Conail Gardiner inspired the under 15’s to a rousing victory against a young and upcoming Rossglass Team, click on the link to find out more…
Saturday 25th February – Downpatrick Youth Football League under 15’s
Downpatrick FC 10 v Rossglass FC 1
A return to league action for the boys on a damp and dreary Saturday morning at Dunleath. Facing bottom of the league Rossglass County, a change in format was to be adopted this morning to let the whole team feature. From the whistle, it was evident that an under strength opposition was going to struggle with Downpatrick’s strong midfield with Rian McShane (Capt.), Jack Fitzsimmons, Colin Jones and Ethan Breen pushing forward.
Attack after attack followed with finishing, frustrating the boys as the target couldn’t be found. Rossglass were putting up a fight but Downpatrick’s first came on 15 minutes with Ethan Breen knocking in the first. This was to open the floodgates and on 20 minutes striker Andrew McLean made a solo run and hit a convincing strike from 25 metres to bag his first. Shortly after, McLean’s strike partner, Ethan Artt followed up a Rossglass fumbled with Downpatrick’s 3rd on 23 minutes.
McLean grabbed his 2nd on 30 minutes and the ‘roll on roll off’ strategy of substitutions was throwing the brave Rossglass lads into disarray. Shortly before the break, Conail Gardner pushing through from the back made it 5 – 0 to Downpatrick.
Half Time: Downpatrick FC 5 – Rossglass FC 0
Ruairi Murphy, Luke Shields and Andrew McGrattan were brought in and their impact was immediate with McLean grabbing his hat trick on 38 minutes. Immediately afterwards, the Downpatrick backline were caught napping and a mistake led to a Rossglass goal on 40 minutes.
Goals followed from Luke Shields on 43 minutes and Artt on 51 minutes to make it 8 – 1. Gardner, fired up from his first half strike, scored again on 63 minutes and completed this Downpatrick rout just before the final whistle with his 3rd and well earned hat trick.
