DOWN completed their national NHL 2B programme with a 100 per cent record following this easy victory over a poor Kildare side at McKenna Park, Ballycran yesterday.
Apart from the opening five minutes, in which Kildare fought back to level the score at one point each, the winners were never in any serious trouble.
The Down defence was very sound with corner-backs Martin Mallon and Barry Smith, as well as the half-back line of Tom Coulter, Michael Braniff and Paul Coulter completely shutting out the Kildare attack.
Danny Hughes and John McCarthy, after a slow start at midfield, played some delightful hurling and gave their attack a plentiful supply of the ball.
Up front Rostrevor’s Anthony Tinnelly was in devastating form at full forward, scoring two magnificent goals, while former Allstar Gerard McGrattan and Noel Sands, along with Gary Savage, were most prominent in attack.The Kildare defence worked overtime throughout with right half-back Christy Byrne being their most outstanding player.
But Kildare’s misery was complete five minutes from time when Down substitute Emmett Trainor slotted in Down’s fourth goal to give them a comprehensive victory.
Down: G Clarke, M Mallon, J McCrickard, B Smith, T Coulter (0-1), M Braniff, P Coulter, D Hughes (0-1), J McCarthy, G McGrattan (0-5), B Coulter (0-1), G Savage (0-2), J McGrattan (0-3), A Tinnelly (2-3), N Sands (1-0).
Subs: E Trainor (1-1) for B Coulter, M Pucci for P Coulter, P Brannigan for M Braniff.
Kildare: D Byrne, N Carew, J O’Donnell, N Swan, C Bryne, B Maher, Trevor Carew, P Rohane, C Byrne, Tom Carew (0-3), J Brennan (0-1), N Hennessy, T Spain (0-1), N Cassey, A Murphy,
Subs: D McGovern for N Swan and E Dennieffe for Trevor Carew
Referee: E Morris (Dublin).
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A CONTROVERSIAL refereeing decision nine minutes into the second half cost Derry dearly in this NHL (Div 2A) game at Tralee yesterday.
Derry corner-back Adrian Hickey held possession, but he was injured when tackled by Kerry wing forward Tony Maunsell.
With Hickey prostrate on the ground, the ball ran loose, was picked by Maunsell and he rifled an unstoppable shot to the roof of the Derry net.
At the time, the sides were level at 1-10 each and Maunsell’s goal placed the initiative firmly in Kerry’s hands.
They were not to surrender it.
Afterwards, Derry manager, Kevin McNaughton, felt that referee Larry Flynn, of Cork erred in his decision not to give a free for Maunsell’s tackle on Hickey.
“Our man was clearly injured in the tackle and the match turned on that,” said McNaughton.
“Our lads deserved more out of this game because they played very well, especially considering the fact that four regulars were missing. “We must now gear ourselves for the Ulster Campionship match against Down on June 21 and, the way I see it, we will give Down enough of it.”
Kerry: J Healy, T Cronin, S McIntyre, P Harrington, W J Leen (0-1), M McCarthy, Pat Cronin, B O’Sullivan (0-9), R Gentleman (0-1), Padraig Cronin, C Walsh (0-4), T Maunsell (1-0), M Slattery (1-0), T O’Connell (0-1), J M Dooley.
Subs: I Maunsell for J M Dooley (40 mins), V Dooley for T O’Connell (53). Derry: K Stevenson, A Hickey, P McCloy, N Mullan, C McGurk, D Cassidy, G Brunton, R McCloskey (0-3), O Collins (0-8), G Biggs, M Conway (0-1), A McCrystal (0-1), J O’Dwyer (1-0), P McEldowney, M Collins.
Sub: C Murray for A McCrystal (54).
Referee: Larry Flynn (Cork).
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NINETEEN-year-old Michael Hoey became Irish Amateur Open Champion yesterday after a cool four-under par back nine at Royal Dublin gave him a two shot win over Beaverstown’s Gary Cullen.
The Shandon Park player started the day two shots clear, but Cullen soon gained the initiative and it was not until the fourteenth hole of the final round that Hoey regained his lead by one shot.
Hoey finished two-under par on a fourround total of 286, with Cullen back on par and Brian Omelia of Newlands third, a further three shots back.
