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Thursday, March 04, 2010
Hurlers flatter against Down
Wexford 2-23 Down 1-12
THE BATTLING men from the Ards Peninsula of County Down made the long trip southwards to Wexford Park last Sunday afternoon, and despite the gulf in class they were far from disgraced when eventually going down by 14 points to Wexford in this second round National Hurling League Division 2 encounter.
The real damage to the scoreboard was done during a rampant second quarter of dominance by Wexford, as the home-side out-scored underdogs Down by nine points in that spell on their way to an interval advantage of 1-14 to 1-5.
With a sturdy display from the strong half-back line of Darren Stamp, Ciarán Kenny and Richie Kehoe the lively Wexford forwards were able to help themselves to some fine scores in that second quarter, with Tomás Waters and newcomer Jim Berry bagging a brace of points apiece, while team captain Diarmuid ‘Gizzy’ Lyng also scored a double from frees.
A number of the scores were a result of the ability of the Wexford attackers to win primary possession from the air, with both Andrew Shore and the impressive Tomas Waters using their physique to good effect in this regard.
In the opening exchanges Down had recovered from an early blow after Tomás Waters had scored a fine opportunist goal when a shot from Malachy Travers had dropped inside the square.
Wexford led by 1-4 to 0-2 early on, but a well converted penalty from Gareth Johnson following some uncertainty in the Wexford defence enabled Down to get back level on 1-4 apiece after 12 minutes.
However, much like a week earlier in the clash with Westmeath, the purple-and-gold asserted themselves during the second quarter to eventually lead at half-time, on this occasion by nine points.
Down enjoyed wind advantage during the secondhalf, but any faint hopes of a successful revival by the Mourne Men were dashed in the 41st-minute when their impressive centre-back, Conor Woods was sent-off for a late pull on Wexford substitute Peter Atkinson, who had replaced the injured Willie Doran during the early stages of the first-half.
Jim Berry’s burgeoning scoring total was well replenished in the 50th-minute when the young ‘Harriers man was in the right place at the right time to strike home Darren Stamp’s long-range free for his second goal in as many league outings.
That Berry major put Wexford well in control, by 2-18 to 1-7, and for the remainder of the game the fixture resembled nothing more than a challenge match, with winning captain ‘Gizzy’ Lyng continuing to pile on the scores as he finished with a splendid haul of 0-11, including a tidy four from play.
It is certainly hard to pass any great judgement based on last Sunday’s game, as Down would generally be regarded as being outside the top half-dozen counties in the game.
What was encouraging was to see the useful display from speedy debutante Darren Kehoe at corner-back, while Jim Berry put in a fine shift for the 70 minutes, and some of the experienced campaigners such as Keith Rossiter, Darren Stamp and ‘Gizzy’ Lyng were also in sparkling form.
Down were game throughout and their outstanding performer was wing-back, Simon Wilson, with Gareth Johnson working hard in attack.
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