McClurg’s heroics unable to save Saintfield in derby

5 March 2014

DOWN won their opening game in the Senior 2 Cup against derby rivals Saintfield at The Demesne last weekend.

It was clear as the teams lined up that it was going to be a case of how many goals Down would score. While the visitors grabbed five in the end, some wayward finishing and an inspired performance by young goalkeeper Matthew McClurg kept 6he scoreline to a respectable five.

Down were missing a number of key players, but cry-offs and injuries decimated Saintfield who were forced to field a virtual second eleven. And all credit to the young Saints who put up a spirited performance.

Aaron Kearney swooped to deny Down’s Gavin Ringland a shot in goal in the first minute and then McClurg produced an excellent sliding clearance to deny Liam Kearney. Sixty seconds later Down took the lead with Chris Taylor scoring.

Saintfield almost struck back immediately with James Magee and Frank Adrain combining and as the latter was about to enter Down’s penalty area, James Erskine cleared.

McClurg produced a miraculous double save in the fifth minute to deny Mark Elliott and Neill, with Taylor eventually blasting a ball which rebounded off the ‘keeper’s pads into the net. Ringland then had a glorious chance to make it 2-0 but blasted wide.

Sammy Davidson, who was impressive at the heart of the Saints defence, denied James Ferguson a shot on goal in the seventh minute before Duff, Neill and Ringland combined to set up Taylor whose goal-bound shot was saved by McClurg.

Nothing came from Down’s first short corner awarded in the ninth minute but seconds later Ringland and Neill combined to set up Elliott who made no mistake. Duff missed an open goal in the 16th minute before Ringland made it 3-0 after 20 minutes after some good build-up play involving Taylor and Elliott.

Saints skipper Craig Harkness made the most of some poor Down defending to give his side a glimmer of hope in the 21st minute after good work by the impressive Lance Walker, who was a constant thorn for the visitors all afternoon. Walker had a shot blocked by Erskine in the 23rd minute before McClurg produced another crucial save, this time denying Elliott.

With three minutes of the half remaining Down made it 4-1. Ringland fed Elliott who made the most of poor defending to score his second of the game. Philip Brown popped up in the Saintfield area with seconds of the half remaining but was denied by McClurg.

Anyone expecting an avalanche of goals in the second period was left disappointed. Walker saw a shot deflected goalwards by Watson, before Davidson cleared from Elliott at the other end.

Walker produced a scintillating run in the 47th minute which took him past three defenders but his rasping shot on the reverse flew over McCready’s crossbar. The Saints midfielder then forced his way into the Down penalty area but was denied a shooting opportunity by Ringland, while Taylor’s shot was cleared by Davidson in the 53rd minute before Elliott was denied McClurg.

Lewis McIntosh, who is currently Down’s top goalscorer, is being chased hard by Elliott and he was delighted when he thought he’d “scored” in the 55th minute. However, when he made contact with the ball the umpire blew for a short corner instead of playing an advantage and the strike was unfortunately chalked off.

Aaron Kearney denied the young Down striker moments later, with Elliott completing his hat-trick in with five minutes to go after he was teed up by McIntosh. Erskine then missed a sitter with the goal at his mercy, with Brown clearing a thunderbolt from Walker off his own goal-line.

Saintfield: Matthew McClurg, Aaron Kearney, James Magee, Ryan Shepperd, Craig Harkness, Scott Harkness, Matthew Watson, Eoin Trainor, Sammy Davidson, Frank Adrain, Jack McKibbin, Lance Walker.

Down: Jeremy McCready, Philip Brown, James Erskine, James Ferguson, Liam Kearney, Gavin Ringland, Chris Taylor, Paul Neill, Mark Elliott, Alasdair Duff, Lewis McIntosh. Sub Richard Hamilton.

Saintfield 1

Down 5

SENIOR 2 CUP

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