Down turn on the style to reach minor final
Sunday August 28 2005
OFFALY 1-7
DOWN turned on the style in the second half as they crushed Offaly and booked their place in the minor football final for the first time since 1999.
By the quarter hour mark Down had opened up a 0-4 to nil cushion. The points were dispatched by Ryan Kelly (free), Kevin Duffin and two exquisite scores by Declan Lavery. Offaly responded magnificently as Rory Connor won the kick-out and delivered to Ken Casey who blasted in a stunning goal.
Niall Darby levelled it, but Down re-grouped strongly and points by Eamon McConville, Martin Clarke (free) and Séamus Grant saw them 0-7 to 1-2 in front after 27 minutes. Offaly finished the half strongly and thanks to Darby and Connor they went in all square.
A successful 37th minute free by Casey gave Offaly the lead, 1-5 to 0-7, for the only time and from there to the end it was Down who were rampant. Brilliant centre-forward Martin Clarke and talented 16-year-old corner-forward Ciarán Brannigan led Offaly a merry dance and with 50 minutes gone it was 0-13 to 1-5. Gerry Grehan scored two rallying points for Offaly but Down sealed their final place with Richard Kerr's blockbuster goal in injury time.
Down: M McAllister; G Magee, C Garvey, H Magee; G McCartan, E McConville (0-1), K Duffin (0-1); J Colgan (0-1), P Fitzpatrick (0-1); D Lavery (0-2), M Clarke (0-4, 0-1 free), S Grant (0-1); C Brannigan (0-2), R Kelly (0-1 free), P McCumiskey (0-1). Subs: S O'Hagan for G Magee, R Kerr (1-0) for Lavery, J McClorey for O'Hagan, C Clerkin for McCumiskey, G Joyce for McAllister.
Offaly: D Bracken; J Guinan, D Larkin, D Horan; J Knight, R Dalton, G Grehan (0-2); R Connor (0-1), R Brady; N Darby (0-2), C Mahon, S Lonergan; W Mulhall, P Duffy (0-1), K Casey (1-1, 0-1 free). Subs: J Gorman for Brady, B Kelly for Lonergan, J Ryan for Guinan, G Treacy for Duffy.
