Hurling & Camogie

Down need a good start if they are to secure senior status in relegation play-off with Offaly

Down may need to rely on scores from Sorcha McCartan in their All-Ireland Senior Championship relegation play-off with Offaly today
Down may need to rely on scores from Sorcha McCartan in their All-Ireland Senior Championship relegation play-off with Offaly today Down may need to rely on scores from Sorcha McCartan in their All-Ireland Senior Championship relegation play-off with Offaly today

All-Ireland Senior championship relegation play-off: Down v Offaly (today, Kingspan Breffni, 2pm)

DOWN must put behind them what happened in Newry a fortnight ago as they head into this Relegation battle with Offaly in Kingspan Breffni Park.

The goal and nine points that secured the victory for Dublin was the lowest winning score by any team in the senior championship. And the 2-38 that Down conceded over the three games in the group meant they had the meanest defence apart from the three group winners, Tipperary, Cork and Galway.

In the opening two games the Down attack also did a good job with few stray shots despite being under a lot of pressure and the single point defeat to Waterford was hard to take.

However, the 17 wides recorded against an average Dublin team is the reason they are in relegation trouble. Had just three or four of those wayward shots hit the target, Down could have won easily.

The bulk of Down’s scoring has been done by Sorcha McCartan from distance and Niamh Mallon from closer in and therein lies the problem.

The injury sustained by Sara Louise Graffin in the first game obviously curtailed her contribution but the experienced Clonduff forward has a huge part to play up front.

In the continued absence of Paula O’Hagan there is a leadership role to be played, but Down also need to replicate her scoring exploits of the Ulster final at the start of July.

Apart from the wides count against Dublin, Down should be pretty happy with how the team has performed in the top flight.

They have had to change their formation and game-plan through the group games and at no time were they pulled apart and put under undue pressure.

Dearbhla Magee has been released from the restraints of full-back and the Liatroim Fontenoy has revelled in the new role with Player of the Match performances against both Cork and Dublin, her aggression and pace taking her through the crowded midfield area to keep the sliotar in the Mourne attack.

They have also worked the sweeper role well, but they are in this situation because they couldn’t secure a victory despite getting into the frame in two of the three games.

Offaly also finished their group without a win; the closest they came was a 0-17 to 2-9 defeat by Limerick in Banagher after they made the early running.

Indeed they were consistent in hitting the same total in each of their three games with 1-12 against Tipperary and 0-15 against Wexford. It was also Down’s best return in any of their games. Passing that total in Breffni should keep a team in the competition for another season.

Offaly’s defence, however, has been much more open than Down’s. They tended to go player-on-player in most games and Tipperary in particular exploited that with fairly direct running at the defence resulting in the concession of 3-23. At no point did Down look to be that open.

The midlanders are also quite dependent on Máiréad Teehan for scores however, the majority have been from frees.

As with the Waterford and Dublin games, Down can enter this tie with some optimism, but the confidence they built up over the first two games may well have taken a hit in Páirc Esler at the end of July. Neither can Offaly’s confidence be too high.

Therefore the team that gets a good start in Breffni could well gather momentum and pull clear.

Down’s visit to Breffni last December propelled them into senior camogie. With this one they hopefully can retain that status.

All-Ireland Premier Junior Championship: Wexford v Armagh (today, Buffers Alley, 2pm)

THIS game was scheduled for last week and postponed because Wexford had a key Ladies’ Football game. Dual players will be now be available for this game and that should strengthen the home side’s hand.

Armagh have twice lost narrowly to them in league games with only a couple of points the gap between them. However a third defeat might create a mental problem for Mattie Lennon’s side that could have consequences if the pair meet up again in the final.

Victory for Armagh would also put them in a better position to reach the final, with the knock-out draw to take place after the game.

Nancy Murray Cup: Mayo v Tyrone (today, Toreen, 1pm)

IT has been a busy few days for Tyrone with their delayed first round game against Donegal played on Wednesday evening in Edendork.

That resulted in a comfortable victory for Tyrone with Siobhan Donnelly (3-6), Róisín McErlean (3-5) and Reagan Fay (1-6) the main scorers.

The win has guaranteed the Red Hands a semi-final spot. However the outcome of this game in Toreen will decide who meets a weak Louth team (the winner) or a stronger Wicklow team (the loser) in the semi-finals later this month.