Read how a depleted under 15 team were able to call upon some u14 players to help them progress to the next round of the shield, cluck on the link below…
Saturday 3rd October – Lisburn Invitational League under 15’s Shield
Downpatrick FC 4 v Lurgan Town 1
Downpatrick went into this Shield game with a depleted squad, forcing them to promote two boys from their under 14 squad. The boys were asked to play and enjoy their experience and not to be overwhelmed, which they both did.
In the first few minutes Downpatrick struggled to get onto the ball, but with Oistin Devlin and Kian Tierney taking control in the middle of the park they got their side ticking. After ten minutes Tierney picked up the ball on the right wing, he drove to the by line and whipped in a cross, which Declan Looney met at the front post and volleyed past the Lurgan keeper.
Downpatrick kept the pressure on with some very impressive football but couldn’t increase their lead. On the stroke of halftime Lurgan broke quickly and played a long ball into their striker, who challenged Downpatrick keeper Shane Campbell and got a lucky break when the ball spilled out to one of their players who then equalised.
Half Time: Downpatrick FC 1 v Lurgan Town 2
With the introduction of Ethan Breen, Downpatrick had more purpose on the left wing. Within 5 minutes Breen found Tierney who then pulled the ball back to Oran Bolton on the edge of the box and he calmly placed his shot into the bottom corner of the Lurgan net. Downpatrick were now pressing the ball all over the pitch and they began to dominate the game.
Then Rory Trainor picked the ball up on the right side of the pitch, he was around 35yards out when he hit a rocket into the top corner of the Lurgan net giving their keeper no chance. Kian Tierney was running the show and it was inevitable that he got on the scoresheet, when the impressive Kyle McKeever won a tussle in defence and came out with the ball, he looked up and found Tierney with a wonderful pass, with a sublime touch he turned and shot giving the Lurgan keeper no chance
