RGU resist late charge to gain last eight spot

29 August 2018

DOWNPATRICK’S electrifying start laid the perfect foundations for this redemptive victory at Ballymartin on Thursday night.

Glenn had lowered Downpatrick’s colours in the first round of the competition, but it is the Hoops who progress into the quarter-finals after a cagey and tactical affair that was hard to get excited about.

Downpatrick were not allowed to play with the flair shown against An Riocht as Glenn continually bottled them up and despite the Hoops scoring 1-3 in the opening 10 minutes, they could only take a 1-6 to 1-1 lead into the break.

Points from Conor McGrady and Marty Robinson and a goal from Caolain Boyd had Downpatrick buzzing, but it proved to a false dawn as Glenn responded against the wind with a goal from Ronan Millar.

Two converted frees from Jarlath Branagan and Anthony Doherty eased Downpatrick into a 1-5 to 1-0 lead, but Damian McParland capitalised on another defensive howler to leave two points in it as half-time approached.

Matty Bagnall and Boyd swapped points before the interval to leave the Hoops with only a narrow 1-6 to 2-1 lead.

The second half was every bit as tense with lateral passing and possession the name of the game.

Ronan Millar and McGrady swapped scores at the start of the second half as did McPartland and Doherty to maintain the status quo. Bagnall and Taylor Loudon kept the tit-for-tat sequence going.

Michael Magee sent over a peach of a point with the outside of his left boot, but this was immediately cancelled out by Bagnall as Downpatrick went into the last five minutes with a 1-10 to 2-5 lead.

Glenn were by now piling players forward, but all they had to show for their efforts was a solitary point from Conor Cranny as Downpatrick held on for victory,

Downpatrick: J Deeny, N McShane, A Doherty (0-2f), R Murphy, T Loudon (0-1), G Collins, J Bell, P Turley, J Collins, J Branagan (0-1f), C McGrady (0-3, 1f), S Bell, C Boyd (1-1), M Magee (0-1), M Robinson (0-1). Subs: R Quinn for Robinson, G Trainor for Boyd, C Doherty for Magee (black card).

Glenn: J O’Hare, D O’Hare, Declan Murtagh (0-1), R O’Brien, M Turley, C Cranny (0-1), D McParland (1-0), G McParland, N Rogers, Dennis Murtagh, R Millar (1-1), T O’Brien, J McConaghy, T Byrne, S Millar. Subs: M Bagnall (0-3, 1f) for R O’Brien, C Kelly for Declan Murtagh.

Downpatrick 1-10

Glenn 2-6

MORGAN FUELS SFC

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