Killyleagh’s goal delight

Killyleagh’s goal delight

12 July 2011

KILLYLEAGH YC just about edged an eight-goal thriller with rivals Downpatrick at a soggy Rosconnor Road on Saturday.

Downpatrick started the brighter and in the first minute won a corner which was fired wide by B. J. McMenamin. On 12 minutes, however, Killyleagh took the lead with Downpatrick conceding a free kick just inside their own half.

The free was floated into the wind and Killyleagh put goalkeeper Kieran Gordon under pressure at the back post. Gordon spilled the ball under the pressure, and James Wilson was on hand to tap in the scraps.

Downpatrick were furious with referee Cousins as they felt that Gordon had been fouled, but to no avail and the goal remained. Downpatrick brought the game level on 23 minutes following a cross field ball from Christian Holland to Eoin Boyle, who was making his debut.

He took the ball down on his chest and fired past Michael McKenna in the Killyleagh goal. This seemed to fire Downpatrick back to life again and on 26 minutes the Killyleagh defence somehow cleared the ball off the line.

Downpatrick then got their second goal on 29 minutes with Andrew Telford (inset) being upended in the penalty area, McMenamin coolly slotted home to put the home side in front.

Killyleagh had few chances in this period with the only real chance falling to Niall Walsh who tamely shot at goal. McMenamin then rattled the crossbar from all of 30 yards on 32 minutes and fired over five minutes later.

With five minutes of the first half remaining Killyleagh drew level when Hugh Ross fired in Killyleagh’s second of the game.

Downpatrick came out like men possessed in the second half and had a goal ruled out for offside within two minutes of the restart.

Over the next ten minutes both teams had few chances with both midfields having to put in good shifts in on a tough heavy pitch.

Just before the hour Downpatrick were in the lead again, following some excellent one-touch interplay down the left side the ball was crossed to Boyle to score his second of the game.

Killyleagh then rang the changes with Niall Walsh and Ian Mannus being replaced by Lee Morrison and Jason Heron. Killyleagh then began pressurising the Downpatrick defence and on 64 minutes this pressure paid off when Barry Fitzsimons fouled Barry Walsh, to pick up the games first yellow.

From the resulting free kick, Downpatrick again were caught out at the back post when Gavin Murray headed in the equaliser.

On 70 minutes Killyleagh took the lead when Darren McConnell fired in from close range and the game was put beyond Downpatrick on 86 minutes when the Downpatrick defence conceded the game’s second penalty. Michael McKenna scored from the spot to hand Killyleagh the three points in a hard-fought derby battle.

Downpatrick FC: K. Gordon, G. Collins, C. Holland, B. Fitzsimons, K. Gracey, J. Branagan, M. Feenan, A. Telford, E. Boyle, L. Graham, B. J. McMenamin. Subs: J. Telford, C. McGarrity, K. Trueman.

Killyleagh YC: M. McKenna, J. Kennedy, H. Ross, G. Murdock, H. Dickson, G. Murray, N. Walsh, B. Walsh, J. Wilson, D. McConnell, I. Mannus. Subs: L. Morrison, J. Heron, G. Leckey.

Downpatrick FC 3

Killyleagh YC 5

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