Downpatrick steel show

Downpatrick steel show

20 August 2014

DYNAMIC Downpatrick dumped dogged Dundonald out of the Steel and Sons Cup after hitting them with a bunch of fives at Rosconnor on Saturday.

It wasn’t exactly a virtuoso display from Downpatrick, but coming on the back of a 4-1 defeat by Lisburn Rangers on Tuesday night, it was most certainly a step back in the right direction.

Dundonald started extremely brightly and with a minute gone Ciaran McGarrity had to act sharpish in the box when Craig Campbell threatened to score. Less than 60 seconds later a square Downpatrick back four were pierced again following a monster clearance from ‘keeper Andy Fox, but Campbell shot straight at Michael McKenna.  

With three minutes gone the twinkle-toed Conail McGrady cut inside his marker out on the left flank and let one fly, the crossbar coming to Dundonald’s rescue. This was the signal for Downpatrick to push on and a minute later the busy and destructive Barry Treacy wasn’t to far away with a strike from just outside the box after a good build-up.

Downpatrick were now playing the ball on the deck at every opportunity and they looked impressive with Conor McKenna and Andy Baggley conducting the business end of things, but it was an aerial missile that helped bring  about the breakthrough.

With eight minutes gone Treacy fired over a corner kick from the right and Mark Holland, still the daddy of then all, no matter where he plays, outjumped everyone in the box to power in a stunning header.

Six minutes later an improvised effort from Eoin Boyle, who led the line with distinction, dipped just too late to bother Fox, but the second goal wasn’t long in coming. With 16 minutes gone Chris McDowell bombed forward from his left back berth and linked up well with McGrady before firing in a telling cross that Andrew Telford headed home with aplomb.

McGrady went close to making it 3-0 in the 24th minute before Baggley converted yet another Treacy corner to put Downpatrick out of sight. It was now a case of cruise control for Downpatrick, but they took their eye off the ball just a little too much as Dundonald made a game of it in the second half.

McKenna was forced into a spectacular save in the 52nd minute when Campbell chanced his arm from outside the box, but that was as close as Dundonald got to reducing the leeway.

Downpatrick were now playing well within themselves with Conor McKenna pulling the strings in the midfield holding role He kept things simple, went short when he had to and also pinged cross-field passes onto the feet of Treacy and McGrady as if he owned the ball and was taking it home if he wasn’t allowed to show his skills.

It really was a master class from McKenna, a player who so often in the past was shoved up front or ditched out wide by previous clubs and managers. But Joe McMahon and Kevin Trueman have now found a permanent home for him in the anchor role, a role that suits him to perfection.

Conor had a hand in goal number four when it came midway through the second half after a sweeping move. Again, Treacy was at the end of things and his searing cross was neatly tucked away by Telford.

Goal number five came in the 75th minute when Baggley unselfishly teed up John Glennon after impressive work form Chris Mullan out on the left.

Glennon had a glorious chance to make it six of the best five minutes later when Mullan put the ball on a plate for him, but he blasted over from a great position.

Downpatrick had the luxury of bringing on Christian Holland for the last 10 minutes, his first competitive action in two years following knee surgery and what an asset he could be in various roles as the season progresses.

Downpatrick: M. McKenna, C. McGarrity, C. McDowell, M. Curran, M. Holland, B. Treacy, C. McGrady, C. McKenna, A. Baggley, E. Boyle, A. Telford. Subs: C. Mullan, J. Glennon, G. Trueman, C. Holland, A. McCoubrey.

Dundonald: A. Fox, C. Nicholl, C. Wolsey, A. Johnston, S. Graham, M. Reid, A. McKenzie, N. Duffy, C. Campbell, R. Orderly, W. Youle. Subs: R. Smyth, S. Harvey, A. Weir. 

Downpatrick 5

Dundonald 0

STEEL & SONS CUP 1ST ROUND