Downpatrick sink rivals

Downpatrick sink rivals

28 August 2013

DOWNPATRICK unleashed their combative young dogs of war on an unsuspecting Ardglass side in a feisty derby clash at St. Nicholas’ on Saturday afternoon.

Make no mistake about it, Downpatrick deserved their victory.

They were the more committed, hungrier and disciplined side and in Barry Treacy they had the man of the match. Ardglass tried to smother, swat, squash and strangle Treacy, but they were unable to lay a finger on him.

He flew about St. Nicholas’ like a belligerent wasp, pestering everything non-stop in an Ardglass shirt for 90 minutes. In addition to scoring his side’s first goal he also had a hand in Downpatrick’s other four goals as Downpatrick ran their hosts ragged after the break.

Treacy gave the visitors a fifth minute lead after he took a short corner from Conor McGrady. He stormed into the box and unleashed an unstoppable drive to the bottom corner of the net.

Two minutes later he fired a cross into the box that deserved to be tucked away, but there was nobody at home. Downpatrick lost the early initiative when Sean McMahon had to go off with a foot injury and his departure handed the baton to Ardglass.

It took Ardglass a full 25 minutes before they had their first shot in anger when Stevie Deegan belted a loose ball over the top. Ardglass were now in the ascendancy and two goals in as many minutes from Neil Teggart turned the game on its head.

His first came in the 42nd minute when he headed the ball home after the Downpatrick defence failed to deal with an Ian Kearney free kick. He then gave Ardglass the lead when he raced away to turn a through ball past Russell in the 44th minute.

Downpatrick went for broke after the break. They closed Ardglass down at every opportunity, hassled and harried their hosts at every break ball and produced a marvellous second half performance.

Treacy though the had brought the sides level in the 50th minute when he converted a cross from Stephen Galbraith, but his strike was ruled out for offside.

Galbraith really should have made it 2-2 in the 52nd minute after Andrew Telford had carved out the opening, but he failed to get a good contact on the ball.

Both ‘keepers were in action over the next few minutes with Gordon saving from Galbraith and Treacy and Russell keeping out a header from Gareth Telford.

Downpatrick’s equaliser finally arrived in the 73rd minute. Conor McKenna placed the ball through the eye of a needle into the path of Andrew Telford and he did the rest with a cool finish.

Seven minutes later Treacy put the ball on a plate for Galbraith and this time he didn’t miss with an accomplished finish. Fergal Ward made it 4-2 in the 42nd minute, just after Jim McStravick, one of seven former Downpatrick players in the Ardglass line-up, was sent off after picking up his second yellow.

Galbraith put the cherry on the cake when he scored his second and Downpatrick’s fifth in the dying stages when he headed in Cahal Savage’s cross.

Ardglass: K. Gordon, R. Curran, J. Telford, I. Kearney, J. McStravick, C. Teggart, G. Telford, C. Dorrian, S. Deegan, N. Teggart, M. Magee. Subs: C. Deegan, D. Smith.

Downpatrick: C. Russell, B. Fitzsimons, B. Connolly, M. Carson, M. Curran, C. McKenna, B. Treacy, S. McMahon, S. Galbraith, J. Glennon, C. McGrady. Subs: A. Telford, C. Savage, F. Ward.

Ardglass 2

Downpatrick FC 5

BORDER CUP 1ST ROUND