Downpatrick up and away with win

Downpatrick up and away with win

6 May 2015

DOWNPATRICK got their early season back on track with a hard fought 2-11 to 2-8 win against a resilient and skilful Annaclone team on Friday night. 

The visitors, fresh from their victory against county champions Kilcoo, settled early and played to a game plan of tight marking, crowding midfield and breaking at speed.

It took Downpatrick time to settle, but a classy long range point from Kevin Gracey followed by a left-footed strike by Conor McGrady from an acute angle put them ahead. 

However, Annaclone stepped up their intensity and a point from full forward Rory Simpson and a great goal by the free running Owen Pyers gave them the lead. 

At this stage RGU midfielders Peter Turley and Johnnie Bell were struggling with the physicality of Benny and Gary McArdle and former county player Kevin Anderson who was ping deep for Annaclone to gain possession.

Manager DJ Kane and his management team made a few tactical switches with Magee coming out to the middle to strengthen this area and also Anthony Doherty dropping into full back. 

A point from John Haughey extended the visitors’ lead before the introduction of John Shields and the strong running of Neal Cunningham enabled RGU to secure more possession, but they were still living dangerously as Annaclone broke at speed. 

Two frees from McGrady were matched by points from Ciaran Greenan and Anderson. However, the last 10 minutes of the first half belonged to RGU as they got into their rhythm and a free from Magee and a long range score from Johnnie Bell took the sides in level at the break.

The half-time team talk from DJ Kane must have had the paint peeling from the walls as straight from the restart RGU looked to stamp their authority on the game. Within two minutes county star Gerdie Collins showed his class when he picked the ball up in midfield and ghosted through the Annaclone defence to slot over a majestic point for the Hoops. 

RGU then had a chance to put daylight between the teams when McGrady broke through the Annaclone defence, but just as he was about to strike he was pulled back by a defender and skewed his shot wide. 

This decision and others from the man in black infuriated the home supporters and seemed to lift Annaclone. Quick-fire scores from Anderson and Pyers (2) put Annaclone back in front and things were looking bleak for the Hoops. 

With Shields starting to see more ball and high work rate from Sean Bell, RGU started to create space in the Annaclone defence for their full forward line to forage for possession. 

A Magee free was followed by the move of the match. A high ball floated into the Annaclone back line saw McGrady rise out of a packed defence to pluck the ball out of the air and off load to Gracey. 

His pile driver was brilliantly parried by ‘keeper Chris McCartan, but Sean Bell was on hand to slot home the loose ball. Annaclone weren’t prepared to lie down and Paddy Smyth and Damien Braniff were having to work overtime in defence. 

A scramble in the RGU square resulted in a penalty award to Annaclone, much to the amazement of the crowd. A superb one-handed save by James Deeny wasn’t enough to deny Pyers who slotted home the rebound. 

For the next ten minutes the game was end-to-end and the dynamic Conaill MacNabb was brilliant as he made himself available as an outlet, turning defence into attack.

The final twist in a tense and exciting game came with four minutes remaining. With Annaclone leading by a point, a long ball was floated out to the wing for Conor McCarron to pick up. After beating his marker he passed to McGrady, coming off his shoulder, who ran at the defence and hit a left foot rocket to the bottom corner of the net. 

The nerves of the home support were further eased when Johnnie Bell slotted over the last point from distance to leave the winning margin at three points.

The return of Conor Curran to the starting line-up for his first competitive game after serious injury was a bonus and like the rest of the team he will grow in confidence after this result.

Downpatrick scorers: C. McGrady (1-4), S. Bell (1-0), M. Magee (0-3), J. Bell (0-2), K. Gracey (0-1), G. Collins (0-1).

Annaclone: O. Pyers (2-2, one penalty), K. Anderson (0-3), J. Haughey (0-1), R. Simpson (0-1), C. Greenan (0-1).