RGU U-16's Secure County Title

U-16 B Final Downpatrick 4-11   Glenn  2-09 ON Sunday midday the RGU U-16’s made it a double celebration for Downpatrick by winning the County U-16 B Championship final at Mayobridge. With the wind at their backs the RGU boys attacked relentlessly from the throw in and opened with a long range point from Conor McGrady. The policy of delivering early ball into the space in front of Frank Starkey and Conor Doherty was paying dividends enabling them to bring the overlapping half-forwards Rory Bryce and James McKenna into play. [caption id="attachment_30726" align="alignleft" width="400" caption="Down GAA Youth Development Officer Sean McCashin presents the U-16 B trophy to Conor McGrady after the they had a convincing win over Glenn."][/caption] Downpatrick extended their lead with a speculative long range goal from James McKenna followed by points from Conor McGrady, Owen McEvoy and Conor Doherty. At this stage the Glenn forwards were beginning to enter the game and make space despite the best efforts of Dale Hudson, Tim Collins and Chris Mckenna. Indeed but for a few critical interventions from Jonathan Deeny in nets Glenn could have been right back in the match. A goal and a point for Glenn brought them closer to the young hoops. However, soon after RGU had the score of the match when the vision of Frank Starkey picked out Conor McGrady with a diagonal cross field ball and the Downpatrick Captain drilled the ball low into the corner of the net. The Downpatrick half back line of Adam Prenter, Jamal McQuoid and Ryan Fitzpatrick ensured that the RGU lead was protected as the game flowed from end to end. Owen McEvoy and Conor McGrady with two points each against a point from Glenn put Downpatrick into a commanding half-time lead of 2-08 to 1-02. As Downpatrick game out in the second half to play into a stiffening breeze they knew that Glenn would come back at them and they had to maintain their discipline and weather the storm. A number of positional switches in the Glenn formation saw them dominate the next 15 minutes during which they laid siege to the RGU back line. The Glenn full forward amassed a personal tally of 1-6 to a solitary Conor McGrady point to leave only two points between the sides. At this stage the game was end to end but the RGU boys showed their character and desire by grabbing a foothold back in the game epitomised by the courage and drive of Johnnie Bell in midfield. A point each from Johnnie Bell and Conor McGrady after tireless running from Frank Starkey and Johnnie Collins cancelled out scores from Glenn. A positional switch bringing Jordan Carson into the full back line gave Downpatrick the lift they needed to tighten up defensively. With ten minutes to go the game was finely balanced when Conor McGrady hit a speculative drive at the net which curled over the outstretched arms of the keeper for a goal. Immediately the RGU spirits rose and they drove at the Glenn defence again. The tireless Frank Starkey then beat two defenders to drive to the net for the goal that his support and link up play deserved. Leading by eight points the RGU were able to bring Jamie Fitzpatrick, Kevin Polly, Ryan Kearney and Ruairi Quinn in to see out the game by a score of 4-11 to 2-09. Sean McCashin of the East Down Board presented the Championship Trophy to Downpatrick Captain Conor McGrady. Scorers: Conor McGrady (2-06), James McKenna (1-0), Frank Starkey (1-0), Owen McEvoy (0-3), Johnnie Bell (0-1) and Conor Doherty (0-1).]]>