Sport

Dublin teeter on the edge

Division One Relegation Section/ Down 4-15 Dublin 4-9 : After the largely disastrous seasons experienced by both sides in Division…

Mon Apr 11 2005 - 01:00

Division One Relegation Section/ Down 4-15 Dublin 4-9: After the largely disastrous seasons experienced by both sides in Division One this year, it would be understandable if Down and Dublin are actually hoping for Division Two hurling next year to regroup and build up morale.

Pride, however, proved strong in Ballycran yesterday and it was the home side who did most to chalk up a hugely significant win which could yet prove the saving of their Division One status.

The return of defensive talisman Gary Savage, injured since the Cork game, was a blessing for Down as he played a hero's role, including saving a 20-metre free in the second half.

Down forward Paul Branniff also played his first game since May and he contributed four points to his side's total.

READ MORE

Dublin had the start they wanted as Marcus Walsh's seventh-minute goal put them 1-2 to 0-2 ahead. Gareth Johnson then flicked a Brendan McGourty sideline puck to the net for a 15th-minute equaliser.

Two more goals from Johnson and one more through Martin Coulter gave Down a 4-8 to 1-4 lead at half-time.

A goal three minutes into the second half from Marcus Walsh gave Dublin hope of a recovery but, with Ronan Fallon and Darragh Spain yellow-carded midway through the half, their rally never quite got off the ground until goals by Walsh and Gerard O'Meara narrowed the gap to two points with 10 minutes left.

Down then took command once more, finishing with points from Simon Wilson, Liam Clarke, McGourty and Branniff for a comfortable victory. All but two points of Down's total came from play, which bears witness to the fluency of their hurling.

DOWN: Graham Clarke; L Clarke, S Murray, P Hughes; S Wilson (0-2), G Savage, Gabriel Clarke; G Adare, P Monan; B McGourty (0-3), P Branniff (0-4), J McCusker (0-1); M Coulter (1-2), G Johnson (3-1), S Clarke (0-1). Subs: E Clarke (0-1) for J McCusker; A Savage for G Adare.

DUBLIN: G Maguire; P Brennan, S Daly, S O'Shea; K Elliott, R Fallon, D O'Reilly (0-1); K Meehan, M Carton; G O'Meara (1-1), S Hiney (0-1), D Sweeney; E Carroll (0-2), M Walsh (3-2), D Curtin (0-2). Subs: G Bennett for K Meehan; A McCrabbe for M Carton; D Spain for K Elliott, F Chambers for Spain, T Russell for R Fallon.

YELLOW CARDS: Dublin: D Spain, R Fallon.

Referee: J McGrath (Westmeath).