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Kerr adds finishing touch to Down's impressive victory

Down 1-15 Offaly 1-7: Down produced a magical second-half performance as they crushed Offaly by eight points in the All-Ireland…

Mon Aug 29 2005 - 01:00

Down 1-15 Offaly 1-7: Down produced a magical second-half performance as they crushed Offaly by eight points in the All-Ireland minor football championship semi-final at Páirc Tailteann, Navan, on Saturday.

The teams were deadlocked at half-time but Down's superior firepower saw them romp to victory and a first final appearance since 1999.

Offaly battled bravely and even managed to get their noses in front early in the second half but Down then outscored them by 1-8 to 0-3. Substitute Richard Kerr slammed home Down's goal in injury time

The Ulster side began the game impressively and by the quarter-hour mark had built a 0-4 to 0-0 cushion. The points were scored by Ryan Kelly, Kevin Duffin and Declan Lavery (two).

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Offaly responded magnificently as Rory Connor won a kick-out before delivering to Ken Casey, who blasted a stunning goal.

Niall Darby levelled it but Down regrouped strongly and points by Eamon McConville, Martin Clarke and Séamus Grant saw them 0-7 to 1-2 in front after 27 minutes.

Offaly finished the half strongly and, thanks to points from Darby and Connor, went in at the break all square.

A successful 37th-minute free by Casey gave Offaly the lead, 1-5 to 0-7, for the only time and from there to the end of the game it was Down who were rampant.

Centre forward Martin Clarke and talented 16-year-old corner forward Ciarán Brannigan led Offaly a merry dance and with 50 minutes gone it was 0-13 to 1-5.

Defender Gerry Grehan scored two rallying points for Offaly but it wasn't enough as Down sealed their final place with Kerr's clinical injury-time goal.

DOWN: M McAllister; G Magee, C Garvey, H Magee; G McCartan, E McConville (0-1), K Duffin (0-1); J Colgan (0-1), P Fitzpatrick (0-1); D Lavery (0-2), M Clarke (0-4, one free), S Grant (0-1); C Brannigan (0-2), R Kelly (0-1 free), P McCumiskey (0-1). Subs: S O'Hagan for G Magee, R Kerr (1-0) for Lavery, J McClorey for O'Hagan, C Clerkin for McCumiskey, G Joyce for McAllister.

OFFALY: D Bracken; J Guinan, D Larkin, D Horan; J Knight, R Dalton, G Grehan (0-2); R Connor (0-1), R Brady; N Darby (0-2), C Mahon, S Lonergan; W Mulhall, P Duffy (0-1), K Casey (1-1, 0-1 free). Subs: J Gorman for Brady, B Kelly for Lonergan, J Ryan for Guinan, G Treacy for Duffy.

Referee: M Meade (Limerick).