RGU pipped at the post

RGU pipped at the post

14 December 2011

AN Eoin Boyle fisted goal in added time came just too late to save Downpatrick from falling to defeat at a wet and miserable Fontenoys Park, Liatroim, on Sunday.

St. Colman’s, an amalgamation of Saval and Ballyholland, were put under the cosh from the outset and given a through examination by Downpatrick’s enterprising, opening gambit.

The impressive and hard tackling Gerard Collins lofted over the game’s first score in the second minute and quickly tagged on another point from play less than 60 seconds later.

Niall Madine, St. Colman’s towering midfielder, converted a 45m free for St. Colman’s in the fourth minute before Brendan Turley wasted a glorious scoring opportunity when he blazed wide with only goalkeeper James Deeny to beat.

Downpatrick then hit the jackpot after a flowing move started by Declan Turley in defence. He picked out the roving Jarlath Branagan with a raking pass down the right flank.

Branagan breezed past his marker and laid the ball into the path of Boyle, but before the St. Colman’s cover could get in place, the pacy Boyle drilled the ball low and hard into the bottom corner of the net to give the RGU a 1-2 to 0-1 lead after nine minutes.

St. Colman’s patiently worked their way back into the game and Madine and Caolan Rice converted frees to leave two points in it after 15 minutes of frenetic play.

The imperious Madine lofted over another free in the 22nd minute and a minute later Pat Quinn got on the end of a piercing move before beating Deeny with an explosive finish to give St. Colman’s a deserved 1-4 to 1-2 lead.

Madine capitalised on another piece of defensive indiscipline from Downpatrick when he converted his fourth free to the half to send St. Colman’s into the break with a 1-5 to 1-2 lead.

Downpatrick rang the changes at the break and brought on Aidy McNeill and Paddy Smith for Kevin Fitzpatrick and Nathan Curran as well as making a few tactical switches in a bid to negate the influence of Madine and Tommy Kane at midfield.

Things looked promising for the RGU when they were awarded a 25m free just after the restart, but Branagan’s free came back off the upright and was cleared by the St. Colman’s defence.

Downpatrick were certainly enjoying a lot more possession, but they weren’t hurting St. Colman’s, who continued to pick their opponents off and two points from Brendan Turley eased his side into a 1-7 to 1-2 lead after 37 minutes.

Branagan dragged Downpatrick back into contention with two frees before Madine gave St. Colman’s a 1-8 to 1-4 lead with 10 minutes remaining.

A couple of missed frees left RGU going for goal and it eventually arrived three minutes into added time when the predatory Boyle fisted a Branagan free to the back of the net.

It was all hands to the pumps for St. Colman’s after this, but they managed to hang on for another two minutes to secure a hard-earned victory.

St. Colman’s: J. McConville, C. Goodman, D. McNally, N. McQuillan, A. Clarke, M. Clarke, C. Havern, T. Kane, N. Madine (0-5), B. Turley (0-2), C. Haughey, R. Turley, P. Quinn (1-0), C. Lennon, C. Rice (0-1).

Downpatrick: J. Deeny, K. Fitzpatrick, D. Turley, A. Doherty, L. Kearney, N. Cunningham, G. Trainor, D. Braniff, I. McCauley, G. Collins (0-2), D. McCarron, N. Curran, J. Branagan (0-2), E. Boyle (2-0). Subs: A. McNeill for Fitzpatrick, P. Smith for Curran, B. Collins for Smith.

Downpatrick 2-4

St. Colman’s 1-8

U-21 CHAMPIONSHIP B FINAL