O’Neil’s ACFL Division 2B.
Annaclone 0-12 RGU 3-10.
The RGU Hoops kept up their unbeaten record of this shortened season with a hard earned victory away to Annaclone on Friday.
It is =never an easy place to get a result and this visit proved no different, but once ahead the Downpatrick men kept their composure despite losing two men to red cards along with one from the home side in the second half.
After a phoney war in the first 5 mins or so, with no side making any inroads, it was the ‘Clone who claimed the first score of the match but that only served to sting the visitors into action and after a great run from Damien Turley, he off-loaded to Tim Prenter who tucked the ball in the net with consummate ease.
Kevin Anderson pulled one back but Conor McGrady, in a rich vein of form, then hit two points and it remained nip and tuck to the half-time break with points from Ruairi Quinn(2) McGrady and Morgan Fitzpatrick, as Annaclone hit 5 of their own to leave it 1.8 to 0.7 at the break.
On the resumption Caolan Boyd added a point just as Ruairi Quinn was taken out off the ball and after the resultant “ schmozzle” the referee deemed it necessary to send off Conor McGrady and Gerdie Collins along with a home player.
Despite the numerical disadvantage The Hoops showed great resolve, particularly in defence but were very potent on the counter.
After a home point RGU broke away and Tim Prenter was upended in the square with Johnnie Bell firing home from the spot.
The visitors were very measured in their play from here and picked off their points but the icing on the cake was a second Prenter goal to bring his personal tally to 2.1 as Downpatrick finished winners on a score line of 3.10 to 0.12.
Ronan Murphy again had a solid hour at full back with excellent performances in defence from Conor Doherty, Johnnie Bell and Eoin Rooney.
Peter Turley had a great shift in midfield, belying his veteran status whilst Tim Prenters tally speaks for itself alongside a resurgent Conor McGrady and Ruairi Quinn.
