It’s goals that count for RGU

It’s goals that count for RGU

22 September 2021

DOWNPATRICK kick-started their Senior Championship campaign with an impressive win over last year’s runners-up Carryduff on a sun-drenched Saturday evening.

Despite being considered slight underdogs before the contest, the green and white outfit proved they were anything but as they found the back of the net three times in the opening half.

Goals from Oran Cunningham (2) and captain Conor McGrady put the Hoops too far in front at the interval, with the Carryduff men left frustrated at their missed chances.

There was a notable turnout at the Darragh Cross venue, with waves of supporters from both sides allowing their voices to be heard throughout the duration of the match.

Despite Carryduff winning the throw-in, it was Downpatrick who opened the scoring through a Jarlath Brannigan free after three minutes had been played.

Brannigan doubled his tally just two minutes later in what was a determined start from the Hoops.

However, this would be no stroll in the park as Josh Connery dummied his marker to send Carryduff’s first effort over the bar after some silky work from team-mate Owen McCabe.

Downpatrick goalkeeper and joint captain James Deeny displayed pin-point accuracy with his kick-outs countless times throughout the match but perhaps needed the opening minutes to settle any nerves.

A wayward punt upfield was gobbled up by Carryduff’s Pearse McCabe who relayed the ball quickly to Cian Clinton to level the scores.

Caolan Mooney made his presence known with his usual rapid pace and precision. The former Rostrevor and current county player drew a foul before Conor McCarron calmly converted to put Downpatrick back in front.

It was Carryduff’s turn to showcase their county talent as Daniel Guinness again levelled the tie with an emphatic point before captain Joe McFlynn swung the match back in their favour.

However, with a minute to go to the first water-break Downpatrick got the reward for their relentless work in the middle of the park. 

McGrady and Mooney swarmed the Carryduff midfield with a barrage of tackles before some quick passing allowed the ball to enter into the hands of Downpatrick’s young forward Oran Cunningham. 

The Downpatrick number 18 made no mistake in blasting his effort past opposing ‘keeper Mark Hynes to give his side a two-point lead.

This advantage didn’t last until the quarter as Carryduff replied with two well-taken scores to bring the contest even.

A few wides from both sides were observed after the water-break before Conor Doherty curled his left-footed free in-between the posts for Downpatrick.

With 21 minutes played on the clock it was Cunningham again who would prove the major difference after his long-ranged effort looped over the head of Hynes and into the back of the net to double his tally.

Hynes could be excused for this as Cunningham’s effort struck most around the pitch as a cross rather than an attempt at goal.

Nevertheless, Carryduff kept plugging away and answered with a James Guinness point.

Conor McGrady saw his effort at goal crowded out by the determined opposing defenders before Gerdie Collins saw his effort drift over the bar to restore Downpatrick’s four-point lead.

Mooney pointed again for the Hoops before McGrady added his side’s third goal of the half after the green and white forward line took advantage of a defensive mix-up.

Daniel Guinness tried to rally his team as best as he could, soloing past three RGU shirts before registering the final point of the half. Half-time: Downpatrick 3-6 Carryduff 0-8.

Whatever the management team of Paddy Doherty, Shane O’Neill and DJ Morgan told their Carryduff side during the interval must have struck a chord as they started the second half with clear intent.

Despite a James Guinness wide, points from McCabe and McFlynn chipped away at the deficit for the purple, gold and black side.

Cunningham was unlucky not to hit a hat-trick of goals after his lobbed effort was fantastically cleared of the line by Daniel Coogan.

RGU followed this up with two efforts which both veered wide, before McFlynn again pointed for Carryduff leaving the score 3-6 to 0-11 in favour of the Downpatrick side at the second water-break.

It was clear that legs were beginning to tire in the final quarter after a gruelling physical showing from both teams meant more and more chances went begging.

Downpatrick finally registered their first point of the second half through another Doherty free. 

Carryduff refused to go quietly and were given added encouragement when RGU’s Tim Prenter was shown a black card with five minutes remaining.

However, the frustration continued for both Carryduff and James Guinness as his effort veered wide of the target again. 

Deeny was rewarded for keeping his concentration after making an impressive save with his feet to deny Carryduff a certain goal in the dying moments of the game, although he could do nothing about the converted free a minute later.

Mooney fisted over the bar in the next run of play for Downpatrick before Carryduff substitute Joe Tunney completed the scoring in the last passage of play.

After the match, Downpatrick manager Aidan Robinson reflected on his side’s winning performance.

“In the first half we worked incredibly hard, we turned the ball over a lot at the halfway line which we got a lot of scores from and we managed to get the goals,” he said.

“We built a good platform for ourselves and spoke at half-time about kicking on from that, but we didn’t really manage to.

“I think in the third quarter of the game we were pretty flat and Carryduff got back into the tie, but we got over the line and we will learn from that.” 

He added: “I’m very happy with the result and very happy to be in the next round.”

Downpatrick: J Deeny, E Rooney, A Doherty, R Murphy, T Smyth, J Bell, C Doherty, D Turley, C McCarron, T Prenter, G Collins, C McGrady, J Brannigan, P Turley, C Mooney.

Subs: A Og Robinson, M Fitzpatrick, O Cunningham, S Bell, T Loudon, T McNeill, N Cunningham, D Branniff, T Savage, C Boyd, R Og Quinn, C Farrell, R Quinn.

Carryduff: M Hynes, D Coogan, C Cassidy, C McCullagh, L Toal, J Connery, D Guinness, B Cox, P McCabe, O McCabe, J McFlynn, C Clinton, S McGonigle, R Beatty, J Guinness.

Subs: T Connery, M McGrath, P McConnell, C Sherry, R Reilly, C Cunningham, R Boyle, J Tunney, M Lawson, C Rooney, J Henry, D Connelly, D Connor.

Downpatrick 3-8

Carryduff 0-13

MORGAN FUELS SFC 1ST ROUND