Hurling & Camogie

Down well-beaten by Wicklow after getting two late red cards

Allianz Hurling League Division 2B: Wicklow 1-18 Down 0-11

Unbeaten Wicklow guaranteed themselves a place in the Division 2B final as a result of this 10-point win over 13-man Down in Arklow yesterday.

Down were showing tentative signs of staging a comeback when they lost substitute Gareth Johnson and Eoghan Sands to red cards within two minutes of each other – and thereafter all hope was gone.

Down left themselves with a mountain to climb after Wicklow, despite playing against the wind, had built up double scores 0-10 to 0-5 lead at the break.

Full-forward Andy O’Brien was on fire for Wicklow in the early stages as he drilled over three sweet points, while corner man Christy Moorehouse was on target from four frees.

Down’s attack found it almost impossible to make meaningful headway against a hard grafting, tight-marking home defence, anchored around Martin O’Brien at full-back and Eamonn Kearns at centre-back.

The Ardsmen were also losing the midfield battle in the first half, leaving them dependant on corner-forward and captain for the day Danny Toner to keep them in this game. Toner scored three of their five first half points.

Things were not looking great at the start of the second half either as Christy Moorehouse (0-2) and  midfielder Ronan Keddy stretched Wicklow’s lead to 0-13 to 0-5.

Down, to their credit, did not throw in the towel. Toner added another three points, cutting the margin to five, 0-14 to 0-9, as the game reached the three-quarter point.

Johnson was introduced after 43 minutes and added punch and  Scott Nicholson added fresh legs, while goalie Stephen Keith lifted their morale with a spectacular diving save to deny Moorehouse, who cut in from the right and then aimed his shot for the far corner, but the goalie deflected it out.

O’Brien drilled two super points from frees from over 100 meters, but still Down were in with a shout – seven points adrift – when they were awarded a penalty with 14 minutes remaining.

Johnson stepped up to the sliothar with menacing intent. He intended to blast to the roof of the net but the ball rose too much and went over the bar.

A goal would have cut the margin to four points and it would have been game on for the last 10 minutes.

Instead, things went from bad to worse for Down. Johnson picked up a red card on 63 minutes and corner-forward Eoghan Sands saw red two minutes later following some skirmishes in the Wicklow goalmouth.

Down two players, there was no way back for the Ardsmen, and Wicklow ended the match with the only goal from Eoin McCormack in injury-time.

Wicklow: E O’Mahony; L Maloney, M O’Brien, E Dunne; G Byrne, E Kearns (0-1), P Keane; J Henderson, R Keddy (0-1); D Staunton, A Byrne (0-1), P Doyle; C Moorehouse (0-9, 0-6), A O’Brien (0-5, 0-2 frees), E McCormack (1-1).

Subs: D Masterson for Byrne (50), J Byrne for McCormack (69), E Donohoe for Moorehouse (69), W Kinsella for R Keddy (69).

Down: S Keith; A Bell, M Hughes, S Ennis; D Hughes, C Woods, M Ennis; C O’Prey, D McManus; C Mageean, C Taggart (0-1), M Magee; E Sands, C Egan (0-2), D Toner (0-6, 0-4 frees).

Subs: G Johnson (0-1 penalty) for Hughes (43), S Nicholson (0-1) for Magee (54), P McManus for Taggart (65).

Referee: T Carroll (Offaly)

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