Sport

Clarke drives Down to win

Down 1-14 Longford 1-10 DOWN HAD to withstand a determined final quarter comeback by Longford before eventually emerging victorious…

Mon Jul 12 2010 - 01:00

Down 1-14 Longford 1-10DOWN HAD to withstand a determined final quarter comeback by Longford before eventually emerging victorious at Páirc Esler on Saturday evening.

Shock winners at home to Mayo in the opening round, Glenn Ryan’s Longford were extremely fortunate to be trailing by only six points at the break, 0-9 to 0-3.

Down dominated the first half with their scores coming from Martin Clarke (3), Mark Poland (2), Daniel Hughes (2), John Clarke and Benny Coulter and would have been in a more commanding lead but for a couple of brilliant saves by Longford goalkeeper Damien Sheridan who foiled Coulter and Hughes.

All Longford could managed was three frees converted by their chief marksman Francis McGee.

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Things improved somewhat for the visitors in the third quarter but when the impressive Martin Clarke scored a goal from a dubious penalty in the 54th minute to leave Down in a clear 1-11 to 0-6 lead there appeared to be no way back for Longford.

However, the visitors were thrown a lifeline with a Francis McGee goal in the 58th minute after the Down goalkeeper Brendan McVeigh had saved a cracking shot from Bernard McElvaney. But the home side refused to be rattled despite losing midfielder Kalum King who was sent off after receiving a second yellow card in the 59th minute.

McGee scored Longford’s first score from play in the 56th minute and he finished with 1-7 (six frees) to his credit while Paul Barden also landed a couple of excellent points, including a sideline kick.

But they were also reduced to 14 players when wing back Shane Mulligan was dismissed for a second booking in the 64th minute. Longford closed the gap to three points but a great score from man-of-the-match Martin Clarke in the 69th minute clinched Down’s victory.

DOWN:B McVeigh; D O'Hagan, D Gordon, D Rafferty; D Rooney (0-1), J Colgan, C Garvey; A Rogers, K King; D Hughes (0-3), M Poland (0-3, two frees), C Maginn; M Clarke (1-5, three frees, goal pen), J Clarke (0-1), B Coulter (0-1). Subs:K McKernan for C Garvey (39 mins); C Laverty for J Clarke (58 mins); P Fitzpatrick for M Poland (67 mins); A Carr for C Maginn (70).

LONGFORD:D Sheridan; D Brady, B Gilleran, D Reilly; S Mulligan, E Williams, S Hannon; D Masterson, B McElvaney; P Dowd, K Mulligan, P Barden (0-2, one sideline); F McGee (1-7, six frees), B Kavanagh, S McCormack. Subs:N Farrell (0-1, free) for S Hannon (ht); P Kelly for K Mulligan (49).

Referee:M Higgins (Fermanagh).