Downpatrick are rumbled at home

Downpatrick are rumbled at home

20 May 2015

CASTLEWELLAN got the better of Downpatrick at Pairc Tomas Ruiseil on Friday night with an economy of effort.

The Town’s policy of playing the ball in early to Aidy Burns and Cahal Crilly proved much more effective than Downpatrick’s attempts to get Michael Magee involved and to make matters worse, the hosts missed a lot of good scoring opportunities at crucial stages in the game.

Both sides were well below strength, but Downpatrick’s worrying injury list got even bigger when Sean Bell was rushed to hospital minutes after the final whistle with a kidney laceration following a clash with a Castlewellan defender.

The Town got off to a dream start and Cahal Crilly twisted and turned before lofting over the opening score with only 30 seconds on the clock. It took Downpatrick a while to respond, but with five minutes gone Peter Turley and Magee combined to create space for Garrett Trainor and he brought the sides level with his trusted left foot.

Less than a minute later with Downpatrick pressing, Castlewellan hit the hosts on the break and Crilly pointed after being picked out by Burns. Trainor duly brought the sides level after another patient build-up. 

Two points from Burns in quick succession, including a 21m free, eased Castlewellan into a 0-4 to 0-2 lead by the 14th minute, despite Downpatrick seeing a lot more of the ball, mainly through the efforts of Turley in the engine room.

Two Neal Cunningham frees between the 15th and 21st minutes brought the sides level before Castlewellan’s Liam McKibbin was black carded and replaced by Sean Hardy.

Undeterred, Castlewellan stole a march on Downpatrick again and points from Burns and Crilly gave then a 0-6 to 0-4 lead by the 27th minute.

However, RGU finished the first half on a high and two converted frees Cunningham sent the sides in level at the break.

Burns linked up well with Kevin Duffin to point Castlewellan back in front on the restart before Downpatrick were denied a penalty when Ruari Quinn was hauled back with only Michael Cunningham to beat.

Castlewellan went straight down the park and Cahal Keown was out of luck in front of goal when he too seemed impeded in the act of shooting. Duffin then gave Castlewellan a two point lead with a super score before John Shields left a point in it after replacing Caolan Boyd.

Burns fisted to the net in the 42nd minute to give Castlewellan a 1-8 to 0-7 lead, but Downpatrick hit back immediately and Magee’s persistence paid off when he netted from close in.

Barry Travers and Conor McCarron swapped scores before two points from Burns gave Castlewellan a 1-11 to 1-8 lead with four minutes remaining. The indomitable Sean Bell gave Downpatrick a fighting chance of salvaging something form the game with a point in the 58th minute, but wayward finishing from the hosts left Castlewellan two point winners.

Downpatrick: J. Deeny, P. Smith, A. Doherty, B. Braniff, N. Cunningham (0-4), J. Bell, C. Doherty, P. Turley, C.Boyd, J. Starkey, C. Boyd, S. Bell (0-1), G. Trainor (0-2), K. Gracey, M. Magee (1-0), R. Quinn. Subs: E. Boyle for Gracey, J. Shields (0-1) for Boyd, R. Slavin for Trainor, C. McCarron (0-1) for Quinn. 

Castlewellan: M. Cunningham, C.Flanagan, B. Travers (0-1), W. Og McCawley, R. Brogan, K. Duffin (0-1), L. McKibbin, R. Burns, F. Toner, D. Gilmore, D. McKibbin, M. Stratton, Cahal Crilly (0-3), S. Dornan, A. Burns (1-6). Subs: S. Hardy for L. McKibbin (black card), Conal Crilly for Stratton (black card), R. McCartan for Flanagan C. Keown for Brogan.

Downpatrick 1-9

Castlewellan 1-11

ACFL DIVISION 1