One point win for
Dundrum over Darragh Cross
ACFL Div
3: Dundrum 1-11 Darragh Cross 1-10
By
Marc Mac Siomoin [marc_mac_siomoin@yahoo.co.uk]
They said they were untouchable. They
said they were unbeatable. They even
said they were invincible. No longer
can such superlatives be associated
with Darragh Cross.
In an amazing turnaround of fortunes
Dundrum produced one of the most breathtaking
displays of guts and determination in
many years. They matched Darragh man
for man, kick for kick and pass for
pass.
Surely this is the shock of the Division
3 season. Darragh had only previously
lost one game. They were sitting pretty
at the top of the League with a goal
difference soaring past the +150 mark.
They were annihilating teams left, right
and centre. No one give lowly Dundrum
even a sniff of a chance in this one
but from now on you write the Duns off
at your peril.
The game itself was played in damp conditions
with little wind. Despite the soggy
underfootings both sides played a rather
high standard of football. No more so
than Darragh ace Marcus Miskelly. The
most prolific tool in the away side's
team sent over the first score of the
night early on.
Dundrum then retaliated with a sublime
score from 16 year old Paul McComiskey.
Darragh then resumed order with another
fine Miskelly point, this time from
wide on the right.
Then came Dundrum's finest section of
the match. Four unanswered scores all
arriving within ten minutes of play.
McShane with a cheeky dink over the
bar, Walsh with a free, McMullan with
a 45' and attacking wingback Melville
with an excellent long range effort.
Darragh didn't know what hit them.
Dundrum then took the pedal of the gas
momentarilly and Darragh snuck in with
scores from Miskelly and McGreevy. They
now only trailed by the minimum.
After their period of inactivity Dundrum
soon resumed in style. The enigmatic
McMullan gliding over a hard worked
point. Then came the most significant
score of the night. The smallest player
on the pitch snuck in to the Darragh
goalmouth, took possession and slid
the ball past Dick McMahon. That player
was Conor McShane and that score was
crucial.
With five now between the sides Darragh
got on top in the last few minutes.
Miskelly again with another fantastic
hit and McGovern with an angled free.
A goal now separated the entities as
Peter Brannigan blew for half time.
The early second half skirmishes saw
the sides exchange points on four occasions.
McGovern was first of the mark with
a free. Dundrum's Kielty replying with
his first of the night. Then after some
roughshod home defending Miskelly gratefully
struck a set peice over. Then straight
back down the field Captain Walsh converted
for the Duns. A goal still the difference.
As the midway marker approached veteran
Paddy Doran sent over a fine effort
to rouse his teamates. However, Dundrum
failed to lift their game enough and
Darragh soon punished them, 1-02 arriving
without reply.
Midfielder Peter Swail was first to
register. Then came the controversial
goal. A disputed sideline ball that
was clearly Dundrum's was not given
and in the end a hot ball was staged.
Gerard Marks won it and proceeded to
launch a high ball in to the dangerzone.
Up popped young Mark McMahon and the
Down U-15 starlet squeezed the ball
in at the near post to level the game.
Dundrum had been robbed or so they thought.
With Darragh's momentum at an all time
high it was only seconds after the goal
that they scored again. The impressive
Peter Swail getting his second of the
night. At this stage it looked as if
Darragh would pull away.
With only three minutes left on the
clock the pressure mounted. Dundrum
had played so magnificently all night
and it looked as if their hard graft
would all have been for nothing. Cue
Paul McComiskey with a match altering
score. Yet again the sides were level.
Those final few seconds were the most
nerve wrecking of Dundrum's season.
As they poured forward in droves they
heaped the onus on Darragh to defend
deep. This resulted in a needless free
being given away straight in front of
goals. Kieran Walsh decided it was going
to be his responsibility and he didn't
disappoint.
Seconds later the whistle blew, Darragh
were left distraught and in disbelief,
Dundrum basked in the glory of victory.
This momentous win was down to a collective
team effort. Peter McVerry in the home
goal had one of those debuts you can
only dream about. Neil McComiskey tamed
the usually tenacious Pat McMahon to
about two touches of the leather. Mickey
Murray kept Tom McMahon anonymous for
the better part of the game and wingbacks
McKibben and Melville had solid games
letting little by them.
At midfield Doyle played his heart out
whilst Walsh was there when needed most.
In the attack it was corner forward
cum extra defender Marty Coughlan who
shone. When playing deep he sweeped
up all around him and when in the forwards
he was always there for the pass. Doran,
McShane and Co. were also superb in
the other positions.
Darragh played to their maximum potential
but just couldn't contain Dundrum's
best performance to date. Fintan Murray
was a rock at full back and Peter Swail
was their star at midfield. The free
scoring Marcus Miskelly was in great
form up front but Darragh ended up relying
on him too heavily and paid the price
as Hurley and McKibbin were in unforgiving
moods.
So the shock was complete. At the season's
end Darragh should be in Division 2
were they rightfully belong. Dundrum
look certain to be involved in a relegation
battle with Mitchels. It's game on!
Dundrum:
P.McVerry, J.Hurley, C.McKibbin, N.McComiskey,
J.McKibben, M.Murray, M.Melville (0-01),
A.Doyle, K.Walsh (0-03), P.McComiskey
(0-02), P.Doran (0-01), J.McMullan (0-02),
M.Coughlan, C.Kielty (0-01), C.McShane
(1-01). Sub: G.Graham.
