Sport

Down up to the challenge

Down... 0-8 Fermanagh..

Mon Feb 03 2003 - 00:00

Down ... 0-8 Fermanagh ... 0-6The new Down manager, Paddy O'Rourke, got off to a winning start at Enniskillen in a match where both defences dominated and where the soft underfoot conditions contributed to a low-scoring encounter.

Down led by 0-5 to 0-4 at half-time, three of their points coming from their influential midfielder Dan Gordon.

On the restart, Down extended their lead, with points from Liam Doyle and Michael Walsh, forcing Fermanagh to chase the game for the remaining 20 minutes.

In that period Fermanagh captain Raymond Gallagher had a low shot well saved by the Down goalkeeper before scoring to narrow the margin to two points, 0-7 to 0-5.

READ MORE

Fermanagh had most of the possession but were coming up against an in-form Down defence where centre-half back Seán Ward was outstanding and was ably supported by fellow defenders Alan Molloy and John Clarke.

On three occasions in the opening half, Fermanagh hit the front, with points from Kieran Donnelly (free), Ronan McCabe and another Donnelly free; but each time they were reeled in by points from Gordon, Shane Ward and Walsh, and then came a double salvo from Gordon just before the break.

Fermanagh could never muster the scores to snatch victory. Tom Brewster had a pointed free on 60 minutes, but that was their final score. A Gallagher shot hit the woodwork and Donnelly was wide from play.

On the day, Fermanagh were best served by their defence where fullback Barry Owens was particularly solid, although he enjoyed good support from Ryan McCluskey and Michael Lilly.

FERMANAGH: D Feely; D O'Reilly, B Owens, M Lilly; J Gilheaney, R McCluskey, H Brady; M McGrath, T Brewster (0-1); S Doherty, R Johnston, K Donnelly (0-2); R Gallagher (0-2), S Maguire, R McCabe (0-1). Subs: C O'Reilly for Johnston; R Keenan for Maguire; G Maguire for Gilheaney.

DOWN: M McVeigh; D McCartan, A Molloy, M Cole; J Clarke, S Ward, D Rooney; D Gordon (0-3), G McCartan; L Doyle (0-1), M Walsh (0-2), A O'Prey; P P McCartan, B Coulter(0-1), S Ward (0-1). Sub: A Devlin for O'Prey.

Referee: Des Joyce (Galway).