Downpatrick sunk by ‘Town

Downpatrick sunk by ‘Town

29 May 2013

CASTLEWELLAN extended their unbeaten start to the season under new manager, John ‘Shorty’ Treanor with an emphatic away win at Pairc Tomas Ruiseil on Friday night.

Downpatrick were missing the Turley brothers, Peter and Damian, Conor McGrady and Liam Kearney and it showed as Paul Lambe’s side, which lacked conviction, failed to live with their East Down rivals.

Luke Toner opened proceedings with a point from play and this was quickly followed by similar scores from Matthew Stratton and David Gilmore (inset) as Castlewellan raced into a 0-3 to 0-0 lead by the eighth minute.

Anthony Doherty showed his immense potential when he bombed forward from his full back berth to register Downpatrick’s first score in the ninth minute with a superlative point.

Castlewellan replied immediately and Stratton gave his side a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after 11 minutes as Downpatrick again were cut to sheds in defence by Rory Burns and Liam and Donal McKibben.

Jarlath Branagan converted s 21m free in the 13th minute, but Downpatrick’s joy was short lived as Castlewellan grabbed the only goal of the game in the 17th minute when Aidy Burns rattled the ball to the net after incisive play from the pacy Gilmore.

Branagan’s accuracy kept Downpatrick in the hunt and he notched up his second point of the day with another 21m free in the 27th minute. This score was quickly cancelled out by two points from Burns as Castlewellan took a 1-6 to 0-3 lead into the break.

Kevin Gracey registered the first score of the second half when he pointed from play, but similar scores from Rory Brogan and Aidy Burns gave Castlewellan a 1-8 to 0-4 lead after 39 minutes.

Castlewellan contrived to waste several good scoring chances before Branagan lifted the blockade with another converted free in the 45th minute, but this was

to be Downpatrick’s last score.

Castlewellan still had plenty in the tank and they eased to victory without really getting out of first gear with points from Finty McGreevy (0-2), Colly Flanagan and Gilmore.

Downpatrick: J. Deeny, Declan Turley, A. Doherty (0-1), D. McAuley, C. Curran, G. Collins, C. MacNabb, G. Trainor, M. Slavin, S. Bell, R. Slavin, J. Branagan (0-3), J. Bell, K. Gracey (0-1, N. Cunningham. Subs: G. Brown, D. Braniff, P. Smyth, J. Collins, O. McEvoy, M. O’Hare, R. Bryce.

Castlewellan: G. Keown, B. Travers, R. McArdle, D. Morgan, C. Flanagan (0-1), K. Duffin, R. Brogan (0-1), L. Toner (0-1), F. McGreevy (0-2), D. McKibben, M. Stratton (0-2), R. Burns, D. Gilmore (0-2), A. Burns (1-3), L. McKibben. Subs: D. McGrady for A. Burns, C. Corrigan for Brogan, D. McAuley for Stratton, Cahal Crilly, Conall Crilly, S. McCann, J. O’Neill, C. Brogan.

Downpatrick 0-5

Castlewellan 1-12

ACFL DIVISION 1