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Darragh Cross Notes for week of 13th April

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By Daniel Murray
Senior result - Darragh Cross 0-14 Ballymartin 1-11
A point with the last kick of the match denied Darragh Cross victory on
their Division 2 debut on Sunday. With injury time approaching Darragh led
their south-Down opponents by three points, but a spirited Ballymartin
comeback gave them a share of the spoils.

A large crowd had gathered for this historic game at St Mochai's Park. The
home side went into it without last season's player of the year, Marcus
Miskelly, who was 'starred' ahead of Down's under-21 Ulster final on
Saturday. Ballymartin got the opening score with a long range point before
Darragh responded with a Gareth McGovern free. Eoin Mageean then got in
behind the Ballymartin backline to receive a Paddy Murray pass and fire
over. Darren O'Hanlon and Aidan McLaughlin put the visitors back in front,
but a fourteen yard free from Tom McMahon and a fisted Pat McMahon point
swung the pendulum back in Darragh's favour. Pat McMahon was replaced by
Gary Kennedy after this score due to a hamstring injury. Ballymartin
levelled the scores with a point from a fast attack up the field, but
Darragh then had their best spell of the half with points from Kennedy,
Marty Healy and Gareth McGovern. Another counter-attack resulted in the
first half's main talking point, when Sean Timaney was adjudged to have
fouled Ryan Rooney inside the fourteen. A penalty was awarded to
Ballymartin, and McLaughlin made no mistake. Darragh were left agrieved, as
it looked as though Timaney had won the ball in the tackle. Tom McMahon and
impressive half-back O'Hanlon eschanged scores, leaving the half-time score
level.
  The second half continued as a close, hard-fought battle. Tom McMahon
pointed from forty yards, before MacLaughlin and Rooney put Ballymartin in
front. Three unanswered points from McMahon, John McCarthy and Gary Kennedy
put Darragh two ahead. McMahon, Darragh's man of the match, scored two more
points, with only a Ryan Rooney free keeping Ballymartin in contention, to
give the league's newcomers a three point lead with only minute remaining.
However, a brilliant Ballymartin spell in injury time climaxed when Rooney
fired over with the last kick to cruelly deny Darragh.
  Darragh can take a lot of positives away from the game. Sean Timaney was
solid at full-back and Paddy Murray's forward runs linked defence to attack
throughout. Tom McMahon was the main scoring threat and Gary Kennedy showed
glimpses of his quality. A point on the board is a reasonable start in a new
division. However, having been leading by three points on two occasions, at
the end of each half, a draw is somewhat disappointing.
Darragh scorers - T McMahon (0-6), G Kennedy (0-2), G McGovern (0-2), M
Healy (0-1), J McCarthy (0-1), P McMahon (0-1), E Mageean (0-1)

On Friday night the senior team have an away match against Saul. Throw in is
at 7pm.

The senior hurlers followed up their victory in the opening game against
Warrenpoint with a hard fought win away in Bredagh last Tuesday night. The
belfast side were leading up until the last ten minutes, when a fine Colin
Murray goal put Darragh level. Points from Des Sweeny, Tom McMahon and Paddy
Murray gave Darragh a 2-08 to 2-06 win. It was a much tougher test than the
previous meeting between the two teams four weeks earlier in the Betsy Gray
shield, when Darragh ran out comfortable winners. Marty Healy had kept
Darragh in contention in the first half with a goal from a 21-yard free,
before he left the field due to injury.  Darragh had impressive
performances from Colin and Paddy Murray, Tony Ferris and Michael McKervey.
Senior hurling training takes place on Thursday nights at 7.15pm.

The reserve football team begin their season on Sunday evening with an away
match against Bryansford. Throw in is at 7pm, the team will meet in the
square at 5.30.

This weeks underage fixtures:
U-14 football - home to Loughinisland tomorrow night at 7pm.
U-12 football - home to Loughinisland on Sunday at 5pm.
U-16 football - away to Loughinisland on Tuesday at 7.15pm.

The club would like to thank John Flanagan for the work done in stoning the
car park ahead of Sunday's game. Your work was much appreciated.