Tailteann Cup Group Two

Down 2-14 Waterford 1-6

By Steve Malone at Páirc Esler

It wasn’t always comfortable but Down finished convincing winners over Waterford.

The game was a slow burner under the sun and it was Waterford who stunned the Páirc Esler crowd when Conor Murray soloed his way unchallenged before coolly slipping his shot inside the near post for a great goal.

That gave Waterford a 1-2 to 0-2 lead with 18 minutes gone as Down’s Pat Havern and Jason Curry had traded points up to then.

However, five minutes later Eamon Brown finished off a clever five-man fast hands move, to grab a goal and that woke Down from their somewhat slumber.

Havern, Andrew Gilmore and Anthony Morgan tagged on points as Down marched into a four-point half-time lead (1-6 to 1-2).

It was 28 minutes between Waterford’s goal and their next score which came from Darragh Corcoran, but Down’s Ordhran Murdock made a surging run through the Ford’s defence before keeping his shot low and past keeper Aaron Beresford.

There was still 20 minutes to play and Waterford created chances, which included a Danny Magill goal-line clearance, but Down were in control.

They bossed the middle, dictated the pace and with Gilmore, substitute Donnach McAleenan and the lively Eugene Branagan and his Kilcoo club-mate Shealan Johnston all finding the target as they put Waterford to the sword.

It was championship debuts for Down’s Conor Fitzpatrick, Ross Carr, and Finn McElroy, while Johnston made his first start this season and with the unused subs including Kilcoo trio Ryan McEvoy, Jerome Johnston and Miceal Rooney, the Mourne County are heading in the right direction.

Down make the trip to Thurles on Saturday, who they beat in the National League, while Waterford can take confidence from their display in Newry as they take on Meath in the second group two game.

Scorers for Down: Pat Havern 0-5 (3fs, 1m), Andrew Gilmore 0-4 (3fs), Eamon Brown and Odhran Murdock 1-0 each, Donnach McAleenan 0-2, Anthony Morgan, Shealan Johnston, and Eugene Branagan 0-1 each.

Scorers for Waterford: Conor Murray 1-0, Darragh Corcoran and Jason Curry (2fs) 0-2 each, Dermot Ryan and Jason Gleeson 0-1 each.

Down: Charlie Smyth, Finn McElroy, Pierce Laverty, Conor Fitzpatrick, Anthony Morgan, Shane Annett, Danny Magill, Ross Carr, Patrick Branagan, Andrew Gilmore, Shealan Johnston, Odhran Murdock, Eugene Branagan, Pat Havern, Eamon Brown.

Subs: Daniel Guinness for McElroy (HT), Ceilum Doherty for A Morgan (HT), Donnach McAleenan for C Fitzpatrick (44’), Paddy McCarthy for Havern (60’), Conor Poland for Shane Annett (63’).

Waterford: Aaron Beresford, Liam Fennell, Darragh O’Cathasaigh, Conor O’Cuirrin, Dermot Ryan, Brian Looby, Jordan O’Sullivan, Michael Curry, Brian Lynch, Conor Murray, Darragh Corcoran, Jason Curry, Eoghan McGrath-Butler, Sean Whelan Barrett, Michael Kiely.

Subs: Jason Gleeson for Whelan Barrett (51’), Tom O’Connell Kiely (51’), Mark Cummins for O’Sullivan (63’), Josh Veale for O Cuirrin (66’), Jack Keane for Curry (68’).

Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry).