RGU Win Play-Off To Division One

Downpatrick RGU  1-09   Liatroim  1-08 THE play off for a place in Division One was always going to be a close cut affair between the RGU and Liatroim but that turned out to be an understatement as the game unfolded. Liatroim had three players out of action but their initial grip on the game showed they were fearsome opponents for the RGU. [caption id="attachment_30671" align="alignleft" width="400" caption="The moment that put the RGU into the First Divison. Peter Telford closes in to finish off a penalty shot taken by Gareth Trainor."][/caption] But it was the RGU who struck first with sharpshooter Jarleth Brannigan nailing the first free after he was felled by Conor Cunningham. Then Kevin Gracey took a long shot that was just wide. But Liatroim were showing great ball handling skills and made a number of very useful charges into the RGU half. Ten minutes into the action one build up saw passing from Cunningham, Clarke, Colman Doyle to Brown which ended as a wide. Then Liam Doyle put over a point in play. The RGU were quick in responding and the Liatroim backs were giving nothing away but were forced into a free at 11 minutes which Brannigan again converted. It was as yet not a high scoring match, both teams vieing for tactical advantage. With more RGU pressure Liatroim gave away another free as Rice took down Trainor. Again Brannigan took the kick clinically. The RGU midfield were sending up some excellent crosses to their front line keeping Brannigan, Slavin and Bell on their toes. Doyle struck again for a point from a free the keep the RGU in check then Liatroim equalised shortly afterwards and it was game on. The match went up a gear and became faster, harder and more intense. But that was only the first half. Slavin then pointed for the RGU to keep his side just in the lead, but Liatroim replied with another point from Liam Doyle in play. It was a see-saw match and the RGU were unlucky not to have capitalised on a block from Andrew Telford that robbed the Liatroim defenders and almost led to a potential first goal. Then on the back of this a Kevin Gracey pass to Sean Bell saw him charge the Liatroim defence and take a shot at goal, the shot being fingered out by keeper Dan Morgan. Gracey then fired wide in trying to convert this but it showed the RGU were up delivering goal scoring moves. [caption id="attachment_30672" align="alignright" width="321" caption="RGU forward Sean Bell played a key role in taking the game to Liatroim."][/caption] Liatroim fought back and shot wide and within a minute another Gracey Bell move again could have paid dividends with a goal. But to be fair, the tight marking by the Liatroim defenders made scoring a more remote possibility. They were giving no quarter and no ground. At this stage of the match it was the RGU who was looking more likely at taking a vital goal that could swing this low scoring match. Paul Burns then scored a key point for Liatroim putting his side in the lead again but this was cancelled by Sean Bell who made a neat pass to Slavin who took his point only for Liatroim to claim back another point. A key turning poing in the match six minutes before half time was the when Liatroim’s Liam Doyle went off with a knee injury. Already three key players down, this was a blow to their hopes. But as the first half ended, it was Liatroim who were making inroads into the RGU half. The Liatroim defence had done an excellent job in containing the fast moving RGU forwards. Close marking and quick tackles created plenty of excitement for the good crowd enjoying an excellent show of football. As the second half started, the RGU had the wind advantage but that did not help Slavin who had the first wide. Then Brannigan lifted his side witha great point in play and rousing the spectators as he once again brought the RGU level with their adversaries. Minutes later the steady RGU pressure saw Brannigan take another point and now surely thought their fans they were home on a boat. But not quite so! Liatriom battled back as to be expected and the game went into another level enthralling the fans. But the game certainly came to life when Kevin Gracey launched one of his long distance specials over the Liatroim posts. The fans went wild. The RGU were connecting well from defence, through to midfield and forward line in the face of a relentless Liatroim pressure. Then Liatroim sub Patrick McCartan playing up front pointed from a free levelling the score in this close encounter followed by another point. At this point there was a break in the game as Sean Bell received a nasty, bloody gash to his left eyebrow. [caption id="attachment_30673" align="alignleft" width="400" caption="The RGU's Jarleth Brannigan was closely marked by Liatroim's Brian Morgan."][/caption] When play resumed, the RGU earned a quick free and Brannigan was predictable in his kicking. And the the dramatic hammer blow that shook the RGU down to their cotton socks. Liatroim attacked and in an exchange in from of the RGU goal, O’Prey sent the ball into the RGU net and the clock was ticking. Liatroim certainly raised their game and made a number of solid charges. But the RGU fought back and into injury time they need a goal to get into Division One. Just one goal! And then somebody up there must have heard them because Peter Telford was fouled in front of the Liatroim box and a penalty was given. This was a crucial shot taken by Gareth Trainor. It was blocked off the line and Telford instinctively closed in to nail the rebound into the the Liatroim net. The shouts from the RGU camp could be heard in Downpatrick. When the whistle blew, the RGU had won by a whisker in the dying embers of the game. Both teams had given their all and either would have been a worthy winner. Downpatrick RGU: James Deeny, Declan Turley, Liam Kearney, Andrew Telford, Gerard Collins, Damien Branniff, Kevin Gracey, Peter Turley, Gareth Trainor, Peter Telford, Isaac McCauley, Ryan Slavin, Sean Bell, Jarleth Brannigan. Liatroim: Dan Morgan, Brian Morgan, Andrew Rice, Conor Cunningham, Stephen O’Higgins, Gerard McAnulty, Ciaran Doyle, Owen Clarke, Rory Loughlin, Liam Morgan, Andrew O’Prey, Colman Doyle, Paul Burns, Liam Doyle, Aidan Brown.]]>