All-Ireland Minor Football Championship semi-final replay: Down 2-14 Dublin 1-9
DOWN produced a scintillating second-half performance to wipe out challengers Dublin in this All-Ireland minor football championship semi-final replay in Pairc Tailteann, Navan on Saturday.
An estimated crowd of around 6,000, many of whom had to walk up to three miles to get to the ground because of roadworks in practically every street in Navan, did manage to see most of the game and especially that brilliant second half.
The Down supremacy sprang from a terrific defence in which centre half-back Liam Doyle and his wing partners Brendan Kearney and Damian McGrady were outstanding, giving the strong Dublin attack few chances throughout the game.
Midfield was the foundation for Down’s success, with Louis Sloan and Brendan Coulter dominating against Conor Murphy and Kevin Devine.
And the Dublin defence, which had been superb in the drawn game, was not able to cope with the pace, power and deadly accuracy of the Mourne attack.
Paul Casey, Neil O’Driscoll and Alan Grogan did their best to stem the tide of Down attacks but they were unable to stop the red waves as Michael Walsh,
John Fegan and Ronan Sexton tore the Dublin defence apart with terrific interpassing and produced some very clinical finishing.
While Dublin remained in contention in the first half they just had no answer when the Mourne lads moved up a gear in the second period.
Down’s impending victory was flagged within 14 seconds of the restart when Brendan Coulter set up Ronan Sexton for Down’s first goal.
This score settled the side and thereafter there was only one team in the game.
Dublin for their part relied too much on the ability of Liam Og O hEineachain who scored four points from frees and kept his side in the game.
But apart from Stephen Mills, whose opportunist goal gave Dublin some hope, the rest of the Sky Blue attackers were well outplayed by their opponents.
Dublin started in lively fashion and Liam Og O hEineachain pointed a free after four minutes. At this stage Down looked nervous but they soon settled, with team captain Liam Doyle setting the example. He lobbed over the equalising point after six minutes.
This score inspired Down and Louis Sloan raced in from midfield to finish a good passing movement by sending over the bar.
Dublin came back with two points from frees by O hEineachain to regain the lead. A further point by Brian McEvoy saw Dublin ahead by 0-4 to 0-2 at the end of the first quarter.
Down stepped up a gear and Dublin keeper Stephen Cluxton brought off a brilliant save from Fegan before Michael Walsh and Brendan Coulter levelled.
Eight minutes from half-time, Mills pointed a Dublin free to regain the lead, but Down finished the half on a high note with points from Sloan and a Fegan free to lead by 0-6 to 0-5 at the interval.
Ronan Sexton’s goal within 14 seconds of the restart was just the score that Down needed.
They went into all out attack and had points from Fegan and PJ McAlinden while Gary Digney had a brilliant shot come back off the crossbar with the Dublin defence stranded.
With six minutes gone Sloan increased the Down lead with a point as they were ahead by 1-9 to 0-5 at this stage.
Two minutes later Dublin put themselves back in contention when a free by Graham Joyce saw Sean McCann’s shot saved by John Sloan in the Down goals but the ball ran free to Mills who sent to the net.
Down’s reply was swift and effective. Michael Walsh completed a good passing movement with a neat point while a PJ McAlinden shot came back of the post.
The real killer blow for Dublin came after 13 minutes with a scintillating Down attack which originated with Gary Digney who found Fegan and he produced a pinpoint pass to Brendan Coulter who shot to the net to give Down a 2-10 to 1-6 lead.
Dublin came back with two Mills pointed frees and one from Kevin Devine to reduce the Down lead but these proved to be their last scores as Down finished the final twelve minutes with a further four points.
These came from Ronan Murtagh, Liam Doyle, John Fagan and Damian McGrady who got probably the best score of the game after a 60 yard solo run from deep within his own half.
Down: J Sloan, J Clarke, B Grant, M Doran, B Kearney, L Doyle (0-2), D McGrady (0-1), L Sloan (0- 3), B Coulter (1-1), G Digney, M Walsh (0-2), R Murtagh (0-1), P J McAlinden (0-1), J Fagan (0-3), R Sexton (1-0)
Subs: D O’Hanlon for M Walsh, F McGreevy for G Digney.
Dublin: S Cluxton, A Holly, N Cleere, N O’Driscoll, A Brogan, P Casey, A Cleere, C Murphy, K Devine (0-1), S McCann, L Og O hEineachain (0-4), C O’Driscoll, S Mills (1-2), B McEvoy (0-1), G Joyce (0-1)
Subs: J Waldron for C O’Driscoll, D Magee for G Joyce.
Referee: D Joyce (Galway).
Down: J Sloan, J Clarke, B Grant, M Doran, B Kearney, L Doyle (0-2), D McGrady (0-1), L Sloan (0- 3), B Coulter (1-1), G Digney, M Walsh (0-2), R Murtagh (0-1), P J McAlinden (0-1), J Fagan (0-3), R Sexton (1-0)
Subs: D O’Hanlon for M Walsh, F McGreevy for G Digney.
Dublin: S Cluxton, A Holly, N Cleere, N O’Driscoll, A Brogan, P Casey, A Cleere, C Murphy, K Devine (0-1), S McCann, L Og O hEineachain (0-4), C O’Driscoll, S Mills (1-2), B McEvoy (0-1), G Joyce (0-1)
Subs: J Waldron for C O’Driscoll, D Magee for G Joyce.
Referee: D Joyce (Galway)
