Downpatrick’s woe continues

24 June 2015

DOWNPATRICK welcomed unbeaten league leaders Burren to Pairc Tomas Ruiseil Park on Friday night.

From the throw it was not difficult to see why this physically imposing and well drilled side have won eight games in a row. The commitment, team work and tireless running in support of each other was a joy to behold, even for the home supporters and it is this pattern of play that RGU need to emulate if they are to survive in this league.

However, the scoreline doesn’t tell the full story. RGU were in this game for long spells and but for a litany of missed frees, lack of belief and inexperience this game could have been a lot tighter.

The match opened at a frantic pace and the first 10 minutes saw the lead change hands several times. Two frees from the ever reliable Michael Magee and one from Neal Cunningham were matched by a scores from play by Sean Murdock and Shay McArdle, together with a free from Ryan Treanor.

At this stage RGU were comfortably in the match, but Burren’s ability to have two or three players involved in the tackle reduced time and space for the home side to work with. The intensity and physicality that Burren played with, created turnover ball and as the away side drove at the Downpatrick defence at pace, frees were conceded.

Every time the deadly accurate Ryan Treanor, son of Shorty, punished the home team with a classy display of free taking from every angle. Burren secured further scores from McGovern, McKay and Shay McArdle against a solitary score from Mick Magee as half-time approached. A Burren attack in the 24th minute left Treanor through one on one with the RGU ‘keeper but an excellent point blank save from Jonathan Deeny kept the home side in the game.

At the other end the hard working Ryan Slavin beat his marker on the left before unleasing a fierce drive which missed by inches. Half-time: RGU 0-4 Burren 0-10.

The first 20 minutes of the second half were dominated by RGU as they tried to secure a foothold in the game. Good teamwork led to a point from Ryan Slavin at the start of the half followed by an excellent score from substitute John Shields.

Back in the game and trailing by only four points, RGU continued to press. Excellent work from the new midfield pairing of Joe Starkey and Mick Magee released the ball into the RGU forward line where Conor McCarron had been left one on one with his marker.

The big forward got the ball and turned his defender, created space and drove for goal. With time on his side McCarron inexplicably stopped and tried to place a point instead of going for goal and his timid effort drifted wide.

A further series of missed frees from the usually reliable Neal Cunningham and one could see the confidence starting to drain from the home side. A number of substitutes and positional changes by Sean Ward got Burren back on track and over the last 11 minutes of the half ran of some classy points from play through McGovern, Treanor, McArdle and the tireless Sean Murdock.

RGU tried hard to stay in the match and Garett Trainor and a free from Anthony Doherty completed the scoring for the home team.

On the face of it another set back for RGU. However this Burren team was a step up from anything this young and understrength RGU team have played his year. The players gave everything and the margin of defeat had more to do with chasing the game and the home side’s inability to take their chances than Burren’s dominance.

If RGU can get some players back and lift their confidence there is life in this campaign. However, it will take extra effort, teamwork and pulling together to move up the league. Stand out performances from Michael Magee in attack and Anthony Doherty coming out of defence were not enough against the strength in depth that Burren possess, but with time running out it looks like RGU will need to win four or five of their last six games to stay in the division.

Downpatrick RGU 0-7

Burren 0-16

ACFL DIVISION 1

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