Football

Back in the day - Down 'wide boys’ must do it again in All-Ireland Minor semi-final replay against Dublin - The Irish News, Aug 30 1999

CLOSE CONTROL...Down’s John Fegan gets away from the attention of Dublin’s Anthony Holly at Croke Park yesterday
CLOSE CONTROL...Down’s John Fegan gets away from the attention of Dublin’s Anthony Holly at Croke Park yesterday CLOSE CONTROL...Down’s John Fegan gets away from the attention of Dublin’s Anthony Holly at Croke Park yesterday

All-Ireland Minor Football Championship semi-final Down 0-13 Dublin 1-10

DOWN captain Liam Doyle pointed to a string of second-half wides as the reason his side failed to make it to the All-Ireland final yesterday.

The Mournemen hit seven wides in the second half – only 1 more than Dublin – and Doyle felt they had wasted too many chances.

“We’re very disappointed. We shot ourselves out of it once again, just like in the Ulster final,” said Doyle.

“We didn’t really take our chances, Dublin took theirs and that was the difference.”

Doyle had pushed up from centre half-back to score two late inspirational points, but a free from Dublin forward Liam og OhEineachain left the sides level.

“We seem to have a habit of putting ourselves in a corner. Watching those wides was disheartening but we have a chance to put it right,” added Doyle.

There would have been little need for a rematch had Down played to their full potential.

While Doyle, Brendan Coulter and Michael Walsh were hugely influential along with goalie John Sloan who pulled off a couple of fantastic saves, others on the team will be eager to improve.

Dublin hit four wides in the opening seven minutes of the second half but after that it was Down’s turn to be wasteful and although they had the majority of the possession they failed to convert.

A super long range free from OhEineachain after 51 minutes put Dublin ahead 1-8 to 0-10, the first time they had lead since scoring the goal early on.

Down showed good character to come back from the setback, Doyle’s equalising score 30 seconds after Sloan had made a great block from McCann was typical of the spirit they showed.

Two minutes later Doyle punched over Coulter’s free to put Down ahead but Dublin came back with the late equaliser.

Dublin: S Cluxton, A Holly, N Cleere, N O’Driscoll, A Brogan (1-1), P Casey (0-1), A Cleere, C Murphy, K Devine (0-1), S McCann, L OhEineachain (0-4, 2 frees), C O’Driscoll (0- 1), S Mills (0-1, free), B McAvoy, G Joyce.

Subs: J Waldron (0-1) for Mills (50)

Down: J Sloan, J Clarke, B Grant, M Doran, B Kearney, L Doyle (0-3), D McGrady, L Sloan, B Coulter (0-3), G Digney (0-1) M Walsh (0-1), R Murtagh, G Morgan (0-2, 1 free), J Fegan (0- 1, free), R Sexton (0-2).

Subs: PJ McAlinden for Morgan (52)

Referee: Des Joyce (Galway)

Derry SFC semi-final: Ballinderry 2-15 Lavey 0-6

A RAMPANT Ballinderry cruised past a thoroughly dejected Lavey on a 2-15 to 0-6 scoreline to set up an intriguing encounter with holders Bellaghy in the Derry SFC final.

Despite losing midfielder Sean Donnelly after only five minutes with a very serious leg injury after he fell awkwardly when challenging for a high ball, Ballinderry over-ran their arch rivals, Gerard Cassidy finishing with a personal tally of 1-7.

Lavey entered the game without the injured Henry Downey and his positional sense and playmaking were badly missed.

Ahead by 1-6 to 0-2 at half-time, Ballinderry totally dominated the second period with substitute Darren Conway punching the ball to the net in the final minute to round off a scintillating display from the young talented team.

Ballinderry: M Conlon, R McGuckin, M McCusker, D Crozier, C McCusker, P Wilson, O Bell (0-1), S Donnelly, J Conway (0-1), E Muldoon, M Wilson (0- 1), A McGuckin (0-1), G Cassidy (1-7), D Bateson, B McCusker, D Conway (1- 1), C Gilligan (0-3).

Lavey: M Hasson, P McVeigh, K McCloy, G Boyle, C McGurk, J McGurk (0-1), S Doherty, G Doyle, O Collins, G Cushnahan (0-4), B McCormick, P Hearty, M Collins, S Downey, C McGurk.

Subs: P Scullion for M Collins, D Mulholland (0-1) for P Hearty.