Down continue winning run as they ease past Sligo

UNBEATEN:Down's Peter Fegan is tackled by Luke Towey of Sligo. Pic: ©INPHO/Tom Maher

Allianz FL Division 3: Down 2-17 Sligo 1-8

Sligo made the long trip home from Newry on Sunday with nothing to show for their journey as the Down ran out comfortable 2-17 to 1-8 winners.

That gives the Mournemen five wins from five, while Sligo will struggle to gain a promotion spot with three wins under their belt – albeit with two home games left that might save their skin, a win against Offaly on St Patrick’s Day a must.

Pat Spillane was an injury absentee for Sligo and while Down were without star midfielder Odhran Murdock who picked up an injury during the week – it made little difference to Conor Laverty’s side who put in a strong performance.

Sligo were unlucky with a couple of goal chances however, one denied by the woodwork and another that arguably should have been a penalty.

Sligo opened the scoring with a well-taken point in the first minute from Alan McLaughlin that went over off the inside of the post. Tony McEntee’s side wouldn’t get their next score for 20 minutes however, while the Mournemen clocking up 1-6 during that spell.

The first Down goal arrived on 17 minutes, following points from James and Daniel Guinness and a brace of frees from Pat Havern. Kilcoo clubman Ceilum Doherty finished off a terrific run from Daniel Guinness who picked up the ball from a Sligo kick-out and went on the run, passing to the corner-back who hit the net. Danny Magill tagged on a score to give Down a seven-point lead, but Sligo almost narrowed the gap to four when they broke at speed. Luck wasn’t on their side however as Sean Carrabine’s low hard goal bound shot pounded back into play off the post. Down picked up the rebound and Daniel Guinness kicked over the bar to make it 1-6 to 0-1.

Sligo responded well with the next four points from Patrick O’Connor, Cian Lally and two from Carrabine but once again Down came right back at them.

Laverty’s side almost raised a second green flag just after the half-hour mark but it was their turn to be denied by the woodwork with Daniel Guinness’ shot slamming the underside of the crossbar.

It was Sligo’s turn to be disappointed before the break when Niall Murphy was through for goal but blocked by Peter Fegan. It looked like Fegan picked the ball off the ground in the square but the referee ignored penalty appeals and the half ended with a point from Ryan McEvoy to give Down a 1-8 to 0-5 lead at the half-time whistle.

Havern got the scoreboard moving with a super point from play after the restart but three minutes in Down were 2-9 to 0-5 to the good when a lovely one-two between James Guinness and Conor Francis saw Guinness finish to the net.

It looked like it was curtains for Sligo with that, but Down switched off and they pulled a goal back seven minutes later when Nathan Mullen easily ran around the back, cut in from the left and stroked into the net.

That merely put a gloss on the scoreline however, as the home side kept the scoreboard ticking over for the rest of the game. They led 2-13 to 1-7 with 10 minutes remaining and never looked to be in danger of relinquishing the lead, finishing the afternoon with a 2-17 to 1-8 victory and a week off before they travel to Westmeath.

Scorers for Down: P Havern (0-7, 6f), C Doherty (1-2, m), J Guinness (1-1) D Guinness (0-2); D Magill (0-1), J O’Hare (0-1,f), R McEvoy (0-1), L Kerr (0-1) O Savage (0-1) 

Scorers for Sligo: N Mullen (1-0), S Carrabine (0-4, 2 f), P O’Connor (0-1), A McLaughlin (0-1), C Lally (0-1), N Murphy (0-1,f)

DOWN: J O’Hare; P Fegan, R McEvoy, C Doherty: M Rooney, P Laverty, R Magill; J Flynn, R Johnston; C Mooney, L Kerr, D Guinness; D Magill, P Havern, J Guinness 

Subs: C Francis for Mooney (29mins), O Savage for J Guinness (47mins), G McKibben for Johnston (60mins), F McElroy for R Magill 64mins), G Collins for Kerr (66mins) 

SLIGO: A Devaney; P McNamara, E McGuinness, E Lyons; B Cox, D Cummins, N Mullen; P O’Connor, P Kilcoyne; A McLaughlin, D Conlan, C Lally; L Towey, S Carrabine, N Murphy 

Subs: L Deignan for Conlon (H-T), C Mulligan for Towey (47mins), D O’Boyle for Murphy (58mins), M Gordan for Mullen (58mins), K Cawley for O’Connor (68mins) 

Referee: Barry Tiernan (Dublin)