Hurling - Derry 'shot Down' at Owenbeg
Ulster Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final
Steven Doherty reports from Owenbeg
THERE will be a replay of the 2013 Ulster Hurling Championship final after Down defeated Derry by five points at Owenbeg yesterday. A lethargic opening by the home side saw them trail 0-3 to 0-1 after 20 minutes of play. Down looked hungrier all over the pitch and appeared intent on exacting revenge over an earlier defeat in the season in the Christy Ring Cup. Talisman Ruairi Convery was forced out of action with a shoulder injury as early as the 5th minute and the omens appeared ominous for Tom McLean’s men. However, Derry suddenly hit their straps in the latter phases of the half and out-scored Down by nine points to five. Indeed had it not been for a number of injury times wides, the Oak Leafers would have ran in at half time with a better lead than the 0-10 to 0-08 advantage they did enjoy. Danny Toner, with a quick fire hat-trick of scores, was Down’s best forward, while Paddy Henry was Derry’s top scorer with six first half points, including five frees. Everything changed and changed dramatically right at the start of the second half. It took the Ardsmen just 6 minutes to score 2-2, with goals coming from Caolan Bailie and man of the match Danny Toner finding the back of the net. Second best they may have been in the second half, Down were the masters of Owenbeg after the break and when Gareth Johnson rammed home their third goal in the 47th minute it ended the game as a contest. The home side refused to yield and a 57th minute Kevin Hinphey offered some hope, but teak tough defending from Michael Johnston’s men denied any further goals with Down running out five point winners.
Scorers- Derry: Paddy Henry 0-8 (0-7f), Kevin Hinphey 1-1, Paul Cleary 0-3, Aaron Kelly 0-1, Sean McGuigan 0-1, Alan Grant 0-1, Jonny O’Dwyer 0-1, Brendan Douban 0-1 Down: Gareth Johnson 1-6 (0-5f), Danny Toner 1-6 (0-1f), Caolan Bailie 1-1, Declan McManus 0-1, James Coyle 0-1
Derry: Daryl McDermott, Michael Warnock, Conor Quinn, Sean McCullagh (c), Conor McSorley, Liam Hinphey, Ruairi McCloskey, Anton Rafferty, Sean McGuigan, Aaron Kelly, Alan Grant, Kevin Hinphey, Patrick Henry, Ruairi Convery, Jonathan O’Dwyer Subs: Paul Cleary for R Convery (5), Eugene McGuckin for S McCullough (35), B Douban for A Kelly (43), Deaglan Foley for S McGuigan (63), Tiarnan McCloskey for J O’Dwyer (65) Down: Stephen Keith, Sean Ennis, Conor Woods, Michael Hughes, Declan McManus, Conor O’Neill, Michael McCullough, John McManus, Donal Hughes, Steven Dineen, Danny Toner, Fintan Conway, Caolan Bailie, Gareth Johnson (c), James Coyle Subs: Brett Nicholson for Rian Branagan B/S (10), Conor Cassidy for J Coyle (47), Paul Sheehan for c Bailie (57), scott Nicholson for D McManus (70)
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