John Brennan

Glasdrumman earn the points in local derby.

Friday night saw the visit of Ballymartin to the Quarter Road for the first meeting of the two sides this season in a game which is always keenly contested and Friday night’s game certainly lived up to all expectations. Following a slow start Glasdrumman were first to register when Connaire Harrison pointed after five minutes but their lead was short lived as firstly John Fitzpatrick pointed followed quickly by a similar score from Paul Cunningham. Two minutes later Cormac Murphy levelled the game with a point but two points from Cathal McDowell in the twenty first and twenty sixth minutes left Ballymartin with a two point cushion. However Glasdrumman were not to be out done and as half time approached they increased the pressure resulting in firstly a point from Cormac Murphy followed by a similar score from Gary McGreevy to leave the halftime score Glasdrumman 0-4 Ballymartin 0-4.
Again Glasdrumman drew first blood in the second half when Martin O’Neill pointed from a forty five after five minutes. Paul Higgins’s tenth minute point levelled the game before Rory McManus gave Ballymartin the lead with a point in the fourteenth minute. Six minutes later Connaire Harrison had the game all square yet again with a point from a free. The next six minutes belonged to Ballymartin as they pushed themselves into a two point lead with scores from Paddy Green and Paul Higgins but Glasdrumman’s determination forced them back into the game when firstly Connaire Harrison and then Mark Trimble pointed to leave the game level yet again with two minutes of injury time played. A minute later Glasdrumman looked as if they had done enough to secure points when Cormac Murphy scored a lovely point from forty five metres out on the right wing but there was still a lot of heart stopping football in the game. From the kick out Ballymartin pushed up field and, when they were awarded a free, up stepped Paul Higgins to level the game yet again. At this stage both sides were hoping for the final whistle but the game still had a sting in the tail. A long dropping ball was delivered into the Ballymartin goal mouth from Cormac Murphy and as it dropped between goalkeeper and full back Gary McGreevy was on hand to punch the ball to the Ballymartin net to secure a hard earned two points for Glasdrumman with a final score Glasdrumman 1-9 Ballymartin 0-9.
This was a good all round performance from a Glasdrumman team short a number of their regular players. Again Ronan McDowell did all that was asked of him and he received good cover from the full back line of Daniel McCartan, Francis O’Neill and Christopher McDowell. Martin O’Neill, Brian Burns and Art McCartan were solid in the half back line. At midfield Declan Grant and Pat Mallon played well despite early injuries to both players which took its toll as the game progressed. The half forward line of Mark Trimble, Cormac Murphy and Colm Carr put in a lot of work while the full forward line of Shaun Brennan, Connaire Harrison and Gary McGreevy kept the Ballymartin defence under pressure with substitutes Sean and James McDowell both playing their part in the victory when they were introduced.
Glasdrumman: Ronan McDowell, Daniel McCartan, Francis O’Neill, Christopher McDowell, Martin O’Neill (0-1), Brian Burns, Art McCartan, Declan Grant, Pat Mallon, Mark Trimble (0-1), Cormac Murphy (0-3), Colm Carr, Shaun Brennan, Connaire Harrison (0-3), Gary McGreevy (1-1).
Subs used: Sean McDowell for Declan Grant, James McDowell for Shaun Brennan.
Ballymartin: Gavin Joyce, Austin Crawford, Eamonn McEvoy, Michael Cunningham, Paul Fitzpatrick, John Fitzpatrick, Stephen Cunningham, Peter Fitzpatrick, Paddy Green (0-1), James Doran, Cathal McDowell (0-2), John Fitzpatrick (0-1), Rory McManus(0-1), Paul Higgins (0-3), Paul Cunningham (0-1).
*** Friday night’s senior match is at home to Attical commencing at 7.30pm.
*** This week’s minor match is away to Annaclone on Wednesday night with the game commencing at 7.30pm. Minibus leaving the Halfway House at 6pm.
*** Glasdrumman’s first round Intermediate championship game with Newry Bosco will be played in Rostrevor on Tuesday 15th August at 7.30pm
*** Go Games training on Wednesday night at 7.30 and on Sunday morning.
*** Go Games match Sunday 6th August away to Aghaderg
*** New club jerseys are now available for ages 5/6, 7/8 and 9/10. Contact Terry Joyce on 43767450 for more details
*** Bingo as usual in the clubrooms on Thursday night commencing at 8.30pm.
*** The club would like to take this opportunity to send their condolences to the MacGreevy family on the death of their brother Dennis. Go nDeanai Dia trocaire ar a n-anam uasai dhillis