Latest news with #ConorLaverty
Irish Times
4 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
Adam Crimmins saves Down from Louth comeback at the death in Newry
All-Ireland SFC: Down 0-25 Louth 0-24 Adam Crimmins's last-gasp block will live long in the memory of those who witnessed Down's nail-biting derby win over Louth . With the hooter already sounded and just a single point separating the sides, Louth midfielder Tommy Durnin looked to have rescued a draw only to be spectacularly denied by Crimmins's two palms. Finn Murdock booted the ball out on the full and cue the roar that relieved the tension-filled 70 minutes deserved. Credit to Louth, who came from as far back as 11 points to boil it down to one final play, but they will wonder where that energy was in the first half. READ MORE Odhrán Murdock set the tone from the off, while Louth were once again ponderous in attack and had to rely on a ninth-minute free from captain Sam Mulroy to get off the mark. That score, stemming from a rare Down infringement, was the only blemish on the hosts' scorching opening. With 15 minutes played in the first half, Down were in full flow and Louth were floundering. Ceilum Doherty outside his man-marking duties to slot over a stylish point. Down's Miceal Rooney and Louth's Conor Grimes. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho Conor Laverty's men stormed into a commanding 0-11 to 0-1 lead, a quiet Pat Havern only opening his account that late into proceedings. Danny Magill was excellent, that was the form Down were in. Hitting Louth on the break, the home crowd humming, Down were finding their groove with ease. Ryan Burns did hand Louth a lifeline and what was to come with three first-half points to make 0-16 to 0-7 at the much-needed interval. With the challenge presented, Louth had to change tact. More direct play and greater bravery in shooting from beyond the arc stirred them to life. Mulroy had a huge second half, four orange flags that took a chunk out of what most felt was an insurmountable lead. However, Magill was on hand to coral Louth's hopes with scores, and wides even, to halt their momentum somewhat but the surge was to come. Three two-pointers in a row from Mulroy, Craig Lennon, and Durnin had the home side rattled. With 10 to play, the FRC were rubbing their hands with glee, this one-sided contest became dashing. You could not look away as Louth continued to come with long range shots. Excitement personified. One final twist was to come, just when it looked like a dramatic draw was on the cards, Crimmins delivered the block of the season to preserve Down's unbeaten start. DOWN: R Burns; P Laverty, P McCarthy, F McElroy; R Magill (0-0-1), P Fagan, M Rooney (0-0-1); O Murdock (0-2-1, 1tpf, 1f), D Magill (0-1-4); J Guinness, P Havern (0-1-4, 1f), C Doherty (0-0-1); J McGeough (0-0-1), R McEvoy; A Crimmins (0-0-2). Subs: C Mooney (0-0-1) for Guinness (47 mins), S Millar (0-0-1) for McEvoy (48), E Branagan for McElroy (51), F Murdock for R Magill (62), C McCrickard for McGeough (68). LOUTH: N McDonnell; D Nally, D Campbell, D McKenny; C Lennon (0-1-1), P Lynch, C McKeever (0-0-1); B Duffy, T Durnin (0-1-0), C Downey (0-0-2), S Mulroy (0-4-4, 2tpf, 3f), C Grimes (0-0-1); C Keenan, C Byrne, R Burns (0-0-3). Subs: D McDonnell for Duffy (ht), A Williams for Lynch (41 mins), K McArdle for Grimes (57), P Mathews for Byrne (57), D McKeown for Keenan (69). Referee: D Gough (Meath).
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Down edge Louth for second All-Ireland group stage win
Down made it two wins from two in the group stage of the All-Ireland series as they survived a late Louth fightback to win 0-25 to 0-24 at Pairc a delayed start to the game in Newry, Odhran Murdock kicked a fine two pointer a minute into the game to set Conor Laverty's men on their added two more points before a free from Sam Mulroy got Louth on the board after eight two-pointers from Danny Magill and Murdock further stretched Down's lead and they eventually moved nine clear before Niall McDonnell was thwarted by Ryan McEvoy in front of rattled off four points in a row to cut the gap, but a late scoring blitz helped Down to lead 0-16 to 0-7 at two-pointer and another effort from Mulroy helped the Leinster champions to chip away at Down's lead, reducing it to six points, but three in a row from the hosts helped them to re-establish their McKenny hit the post for Louth with Mulroy, Craig Lennon and Tommy Durnin scoring three straight two-pointers for the visitors as they moved to within three points of the had the momentum and got back to within one, before Mulroy's attempt after the hooter was blocked as Down held on for a narrow comfortably dispatched Clare in their first game, the Mournemen are in a commanding position ahead of facing Monaghan at a neutral venue in the final round of group games in a fortnight.
Irish Times
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Subdued Clare no match for sharp-shooting Down in Ennis
All-Ireland SFC: Clare 1-16 Down 3-27 Down made the leap from the Tailteann Cup to All-Ireland Senior Championship look seamless after brushing aside the challenge of hosts Clare at Cusack Park in Ennis. Despite a seven-hour round trip, Conor Laverty's side were never in any real danger of bringing back their first All-Ireland victory in six years as they fully capitalised on their wind advantage to virtually wrap up the game by half-time at 2-17 to 1-06. With Clare appearing to be still be suffering a Munster final hangover, Down signalled their clear intent from the throw-in as Odhran Murdock and Daniel and James Guinness combined to tee up Ryan McEvoy for a shot that just inched wide of the left post. The home side failed to heed that warning shot though as while the Banner opened the scoring through an Emmet McMahon free, they would be rocked back on their heels when outscored by 1-9 to 0-1 over the next 20 minutes. READ MORE Pat Havern and Danny Magill's impressive two-pointers sandwiched a breakthrough goal in the sixth minute as Murdock's delivery was flicked over the line by John McGeough. Down's Danny Magill comes up against Clare's Dermot Coughlan. Photograph: Natasha Barton/Inpho Clare had a goal chance of their own repelled as Brian McNamara's burst was halted by a superb Ryan Magill block. A second two-pointer for Magill, this time unchallenged spurned another late rally from the visitors that was accentuated by a brilliant counter-attack goal for Daniel Guinness in the 33rd minute. Intercepting a Clare attack on his own 45, the Carryduff midfielder raced the length of the field before playing a one-two with Murdock and firing to the left corner of the home net to make it 2-13 to 0-05. Clare admirably grabbed a goal of their own a minute later when a six-man move was finished by Aaron Griffin, but even that reprieve was wiped out by a rampant Down as Havern completed the half with the last three points, including a record 19th two-pointer of 2025, to ease 14 ahead for the break. Clare welcomed the conditions for the new half and did eat into the deficit when Mark McInerney kicked five points to lower the arrears to just 10 by the turn of the final quarter, 2-20 to 1-13. Emmet McMahon had a goal chance blocked by Pierce Laverty while at the other end Down substitute Caolan Mooney would fire the clinching goal to cap off a 1-4 unanswered rally on their way to an 18-point cushion. Emmet McMahon would kick an injury-time two-pointer to lessen the final damage, while Aaron Griffin would see a glorious goal chance rebound off the crossbar. However, it is Down that hold the early whip hand in Group Three as they prepare to host newly-crowned Leinster champions Louth in a juicy Round Two derby in a fortnight's time. CLARE: E Tubridy; R Lanigan, C Brennan, M Doherty; C Rouine, I Ugwueru, C Meaney; B McNamara, E McMahon (0-1-3, 1tp, 2f); G Murray, E Cleary (0-0-1), D Coughlan (0-0-2); M McInerney (0-1-4, 1tp, 1f, 1'45), K Sexton, A Griffin (1-0-1). Subs: A Sweeney for Brennan (15 mins, inj), D Walsh for Murray (37), F Kelleher for Meaney (h-t), S Griffin for (60, inj), J Stack (0-0-1) for Cleary (63). DOWN: R Burns; P McCarthy, P Laverty, R Magill; M Rooney (0-0-1), P Fegan, C Doherty; D Guinness (1-0-1), D Magill (0-2-3, 2tp); J Guinness (0-0-2), O Murdock (0-0-2, 1f), R McEvoy (0-0-1); J McGeough (1-0-1), P Havern (0-2-5, 1tp, 1tpf, 3f), A Crimmins (0-0-3). Subs: C Mooney (1-0-0) for Doherty (37 mins, inj), P Brooks for R Magill (45), S Millar for McEvoy (54), F Murdock for J Guinness (60), C McCrickard for McGeough (62), D Scullion for O Murdock (67). Referee: P Neilan (Roscommon).
BBC News
18-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Down hammer Clare as Cavan stun Mayo in Castlebar
Down opened their All-Ireland round-robin series campaign by easing past Clare in Ennis while Cavan shocked Mayo in Castlebar. The Mourne County produced a blistering first-half display to lead by 14 points at the break before staying clear to win by 17 points in their Group Three Cavan pulled off a huge shock result in Group One by sinking the Connacht finalists 1-17 to Breffni men led 0-9 to 0-7 at the break with Mayo failing to score from play until the 32nd minute before losing defender David Neary to a black card. Cavan took full advantage of their numerical advantage early in the second half with 1-3 in the opening five minutes with Gerard Smith scoring his side's goal. O'Reilly kicked the Ulster side into the lead in the 39th minute and it was an advantage they refused to relinquish. Cian Madden and Stephen Coen exchanged scores as Cavan managed to keep their noses in O'Shea hit the net for the home side with the final action of the game but it was Raymond Galligan's side who claimed a shock three point win opening up group one. Cavan host Ulster champions Donegal in a fortnight while Mayo will travel to Omagh to take on Tyrone looking to pick up their first points. Meanwhile, Down got off to a flying start in Ennis, surging into a 1-3 to 0-0 lead after five minutes with John McGeough firing to the net. Danny Magill kicked six first-half scores, which eased Conor Laverty's side well ahead. They led 2-12 to 0-5 three minutes before the break as Daniel Guinness swept through to raise a green flag. Two minutes later, Aaron Griffin hit the net for the Munster finalists but they trailed 2-17 to 1-6 at the interval. In the second half, it was the Ulster side who held firm, adding a third goal through Caolan Mooney. Pat Havern kept the scoreboard ticking over, too, as he finished on nine begun their campaign in style, Down will welcome Leinster champions Louth to Pairc Esler in a fortnight's time.
BBC News
16-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Down must expect 'dogfight' in All-Ireland opener
Former Down defender Kevin McKernan says the county must expect to be drawn into a "dogfight" in Saturday's All-Ireland round-robin opener against Clare in Ennis (14:00 BST).The Mournemen won the 2024 Tailteann Cup to earn a spot in this year's Sam Maguire series. Conor Laverty's side are coming off an Ulster semi-final loss to Donegal after suffering relegation from Division Two earlier this year, while Clare lost the Munster final to Kerry after missing out on promotion from the third-tier of the National League. "It's a home game for Clare and they'll look at that as a serious strength but it's a huge challenge for Down," said McKernan, who started Down's 2010 All-Ireland final loss to Cork. "It's a long way to travel but when they go down there they will find a team very similar to themselves; finding themselves between Division Two and Division Three."They had a huge performance against Kerry [in the Munster final] for large periods and against a team they weren't expected to beat. "Down going to Clare - would they be expecting a win? Absolutely, but it's going to be a dogfight as well. If they can get big Pat [Havern] and Odhran [Murdock] moving with players like Pierce Laverty and Paddy McCarthy full of running from defence, the big spaces of Cusack Park will suit Down."McKernan also said his Burren club-mate Murdock has the mentality to shoulder the burden of expectation after establishing himself at senior inter-county level. "Odhran was blooded at senior level in midfield as a 19, 20-year-old and he's starting to get into his rhythm in games. "It's a big ask for someone so young but he has the right mentality. Conor and his management team have built a structure of play for the whole team, but Odhran's a huge part of that. "If Down launch themselves into this [All-Ireland series], they'll be excited to see Daniel Guinness and Odhran Murdock carry this team forward."
