Westmeath shattered as Braniff turns on the style for Down

Down 5-15 Westmeath 3-7

Ryan certainly had reason to lament a tally of 20 wides over the 70 minutes, but must agree that his young side fell far short on the big stage.

Apart from their goals, from John Shaw and Barry Kennedy, the Midlanders managed just one more score, a point, in the first-half.

Down, meanwhile, had to wait 15 minutes before scoring hero Paul Braniff got them off the mark. Braniff, who dovetailed between full forward and the 40 mark, began to exert control en route to hitting 3-9 in a wonderful solo display.

Despite the front man’s heroics, winning manager John Crossey paid glowing compliments to centre-back Gary Savage. “Paul won’t mind me saying it, but Gary was mighty. He came in for a lot of attention and was floored three times. He was still wounded from the first knock which left him on the flat of his back for four minutes and, significantly, Westmeath went two goals up. He emerged a stronger person, knuckled down to it and led our charge from the back.

“Now we are back amongst the elite after 10 years, and will bring a confidence with us on our trip to New York for championship fare at the end of the month.” Crossey attributed his team’s slow start to a bout of early nerves

“Only one of the lads played here before. It was all new to us. Westmeath were not doing very much, we kept in touch and having found our rhythm, we struck a rich vein of form coming up to half time. Paul chalked up our opening goal after a great run by Brendan McGourty, and seconds later he set up Michael Braniff for another green flag, to see us forge ahead 2-7 to 2-1.”

Garrett Johnson streaked in for goal three minutes after the changeover and Westmeath were in trouble.

Barry Kennedy breathed some life back into the Midlanders’ challenge by firing past excellent keeper Graham Clarke and, with 15 minutes remaining, they trailed by five points (3-10 to 3-5). Then Down midfielders Andy Savage and Gerard Adair stepped up the pace again and ensured their front runners received the supply they craved. Braniff, hit two goals in a devastating two minute spell as Down booked their place in the top flight.

Scorers: Down: P. Braniff 3-9 (0-6 frees), G. Johnson 1-1, M. Braniff 1-0, B. McGourty 0-3, A. Savage, D. McCusker 0-1 each. Westmeath: B. Kennedy 2-1, J. Shaw 1-0, A. Mitchell 0-4 (0-2 frees), V. Bateman, K. Cosgrave 0-1 each

DOWN: G. Clarke; L. Clarke, S.Murray, E. Dorrian, S. Wilson, G. Savage, G. Clarke;A. Savage, G. Adair; G. McGrattan, P. Braniff, B. McGroarty, J. Convery, G. Johnson, M. Braniff. Subs. J. McGrattan for Convery 40 mins, J. Hughes for Clarke 42, D. McCusker for McGourty 68, E. Trainor for Adare 70

WESTMEATH: M. Brody; D. Curley, B. Murtagh, P. Greville, D. Gallagher, C. Murtagh, D. McCormack; P. Williams, O. Devine; R. Whelan, V. Bateman, A. Mitchell, D. Carty, J. Shaw, B. Kennedy. Subs. B. Connaughton for Williams 40, K. Cosgrave for Carty 42, S. McDonnell for Devine 43, E. Loughlin for Whelan 50.

Referee: M. Haverty (Galway).