19th
August 2005
Mourne men through to face Longford in
All-Ireland final
Down can pull off a Master stroke!
All Ireland Masters Football semi-finalDown
0-9 Roscommon 0-7
DOWN won their place in the final of the
All-Ireland Masters Championship against
Longford on Sunday by beating a strong and
useful Roscommon side in Ballyconnell, Co
Cavan, last Saturday.
The setting was perfect with the excellent
pitch and facilities nestled at the foot of
the rolling hills and giant wind turbines.
Down were not there to enjoy the scenery and
were eager to take the wind out of Roscommon’s
sails, which was easier said than done, and
although having about 60% of the play they
could not rest on their laurels and were made
to fight for every ball.
If Down had a fault it was that their half
forward line persisted in working the ball too
close to the Roscommon goals before shooting
or releasing to a mate. In doing so they were
made to go wide and the attack had to start
all over again.
This was the trend in the first half and
although Down substituted Aidan McInerney for
Paddy Hardy and Conor Byrne for Kevin Savage,
halfway through the second half it didn’t
change the style of play and they finished the
last 10 minutes playing possession football.
Overall this was typical Down football, fast,
crisp flowing from the back line to the
forwards with great displays coming from Ross
Carr (0-3), Brendan McKernan (0-1), Audie
McVeigh (0-1), Paddy Hardy (0-1), and Cheta
Burden (0-2) with one of the best scores of
the game from Sean McGreevy at left back who
took possession in his own area, soloed to the
21 yards line and hit a beautiful point with
his left foot.
Audie McVeigh had a great run from the left
wing, beating three Roscommon players. He sent
a low hard shot for a goal knowing that it
would kill off Roscommon once and for all, but
the keeper saved and Down were still just two
points in front which they held to the end.
Martin Durkin, who started in place of the
injured DJ Kane, had a sound game along with
Terry O’Higgins, Sian MacRory, John Farrell
and the evergreen Donal Walsh.
Sean Devlin and Kevin Savage, although being
quieter than usual, contributed to this hard
earned Down win, as did Eamon O’Rourke, more
so when he was switched to midfield late in
the second half.
So on to the final next Sunday against
Longford. Little is known of the opposition as
they were not in Down’s section of the League
but you can be assured they will be like
Roscommon, big and useful as they accounted
for a good Tyrone team in the semi-final.
Tyrone had earlier beaten Dublin, the present
All-Ireland holders.
Now it’s a case of keeping Down’s excellent
record — “When you get to an All-Ireland final
you win it!”
Down panel:
John Heenan (Annaclone)
John Farrell (Annaclone)
Terry O’Higgins (Liatroim)
Sean McGreevy (Clonduff)
Donal Walsh (Castlewellan)
Sian MacRory (Glenn)
Martin Durkin (Mitchels)
Ross Carr (Clonduff)
Brendan McKernan (Burren)
Paddy Hardy (Castlewellan)
Kevin Savage (St John’s )
Cheta Burden (Longstone)
Sean Devlin (Kilcoo)
Eamon O’Rourke (An Riocht)
Audie McVeigh (Castlewellan)
Aidan McInerney (Tullylish)
Conor Byrne (Glenn)
Garvin Brady (Banbridge)
Gerry McAvoy (Aghaderg)
Paddy Keating (Mitchels)
Paul Rogers (Longstone)
Steven McVeigh (Warrenpoint)
Conor Rogers (Mitchels)
Seamus Sloan (An Riocht) |
