Doherty's double is just perfect

Doherty's double is just perfect

21 June 2017

DOWNPATRICK’S Jekyll and Hyde season continued on Friday night when, just a week after comprehensively beating league leaders Castlewellan, they rather meekly succumbed to county champions Kilcoo at Pairc Tomas Ruiseil.

A mesmerising first half performance from Kilcoo paved the way for a seven-point win as Downpatrick never really got up to the pace of the game in the first 30 minutes.

Kilcoo were the brighter side from the off and points from Conor Laverty and Ceilum Doherty edged them in front before from Downpatrick responded with scores from Neal Cunningham and Johnny Collins.

Veteran forward Gary McEvoy kicked a left-footed score out on the left hand side two minutes later and this was followed by two Martin Devlin efforts prior to the 20-minute mark. 

A minute later the game changed dramatically when the elusive Ceilum Doherty hit the net and this gave the Magpies a five-point cushion. 

Devlin pointed again before speedster Taylor Loudon cut through the tight marking Kilcoo defence to fist his side’s third score

On the next attack Kilcoo put a wonderful move together for Doherty to score his second goal of the half, Aaron Morgan supplying the final pass. 

A Conor Laverty free finished the first half scoring leaving Paul McIver’s charges ten points to the good on Damian Laverty’s short whistle. 

On the resumption, Laverty added another point but all of a sudden, Downpatrick seemed to find a fightback, and a goal chance went begging before Johnny Bell, playing from full back, put some steel into the performance. A surging run by Bell saw him exchange passes and finish with aplomb to the net.

Ruairi Quinn, (2) Conor McGrady added points before a Laverty free finished the scoring for the night.

Unfortunately, for the home side, they didn't get enough scores when on top and with the margin so large, it was always going to be difficult to claw back, especially against an impressive Kilcoo. 

Aidan Branagan defended heroically over the hour for the Magpies while Sean O'Hanlon had a massive second half when the pressure was on.

Dylan Ward and Aaron Morgan won the midfield battle, but it was the trio of Martin Devlin, Conor Laverty and Ceilum Doherty who did most of the damage and had the biggest influence on the result, scoring all but one point of Kilcoo's total. 

Downpatrick will be disappointed with their overall performance but Johnny Bell, Taylor Loudon, Conor McGrady and Ruairi Quinn had fine games. 

Downpatrick: James Deeny, Nathan McAuley, Johnny Bell (1-0), Damian Braniff, Nathan McShane, Taylor Loudon (0-1), Damien Turley, Liam Kearney, Johnny Collins (0-1), Conor Doherty, Conor McGrady (0-1), Ryan Slavin, Ruairi Quinn (0-2), Garrett Trainor, Neal Cunningham (0-1). Subs used: Tim Collins, Colin Leckey, Kevin Gracy, Caolan Boyd and Eoin McEvoy. 

Kilcoo: Stephen Kane, Aidan Fulcher, Aidan Branagan, Niall McEvoy, JJ McLaughlin, Sean O'Hanlon, Miceal Rooney, Dylan Ward, Aaron Morgan, Eugene Branagan, Conor Laverty (0-4, 2f), Ceilum Doherty (2-1), Gary McEvoy (0-1), James McClean and Martin Devlin (0-4, 1f). Subs used: Patrick Devlin, Darryl Branagan, Gerard McEvoy, Ciaran McEvoy and Sean Devlin. 

Referee: Damian Laverty (Drumaness).

Downpatrick 1-6 

Kilcoo 2-10

ACFL Division 1