Down make hard work of Antrim

• Published date: 15 April 2024
• Publication title: Irish Times (Dublin, Ireland)

There were four points in it in the end as Conor Laverty’s men got the job done and booked their place in the semi-final against Armagh

Down made three changes to the match programme, including Clonduff’s Barry O’Hagan in his first start since he suffered a cruciate ligament injury against Antrim in the league last season, and another injury returnee in Kilcoo’s Shealan Johnston. For Andy McEntee’s men five players made their debut.

A scuffle before the ball was even thrown in by referee Barry Cassidy resulted in yellow cards for Down’s Odhrán Murdock and Antrim’s Joseph Finnegan. Antrim were reduced to 14 men in the third minute when Conor Hand was dealt a black card.

Down only clocked up one point during that spell from a Pat Havern free, while Finnegan forced a terrific goal save from Down netminder John O’Hare. Antrim ’keeper Michael Byrne converted the resulting 45, aided by the strong wind. While Down enjoyed the majority of the possession, the Saffrons had every man behind the ball and were difficult to break down.

Ryan McQuillan levelled the game at 0-2 apiece midway through the half, but Down pulled away with four of the next five scores to lead 0-6 to 0-3 at the half-time whistle.

Dermot McAleese hit a wide for Antrim on the restart, a third for his side, while Down had clocked up six in the first period.

Fisted point

Oisín Savage, who had replaced Havern in the first half, converted a mark to extend Down’s lead and Daniel Guinness made it 0-8 to 0-3 with a fisted point. But a brace of frees from Patrick McBride and Ryan McQuillan – the latter from a Liam Kerr foul just outside the penalty area – reduced Antrim’s deficit to three points 0-8 to...