Downpatrick promoted as champs

Downpatrick promoted as champs

6 May 2015

DOWNPATRICK FC are preparing for life in the Amateur League’s top flight as the new Division 1A champions.

The Rosconnor Road side clinched promotion last Tuesday night with three games to spare when they beat second-placed Crumlin United 2-1 away from home and that signalled a night of celebrations.

Downpatrick have been languishing in 1A since 2012 when they were relegated from the Premier Section after only collecting a mere 12 points from 26 games — and that a year after they had reached the Steel and Sons Cup final.

A collection of managers came and went before former players Joe McMahon and Kevin Trueman took over at the helm in 2013.

Their first year in charge was a bedding-in exercise. Last July they went for broke and enticed Mark Holland, Michael McKenna, Andrew Baggley, Blaine Connolly, Aaron McGarry and Eoin Boyle back from Kilmore Rec.

Peter Telford, who had started the season at Ardglass, was also welcomed back to the squad and the rest is history as the club went for the IA title with all guns blazing.

An early defeat to Lisburn Rangers was put to one side as the team went on an unbeaten 13 match league run that sent them well clear at the top of the table.

Every other side in the league was now playing catch-up and despite losing to Abbey Villa and drawing with Dundonald in the run-in, victory over UUJ and then Crumlin United gave them the title with three games left to play.

Downpatrick also reached the Border Cup final this season where they were beaten by Ards Rangers on Boxing Day, but the club has every intention of getting their hands on that trophy after losing out now in two finals.

However, the Downpatrick management team know more than most that they cannot afford to rest on their laurels.

They intend spending next few weeks talking to players from other clubs who they would like to see start next season at Rosconnor Road.

It is believed that some players have been contacted already and have given positive responses to the possibility of moving back to Downpatrick FC.

Nothing ever sits still in football and McMahon and Trueman know exactly where they have to strengthen their squad.

The club are also looking to the future and have invested heavily in the development of their youth teams who have performed admirably in the Lisburn Invitational League and in the Downpatrick Youth Football League.

Both the U-16 and U-15 sides have impressed in their debut season in the Lisburn League and some of their players have attracted the attention of scouts from several Irish League clubs.

Meanwhile, Mourne Rovers won the Newcastle League’s Premier Division title for the first time in their history when they beat Ballyvea 2-1 last Tuesday night. Either Castlewellan, Ballynagross or Ballyvea will take the runners-up spot. 

The curtain comes down on the Newcastle League on Friday night when treble-chasing Ballynahinch Olympic seconds take on Newcastle seconds in the Charity Shield final at Bells Bridge, Dromara.