John Brennan

Senior Football

Glasdrumman 3-14 Banbridge 0-8

On Sunday afternoon Banbridge were the visitors to the Quarter Road in the last league game for Glasdrumman before the Division 3 playoffs. From the throw in Pat Mallon got his hands on the ball and he delivered an inch perfect pass to Mick Mooney who promptly  stuck the ball in the back of the Banbridge net. Banbridge responded with a point from Rory Hill a minute later and Colm Gribben in the Banbridge goals was forced to make two excellent stops from Mick Mooney and Raymond Magorrian when goal chances presented themselves for both players. In the seventh minute Liam McCrum pulled another point back for Banbridge but it was quickly cancelled by a Mick Mooney point a minute later. Then came one of the best scores which I have seen at the Quarter Road. A ball was played into Cormac Murphy out near the left corner. The defender kept goal side of him forcing him along the end line as he made his way towards goal. When he eventually got within shooting range he dropped the ball onto his right foot and rifled it into the bottom corner of the Banbridge net when a score seemed impossible from that angle. In the tenth minute Barry Tumelty pulled a point back for Banbridge quickly followed by two points from Cormac Murphy for Glasdrumman. Brian Donaghy  and Ruari Gillan got points apiece in the seventeenth and twentieth minutes respectively. Declan Grant slotted over two points for Glasdrumman within two minutes followed by another well taken goal from Cormac Murphy who gave Colm Gribben in the Banbridge goal no chance as he slotted the ball along the ground into the corner of the net. Mick Mooney ended the scoring in the first half with a point in the twenty fifth minute to leave the halftime score Glasdrumman 3-6 Banbridge 0-5.

Glasdrumman started the second half as they had finished the first with points from Declan Grant and Raymond Magorrian within five minutes. Michael Kennedy and Ruari Gillan  pulled two points back for Banbridge but their relief was short lived as Glasdrumman piled the pressure on with five unanswered points, two from Cormac Murphy, two from Mick Mooney and one from substitute Gary McGreevy within a nine minute spell of total dominance. Brian Donaghy got a point for Banbridge in the twenty second minute but the last score of the game fell to Cormac Murphy when he knocked over a forty five to leave the final score Glasdrumman 3-14 Banbridge 0-8.

This was an very good overall Glasdrumman performance against a young Banbridge side. The defence was generally sound making some very important blocking and clearances especially at crucial times  during the game. The midfielders won a lot of ball and when the ball reached the forwards they produced some good direct attacking football especially when they moved the ball quickly.

Glasdrumman: Ronan McDowell, Daniel McCartan, Kevin Burns, Paul Brennan, Colm Carr, Martin O’Neill, Mark Trimble,  Pat Mallon, Declan Grant (0-3), Shaun Brennan, Raymond Magorrian (0-1), Raymond Clarke, Mick Mooney (1-4), Cormac Murphy (2-5), Connaire Harrison.

Subs used: Paul McDowell for Shaun Brennan, Gary McGreevy (0-1) for Connaire Harrison, Arthur McCartan for Mark Trimble.

 

Banbridge: Colm Gribben, Michael Kennedy (0-1), Michael Fairburn, John Clarke, Lee Rooney, Conor Lunney, Sean Bradley, Gary McGrath, Liam McCrum (0-1), Brian Donaghy (0-2), Barry Tumelty (0-1), Ruari Gillan, Paddy Gillan (0-2), Rory Hill (0-1),  Paddy McDermott.

 

***  This week’s match is the Intermediate Championship semi final against Ballymartin on Friday evening with a 6:30 throw in at St Patrick’s Park Newcastle.

***    Our best wished for a speedy recovery go to Sean McDowell after his unfortunate accident against Saul last week. Everyone connected with the club and especially the team were pleased to see you at the match on Sunday and hope to see you on Friday night in Newcastle.

***   A word of thanks to Annette Grant for the presence of Declan  from their holiday in Donegal for the quarter final match against Saul.

***    A reminder that the first draw for the 100 Club will take place on Saturday night in the Halfway House.