Downpatrick started by playing against the wind, both teams we’re just probing trying to get into the game. Downpatrick started the quickest when Kian Tierney released Ruairi Quinn down the left wing; he controlled the ball before having a shot that went narrowly wide.
After 10 minutes Ryan Cassidy played the ball back to centre back Tom Smyth who then played a long diagonal ball down the right wing to release Eoin Rooney, who then cut inside and left his marker standing before coolly sliding the ball past the on rushing Hillsborough keeper. From the restart Downpatrick won the ball almost immediately, with Tom Fitzsimons playing a high ball over the top for Rooney to out jump the keeper, he nudged the ball past him to then control the ball and tap it into the net to make 2 – 0.
Hillsborough had a couple of chances, with high balls over the top of the Downpatrick defence but Shane Campbell was very quick off his line to clear any danger. After 30 minutes Downpatrick were playing some fantastic football. They then won a corner that was delivered by Quinn to the front post, were Declan Looney nodded the ball down to Rooney to blast home to complete a first half hat-trick.
Half Time: Downpatrick FC 3 v’s Hillsborough Boys 0
Downpatrick started the second half the same as they finished the 1st with Corey McCoubrey, Tierney and Cassidy dominating the midfield to which Hillsborough had no answer. After 7 minutes they got their reward as the ‘greens’ won the ball in midfield and played in Fitzsimons down the right wing for him to put in an early cross which the keeper fumbled and ace marksman Rooney was quick to pounce and poke the ball the ball home for his 4th of the day.
Any notion that Rooney had completed his tally was quickly allayed when he latched onto pass from Smyth, turned his marker and placed a perfect shot into the far corner to make it 5 for the day. The goal of the day came from Michael McStay when raced onto a through pass from Brandon Boyd, as he got to the edge of the box he delicately chipped the on rushing keeper to complete the scoring and make it 6 – 0. Downpatrick then totally closed out the game and kept playing their passing football great day by all.
