Predatory striker McMahon ignites goal blitz

29 January 2014

DOWNPATRICK seconds belligerently baited Castleabbey at Badger Park, Ballykinlar, on their way to a ruthless derby win in the Supplementary Cup.

Both sides had their fair share of adventurers and dreamers and those who put in double shifts for the cause and those who didn’t, but it was Downpatrick’s greater potency in attack that won the day.

In Sean McMahon, Downpatrick had the game’s class act. He stalked the Castleabbey back four like a Praying Mantis and in front of goal he was far deadlier than a venomous snake bite.

Downpatrick, who played into the teeth of a bitterly cold wind in the first half, started on the front foot and never gave Castleabbey a chance to settle.

With just two minutes gone a long clearance out of defence from Chris Perry landed at the feet of Michael Burns, but ‘keeper Matthew McKinney, a leading contender for man of the match, was off his line like a scalded cat to nullify the threat.

Three minutes later, McKinney was again off his line in a flash to halt the dangerous McMahon in his tracks, but the breakthrough wasn’t long in coming. With barely eight minutes on the clock McMahon produced a searing burst of pace that took him clear of his marker.

He could have gone it alone as he homed in on goal, but decided to unselfishly play in Burns and his willing strike partner made no mistake from a few yards out.

Castleabbey came more into the game after this and with 14 minutes gone Gerard Jervis was millimetres from getting a good contact with his head to a cross from Declan Devine.

The game continued at a frantic pace, but it was Castleabbey who were starting to threaten and with 20 minutes gone they drew level when Robbie Palin provided the flick on for Nathan Curran and he did the rest with an accomplished finish, 1-1.

Palin and Curran were like a couple of Duracell batteries at this stage of the game.

They worked their cotton socks off in a bid to give Castleabbey some bluster, but they met their match in the formidable Paul Brady.

The Downpatrick playmaker refused to give way in the middle of the park and with 22 minutes gone he intelligently played in Neil Cunningham, but he shot wide from a good position.

A minute later McKinney deserved a double helping of corn when he saved acrobatically from McMahon and Shane Matheson to keep the score at 1-1.

Castleabbey’s luck then ran out in the 27th minute when Ryan Brannigan was unlucky with a good strike that hit the post after a nice reverse pass from Devine.

Downpatrick had no such problems in front of goal and with 28 minutes gone McMahon took off with turbo speed and proceeded to beat McKinney all ends up with a classy finish.

The second half saw Castleabbey continue to hold their own, but they lacked a threat in the final third and McKinney continued to be the busiest man on the pitch saving brilliantly to deny Brady the goal of the season.

Shane Matheson was not to be denied, though, and he did make it 3-1 minutes later after McMahon and Cunningham carved out the opening. Downpatrick seemed to take their foot off the gas for a while and Robbie Hagen had to make two super saves to deny Baggley and Curran in the 65th minute.

Normal service was resumed when Gary Ross made it 4-1 a few minutes later after Brady got on the end of a free kick from Vincie Perry to create the opening. McMahon then showed his undoubted potential when he exploded back on the scene.

He again left his marker for dead when he cut inside from the right to get on his favoured left foot and unleashed an unstoppable shot to the back of the net in the 71st minute. McKinney saved from Vincie Perry before Castleabbey produced a sting in their tail with Ciaran Morrison bagging a double inside eight minutes to make it 5-3 and all to play for with only six minutes remaining.

However, Downpatrick, who had gone to sleep for a while and defended too deep, woke from their slumber and Curran deflected a McMahon corner past his own ‘keeper in the 85th minute to complete the scoring.

Castleabbey: M. McKinney, P. Turley, T. Lacken, N. Curran, M. Jackson, N. Gordon, G. Jervis, D. Devine, R. Palin, S. Baggley, R. Brannigan. Subs: C. McKinney, C. Martin, C. Morrison.

Downpatrick FC II: R. Hagen, C. Curran, J. Kent, C. Perry, V. Perry, P. Brady, G. Ross, N. Cunningham, M. Burns, S. McMahon, S. Matheson. Sub: E. Vaughan.

Castleabbey 3

Downpatrick FC II 6

DIVISION 1 SUPPLEMENTARY CUP

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