HL2B: Down's promotion bid up and running
February 17, 2014
Down's Scott Nicholson is outnumbered by Armagh's Nathan Curry, John Corvan and Ruairi McGrattan during the Ulster SHC semi final at Casement Park
Armagh 1-7
Down's HL Division 2B promotion bid got off to a successful start with a comfortable 16 point victory over Armagh at the Athletic Grounds.
Goals from Scott Nicholson and Conor O'Neill were the icing on the cake of an impressive performance by the Christy Ring Cup champions but a shoulder injury sustained by Michael Ennis did take some of the gloss of the result.
It was also confirmed that Gareth 'Magic' Johnston is out for the season after suffering a cruciate ligament injury.
Backed by a strong wind, the hosts made a fight of it in the first half but trailed by 1-4 to 1-6 at the change of ends.
There was only one team in it, however, in the second half and the Mourne County were on top in practically every department of the field.
Down - S Keith; R Branagan, P Flynn, M Hughes; B Nicholson, C Woods (0-2, 1f, 1'65), S Ennis; D Hughes (0-1), J McGrath (0-1); M Ennis, C O'Neill (1-0), S Dineen (0-2); D Toner, C Bailie (0-4), P Sheehan (0-4, 2f). Subs: S Nicholson (1-2) for M Ennis, B Coleman (0-3, 2f) for Toner, M Turley for Sheehan, F Conway (0-1) for McGrath.
Armagh - S Doherty; C Devlin, C Clifford, D Mone; P Gaffney, N Curry, S Renaghan; F Bradley, J Corvan; N Greene, R Gaffney, K McKernan; M Lennon (1-5, 1-0 pen, 0-5f), C Corvan (0-2), O Curry. Subs: P Hughes for Greene, L McKee for O Curry, M Garvey for Mone.
Referee - P O'Dwyer. Tweet
