Carr strike sends Down past Offaly
Wednesday, 21 July 2010
Down’s Aidan Carr (No 25) and Ambrose Rogers (No 8) compete for the ball.
Down 1-12 Offaly 1-10.
A FABULOUS strike from Aidan Carr three minutes into the second half proved the difference between the two teams at Tullamore.
Down were two points down at that stage and that goal turned the game and set Down on their way to victory on Saturday evening. They are now through to the final round of qualifiers where they will face Sligo.
Offaly took the lead in the second minute when Ken Casey hit the back of the net, sending the home fans into raptures.
Down were forced to line out without last week's star forward in the win over Longford, Danny Hughes, who had a slight injury and was deemed unfit to start. Also missing was Conor Maginn. Their places were taken by eventual hero Aidan Carr and Paul McComiskey.
The visitors were completely outplayed in the opening 10 minutes, with Offaly midfielders Richie Dalton and Brian Connor impressing.
Down's defence came under constant pressure with Offaly denied three goals during this period. Brendan McVeigh making a super save from John Reynolds while Ken Casey hit the post from close range and a late interception from corner back Declan Rooney kept Down in the game.
When Down did forward through hard grafting from Martin Clarke, the front men often lost possession and due to the accuracy of Martin Clarke from frees, Offaly only went in at the interval with a three point advantage.
Hopes were high among the large number of visiting fans that their team could only improve in the second half and when Aidan Carr hit the net it came as a hammer blow to the Offaly man. Down seemed to gain confidence after this and always looked as if they could contain the home challenge.
The second half was only two minutes gone when Niall McNamee got his hand to a high lob into the Down goal area, the ball broke to Ken Casey and he shot low and hard past Brendan McVeigh to the net.
Two minutes later Casey was on target, fisting over from close range. The sides exchanged scores to bring the score to Down 0-2 to Offaly 1-1. Offaly scored three points without reply to bring the score to 0-2 to 1-4
Martin Clarke scored a couple of frees and Down hit another score before Aidan Carr's goal put Down ahead for the first time.
Mark Poland found Aidan Carr, who cut in from the right, took it past a defender, picked his spot and drilled the ball into the corner of the net from an acute angle in the 38th minute. Down now led 1-7 to 1-6.
Martin Clarke extended Down's lead a minute later.
Down were on top but shot three wides in the next five minutes before John Reynolds narrowed the gap to the minimum after 47 minutes.
Danny Hughes was the introduced from the bench for goalscorer Aidan Carr before Ciaran McManus levelled matters with a free, making the scores 1-8 apiece.
Down moved two points clear thanks to an excellent point from play from Danny Hughes and a pointed free from Martin Clarke. Niall McNamee shot over after collecting a long through pass from Brian Connor in the 56th minute to leave a single point between the sides, 1-10 to 1-9.
Ronan Sexton, who had just come off the bench, was soon in the thick of the action, teaming up with Kalum King to set up Benny Coulter, who shot over to restore Down's lead to two points.
With eight minutes to go, Mark Poland put Down three up. A punt from Brian Connor cut Down's lead to two points with six minutes to go.
The Down defence came under severe pressure as Offaly tried to save the game but, with Dan Gordon in excellent form, they held on for the win.
Teams and scorers:
Down - Brendan McVeigh, Declan Rooney, Dan Gordon, Damian Rafferty, Darren O'Hagan, James Colgan, Conor Garvey, Ambrose Rogers, Kalum King, Aidan Carr (1-0), Mark Poland (0-3), Paul McComiskey, Martin Clarke (0-5), Brendan Coulter (0-1), John Clarke (0-2). Subs used Danny Hughes (0-1), Kevin McKernan, Ronan Sexton, Ronan Murtagh, Aidan Brannigan
Offaly - Alan Mulhall, Brian Darry, Scott Brady, Sean Pender, Niall Darby, Ross Brady (0-2), Paul Conway, Richie Dalton, Brian Connor (0-2), Graham Guilfoyle, Niall McNamee, Ciaran McManus (0-2), Anton Sullivan (0-1), Ken Casey (1-1), John Reynolds (0-1). Subs used Sean Ryan, John Coughlan, Alan McNamee, David Egan.
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