AFTER completing a unique double over Burren for the first time in nearly 30 years, Downpatrick travelled to joint bottom club Longstone hoping to consolidate their mid table position in Division 1.
Longstone had defeated the RGU at Pairc Tomas Ruiseil with a last-minute penalty kick back in April and they started this match in whirlwind fashion.
The RGU defence was caught napping and Darren Fitzpatrick blasted the ball past Deeny in the visitors’ goal after only 50 seconds. Longstone’s ace free taker Doran added a 21-yard free to put the hosts four up.
But then the class of the Hoops began to tell and, in particular, Damian Turley.
Turley’s mazy runs were causing havoc to the Longstone’s defence all night and a superb pass found Conor McGrady who slotted the ball over after six minutes. Turley then put the visitors level with a powerful shot that gave home keeper Haughian little chance.
The RGU defence was superb all night and there were notable performances from Damian Braniff, Paddy Smyth and Johnny Bell. Kevin Gracey was also having a fine game at midfield with Turley and they began to get on top.
Three quick frees from McGrady,
Ruairi Quinn and another from McGrady put the visitors three in front. Barry Doran reduced the deficit to two with a 21-yard free, but you could sense that there was more to come from the RGU.
Captain McGrady was instrumental in most of the RGU’s attacks and it certainly is hard to fathom how he and Damian Turley are not part of the county set-up.
However, the county’s loss is the RGU’s gain and another point from McGrady from play and points from Colin Leckey and Quinn stretched the visitors’ lead to five points.
Points from Ryan Kelly and Doran, both from play, kept the home side in the game until McGrady closed the first half out with a 30-yard free.
With the half-time score at Longstone 1-4 to RGU 1-8, Doran opened the second half scoring for Longstone with a point from play which was answered with a superb point from Neal Cunningham.
It was at this point that the game spiralled away from Longstone. James Deeny in the visitors’ goal, brought off two world class saves with the home team attacking vigorously. Then Longstone were dealt a blow when left back McDowell was red-carded for a high tackle on Quinn.
Doran, with three frees, put the home side only one behind with less than ten minutes to go. With the home crowd urging their side on, Johnny Bell, with two scintillating points, gave the visitors some breathing room, but another Doran score and a superb point from right back Smyth left only one in the game.
However, a thunderous right-footed shot from McGrady that would have beaten three goalkeepers and two injury time points from Sean Bell and Leckey gave the visitors a deserved six-point win.
Ambrose Rodgers showed some of his old sparkle, reminiscent of his former county days, but was well marked by a strong and resolute RGU defence.
Longstone: J P Haughian, C Smyth (0-1), A Rodgers, D McDowell, K Rodgers, G McDowell, D Young, G Trainor, F McBreen, D Fitzpatrick (1-0), B Doran (0-8), C Poland, R Harrison, R Kelly (0-1), A Rodgers.
Downpatrick: J Deeny, P Smyth, D Braniff, N McShane, T Looden, J Bell (0-2), C Doherty, K Gracey, D Turley (1-0), S Bell (0-1), C McGrady (1-5), C Leckey, R Quinn (0-2), C Boyd, N Cunningham. Subs: O McEvoy for R Quinn (blood substitute), O McEvoy for C Doherty (black card), C McGarrity for R Quinn.
Longstone 1-10
RGU 2-13
ACFL DIVISION 1