John Brennan

Senior Football

Glasdrumman 0-12 Tullylish 1-8

Friday night saw the visit of a determined Tullylish team to the Quarter Road in search of points to keep them in contention for a top three spot in Division 3. Glasdrumman started the stronger  and were two points up after three minutes, both from the boot of Cormac Murphy. Tullylish narrowed the deficit with a point from corner forward Chris McGovern in the eighth minute but this was quickly cancelled out two minutes later with Cormac Murphy‘s third point of the game. Chris McGovern got his second point of the game after 12 minutes and seven minutes later half back Ronan Barry levelled the game with a point. Then disaster struck for Glasdrumman when the referee awarded a penalty after the ball had been blocked on the goal line by one of the Glasdrumman backs with his feet. Up stepped Chris McGovern to plant the ball past Ronan McDowell to give Tullylish the lead for the first time in the game. Glasdrumman responded almost immediately with points from Raymond Magorrian and Declan Grant but the last point of the half fell to Tullylish midfielder Mickey Feeney to leave the halftime score Glasdrumman 0-5 Tullylish 1-4 .

Chris McGovern further increased the Tullylish lead straight from the throw in with a well taken point but the Glasdrumman response was swift as Cormac Murphy and Martin O‘Neill fired over points apiece within two minutes of the restart. In the seventh minute Sean Fegan restored the Tullylish to two points but this was quickly cancelled out with a excellent point from substitute Connaire Harrison. Tullylish were awarded their second penalty of the game but this time luck was not on their side as the ball came back of the base of the post and was cleared by the Glasdrumman defence. Despite this setback Chris McGovern restored the Tullylish lead and almost immediately Cormac Murphy replied for Glasdrumman. With ten minutes left on the clock Sean Fegan again restored the two point lead which Tullylish had guarded so well from halftime  but Glasdrumman were by no means finished. Declan Grant caught a high ball in front of the posts and it looked goal bound but instead just skimmed over the bar and this was quickly followed by another point from Cormac Murphy to leave the teams level with four minutes left. The game swung to and fro as time ticked away until centre half forward Raymond Clarke got the ball on the right wing and showing all his experience, cut inside and knocked the ball over the bar to leave the final score Glasdrumman 0-12 Tullylish 1-08.

This was a tight game from start to finish as all the games between these teams over the years have been. Out of interest the teams have played one another six times in the past three years with the results currently sitting at two drawn matches, Tullylish having won two and Glasdrumman having won the other two, in most cases by the narrowest of margins. The Glasdrumman defence found the going difficult as Tullylish used the direct ball tactic to good effect and this wasn’t helped by a slippery surface following Friday’s rain. Midfield was very evenly contested through out and up front the forwards found it difficult against a well marshalled Tullylish defence. The two second half substitutes for Glasdrumman made an impact when introduced with Connaire Harrison especially showing great coolness and maturity on the ball for such a young player.

Glasdrumman Ronan McDowell, Francis O’Neill, Kevin Burns, Paul Brennan, Brian Burns, Martin O’Neill (0-1), Colm Carr, Pat Mallon, Declan Grant (0-2), Shaun Brennan, Raymond Clarke (0-1), Mark Trimble, Gary McGreevy, Cormac Murphy (0-5), Raymond Magorrian (0-1)

Subs used:   Sean McDowell for Shaun Brennan,  Connaire Harrison (0-1) for Gary McGreevy.

Tullylish:  Mark McEvoy, Aidy McEvoy, Neil Blevins, John Savage, Conor McManus, Barney Roberts, Ronan Barry (0-1),  Davy Corbett, Mick Feeney (0-1), Mick McCartan, Diarmuid O’Kane, Fintan O’Dowd, Chris McGovern (1-4), Barney McCartan, Sean Fegan (0-2).

 

***    The seniors match this week is away to Drumaness on Thursday night.

***     The U-16 got back to winning ways on Tuesday night when they defeated a strong Drumgath side at home.

***  The minors, playing with Attical, were beaten by a strong Warrenpoint side on Wednesday. It was nice to see Shaun McVeigh back playing after his operation and he celebrated by getting his name on the score sheet.

***     Next Sunday the annual sports take place at the Quarter Road following a parade of local bands which leaves the Halfway House at 1:30pm. All the usual events including U-10, U-12, U-14 and U-16 seven a side football.  More information can be obtained from any committee member