Darren delivers for Killyleagh

29 February 2012

DARREN McConnell scored a dramatic late winner to settle this Premier Section derby.

The YC midfielder drilled home in the 89th minute to ensure Killyleagh remain unbeaten in 2012 and allowed Dee Heron’s team to nick all three league points that are likely to guarantee Premier safety.

Defeat pushed Downpatrick to the bottom of the league table, although Donal Bell’s side still have 11 games remaining to climb out of the zone.

Downpatrick controlled the opening half and showed a lot more ambition and adventure than the home team. After seven minutes Eoin Boyle was brought down on the edge of the area, but the free came to nothing. Seconds later and Gordon Leckey brought down Andrew Telford, but the free was comfortably collected by Michael McKenna.

Five minutes later and there was almost a repeat. Another free on the edge of the area produced a similar result, Boyle’s free failed to clear the wall.

With Christian Holland pushing forward superbly on the left and Barry Fitzsimons orchestrating efforts from the back, Killyleagh struggled to get any hold on the game. However, the Downpatrick threat was largely confined to set pieces and after 23 minutes Andrew Telford’s corner was bravely blocked by Jason Heron. Five minutes later and yet another free, this time from Holland, was saved by McKenna.

Killyleagh had a golden chance in the 29th minute. Heron raced down the right and produced a pinpoint cross ,but an unmarked Leckey headed over a gaping goal.

Within a minute at the opposite end Downpatrick produced their best chance of the half. Mark Feenan jinked free on the left and measured a lovely cross for Telford, but the ball ran away from him 10 yards out and the chance was gone.

Boyle produced the one other effort of note in the half when he turned and shot in the 39th minute, but McKenna comfortably grabbed it.

Straight from the half-time restart, Killyleagh should have broken the deadlock. Heron raided up the right and fired in a super cross, but it was one of those days for Leckey who was caught in two minds and spurned the chance from six yards.

Killyleagh finally got a stranglehold on the game and from a Sullivan corner McConnell rifled a shot inches over and just as quickly substitute Ian Mannus shot wide. Jordan Kennedy made a surging run out of the YC defence and fed Dale Davidson, but it was well saved by JJ Delaney.

That was the signal for a series of Killyleagh chances in the next 10 minutes with Davidson denied after Mannus’ head on, Gracey producing a fine block to deny Dickson and then Delaney saving well from Davidson’s cross.

Then came yet another big chance as Gavin Murray headed inches wide from a Murdoch/Sullivan/Davidson combination in the 76th minute.

One of the highlights of the game was the tussle between Andrew Telford and Hugh Ross, and in the 79th minute Telford escaped his marker, but his shot was blocked by Niall Walsh.

It looked as if the game was petering out to a draw when McConnell struck. Walsh fired in a free and when it landed in the path of McConnell he needed no second invitation to fire a stunner past Delaney to send the Killyleagh fans delirious.

Downpatrick pushed for an equaliser in injury time and there were calls for a penalty, more in hope than expectation, but it was not to be.

Killyleagh: M. McKenna, J. Kennedy, H. Ross, N. Walsh, G. Murdoch, G. Murray, J. Heron, D. McConnell, G. Leckey, H. Dickson, J. Sullivan. Subs: D. Davidson, I. Mannus, P. Rainey.

Downpatrick: JJ Delaney, G. Collins, C. Holland, B. Fitzsimons, K. Gracey, N. Young, A. Telford, C. Curran, E. Boyle, C. McKenna, M. Feenan. Subs: S. McMahon, C. McGrady, L Graham.

Killyleagh YC 1

Downpatrick 0

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