NAFL Division One.
League Match on Saturday 6th October 2018.
Report by Cyril McKinney.
Drumaness Mills 7 1 Downpatrick FC.
Local rivalry was obvious from the first whistle in this derby match and with the young Downpatrick team taking the game to their hosts they were rewarded on 9 minutes when Andrew McCoubrey took advantage of some hesitancy in the Mills defence to drive the ball home from just inside the box to go one up.
But the more experienced Drumaness home side settled into the game and began to stamp their authority on the match, and after misses from Ibenson from a free and Feenan who shot wide when in a good position, they found themselves on level terms through a clinical finish from Ibenson.
Four minutes later it was 2-1 when McQuoid latched onto a loose ball and fired to the net. It was 3-1 two minutes later when Mason took full advantage of a defensive mistake and make no mistake in his delivery of the ball into the net.
As the half progressed Mills’ Mason continued causing problems for the Downpatrick defensive pairing of Moore and Logue who struggled with his power and persistence. He fired over the bar when in a good position, tested the Downpatrick keeper with a stinging shot and was narrowly ruled offside when in the clear chasing a long diagonal ball over the top.
On 44 minutes his striking partner Mark Feenan tested the Downpatrick keeper Kieran Gordon who saved the shot comfortably leaving the half-time score 3-1 to Drumaness.
Into the second period and Drumaness carried on their assualt on Downpatrick where they left off and after misses from Matthew McGarrity and Philip Rogan, it was that player Mason again who tested Gordon in the Downpatrick nets who was equal to the task each time to keep the score at 3-1.
On 54 minutes, McCoubrey won the ball on the edge of the Drumaness box and fired a rasping shot just over the bar. Two minutes later the referee had his yellow card out when Drumaness’ Ibenson appeared to kick out at his opponent. Ibenson was immediately withdrawn by the Drumaness management and replaced by McCarron fearing he may be carded again and leaving their side down at ten players.
Drumaness continued their dominance and on 65 minutes Rogan narrowly missed when in a good position.
Downpatrick made a change on 77 minutes and replaced Andrew McCoubrey who had been carrying an injury for most of the match but within 6 minutes Drumaness went from 3-1 to 5-1 up.
Mason bagged his second on 68 minutes followed by McQuoid finishing in style on 75 minutes. With the game won Drumaness replaced McConville and Rogan with Fitzpatrick and Rory Mason.
Downpatrick were more or less camped in their own half leaving plenty of space for the Drumaness midfield to dominate the game. On 82 minutes Mason completed his Drumaness hat trick with another clinical finish followed by substitute McCarron who fired to the net on 85 minutes to complete the 7-1 scoreline.
Downpatrick to their credit kept pressing forward when they could andforward Drew Barnes forced a fantastic save from Ryan Campbell in the Drumaness nets who sprung high to his right to tip the ball over the bar when it looked like a certain goal.
Drumaness were much too strong in every department for this very young Downpatrick side who showed well in the early exchanges through the McCoubrey brothers Aidrin and Andrew, Matthew McGarrity and Tony Carson but could not match their opponents as the game developed. In this local derby the bragging rights belonged to Drumaness but there are talented footballers within this young Downpatrick squad and they will develop as a team in the months ahead.
Drumaness Mills: Ryan Campbell, Tommy McConville, Christian Holland, Neil Teggart, Gary Murdock, Philip Rogan, Aaron Ibenson, Sean McQuoid, Stefan Mason, Mark Feenan, Michael McGarrity. Subs: Rory Mason for Philip Rogan, Conor McCarron for Aaron Ibenson, Ryan Fitzpatrick for Tommy McConville
Downpatrick FC: Kieran Gordon, Adam Jervis, Kyle McKeever, Caolain Logue, Conor Moore, Matthew McGarrity, Tony Carson, Adrian McCoubrey, Andrew McCoubrey, Drew Barnes, Ryan Cassidy.
