Late Shane Annett point gets Down over the line away to Limerick

Down left it late, but a last-gasp point from Shane Annett got them the win away to Limerick this afternoon, in a game where Daniel Guinness top-scored with 0-5.

The Mournemen began their campaign with victory over Clare last weekend, but they were pushed all the way by last year’s Tailteann Cup runners-up in Rathkeale.

The home side were first on the board with Andrew Meade pointing in the third minute, but Down answered with scores from Guinness and Pearse McPolin. Meade grabbed his second to level the game once more, but the visitors notched the first two-pointer of the game in response, a two-point free from Pat Havern.

Down then took control of the game, with Ceilum Doherty (two), Ryan McEvoy and Odhran Murdock all raising white flags to make the score read 0-8 to 0-2 in their favour.

To their credit, Limerick fought back with a James Naughton free, a Paul Maher one-pointer and a Robbie Childs two-pointer, but a Guinness point saw Down lead by three at the break.

Conor Laverty’s men increased their advantage with Doherty adding his third of the game, before a Havern free but Limerick were able to cut into the lead once more when Eliah Riordan converted a two-point free, and a one-pointer from play soon after.

Debutant Jamie Doran hit back with a point, and when that was followed by McPolin and Guinness scores, Down led by five heading into the last 15 minutes and looked to be heading for the win.

Limerick wouldn’t go away quietly though, and Naughton converted two frees either side of an Annett point, before Danny Neville rattled the net on 61 minutes to put Down under pressure.

Cometh the hour cometh the man however, and Guinness looked to steady Down’s nerves with a huge two-pointer. Alas, Limerick continued to fight and following a two-point free from Riordan and a one-point free from Naughton, they were on level terms with time running out.

But Down got the last laugh, with Annett nailing the crucial score at the death to see them leave The Treaty County with the two points.

MATCH STATS

Limerick: Jeffrey Alfred; Jason Hassett, Colm McSweeney, Mark McCarthy; Barry Coleman, Killian Ryan, Diarmuid Buckley; Jack McCarthy, Paul Maher (0-1); Eliah Riordan (0-5, 2tpf), Andrew Meade (0-2),Sean Clancy; Robbie Childs (0-2, 1tp), James Naughton (0-4, 4f), Danny Neville (1-0).

Subs: Rory O’Brien for Meade (HT), Shane Cross for J McCarthy (56), Oran Collins for McSweeney (58), Brendan Carr for Maher (68).

Down: Ronan Burns; Peter Fegan, Pierce Laverty, Barry O’Hagan; Pearse McPolin (0-2), Ryan Magill, Callum Rogers; Odhran Murdock (0-1), Ryan McEvoy (0-1); Daniel Guinness (0-5, 1tp), Ceilum Doherty (0-3), Shane Annett (0-2); Adam Crimmins, Pat Havern (0-3, 1f, 1tpf), John McGeough.

Subs: Jamie Doran for O’Hagan (32), Donal Scullion for Crimmins (43), Tom Close for McEvoy (53), Patrick Brooks for Rogers (57), Gareth McKibbin for McGeough (68).

Referee: Fergal Kelly (Longford).