Conor McGurk Tournament final: Down 1-25 Ulster University 0-6
THE Weekend started with the footballers planning for the ‘Red and Black Rising’ through the launch of the Club Down initiative.
It continued on a positive note as the county’s hurlers put some silverware on the sideboard by winning the McGurk Cup with a thumping victory over Ulster University at the QUB Arena on Saturday evening.
Down’s newly-appointed manager Martin Mallon was content to start the year with a cup and he feels that the Mourne hurlers are moving in the right direction following the disappointment of last season.
“It’s a bit of silverware I suppose, but we are happy where we are at and we are getting a bit of unity in the squad, a bit of togetherness and everybody is buying into it,” said Mallon.
“We are going back to basics, hard pulling and aggressive tackling and putting the ball long into the forwards as well as having dynamic forwards going at it – that’s what we are asking for.”
Although the Mournemen were forced to work for their victory by a resilient Ulster University, the result never looked in doubt, especially after Down’s bright start, where they led 0-6 to no score with 10 minutes played.
Newry Shamrocks hurler Paul Sheehan finished top scorer with 10 points, including two from play, and it was a decent run-out for Down, who face Meath next month in the opening round of Division 2B of the National Hurling League.
Ulster University had one eye on the Fitzgibbon Cup, which takes place this week, and players such as James McNaughton and substitute Ali Dooey impressed.
Scot Nicholson, Caolan Teggart, Chris Egan, Conor Mageean and Sheehan shared the opening six scores for Down, before McNaughton replied for UU on 13 minutes.
Down’s response was swift as, 60 seconds later, the nippy Danny Toner beat Ulster goalkeeper Ryan Elliot in a race to the sliothar and coolly slotted into the net.
Further points from Sheehan, Teggart and Nicholson stretched the lead, but McKeague replied, to give Down a 1-12 to 0-3 lead at half-time.
The second half was perhaps more of a physical encounter and Ulster University pulled back points from Dooey and James O’Connell, but with Sheehan popping over frees and substitute Pearse Og McCrickard making an impression on the scoreboard, Down finished comfortable winners.