NAFL Premier Division
Tuesday 24th August – League Match.
Match Sponsors: Eamonn P McGrady & Co Chartered Accountants
Drumaness Mills 1 v Downpatrick FC 4
Drumaness Mills welcomed Downpatrick for a midweek local derby and it was the visitors who came away with all three points. This was a match with an extra dimension as Downpatrick FC striker Stephen Galbraith and Gary Murdock, Drumaness Mills defender, both work in the office of Eamonn P McGrady Chartered Accountants in Downpatrick, the match sponsor.
Both teams had mixed results in their previous league games with the Mills running out comfortable winners and Downpatrick battling back to earn a point.
Downpatrick got off to the perfect start when Stephen Galbraith received the ball midway in the Drumaness half in the opening minutes. He played a one two with strike partner Phillip Traynor before unleashing an unstoppable left-footed shot high into the top corner.
On the fifteen minute mark Galbraith doubled his and Downpatrick’s advantage. Mark Holland won the ball in his own half and instinctively spotted Galbraith’s run and played an inch perfect 50 yard pass to the striker’s feet. Galbraith controlled the ball perfectly before smashing it past the helpless Drumaness keeper into the far corner of the net.
The home team got back into the game five minutes later, they broke down the left wing before crossing the ball to the back post were Sean McQuoid was waiting. The Drumaness winger made no mistake firing the ball past Downpatrick’s Michael McKenna.
On the stroke of half time Downpatrick restored their two goal advantage when midfielder Andy Baggley played the ball into the feet of Stephen Galbraith who was fouled in a dangerous position. Barry Treacy took the free kick and played the perfect ball for Mark Holland to side foot a volley into the net.
Half Time: Drumaness Mills 1 v Downpatrick FC 3
Downpatrick started the second half just as they finished the first half by scoring. The visitors won a corner which was taken by Christian Holland and his left footed cross headed into the back of the net by Aaron McGarry who had risen highest in the box. This was the goal that McGarry had deserved because he was a constant thorn in the Drumaness side for the whole game.
The remainder of the game saw Downpatrick comfortable in possession and Drumaness rarely troubling Michael McKenna in the visitor’s nets or the defence of Barry Fitzsimons, Matthew Carson, Blaine Connolly or Christian Holland who all looked assured in their defending. Next up for Downpatrick is the tricky match against Shankill United in the second round of the Steel & Sons Cup.
Downpatrick FC: 1) M McKenna 2) B Fitzsimons 3) C Holland 4) M Carson 5) B Connolly 6) M Holland 7) T Bell 8) A Baggley 9) P Traynor 10) S Galbraith 11) A McGarry 12) A McCoubrey 14) B Treacy 15) S Douglas.
