Relegation confirmed after play abandoned

Relegation confirmed after play abandoned

17 September 2025

DOWNPATRICK travelled to Queensway, Derriaghy, in their last league game of what has been a very demanding and challenging season, and once again they came out second best.

Upon winning the toss, Derriaghy asked Downpatrick to bat, and after 12 overs, the visitors were in total disarray.

After initially recording 34 for 5, matters got worse for Downpatrick, who hit just 107 for 8, but the subsequent events were amazing, adding 110 runs in the last two wickets.

Unbelievably, Lijo Matthew scored two and, in a stunning last wicket stand of 74, Sammy Irwin, who batted heroically, did not secure a run, as Marco Wyngard scored 131 off 116 balls.

Derriaghy needed to win to avoid joining Downpatrick in relegation, and they set off like a train, rampaging their way to 42 from six overs.

Wyngard introduced Arun to the bowling ranks, and he quickly ripped through the top half of Derriaghy’s batting.

However, Downpatrick’s weakness of not being able to remove the opposition’s professional was to prove costly, as Renco Adams amassed 62 not out and Andrew Kenny built a tally of 16 not out.

With the heavens opening and thunder and lightning paying the ground a visit, the pitch quickly became saturated and the match was called off. 

Derriaghy, ahead by just eight runs, preserved their status in the Senior League for another year, while Downpatrick ped down to Senior League 2.

Wyngard finished as top run scorer in the division, racking up 912 runs at an average of 53 per game, but sadly, Downpatrick’s next highest run scorer was just 252.

Many thanks to Willie Radcliffe and Paddy Flynn, who had the ground in pristine condition for the whole season.

Thanks also goes to all of our ball sponsors and lastly, a huge thank you to the ladies who provided the tea every Saturday. 

Hopefully 2026 will be a bit more successful for our sides. 

Math ball sponsor: Brennan’s Seaforde and Dundrum.