Five
points in five minutes for Saval - 24/10/2003
Division two
promotion play-off's: Saval 0-14 Downpatrick 3-05
SAVAL preserved their promotion ambitions with a stunning
fightback that earned them a precious share of the points. The South Down side
reeled in five points in the final five minutes of the match to pluck victory
from the RGU grasp. Downpatrick were coasting to victory or so it seemed when
the roof caved in.
A highly talented Saval inspired by Danny Hughes,
Paddy Turley, Gavin Corrigan and Stevie Sands clung on desperately and in a power
packed finale, sliced through the Hoops time and again to plunder five crucial
points. The scores were locked at 2-01 to 0-07 at the break as both sides served
up quality football at St. Malachy's Park, Castlewellan. It was perhaps inevitable
that with the attacking flair of both sides, the score would flow.
Spectators
had to wait just three minutes before the first score was registered, Tony McShane's
brilliantly angled shot from a Donal McCartan pass zipped into the net. Saval
were quick to respond. Three minutes later Daniel Hughes' free was a perfect answer.
Within two minutes Andrew Telford though made it 1-01, running on to Peter Telford's
flick on the right wing to pop the ball over. The cut and thrust continued. Hughes
finished off a delightful Saval move that began deep in the middle of the park
to point.
But Downpatrick's reply was blistering. Andrew Telford rose
to collect on the right wing and speared in to fire a venomous shot to the net
to hoist the Hoops 2-01 to 0-02 ahead. But Saval shook themselves, cleared their
heads and almost turned the contest on its head.
As it was they prevented
the RGU from scoring over the last 16 minutes of the half and at the same time
seize five equalising points themselves. It was a rousing recovery and one that
had to be admired. Gavin Corrigan's long range effort was accurate, dropping over
Jakie Clarke's crossbar. It was the signal for the Saval fight back.
Paddy Turley lobbed over another glorious point and repeated the feat three minutes
later as Downpatrick faltered under the onslaught. Danny Hughes fired over from
40 meters and when Corrigan carved a passage through the middle to fire over,
Saval were unbelievably back on terms. It was perhaps ironic that Downpatrick
should snatch the lead again in the second with almost a carbon copy display of
the first half ensuing.
McShane again accepted a quick ball from Peter
Turley and twisted and turn to find an opening to flick over a grateful point.
But it was a full twelve minutes before either side could find the target again,
Conal Trainor, picking up Mark Trainor's pass to score a marvelous point.
Danny Hughes flipped the ball into Stevie Sands' path and Saval picked up their
first score of the half in the 14th minute. Kevin Gracey then dispatched a long
ball towards the Saval ball and to the delight of the RGU faithful it carried
the distance to drop over the bar, probably the best score of the match.
Paddy Turley clawed back another Saval point, but their hopes looked crushed as
Downpatrick were awarded a penalty in the 24th minute and Peter Telford thumped
the ball to the net to make it 3-05 to 0-09.
However Hoops joy gradually
turned to disappointment as Saval whittled down the Downpatrick lead with a burst
of point scoring out of the top drawer. Danny Hughes was the Downpatrick tormentor
with three superb points, with John Hughes and Stevie Sands tagging on the others.
The draw perhaps wasn't the result either team wanted and makes their promotion
bid just that little bit harder.
But it would have been unfair on either
side to end up a loser.
