Down — but not out yet

By Pierce O’Reilly

Armagh 1-5, Down 0-4

The opening game of the season at Gaelic Park was almost as damp as the Bronx weather on Sunday morning. It’s early days yet and excuses are easy to come by, yet the dismal passing and distribution by both teams was hard to fathom.

Though Down have lost a number of pivotal players who have returned to Ireland, they have the nucleus of a nice side and if they latch onto a few good students over the summer, they will improve.

As for Armagh, they have a nice mix of youth and experience. Their attack is lively and their defense is resolute. Center back Gerry Cullen opened the scoring after 10 minutes and his physical presence was of immense importance to an otherwise light Armagh defense. Five minutes later and with defenders pounding down his throat, Shane Haughey hit point No. 2 for the Armagh men.

Down are seasoned campaigners and when Collie Matters hit back for their opening score, they were moving with a renewed fluency. The underfoot conditions and the slippery surface was akin to an ice hockey game and with players finding it difficult to find their feet, mistakes was the order of the day.

Down manager Padraig Dunne made several tactical changes at the start of the second half and inside a minute they had reaped dividends. Collie Touhy and Gerry O’Hare reeled in the opposition and the Mourne men were now firing on all cylinders. Owen McPartland hit back for Armagh with an easy free and then full forward Peter Quinn hit for the all-important score. Quinn collected a high cross on the edge of the small square and his low pile-driver to the net put his side back in the driving seat.

A minute later, Haughey put Armagh up by five points and their defense soaked up everything that Down could throw at them. Down’s best player, Collie Matters, hit a consolation score near the end, but it arrived too late and the Armagh men held out for a well-deserved opening victory.

Armagh: Paddy Toner, Peter McKeon, Aidan Loyd, Gerrard Stanley, Garreth Burke, Gerry Cullen, Louis Breslin, Collie Ferron 0-2, Niall Farrelly, Gary Rogers, Shane Haughey 0-2, Francie Hatzer,Owen McPartland 0-1, Peter Quinn 1-0, Danny McCann. Subs: Niall McMahon, Collie Treanor.

Down: Adrian Markey, Nigel Clarke, Ronan Kearney, Liam Murray, Martin McGivern, Collie Touhy 0-1, Aidan Rooney, Collie Matters 0-2, Liam Rooney, Damien Ward, Aidan McGreany, Eddie Flynn, John Harte, Garry O’Hare 0-1, Ronan Mulligan. Subs: Padraig Dunne, Mickey Clarke.