Down secured the opening two points of their Alliance National Hurling League campaign with a hard-fought three-point win over Kildare in Ballycran earlier this afternoon.
After the previous 24 hours the storm had left difficult underfoot conditions but the home side responded well to eek out the win.
Two opening half goals from Daithi Sands and Shea Pucci helped open a four point lead 2-8 to 0-10 at the interval for the home side.
Kildare were to rue ten wides and a missed penalty in that opening 35 minutes and after leading by 4 after 11 minutes it was Down who gained the upper hand.
Tim Prenter, Pearse Óg McCrickard and Tom McGrattan all helping themselves to two points in a dominant closing 12 minutes.
Five second-half points, all from frees saw McGrattan steer Down to a win. David Qualter was equally as accurate from frees and two early second-half efforts had Kildare back within three 7 minutes after the restart.
McGrattan and Chris Egan kept the scoreboard ticking over and as we passed the 46th minute Down had moved into a seven-point lead.
The introduction of Gerry Keegan and Muiris Curtin seemed to galvanise Kildare and while Qualter was keeping Kildare in contention it was a long range effort from Curtin and two Keegan efforts that turned the tide for Kildare.
Within three minutes to play Kildare had turned that 7 point deficit into a 1 point lead.They couldn’t ad to their 22 point tally and It was Down who finished the stronger hitting four late points late points that saw them over the line.
Scorers – Down: T McGrattan 0-8 (1’65, 5 frees), D Sands 1-1, S Pucci 1-1, T Prenter 0-3, P Og McCrickard 0-2, P Savage 0-2, C Egan 0-1, F Turpin 0-1. Kildare: D Qualter 0-11 (10 frees), D Melville 0-2, J Burke 0-2, G Keegan 0-2, D Guerin 0-1, M Curtin 0-1, D O Meara 0-1, C Dowling 0-1, J Travers 0-1.
Down: S Keith, M Conlan, T Murray, J McManus, M Fisher 7, C Taggart 7, S Pucci 7, L Savage 7, P Savage 6, P Og McCrickard 7, E Dands 6, T Prenter 7, D Sands 8, C Egan 6, T McGrattan 9. Subs: R Beatty for S Pucci 45, F Turpin for E Sands 53, N McFarland for M Fisher 55, D Toner for C Egan 63, G Hughes for L Savage 68.
Kildare: P McKenna 7, J McKeon 6, S Leacy 7, R Boran 7, D O Meara 6, C McCabe 6, D Guerin 7, C Boran 6, P Dolan 6, D Melville 7, C Kehoe 6, J Travers 6, D Qualter 8, J Burke 7, C Dowling 7. Subs: M Curtin for C Boran 41, G Keegan for C Kehoe 44, J Dolan for J Travers 56, J Higgins for D Melville 65.
Referee: T Gleeson (Dublin).