Down fail to catch fire as Wicklow's new faces shine

Despite the unseasonal sunshine, initial impressions smacked of an unwelcome return to the dark ages at Aughrim yesterday. There were no programmes, never mind a photocopied team-sheet, for paying punters; no national anthem to interrupt picnickers in the nearby hills, and a late throw-in to boot. Too many shades of yore. So much for new league formats and an injection of spice into the competition. On the field, thankfully, it was all a good deal different. The players' treated the occasion far more seriously.

Ironically, many Wicklow supporters could have done with a programme to identify their players. Niall Rennick hasn't so much used the broom to brush away old doubts as to sweep in new players since assuming control. Where have they been hiding? A team featuring just four players who'd faced Offaly in the summer's Leinster championship mustered up traditional Wicklow heart and spirit to eke out a three-point win.

At times, it was tough going. Indeed, it was a typical National League opener: the shooting wasn't as good as it could or should be; legs were a little heavy, and there was an emphasis on physique as much as skill.

Yet, Down, physically stronger, and who looked to be the more skilful team, too, for much of the match, never managed to catch fire and found themselves on the wrong side of the final score.

They can blame nobody but themselves. At one stage in the first-half, Down actually went 18 minutes without managing to trouble the scoreboard operator. And, during the game, Down kicked nine wides to just three from Wicklow. Also, there appeared a reluctance to actually shoot at the goal-posts (an ailment not just confined to Down, it must be said) and, whenever such situations arose, Wicklow's defenders converged on the guilty party as if he were a sheep rustler caught red-handed.

Wicklow weren't the only side with a complement of new faces. Down introduced three teenagers - Glen McMahon and Mal McMurray from last year's minor team, and Shane Ward, captain of this year's minors - and a number of other players supposedly chomping at the bit. Alan Molloy, ostensibly deployed as a corner back but given a roving commission when Wicklow's Mick Murtagh moved out to act as a third midfielder, and McMahon were the most impressive of the newcomers, but in the main most of the good work was produced by old hands like Conor and Ger Deegan.

The same couldn't be said for Wicklow, though. Brendan O Hannaigh was a very impressive corner-back and, in fact, one of the game's highlights was a remarkable solo run - all of 90 yards - which ended with Down goalkeeper Mickey McVeigh producing a magnificent flying dive to deny him a goal.

Darren Coffey, at midfield, was another to make a good impression. Apart from kicking six points from frees, Coffey wasn't afraid to throw himself about around the middle of the park, either, and acted as supplier to Kevin O'Brien for the Baltinglass man's two points, both of which were superbly taken.

Strangely, Wicklow appeared ill-at-ease early on. Down, in fact, were 0-3 to 0-1 ahead within 11 minutes, their third point coming when Deegan won the ball, laid it off to Garteh Bailie and he found Molloy. It was good stuff too.

However, Down failed to score again for 18 minutes - with full-forward Ciaran McCabe the main culprit in the shooting stakes - and Wicklow, slowly but surely, gained in confidence. By the half-time whistle, Wicklow had edged into a one-point lead, 0-5 to 0-4.

The best was yet to come. Down threw down the gauntlet with an equalising point within 30 seconds of the restart. But Wicklow responded with three successive points - an excellent score from Conan Daye and two Coffey frees - and, with a hint of autumn madness in the air, Down hit back with three points in a row themselves (two from Ger Deegan and another from McMahon) to level matters at 0-8.

After that, it was pretty much nip-and-tuck, with the game heading towards a likely draw, until Wicklow produced the piece de resistance. Admittedly, it was with the aid of referee Joe Harlin, who showed good judgement throughout. In the 56th minute, Wicklow wing-back Seamus Miley made a terrific burst and, goal-bound, was grounded by Simon Poland. Daye slotted the resultant penalty to the net for the decisive score, and, in that moment, the game had slipped from Down's grasp.