Down finish strong to defeat Clare in football league Division 3 opener

The Mournemen came out on top in the end, but the Banner had them on the ropes before that.

DOWN BUT NOT OUT: Down's Pat Havern celebrates. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile.

Down 2-19 Clare 2-14

Despite being played in dreadful conditions at Pairc Esler, this Division 3 National Football League opener between Down and Clare was a high-scoring game.

The Mournemen staged a strong finish to come out on top in the end, but the Banner had them on the ropes before that.

Clare had the advantage of a gale-force wind at their back in the first half and despite Down playing most of the football, Clare made good use of the wind, scoring three two-pointers and a brace of goals to lead by five points at the short whistle.

Mark McInerney scored 1-3 for Clare before coming off injured near the start of the second half, with Aaron Griffin and Brian McNamarra also raising orange flags and a mis-kicked point effort by Griffin on 23 minutes saw Cillian Brennan stick the ball in the net.

Still, Down had more of the ball and it could have been worse for them given the conditions. They kept the scoreboard ticking over and trailed 1-9 to 0-10 at the short whistle.

Down got themselves back in the game in the second when Pat Havern had a go from a free outside the arc, and while his effort dropped short, the ball came off the post for John McGeough who stuck it in the net.

Daniel Guinness tagged on a point and McGeough added another and with that Down were just a point behind, 1-12 to 2-10.

It was nip and tuck in the final stages, but when Clare keeper Stephen Ryan scored a two-pointer to give his side a 2-14 to 1-16 lead it looked like they were on their way.

But a superb finish from Down with Odhran Murdock netting and Daniel Guinness raising an orange flag ensured they had done enough to earn the win.

Scorers for Down: P Havern (0-6, 3f), J McGeough (1-1), C Doherty (0-3), D Guinness (0-5, 1tp), O Murdock (1-2), S Annett (0-1), A Crimmins (0-1).

Scorers for Clare: M McInerney (1-3, 1tp), C Brennan (1-0), A Griffin (0-2, 1tp) B McNamara (0-2, 1tp), S Ryan (0-2, 1tpf) D Bohannon (0-2), D Coughlan (0-2), C Murray (0-1).

Down: R Burns; P Fegan, P Laverty, F Murdock; P McPolin, R Magill, P McCarthy; O Murdock, R McEvoy; D Guinness, C Doherty, S Annett; A Crimmins, P Havern, J McGeough.

Subs: T Close for Crimmins (46), M Rooney for Magill (57), R Scullion for McCarthy (57), B O’Hagan for McGeough (64), P Brooks for Annett (68).

Clare: S Ryan; A Sweeney, R Lanigan, M Doherty; C Brennan, I Ugwueru, F Kelleher; B McNamara, D Bohannon; B Rouine, D Coughlan, A Griffin; E Cleary, M McInerney, C Murray.

Subs: C O’Dea for McInerney (42), G Murray for Brennan (54), J Rafferty for Murray (58), E Cahill for Griffin (68).

Referee: Conor Dourneen (Cavan).