Down let loose against Leitrim in Tailteann Cup opener

Down 1-27 Leitrim 0-16

Down proved much too strong for Leitrim in the opening round of the Tailteann Cup, earning a 14-point victory at Páirc Esler, Newry this evening.

Four-points split the sides at the half time break, 0-12 to 0-4, but Down delivered a huge second half performance to enter the winners side of the draw, where they’ll face Offaly away from home next weekend.

A brace of two-pointers from Killian Gaffey (both frees) narrowed the gap before the half time whistle sounded, but with the breeze at their backs after the turnaround, Conor Laverty’s side were never going to be caught.

The impressive Ruairi McCormack caught the eye after being introduced in the second period, finishing with 1-3 while Seamus Loughran and Eamon Brown also split the posts after entering the fray.

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Pat Havern grabbed 0-5 before being hauled off after three quarters of the contest while Daniel Guinness nailed his tally of 0-4 inside the first eight minutes of the second period.

For Leitrim, managed by Down native Stephen Poacher, goalkeeper Gaffey top scored with 0-5, including a brace of two-point frees. Paul Honeyman and Ben Guckian cause some troubled after the turnaround, but not enough that would change the outcome of the game.

It’s the perfect way for the Mourne men to bounce back following the 28-point drumming at the hands of Armagh in the Ulster Championship semi-final and they’ll have their eyes set on going the whole way in the Tailteann Cup.

Down: Ronan Burns 0-2 (1tp), Peter Fegan, Pierce Laverty, Finn McElroy, Callum Rogers, Pearse McPolin, Ryan Magill, Odhrán Murdock 0-1, Daniel Guinness 0-4 (1tp), Shane Annett, Ceilum Doherty 0-3, Micéal Rooney 0-3, Gareth McKibbon, Pat Havern 0-5 (1tp, 1f), Tom Close 0-2. Subs: Eamon Brown 0-3 for G. McKibbon, Ruairi McCormack 1-3 for S. Annett, Seamus Loughran 0-1 for P. Havern, Patrick Brooks for F. McElroy, Oran Cunningham for R. Magill,

Leitrim: Killian Gaffey 0-5 (2tpf, 1f), Éanna McNamara, Conor Reynolds, Seán Harkin, Eoin McLoughlin, Mark Diffley 0-1, Keith Keegan, Conor Quinn, Kieran Clancy, Fergal McLoughlin 0-2, Ben Guckian 0-2, Riordan O’Rourke, Paul Honeyman 0-3, Ryan O’Rourke 0-1, Oisin McLoughlin. Subs: Jack Kelly for B. Guckian (blood sub), Arek Oberwan for S. Harkin, Jack Kelly 0-1 for O. McLoughlin, James Rooney for E. McNamara, Colm McLoughlin for K. Clancy, Tom Plunkett 0-1 for P. Honeyman.