Liam Cunningham

GLASDRUMMAN MINORS OVERCOME CLANN NA BANNA

Glasdrumman 4-11 Clann Na Banna 0-7

The mid-week visitors to the Quarter Road last week were table topping Clann Na Banna but with Glasrumman only a single point behind this was an important game for both teams.

Glasdrumman started well and points from Paul Grant and Connaire Harrison put them two ahead within six minutes. Clann Na Banna settled into the game and replied with a point in the thirteenth minute, Connaire Harrison scored another point two minutes later which was followed up by a second Clann Na Banna point. Connaire Harrison then scored another point, this time from a free kick and James McDowell also pointed to put Glasdrumman ahead by three points after twenty three minutes. Clann Na Banna however, doggedly held their own and reduced the deficit to one point with two points of their own with three minutes remaining in the half. Connaire Harrison scored his fourth point of the half a minute later but it was left to Clann Na Banna to score the final point of the first half to leave the half time score Glasdrumman 0-6 Clann Na Banna 0-5.

Glasdrumman moved Ryan Doran into the forward line for the start of the second half and were rewarded immediately with a superb goal from Ryan in the first minute of the half. Glasdrumman boosted by this start, pushed forward hungry for more scores. Connaire Harrison scored his fifth point in the thirty third minute and Paul Grant then followed up with his second point of the evening in the thirty seventh minute. With the lead now at six points Glasdrumman appeared to ease off the pedal but only for a few minutes, Connaire Harrison scored a further three points without reply to put Glasdrumman ahead by nine points with only ten minutes remaining in the game. Clann Na Banna replied with their first point of the half in the fifty second minute but the Glasdrumman support were in store for a flurry of scores before the game was over. Glasdrumman were awarded a penaly with five minutes to go and Connaire Harrison stepped up to coolly hit a perfect penalty past the Clann Na Banna keeper into the top corner. Connaire Harrison popped up again a minute later to score his second goal and he completed a superb hattrick with two minutes remaining. Clann Na Banna completed the scoring with a point in the final minute to leave the score Glasdrumman 4-11 Clann Na Banna 0-7.

This was a very strong performance from Glasdrumman which now puts them above Clann Na Banna at the top of the table. Shane Harrison kept a clean sheet, handling the ball cleanly when called upon. The full back line of Gavin McCracken, Christopher Cassidy and Nathan McCracken were strong throughout and protected the square well. Paul McCaffrey, Ryan Doran and Jamie Carroll won a lot of breaking ball and played strongly throughout chasing down the Clann Na Banna forwards. The midfield of Paul Grant and James McDowell, both won a lot of ball in and around the half way line, supported the forward line throughout and took their scores well. The half forward line of Martin McGrath, Connaire Harrison and Ryan Clerkin fed some good ball into the full forward line and kept the Clann Na Banna back line busy. The full forward line of David McAlinden, Stefan McGuinness and Ryan McDowell also kept the Clann Na Banna full back line on their toes throughout and set up a host of scoring chances. Well done to Connaire Harrison on his score tally, he couldn't miss all evening, helped by the strong support from rest of the team.

Glasdrumman : Shane Harrison, Gavin McCracken, Christopher Cassidy, Nathan McCracken, Paul McCaffrey, Ryan Doran (1-0), Jamie Carroll, Paul Grant (0-2), James McDowell (0-1), Martin McGrath, Connaire Harrison (3-8), Ryan Clerkin, David McAlinden, Stefan McGuinness, Ryan McDowell.