By John Brennan
Glasdrumman had the honour of being
the first visiting team to play
on the fantastic new pitch at RGU's
sports complex on Friday night when
they met a determined Downpatrick
side hungry for points to improve
their position in the Division 2
league table. Downpatrick started
the stronger and they had the ball
in the back of the Glasdrumman net
in the first minute from the boot
of Andrew Telford. They added to
their lead with points in the third,
twelfth, fourteenth and sixteenth
minutes from Peter Telford, Gerard
Deegan and two from Andrew Telford
respectively.
Glasdrumman dug deep and started
to play with more heart and they
were rewarded with a point from
a free by Raymond Clarke. The last
ten minutes of the first half were
dominated by Glasdrumman and they
added to their tally with a point
from Declan Grant, two points from
Cormac Murphy and a point from Shaun
Brennan to leave the halftime score
Downpatrick 1-4 Glasdrumman 0-5.
Downpatrick opened the scoring in
the first minute of the second half
with a point from Peter Telford
but Glasdrumman responded immediately
with a similar score from Declan
Grant. Two minutes later Glasdrumman
were dealt a hammer blow when Andrew
Telford scored his second goal and
this proved to be the turning point
of the game. Downpatrick started
to believe that they could win the
game and they added six points without
reply, three from Andrew Telford,
two from Peter Telford and one from
Kyran Smith.
Glasdrumman rallied briefly with
points from Cormac Murphy and Raymond
Clarke but Downpatrick finished
the stronger with two points from
Kyran Smith to leave the final score
Downpatrick 2-12 Glasdrumman 0-8.
Glasdrumman: Paul Brennan, Francis
O'Neill, Kevin Burns, Vince Smith,
Martin O'Neill, Ronan McDowell,
Brian Burns, Cormac Murphy (0-3),
Pat Mallon, Gary McGreevy, Sean
McDowell, Shaun Brennan (0-1), Raymond
Clarke (0-2), Paul McDowell, Declan
Grant (0-2).
Subs used: Daniel McCartan for Paul
McDowell, Andrew Doran for Ronan
McDowell, Arthur McCartan for Andrew
Doran.
Downpatrick: TP Lowden, David Turley,
Danny Carvill, Peter McCartan, Philip
Oakes, Barry Gracey, Richard Starkey,
Peter Telford (0-4), Peter Turley,
Harry Rice, Kyran Smith (0-3), Tony
McShane, Gerard Deegan (0-1), Kevin
Gracey, Andrew Telford (2-4).
** Our congratulations to Downpatrick
on their excellent new pitch and
our thanks for their food and hospitality
after the game.
** The minors, playing with Attical,
maintained their unbeaten record
with a 0-10 to 0-3 victory over
Ballyholland on Wednesday night.
** The seniors next game is at home
to Ballyholland on Friday night.
