Killough FC beat Downpatrick in nine goal thriller
The Newcastle and District Amateur Football League,
Premier League Upper, League Match,
Venue: Millfield Killough , 26th April 2024,
Final Score: Killough FC 6 3 Downpatrick FC
The sun was out at the Millfield as Killough entertained Downpatrick in what was a must win game for the home side trying to keep their league title hopes alive writes Cyril McKinney.
Killough went ahead after just two minutes through Gareth George who prodded home from six yards from a Lee Murphy free out wide on the left wing.
Downpatrick got back on level terms after 11 minutes when Morgan Fitzpatrick was sent through on the inside left channel and he beat Killough Keeper Pearse McCarthy to square things up before Dylan Kelly took advantage of a defensive error to put the visitors in front a minute later.
(Photos by Cyril McKinney.)
However Killough bounced back and squared things up on 13 minutes when Declan Looney finished off a great left wing cross from his striking partner Daniel Taggart.
Taggart then put the home side in front on 29 minutes as he held of the attention of two defenders to fire home past a helpless Murphy in the Downpatrick net.
Then as Downpatrick dominated proceedings, Eamon Gargan got on the scoresheet on 43 minutes by firing home his sides 4th goal at the back post despite the attention of two defenders to leave the half-time score 4-2 to Killough.
It was more of the same at the start of the second half with Killough in control with midfield playmaker Tony McIlhone pulling the strings and Killough closing down the opposition at every opportunity.
They went further ahead on 54 minutes through Daniel Taggart who was sent clear and he made no mistake before Declan Looney showed his pace and composure on 61 minutes to put the home side out of sight at 6-2.
Credit to Downpatrick they changed players in an attempt to restore some pride with the introduction of the veteran Mark Holland who showed glimpses of a distant past with cool interceptions and quality passes.
But Downpatrick were by now a beaten side but kept pressing forward and with better finishing may have reduced the scoreline before being awarded a penalty on the final whistle when the referee adjudged a hand ball in the area.
Up stepped Andrew McCoubrey who converted in style sending McCarthy the wrong way to leave the final score at the Millfield 6-3 to Killough.
The league title is still to be decided next week when Killough face near neighbours Ardglass in a winner takes all league decider.
Killough FC: Pearse McCarthy,Sean Og Burns, Lee Murphy, Kevin Groves, Eamon Gargan, Gareth George, Riain Burns, Cillian Burns, Declan Looney, Daniel Taggart, Tony McIlhone Subs: Declan Burns for Gareth George , Conor Kelly for Daniel Taggart, Ben McLaughlin for Kevin Groves
Downpatrick FC: Ruairi Murphy, Ryan Cassidy, Morgan Fitzpatrick, Caolain Logue, Shea Holland, Con Farrell , Adrian McCoubrey, Nathan McAlister, Josh Montgomery, Dylan Kelly, Anthony Carson. Subs:Andrew McCoubrey, Damien Turley for Adrian McCoubrey, Mark Holland for Anthony Carson.
