Subscribe to the Sport Feed Sportback to Sport

Sunday, 07 March 2010

Down held at home by Tipperary

Down’s John Clarke battles Tipperary’s Andrew Morrissey

A last-gasp Tipperary point denied Down a third successive National League victory as the sides shared the spoils with a 0-14 to 1-11 draw at Pairc Esler on Saturday night.

Down 0-14 1-11 Tipperary

Down started the game brightly, with An Riocht man John Clarke opening the scoring in the first five minutes.

Tipperary fired back almost immediately, but two points apiece from Conor Laverty and Martin Clarke as well as further scores from Paul McComiskey and Conor Maginn gave the Mournemen a commanding 0-7 to 0-2 lead midway through the opening period.

The Munster side battled back into the game with four unanswered points to put themselves back into the contest, but Down were unlucky not to grab a goal on the half-hour mark - Benny Coulter pulling a low shot just wide after some impressive build-up play.

Then disaster struck as Tipperary put the ball in the net just before half time - but only just. Barry Grogan's free led to a goalmouth scramble, and although the Down defence looked to have done well to keep the ball out, the umpire adjudged it to have crossed the line.

After being behind for most of the first half, Tipp went in at the break a point to the good.

Half-back Christopher Aylward opened the second half scoring for the visitors before Down began their own fightback.

Scores from Martin Clarke and McComiskey leveled the game before the Clarke brothers grabbed a point apiece to put Down two up.

Conor Sweeney pulled one back for the Premier county before the Clarkes once again found the target.

Older brother John finished off a move created by captain Ambrose Rogers, who powered out of his own half to set up the chance following some comedy defending by the Mourne side.

Then Martin, who was at the heart of most of Down's good forward play, was unlucky not to find the net when he swung a boot at a loose ball with the goal at his mercy - his snap shot cannoned off the crossbar before going over.

However, that was the end of the scoring for James McCartan's side.

Tipperary scored twice more to bring themselves to within a point, and as the game entered injury time a rare Martin Clarke mis-kick allowed the visitors one final attack.

The player in possession was fouled, and corner-forward Barry Grogan stepped up dispatch a free from 40 metres with the last kick of the game.