2024 Allianz Hurling League Division 2A – Down 2-23 Kerry 1-19

Down defeated Kerry by 2-23 to 1-19 in Round 2 of the 2024 Allianz Hurling League Division 2A on Saturday February 10th at McKenna Park, Ballycran.

Second half Down comeback sinks Kingdom in NHL Division 2A

Down 2-23 Kerry 1-19

Report by Mortimer Murphy for the Irish Independent newspaper

Despite a promising first half performance, Kerry suffered their second league defeat of the season away to Down in Ballycran on Saturday. The Kerry side was missing a number of last season’s regular starters, and they were forced to field without their talisman Shane Conway, who also missed the opening defeat at home to Carlow through injury last weekend.

The visitors had the use of a strong wind in the first half, thanks to an early Michael Leane goal; they used it to telling effect as they showed great heart with nine different scorers in the opening period. They led at halftime by 1-15 to 1-11. The only question was whether that seven point lead would be enough because Down would have the use of the elements in the second half.

Killian Hayes fired over from play as did Darragh Shanahan, Kyle O’Connor and Gavin Dooley (2) which put Kerry 1-9 to 0-9 to the good by the end of the first quarter. They increased the lead to five 1-12 to 0-10 when Fionan Mackessy fired over a long range effort from play.

The long puck champ was in stellar form and he also converted a long range free. Points by the ever busy Dan Goggin, Maurice O’Connor and Niall Mulcahy rounded off the opening half scoring to give Kerry a half-time lead of 1-15 to 0-11.

Down completely took over in the contest in the second period and Kerry failed to register an opening score in the second half until the 57th minute. By that stage Down hit 2-8 without reply between the 35th and 52nd minutes to leave them in a commanding position.

Daithi Sands got the first goal, blasting to the roof of the net. Toner grabbed a second, after what appeared to be a highly debatable hand pass to leave Down 2-19 to 1-15 ahead and they cruised to their first brace of league points as Kerry remain pointless.

Scorers:
Down: P Óg McCrickard (0-9, 0-5 frees),D Sands and D Toner ( 1-1each), T Prenter and T McGrattan ( 0-3 each), C Taggart, D Hughes, R McCrickard, C Egan, P Sheehan and E Sands ( 0-1 each)
Kerry: M O’Connor (0-5, 0-4 frees), D Goggin and F Mackessy (0-3, 2fs) 0-3 each, G Dooley ( 1-0), G Dooley and N Mulcahy ( 0-2 each), D Shanahan, K O’Connor, K Hayes and R Walsh ( 0-1 each).

Down: S Keith 7 ; J McManus 7 , M Conan 7, D Mallon 7 ; B Trainor 6, Taggert 7 , L Savage 7 ; D Hughes 7 , R McCrickard 8 ; D Sands 7 , P Óg McCrickard 9 , T Prenter 7; D Toner 7, T McGrattan 7 , C Egan 7 .
Subs: E Sands 7 for Egan (45), P Sheehan 6 for Toner (54), C Milligan 6 for Hughes (70), N Milligan 6 for D Sands (70+1)

Kerry: L Dee 7; E Leen 7, D Shanahan 7, N O’Mahony 7; T O’Connor 6 , E Murphy 6 , D Griffin 6 ; K O’Connor 6 , F Mackessy 7 ; M Leane 7 , G Dooley 6 , B Barrett; N Mulcahy 6 , M O’Connor 7 , D Goggin 7 .
Subs: K Hayes 6 for Barrett (4), R Walsh 6 for O’Mahony (HT), F McCarthy 6 for Leen (51), T Doyle 6 for Leane (60), D Reen 6 for Mulcahy (69)

Referee: J Clarke (Cavan) 7

Team News

Team Announcement: Kerry vs Down – Allianz Hurling League

Full team news here: https://t.co/DSwuUwKAWW#WeAreKerry #CiarraíAbú #AllianzLeagues pic.twitter.com/TZMyEmyDGc

— Kerry GAA (@Kerry_Official) February 9, 2024

Kerry (AHL v Down): L Dee; F McCarthy, D Shanahan, R Walsh; T O’Connor, E Murphy, D Griffin; K O’Connor, F Mackessy; M Leane, G Dooley, B Barrett; K Hayes, D Goggin, T Doyle.