Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup Section B: Down 1-14 Ulster University 0-9
AS far as dead-rubber games go in the Dr McKenna Cup, Down couldn’t have been any happier with their eight-point win over Ulster University and the performance graphs of some of their new recruits.
The biting cold and the fact that a semi-final berth was beyond their reach prior to yesterday’s rearranged clash with Paul Rouse’s UU side probably explained the paltry turn-out in Burren.
But those Mourne supporters who did brave the elements and ignored the dynamics of Section B came away reasonably content ahead of their side’s opening NFL Division Two game against Louth in a fortnight’s time.
As the home side rattled off five unanswered points in the closing stages to record their first win in this season’s competition, there was a bit of debate among reporters about who should be awarded man-of-the-match.
Connaire Harrison’s smashing first-half goal alone put him in the frame, while Niall McParland’s solid defensive display at centre-back was also a worthy shout.
But McParland’s Glen club-mate Shay Millar was just that little bit better than anyone else on the field and his three points from play secured the post-match accolade.
But there were plenty of other players wearing red and black that caught the eye.
Kilcoo’s Aaron Morgan and Longstone’s Conor Poland looked an accomplished midfield pairing and Downpatrick’s Conor McGrady had good moments in either half.
McGrady hit a brilliant 24th minute point from distance and a tricky angle and was only bettered by Harrison’s wonder goal a minute earlier, while Kevin McKernan’s lovely score in the dying embers of the game was worth the journey.
Playing on home soil, McKernan’s 53rd minute introduction helped see the Mournemen ease to victory.
The students remained competitive up until the last 10 minutes but they couldn’t live with Down’s shooting accuracy. Not even the introduction of Tyrone trio Mark Bradley, David Mulgrew and Ronan McNamee throughout the second half could wrestle control away from the hosts.
The bustling figure of Matthew Walsh hit three second-half points from play for UU but the visitors never created enough chances to overturn their opponents’ 1-6 to 0-4 interval lead.
Full-forward Niall Madine had some good moments against his native county but the Mournemen generally defended well and limited Ulster University to one goal chance in the second half.
“Today we tied together two halves of football,” said Down manager Eamonn Burns.
“I thought we’d a good second half against Armagh and we started very well against Derry but I thought we had two good halves here.
“A lot of things worked out for us and there are others that we need to do a lot of work on. But there are positives going forward.”
Despite the raft of absentees for 2018, Burns is happy with the depth of his new-look panel, particularly his forward options.
“You see our inside forward-line: we started with Sean Dornan and Connaire Harrison and we brought on Barry O’Hagan and Donal O’Hare is recovering from a knock.
“In the first two games we played young Ronan Millar and he did really, really well, so there’s a lot of competition for places, both in attack and in defence.”
Burns rightly name-checked his midfield duo both of whom looked very assured in possession and in the aerial stakes.
“We had Aaron Morgan and Conor Poland in midfield and they did really, really well,” said Burns.
“Niall McParland is just coming back and Peter Turley is out with a bout of ‘flu. So we’re trying to strengthen everywhere. If we want to make progress this year that’s what we have to do.”
Down hit the first four points of the afternoon with Shay Millar and Aaron Morgan among those finding their range and it took Rouse’s men a frustrating 19 minutes to get on the score-sheet, through the hard-working Madine.
But four minutes later, they trailed 1-4 to 0-1 after Harrison found the top corner of the students’ net after fine approach play involving Poland and Shane Murray.
Madine won and converted a 30th minute free and Lorcan Harney grabbed another point for the students – but the hosts always carried a greater attacking threat.
Harrison was full of running in the Down attack, nullifying UU’s sweeper system, while Shay Millar showed his class by switching to his weaker side to fire over his second of three points to open the home’s second-half account.
The students did outscore the Mournemen 0-3 to 0-1 between the 40th and 62nd minutes to reduce the deficit to 1-9 to 0-9 – but Harrison spurned two good goal chances during that period.
Down, though, didn’t let those misses affect them as they hammered over five points without replay from the 63rd minute on.
Burns said: “We spent a lot of time looking at club football and we brought a few in from last year’s U21s so we’re looking to strengthen the squad.
“A couple of boys retired and there are a couple through work and family commitments couldn’t commit and we had to fill those spaces.
“The lads who have come in have performed fairly well. I’m happy the way things are moving.”
Ulster University boss Paul Rouse declined to be interviewed afterwards as he seeks to focus minds ahead of their Sigerson Cup clash with holders St Mary’s at the end of the month.
Down: S Harrison; C Flanagan, S Murnin, B McArdle; A Doherty (0-2, frees), N McParland, K Quinn; A Morgan (0-1), C Poland; S Millar (0-3), C Maginn, C McGrady (0-1); C Harrison (1-2, 0-1 free), S Dornan (0-1), S Murray (0-1) Subs: R Millar for S Murray (53), K McKernan (0-1) for
C McGrady (53), B O’Hagan (0-1) for S Dornan (55), G McGovern (0-1) for K Quinn (65)
Yellow cards: C Flanagan (47)
Ulster University: S Fox; R Lively, C Burke, E Murray; M Magee, R Brennan, S Loughran; J Monroe, M Walsh (0-3); R McAnespie, E McHugh (0-1), P Laverty; D Tallon, N Madine (0-3, 0-2 frees), L Harney (0-1)
Subs: T O’Brien for C Burke (h-t), M Bradley for L Harney (h-t) D Mulgrew for P Laverty (45), R McNamee (0-1) for R Brennan (50), D Gallagher for D Tallon (45), O Duffin for R Lively (67)
Black card: S Loughran (71 – not replaced)
Yellow cards: M Bradley (47), R Lively (65)
Referee: K Doherty (Antrim)
