O'Hare shines as Down finally get off the mark

Allianz Football League Division I: Down 0-13 Mayo 0-11

Down earned their first points of the 2013 Allianz Football League campaign with an excellent two-point defeat of Mayo at Páirc Esler, Newry on Saturday night.

Having suffered three successive defeats in Division I of the Allianz League, the Mourne men desperately needed a win against last year's All-Ireland finalists, and they produced their best performance of the season to date to see off the Westerners in a scrappy game.

The defeat, Mayo's third in a row, leaves James Horan's side in trouble near the foot of the table and in real danger of facing a battle with the drop rather than fighting it out for a place in the semi-finals as they might have expected.

Donal O'Hare stole the show for Down, scoring nine points in total, including two crucial late scores, the second of which was a brilliantly struck point from a difficult angle that effectively sealed the points for the home side.

Down led by 0-6 to 0-4 at the break following a poor first half and hit the first three points of the second half, from O'Hare (2) and Mark Poland, to move five clear.

Mayo were struggling in attack, but they did squander a fine goal chance when midfielder Barry Moran was denied by an excellent point-blank stop from Down goalkeeper Brendan McVeigh.

Michael Conroy and Enda Varley then combined well to set up Cathal Carolan for Mayo's first point of the second half. Carolan's effort sparked a purple patch for the visitors which yielded five points in a row in a 16-minute spell. Mayo drew level at 0-9 apiece thanks to further scores from Moran, Carolan (his third) and two Jason Doherty frees.

However, Down hit back with two more O'Hare frees to pull two clear, before Kevin McLoughlin pulled one back for Mayo and then their goalkeeper, Kenneth O'Malley, levelled the game from a '45' with five minutes to go.

Crucially, though, it was Down, who lost to Cork last week by conceding a goal with the last kick of the game, who finished the stronger. When Kevin Keane fouled Benny Coulter, O'Hare held his nerve to nudge his side ahead.

In injury time, O'Hare adorned a super performance with perhaps his best score of the night, the Down attacker finding his range from way out on the touchline to give his side two vital league points.

Down Scorers: Donal O'Hare 0-9 (0-6f), Conor Laverty, Ryan Mallon, Mark Poland, Paul McComiskey 0-1 each.

Mayo Scorers: Jason Doherty 0-4 (0-3f), Cathal Carolan 0-3, Kevin McLoughlin (0-1f), Barry Moran, Michael Conroy, Kenneth O'Malley (0-1 '45) 0-1 each.