Garvey too strong for North Down in Kirk Cup opener

In their first competitive fixture of the season North Down entertained Lisnagarvey in the Kirk Cup at Comber Leisure Centre.

With Garvey having won every competition available to them last season, North Down knew they were going to be up against it but their cause was slightly helped by the fact that some of the Garvey squad were not risked ahead of their European game in France next week.

North Down opened strongly putting Garvey under early pressure and Gareth McKeown gave them the lead when he unleashed an unstoppable shot from the top of the circle in the seventh minute.  Garvey got the equaliser when a forward was unmarked in front of goal and had a simple tap in from a cross from the left.

The second quarter began in a similar fashion and Garvey went ahead when a defender gave the ball away leaving another simple tap in.  The visitors then added a third just before half time.  A short corner was awarded and Jordan Linter was unlucky to see the ball crash off his feet only for a penalty flick to be awarded and converted to make it 3-1.  Darren Rodgers was by far the busier of the two keepers and made some fine clearances.

In the second half Garvey played a much higher press and North Down struggled to get the ball out of defence at times.  Two further goals were added in the third quarter both from close range. Garvey worked the ball well along the bye line and were able to cross for tap ins from in front of goal.  At the other end, McKeown played a fine up and over and Josh Gilmore got a good shot in which was saved but the rebound avoided the in rushing Harry Templeton.

North Down started the final quarter 5-1 down having been reduced to nine players and Garvey took advantage of this to further increase their lead.  A sliding tackle by Linter resulted in a second penalty flick for the visitors and this was expertly converted.  A further two goals in the final two minutes left the scoreline at 9-1 and whilst Garvey thoroughly deserved their victory the final flurry of goals didn’t reflect the effort North Down put into the game.  Had they shown more composure on the ball and not given it away unnecessarily the scoreline could, and should, have been closer.

Burch Autos Man of the Match was Darren Rodgers.