Cumann Pheadair Naofa senior footballers were defeated by RGU Downpatrick in a second-round replay of the Morgan Fuels Down Senior Football Championship played on Thursday evening past in Kilcoo, after extra-time could not separate the teams in the first meeting. The Blues’ raced out of the blocks to lead 0-05 to 0-01 after eleven minutes of play, after accurate free taking from Donagh McAleenan and Niall McGovern. However, this was to be the Seasiders’ most fruitful period of the match, with RGU asserting their dominance from this point onwards as, aided by a strong breeze, they outscored Cumann Pheadair Naofa 0-13 to 0-01 in the remaining nineteen minutes of the half, leaving the score at the interval; RGU Downpatrick 0-14; Cumann Pheadair Naofa 0-06.
Downpatrick landed a killer blow at the beginning of the second half with a brisk counter-attack finishing in the back of Conor D’Arcy’s net, pouring cold water on hopes of a Warrenpoint comeback. To their credit, the Blues’ rallied with four unanswered points, two from Niall McGovern and one apiece for Donagh McAleenan and second-half substitute Frank Aiken. Downpatrick clipped over a point to re-extend their lead to eight points before John Boyle ventured forward to land a fine point with the outside of his boot. However, the contest was all-but-over when Downpatrick added a second goal in injury time. Frank Aiken was unlucky not to find the net with the final kick of the game, as he saw his goal-bound effort pushed over the bar. Paul Faloon then called a halt to proceedings with the full-time score reading; RGU Downpatrick 2-15; Cumann Pheadair Naofa 0-12.
Warrenpoint now enter the backdoor of the Morgan Fuels Down Senior Football Championship where they will play a Loughinisland team enthused by their one-point victory over Glenn. The game will be played on Monday 28th August at 7pm in Kilcoo with a place in the quarter finals the prize for the winner.
