McGrady magic helps Hoops take points on grim night

McGrady magic helps Hoops take points on grim night

29 July 2020

THESE two sides met for the first time in a few years on a wet and windy PTR on Friday with a mighty struggle for the points.

Downpatrick, akin to the previous Friday, reserved their best football for the last 10 minutes.

Both sides struggled with the conditions on the big pitch, but eventually the hosts registered the first scores of the game through Conor McGrady and McCarron.

The visitors were playing with many men behind the ball, but this was also proving effective as Andrew Gilmore was more than a handful on the counter-attack and it wasn’t long before they were level.

The red hot McGrady fired over two more points, which were cancelled out by a brace from John Clarke before the water break.

St John’s moved ahead before a great point from Johnnie Bell left things all square. But just before half-time a breakaway move left the home defence breached and this was capitalised on as Gilmore fired to the net leaving a goal in it at the break.

On the restart the Hoops introduced Tim Prenter and Jarlath Brannigan to add a bit of spark, but it was St John’s who raised the first flag before Gerdie Collins pointed and Peter Turley brought things level with a marauding goal.

St John’s wouldn’t give in, despite playing against the breeze, and again went in front with a point before losing a man to a black card. 

Conor McGrady and Jarlath Brannigan nosed the Hoops in front before Chis McKay added a final score of the game for St John’s.

RGU upped their game massively in the final 10 minutes and points from McGrady (2) Ruairi Quinn and Johnnie Bell and a Conor McGrady goal saw them home by 2-12 to 1-8. 

The scoreline may have been a bit flattering, but it was a deserved win all the same given the horrendous night.

There were some impressive personal performances, no more so than Conor McGrady with a personal tally of 1-5, but Chris Magee impressed over the hour alongside Ronan Murphy, Nathan McShane and Eoin Rooney.

This week the RGU travel to Annaclone. Please see Facebook for car parking advice.