Football

Victory is essential as Down and Ulster University battle to keep semi-final hopes alive

Ryan McAnspie of Ulster University during the McKenna Cup opener against Derry on Wednesday night at Celtic Park. Picture Margaret McLaughlin
Ryan McAnspie of Ulster University during the McKenna Cup opener against Derry on Wednesday night at Celtic Park. Picture Margaret McLaughlin Ryan McAnspie of Ulster University during the McKenna Cup opener against Derry on Wednesday night at Celtic Park. Picture Margaret McLaughlin

Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup Section B, round two: Down v UU (tomorrow, Burren, 2pm)

VICTORY is essential for semi-final ambitions to be kept alive as the losers of the Section B openers clash in Burren (the game was originally scheduled for Downpatrick) tomorrow.

Two second half goals for visitors Armagh put paid to Down’s hopes last Wednesday night while Derry put three past Ulster University goalkeeper Sean Fox at Celtic Park to see off a determined challenge from ‘the Poly’ and win by a single point.

Eamonn Burns’ men looked undercooked in the first half against the physically superior Orchardmen and at one stage in the second half their fans might have been concerned that a hiding was in store for the men in red and black.

But the introduction of Caolan Mooney gave a Down side that included only eight of the 21 players that saw Championship action against Monaghan at Croke Park in July a much-needed injection of energy and quality in the second half and they rallied impressively to close the gap although Armagh won with a bit of spare. Burns’ side was short on experience, particularly in defence, but Glenn clubman Ronan Millar was one of the new faces who took the chance to impress on his inter-county debut.

Millar, younger brother of 2017 discovery Shay, finished with five points – the fifth was a free off his left foot after he had missed two previous efforts from the same area with his right. Elsewhere, Conor Poland (younger brother of now retired Mark) had some good moments and manager Burns will also have been pleased to see the return of Annaclone full-back Benny McArdle.

Down repeatedly ran into trouble in the first half against Armagh when they were outmuscled, out-numbered and dispossessed but they had much more joy when they reverted to moving the ball quickly into their full-forward line.

While they will have been disappointed with the final result, Burns and his backroom team of Cathal Murray (a vocal presence on the sideline) and Gearoid Adams will have taken heart from Down’s second half rally and will expect a better start from tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Ulster University manager Paul Rouse and his players will have boarded the bus from Celtic Park shaking their heads after letting three-point leads slip twice in the second half.

The Tyrone native has a squad packed with inter-county experience. At a rough count, 15 of the panel of 29 that travelled to Derry last Wednesday night have had some exposure at senior level and Tyrone pair Ronan McNamee, Mark Bradley and David Mulgrew were starters in the Red Hands’ Ulster final victory over Down last July.

In all, seven counties are represented and, with the Sigerson Cup approaching, the challenge for Rouse and his management team is to gel talented individuals into an effective unit that can turn winning situations into victories.

The Jordanstown students had played more football in the build-up to the game and that was obvious at times during the Section B opener. They funnelled men back into defence when Derry went on the attack and broke forward with pace on the counterattack.

However, the introduction of experienced duo James Kielt and Mark Lynch swung the balance of the game in Derry’s favour and Kielt netted the decisive third goal with a sliderule finish.

Rory Brennan (who will miss tomorrow’s game because he is suspended for a strike on Enda Lynn), Ryan McAnespie, Johnny Monroe and the outstanding McNamee were all capable ball-carriers in the opener while UU’s attacking spearhead was provided by targetmen Fintan McClure (Clonoe) or Terence O’Brien.

Strong and powerful, Loup clubman O’Brien was named at midfield but impressed at full-forward and he will certainly give the Down full-back - Gerard McGovern (on home soil tomorrow) or possibly McArdle - his fill of it.

Ulster University may not have the marquee names of previous seasons but there are still some serious talents in their ranks. Against that, Down have home advantage and reaching the Ulster final has added several layers of confidence to their make-up.

Had the students held on to beat a rookie Derry team on Wednesday they would have been seen as favourites for this game. They didn’t, so they aren’t and Down get the nod to claim their first win of the year.