By Jonathan Brown
NADAFL Harry Clarke Cup
semi-final
Downpatrick 5 Killough 3
DOWNPATRICK booked their place in Easter Monday’s Harry Clarke final following a superb 5-3 win over Killough on Friday night past.
It was an even game in the early stages at Robert Adams Park, and both teams had chances to score, but it was Connor Campbell who would net the opener for Mark Holland’s side in the 30th minute, squeezing the ball home from Tony Carson’s cross.
It was 2-0 to Downpatrick a few minutes later after Declan Dowie thumped the ball home after an impressive cross from Niall Gilchrist.
Downpatrick now smelt blood and were soon three goals to the good when Shea Holland rose highest to meet a Morgan McCoubrey corner and head past Killough keeper Conor Doyle.
Killough were left stunned by the concession of three goals in four minutes but responded perfectly through Cillian Burns on 42 minutes, to give themselves a glimmer of hope in this semi-final.
But just as Stephen Holland’s men had got themselves back into the game, Downpatrick struck again on the stroke of half-time.
McCoubrey’s whipped free kick into the box fell to the feet of Shea Holland who powered the ball into the roof of the net, grabbing his second goal of the game and instantly restoring the three-goal advantage.
Killough came out in the second half determined not to let another semifinal tie slip away from them, having lost in the Bobby Dalzell semi-final to Castlewellan Forest at the end of last year.
The men in yellow created numerous chances in the second half with Connor Kelly forcing a good save from Taylor Beattie in the Downpatrick goals, and Ruairi Sharvin hitting the crossbar from a rasping volley.
Jack McLaughlin did eventually pull a goal back after 73 minutes, but there was still a mountain to climb for Killough.
As Killough pushed forward in search of the goals they needed to force the game into extra-time, Downpatrick hit on the counter, with Nathan McAlister brought down in the box by Matthew McKiernan.
Referee Oliver Burke pointed to the penalty spot and teenager Holland stepped up, hammering the ball into the bottom corner to complete a memorable hat-trick.
Downpatrick went a man down in the 82nd minute after Ronan Cope was shown a second yellow card and Killough fought right to the very end, pulling another goal back in the 89th minute.
But Killough’s misery was compounded in the 91st minute as Sean Óg Burns was shown his second yellow and sent to the changing rooms.
It was a night to remember for a young Downpatrick side, as they secured a spot in this year’s Harry Clarke final, where they will face either Ardglass or Drumaness Mills Reserves.
The Easter Monday showpiece will offer a shot at redemption for Mark Holland’s side following a 4-0 defeat to Castlewellan Forest in this season’s Bobby Dalzell final.
The Downpatrick head coach was delighted with his side’s performance on the night, as they bounced back from their recent KitRoom Shield semi-final loss to Ardglass.
“That was more like us on Friday night.
“I think we wanted it more than Killough did – we said to go out and get an early goal and take the game to Killough, and we did that.
“Killough are a good side, but we can be very good on our day if we turn up, and we did,” former Killyleagh YC player Mark Holland said.
Holland was also full of praise for his nephew and hat-trick hero, 18- year-old Shea Holland.
“Shea took his goals well on the night.
“It didn’t phase him at all playing in a semi-final and he didn’t put a foot wrong all night.
“I thought he was superb.”
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