mageean, C O’Prey (0-3, 0-2 frees, 0-1 ’65), D Hughes (0-3); D Toner (0-9, 0-5 frees), Conor Woods (0-4, 0-2 frees), S Nicholson; Subs: C Egan (0-1) for P Flynn (48), B Byers for S Nicholson (58), J Doran for F Conway (66), O McManus for C Taggart (72); Yellow cards: M Conlan (14), C O’Neill (32), F Conway (35), C Taggart (36), C Mageean (64); Red cards: J McGrath (74), C O’Neill (32, 74), J Doran (after the final whistle)


Referee: D Hughes (Carlow)