Downpatrick in seventh heaven with hot display

22 August 2018

DOWNPATRICK continued to lead a double life when they confounded everyone at Kilcoo on Thursday night with their cold-blooded annihilation of An Riocht.

The dreadful performance against Glenn on Sunday was quickly forgotten about as John Fegan’s charges were in a totally different frame of mind and boy did they make An Riocht pay.

Fast, open and direct football was the order of the day as the Hoops set about dismantling Deaglan O’Reilly’s side.

Innovative movement on an off the ball had Downpatrick in the ascendancy from the outset and points from Conor McGrady, the overlapping Jarlath Branagan — he must have thought that he was invisible after continually raiding unmarked down the right flank — Jonny and Gerard Collins and a goal from Garrett Trainor gave the Hoops a 1-4 to 0-1 lead.

An Riocht reduced the leeway with a converted 45’ from ‘keeper Stephen Doran, but a fleet-footed Downpatrick went back on the offensive and a screamer of a goal and a point from Caolain Boyd and further points from Branagan (0-2), Michael Magee, Trainor and McGrady eased the Hoops into a 2-10 to 0-1 lead after 19 minutes.

Another Doran 45’ eased An Riocht’s woes for a while as Downpatrick went back on the rampage and points from Anthony Doherty, Taylor Loudon and a goal and a point from Branagan had the Hoops 3-13 to 0-2 clear at the interval.

An Riocht tweaked their formation at the start of the second half in a bid to quell Downpatrick’s fervour, but to no avail as points from Loudon and Sean Bell

(0-2) increased their lead to 23 points midway through. A Rory Cunningham free gave An Riocht some respite, but Downpatrick finished on top and a point from Conor Fegan and a goal from McGrady had An Riocht on the ropes.

Downpatrick continued to pile on the pressure and further minor scores from Doherty, Colin Leckey and Peter Turley completed the Hoops’ good night at the office.

Rory Cunningham completed the scoring when he a free for An Riocht in the dying stages.

Downpatrick: J Deeny, N McShane, A Doherty (0-2, 1f), R Murphy, T Loudon (0-1), G Collins (0-1), J Bell, P Turley (0-1), J Collins (0-1), J Branagan (1-4,1pen), C McGrady (1-2), S Bell (0-2), C Boyd (1-1), M Magee (0-1), G Trainor (1-1). Subs: C Doherty for Loudon), C Fegan (0-1f) for S Bell, C Leckey (0-1) for Magee, R Quinn for Branagan.

An Riocht: S Doran (0-2, 45), R Clarke, C Mulligan, B Rodgers, R Cunningham (0-2f), R Spiers, D Matthews, J Colgan, B Sloan, N McArdle, R Doran, R Campbell, C Cole, A White, J O’Rourke. Subs: Michael Clarke for John O’Rourke.

Downpatrick 4-19

An Riocht 0-4

MORGAN FUELS SFC

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