Championship side Larne scored the winning goal in injury time to dump Downpatrick out of this season’s Intermediate Cup, click on the link to read more…
Saturday 23rd January – IFA Intermediate Cup 3rd Round
Larne FC 3 v Downpatrick FC 2
Downpatrick came up short against Championship side Larne in the cruellest of fashions, with the game seeming destined for Extra-Time Larne’s Chris Rodgers scored an injury time winner to decide the tie. This was hard luck on Downpatrick but credit to Larne who played the last half hour with 10 men.
Downpatrick got off to a positive start and were ahead after 11 minutes, Stephen Galbraith collected the ball just inside the Larne half and he played a great pass out to the right wing to Barry Treacy. The Downpatrick winger tool a touch before firing in a cross which was met by Eoin Boyle who slid in at the near post to tuck the ball past Flood in the Larne net.
Larne were level five minutes later, Ciaran Murray latched onto a poor pass by Aaron McGarry before coming in from the wing and scoring with the outside of his right foot past Michael McKenna in the Downpatrick nets. The same player put the home side in front two minutes before the break when he got across the front of the Downpatrick defence to steer home a free kick by McIlveen.
Half Time: Larne FC 2 v Downpatrick FC 1
Larne were reduced to ten men just before the hour mark when Eoin Gilllan was sent off for picking up two yellow cards. Credit to Larne who maintained the positive shape and attacked Downpatrick with purpose. Midway through the second half Jamie Sharvin picked the ball up near the left wing and sent a long diagonal ball towards Peter Telford and the ball was headed down towards the penalty spot were Galbraith was waiting to power home his shot and bring the sides level.
Both sides had chances to go back in front but couldn’t find a way past either keeper, then as the game entered injury time Larne broke up a Downpatrick attack and quickly surged forward looking for the winner. With four attackers against three defenders Larne surged down the right wing and as the ball was played along the 18-yard box Rodgers was waiting to shoot the ball into the net to secure the Championship sides progression to the next round.
Downpatrick: 1) M McKenna 2) B Fitzsimons 3) B Connolly 4) I Kearney 5) N Walsh 6) J Sharvin 7) B Treacy 8) P Telford 9) S Galbraith 10) E Boyle 11) A McGarry 12) P Traynor 14) C Holland 15) C Magee 16) A Telford