Milk-cup fever came to Newry this week when the County premier squad played their first friendly of this year’s campaign. Jennings Park was the venue for Down’s warm-up game with top local side Windmill Star’s and they proved their class when they took an early lead from some poor defending by the County.

The writing was on the wall from the start when Robert Casey ( Armagh City ) released the Windmill front two, but great goalkeeping from Stephen Carroll kept the Down goal secure. Five minutes later though he was unable to stop a shot from close in and the Newry team lead one nil.

County Down then began to settle and had good efforts from Ryan Tumelty and B J Mc Menamin saved by the Windmill keeper, but Windmill always threatened and again Stephen Carroll made two wonder saves to deny the Newry side.

The second half saw County Down settling down and things began to improve when P Walsh and C Manley linked up well to be only denied by the Windmill crossbar in the 50 th minute.

At the back County Down began to get the upper hand and they contained Windmill to a couple of chances. In the 60 th minute though it was the County side that began to turn the screw and when E Murray was released on the right side he deliver an unmissable chance for R Berry to finish from 6 yards.

As the game progressed in energy sapping heat both teams tired and they were all happy to hear the ref’s final whistle.

After the game County Down’s manager Damian Mc Corry said “he was happy with the effort the team had put in and hopes to build on this very positive start”-he finished by stating “I can see all lot of the lads are disappointed but they have no need to be-I think they have set themselves high standards and maybe they have not met them today, but the good thing is, I know they will!”.

On behalf of the County Down Premier squad we would like to thank Windmill Stars for such a sporting game and especially Barry Doran for his hard work in arranging this game.

County Down 1st half
S Carroll, Jon Magee, L Mc Kibben, I Curran, T Mc Veigh, R Mc Mullan, B J Mc Menamin, D Cairnduff, C Patterson, D Loy, R Tumelty.

County Down 2nd half
S Magill, T Hanna, M Whitford, Jay Magee, L Byrne, E Murray, P Walsh, R Berry, T Mc Veigh, C Manley, A Mc Cann, A Hogg.