Goal-hungry Down seal Division 2 title with victory over Kildare

The Down players and management celebrate with the cup. Pic: Daire Brennan/Sportsfile

Allianz HL Division 2 final: Down 4-22 Kildare 3-18 

It was anticipated to be a close Division 2 final between Down and Kildare in Iniskeen and while the Mournemen won by seven in the end, the scoreline flattered the winners in what was indeed a very close match.

It looked like Brian Dowling's side were on their way when they scored two quick-fire goals at the start of the second half to lead by eight 3-11 to 0-12, but Down battled back superbly in the last quarter and with four goals of their own and 10 points to Kildare's six claimed the league title as they move up to Division1B along with their opponents.

Kildare had a strong wind at their back in the first half and while they led by two points at the break 1-10 to 0-11, the Lilywhites could have been further in front were it not for a large number of wides and Down scoring the last three points of the half.

Tim Prenter opened the scoring for Down, but Rian Boran replied with a point and it was tit-for-tat after that, with both sides getting used to the tricky conditions and it was level at 0-5 each with 10 minutes on the clock.

Jack Sheridan was inches shy of scoring a maximum for Kildare from close range with Down netminder Stephen Keith stranded and after that, the scoring slowed for a spell with defensive play coming to the fore at both ends.

David Qualter nudged Kildare in front with a beauty from distance, but three points from Eoghan Sands answered by another long-range score from Cian Boran, put Down into an 0-8 to 0-7 lead.

With 20 minutes played, however, Sheridan's second goal effort was on target again from close range – the sliothar driven past Keith to the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

With that, further traded points saw Kildare four points to the good as the clock wound down, but the Mournemen finished the half strongly with points from Tim McGrattan and two from Pearse Og McCrickard to trail 0-11 to 1-10 at half-time.

Despite the wind favouring Down in the second half, it was Kildare who came out of the blocks on fire. Sheridan scored his second goal seconds from the throw-in and after McGrattan responded with a point at the other end, Darragh Melville drilled into the net, heralding a roar in the stand from the Kildare supporters.

The Down response was immense however, as a goal from McGrattan was followed by four points to make it 1-16 to 3-11. Kildare replied in kind with four of the next five scores – two from sub Gerry Keegan, but in the fifty-third minute, McGrattan raised a second green flag and Donal Hughes squared the match 2-18 to 3-15.

James Burke nudged Kildare in front with a terrific point as the game moved into the last 10 minutes but a long-range free taken by Marc Fisher bounced up awkwardly in front of the Kildare goal and finished under the bar to put Down into a 3-18 to 2-16 lead.

Once again, Ronan Sheehan's men finished the half strongly as a deflated Kildare wilted. Down scored four of the next six points and despite a couple of frees for Kildare dropped into the square in stoppage time, it was the Mournemen who came away with the sliotar on both occasions and after the second, flew down the field with Tim Prenter slotting into the net to win the final 4-22 to 3-18.

Scorers for Down: T McGrattan (2-5, 1f), T Prenter (1-2), P Og McCrickard (0-5, 2f), E Sands (0-5, 1f), M Fisher (1-0), D Hughes (0-3), C Egan (0-2).

Scorers for Kildare: D Qualter (0-8,5f, 1'65 ), J Sheridan (2-0), D Melville (1-0), C Boran (0-2), G Keegan (0-2), P Dolan (0-2), R Boran, D Guerin, J Burke, J Higgins (0-1 each).

Down: S Keith; M Conlan, J McManus, T Murray; M Fisher, C Taggart, L Savage; D Hughes, P Savage; C Egan, T Prenter, E Sands; T McGrattan, R Beatty, P Og McCrickard. 

Subs: F Turpin for P Savage (46), N McFarland for L Savage (46), P Sheehan for Egan (54), B Taggart for Fisher (64), S Pucci for Hughes (69).

Kildare: P McKenna; L O'Reilly, S Leacy, R Boran; D O'Meara, C Boran, P Dolan; D Guerin, C McCabe; J Burke, J Higgins, J Dolan; J Sheridan, D Melville, D Qualter.

Subs: G Keegan for J Dolan (H-T), M Curtin for Melville (44), J Travers for Sheridan (67).

Referee: Brian Keon (Galway).