Downpatrick seconds fall to heavy defeat against at the hands of Ballynahich Olympic seconds
Saturday 22nd November – NADAFL Division 1
Downpatrick FC 2nds 1 v Ballynahinch Olympic 2nds 5
Downpatrick seconds went into this game on a good unbeaten run against a strong Ballynahinch team and it was the visitors who came away with a comprehensive victory. Touser Holland was forced into making a number of changes due to first team call ups and player unavailability.
Downpatrick got off to the worst possible start, within the opening 15 minutes they found themselves two nil down. Things could have been a lot worse for the Downpatrick side only for the excellent save from goal keeper Robbie Hagan, the young goal keeper stood up to expertly to save from the Olympic striker who found himself one on one with Hagan.
Downpatrick got back into the game just before the half hour mark, right winger Paddy Kerr won a throw in, centre half Conaill MacNabb came up to take a long throw in which was flicked on at the near post by striker Neil Young and winger Conaill Kerr was on hand at the back post to head into the net. Downpatrick enjoyed their best period of pressure after their goal went in but they were unable to find that all important equailiser before the half time whistle.
Half Time: Downpatrick FC 2nds 1 v Ballynahinch Olympic 2nds 5
There weren’t many chances in the opening exchanges of the second half for both teams but the game swung in Olympics favour around the hour mark when they got two dubious offside goals. Both these goals knocked the stuffing out of the Downpatrick team.
Downpatrick again had keeper Hagan to thank for keeping the score to four goals when he produced another great save midway through the second half. The Downpatrick keeper found himself facing another one on one situation and again he proved his worth when he superbly saved from the Olympic striker.
With time running out and Downpatrick pushing to try and get some goals to get them back into the game the Olympic defence stood firm and won the ball and quickly broke up field and score their fifth of the day. A disastrous day in the end for the Downpatrick side but they will be hoping to bounce back next week when they travel to play Drumaness 2nds.
Downpatrick: 1) R Hagan 2) C Curran 3) G Trueman 4) C MacNabb 5) P O’Reilly 6) A Baggley 7) P Kerr 8) B Connolly 9) N Young 10) S McMahon 11) C Kerr 12) C Curran 14) A Murphy 15) P Donnolly