Downpatrick lose to Comber Rec in final

Downpatrick lose to Comber Rec in final

18 December 2024

DOWNPATRICK U-18......................................2

COMBER RED U-18.........................................2

(Comber Rec won 8-7 on penalties)

IT was heartbreak for Downpatrick U-18s who agonisingly fell to Comber Rec on penalties in the Supplementary Cup final on Saturday morning.

Comber started strongly and had a good grip on the game in the opening ten minutes, but were unable to breach the backline of Shea Vaughan, Patrick Dunlop and Shea Holland.

At the other end of the pitch, Odrhan Higgins was unable to get any joy from the Comber defence as he fought a lone battle up front.

The first real chance fell to Downpatrick when a ball was laid off to Morgan McCoubrey at the edge of the box and he smashed a shot that just curled wide of the post.

Downpatrick’s midfield trio of Harry McCarthy, James Tumelty and Seany Duggan fought for every ball but found it tough to get on top of the Comber midfield.

The boys in green settled into the game though and Duggan started to make a difference carrying the ball from midfield and driving at the Comber defence.

A ball played into the Comber box caused a scramble and Duggan was the coolest customer taking one touch and dispatching to the back of the net to give Downpatrick a 1-0 lead.

There weren’t many chances created after this as the half-time whistle blew with Downpatrick in control of the game.

Downpatrick continued where they left off and started the second half brightly with the addition of William Taggert and Ronan Cope added to the front line, giving Downpatrick pace and power in attack.

Cope had the next chance when he drove past his marker only to see his shot go wide of the post. His strike partner Taggert was causing all sorts of difficulty for the Comber defence with his hold-up play and tricky runs into the box.

He was rewarded for his hard work when he finished off a lovely move by sliding the ball past the Comber keeper to make it 2-0 with 25 mins left in the game.

An injury to Dunlop in the Downpatrick defence meant Taggert ping back into centre half and this handed Comber the momentum.

A succession of corners put pressure on Downpatrick and it finally paid off for Comber who made it 2-1 when the ball was put in at the back post from an inswinging corner.

The boys fought hard to get momentum back however and Duggan was unlucky with his willing running only to be thwarted by the Comber keeper on a number of occasions.

Cope’s running was a big problem for Comber and he beat two men, driving into the box and was hauled back just on the edge of the box in what looked like a certain red card for a last-man tackle, but the Comber defender escaped with a yellow.

Downpatrick were  then undone by another corner when the Comber midfielder rose highest to power a header into the back of the net, leaving Taylor Beattie in the Downpatrick goals with no chance. 

Both teams fought for a winner but it never came and the game went straight to penalties.

The teams went tit for tat with every penalty, giving both keeper’s no chance and when Comber scored their eighth penalty, it was Shea Vaughan who was unlucky when the Comber keeper made a good save to give his team the win.

It was a tough loss for Downpatrick who had a 2-0 lead and looked comfortable, only for a few injuries to hamper their cause, but they will hope to get back to winning ways in the league this weekend and keep up their unbeaten run at the top of the table.

DOWNPATRICK U-16 COLTS..........................0

CARRYDUFF COLTS.......................................1

DOWNPATRICK U-16 Colts took on Carryduff Colts on Saturday morning with the game starting slow and Carryduff having most of the ball.

Downpatrick gradually worked their way into the game and began to take control. Despite this, they couldn’t take advantage of the possession as chances went agonisingly amiss, with the woodwork denying them on two occasions.

Eoin McMahon was fed in behind and beat his man before sliding the ball past the onrushing keeper. His shot just bounced off the post and went wide, much to the despair of the Downpatrick support.

When a free kick was won 30 yards from goal, Jack Cunliffe stepped up and struck it beautifully, but it bounced off the top of the bar and once again spared Carryduff.

The second half was much the same, with Carryduff starting the stronger, and this time it proved too much as they went 1-0 up.

Downpatrick began to fight back and again retained much of possession but unfortunately could not work their way back into the match, with chances falling just short of a goal, and the game finished 1-0.

DOWNPATRICK U16 SWIFTS.........................5

ST MALACHY’S OB........................................1

DOWNPATRICK Swifts started the game with an attack-minded attitude.

Matthew McCormack started running at the St Malachy’s defence and was awarded with a corner with a deflected shot.

McCormack took the corner and couldn’t have placed it any better onto Aaron Sinclairs head, who made no mistake with a bullet header after five minutes.

On the other wing, Jack Laird was also causing problems for the defence and his mazy run and great ball through to Freddie Ferguson resulted in him placing the ball past the oncoming keeper on nine minutes.

A lapse in concentration at the back let St Malachy’s back into the game. The Swifts didn’t let their heads drop and they got themselves back in front when Aaron Sinclair, Joel Reynolds and Matthew Boyd played some great passes to draw the St Malachy’s team out, with Sean Fitzsimons passing to Tyler Thompson who found Patrick McCoy and his vision found Corey Kennedy to smash home just before the break.

The second half started with Darryl Madine finding Adam Hamill, only for him to be taken down 25 yards out. Hamill stepped up and smashed the ball into the top corner, leaving the keeper with no chance.

More great football followed for the Swifts and Hamill scored his team’s fifth straight from a corner into the back of the net.

Another great display of battling and teamwork, which was very pleasing to watch.

DOWNPATRICK U-14......................................2

ROSARIO COLTS.............................................0

DOWNPATRICK U-14s got back to winning ways on Friday night when they took on Rosario Colts at Newforge Lane.

Hampered by injuries, the boys in green stepped up to the challenge and put in a great display, coming away 2-0 winners.

It was a back and forth contest in the opening ten minutes, with both sides looking to gain control.

Luke Young in the Downpatrick midfield started to get control and drive Downpatrick forward and his ball out to Ethan Maguire was swung in for Ben Ford who was unlucky with his strike on goal.

On the opposite wing Niall Madine was causing real trouble for the Rosario defence with his willing running getting him in behind on many occasions, but the final ball eluded him.

The Downpatrick defence of Se Tumelty, Aodhan Bell, Milo Morrison and Blaine Matheson stood strong against the Rosario attack and kept them at bay in the first half, with Jack Savage having little to do in the Downpatrick nets.

The first goal came when a corner was put into the box by Ford with Bell challenging for it. It dropped at his feet and his quick reaction saw him smash the ball into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.

Madine had a chance to put Downpatrick 2-0 up when another mazy run saw him smash a shot that went just wide.

Sam McCarthy and Young were controlling the game from midfield and Ford was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet again when he was put through but dragged his shot wide.

Ford, on another day, could have a hat-trick when he had three free-kicks outside the box that the Rosario keeper saved well.

The half ended 1-0 to Downpatrick, who were in control of the game.

The second half was much of the same as Downpatrick played better football and were forcing Rosario back. Jackson Trueman battled away up front and his link-up with Ford caused Rosario problems all night.

The second goal was worth waiting for as the ball broke down the right and Caden McDonnell played the ball across to Ford, who only had the keeper to beat, but the ball got caught under his foot. 

The Rosario defender cleared the danger only for Madine to meet the ball all of 30 yards out and unleash a shot that sailed right into the top corner, giving the Rosario keeper no chance.

Downpatrick were unlucky not to get more goals on the night but Rosario fought hard throughout and kept Downpatrick to a limited number of chances.

It was a good win for the young Downpatrick team with Luke Young awarded the Apache Pizza Downpatrick man of the match award for his outstanding performance in midfield.