Killyleagh Beat Downpatrick In Eight Goal Thriller

Killyleagh Beat Downpatrick In Eight Goal Thriller

Downpatrick 3  Killyleagh 5

IN an enthralling derby at Rossconnor between Downpatrick and Killyleagh, it was Killyleagh who came through with a 5-3 win. Downpatrick started the brighter of the two teams and in the first minute of the game won a corner which was fired wide by BJ McMenamin. Downpatrick continued to press the play against a resilient Killyleagh defence.

Downpatrick's Gerard Collins on the ball with Killyleagh's Darren McConnell

On 12 minutes however, Killyleagh took the lead after Downpatrick conceded a freekick just inside their own half. The free was floated into the wind and Killyleagh put Kieran Gordon under pressure at the back post and with Gordon spilling the ball under the pressure, James Wilson was on hand to tap in the scraps. Downpatrick were furious with referee Cousins as they felt that Gordon had been fouled, but to no avail the goal remained. Killyleagh then began applying pressure onto the Downpatrick defence who were holding firm and trying to catch Killyleagh on the break.

Downpatrick brought the game level on 23 minutes following a cross field ball from Christian Holland to Eoin Boyle, who was making his debut, who took the ball down on his chest and fired past McKenna in the Killyleagh goal. This seemed to fire Downpatrick back to life again and on 26 minutes the Killyleagh defence somehow cleared the ball of the line with the ball seemingly destined to rest in the back of the net. Downpatrick then got their second goal on 29 minutes with Andrew Telford being upended in the penalty area and referee Cousins pointing to the spot, BJ McMenamin coolly slotted home the penalty to put the home side in front.

Killyleagh had few chances in this period with the only real chance falling to Niall Walsh who tamely shot at goal. BJ McMenamin then rattled the crossbar from all of 30 yards on 32 minutes and fired over 5 minutes later. With 5 minutes of the first half remaining Killyleagh drew level when Hugh Ross fired in Killyleagh’s second of the game.
Downpatrick came out like men possessed in the second half and had a goal ruled out for offside within 2 minutes of the restart. Over the next ten minutes both teams had few chances with both midfields having to out a good shift in on a tough heavy pitch. Just before the hour Downpatrick were in the lead again, following some excellent one touch interplay down the left side the ball was crossed to Eoin Boyle to score his second of the game.

Killyleagh score the first goal in an eight goal thriller against Downpatrick

Killyleagh then rang the changes with Niall Walsh and Ian Mannus being subbed for Lee Morrison and Jason Heron. Killyleagh then began pressurising the Downpatrick defence and on 64 minutes this pressure paid off when Barry Fitzsimons fouled Barry Walsh, to pick up the games first yellow, from the resulting free kick Downpatrick again were caught out at the back post when Gavin Murray headed in the equaliser.

Downpatrick then pushed forward looking to take the lead again however the Killyleagh defence were resolute and held firm. On 70 minutes Killyleagh then  took the lead when McConnell fired in from close range and the game was put beyond Downpatrick on 86 minutes when the Downpatrick defence conceded the games second penalty. Michael McKenna scored from the spot to hand Killyleagh the three points in a hard fought derby battle.
Downpatrick –K Gordon,G Collins,C Holland,B Fitzsimons,K Gracey,J Brannigan,M Feenan,A Telford, E Boyle,L Graham,BJ McMenamin. Subs – J Telford, C McGarrity, K Trueman.

Killyleagh – M McKenna, J Kennedy, H Ross, G Murdock, H Dickson, G Murray, N Walsh, B Walsh, J Wilson, D McConnell, I Mannus. Subs – L Morrison, J Heron, G Leckey.