Liam Cunningham

GLASDRUMMAN GAIN VITAL WIN

 

ACFL: Glasrumman 1-11 Darragh Cross 0-10

 

There were doubts whether Thursday night's encounter with Darragh Cross would go ahead as heavy fog descended on the Quarter Road, but the referee's decision to play turned out to be the right one for Glasdrumman.

Glasdrumman were determined to turn around a poor run of results of late and made a good start with a Raymond Magorrian point in the first minute. Darragh Cross replied with a point of their own almost immediately and despite a good save from Ronan McDowell, diving to his right to turn the ball around the post, they scored another point in the fifth minute to put them one ahead for the first and last time in this game. Glasdrumman replied well and were rewarded with a goal from the boot of Shaun Brennan in the sixth minute. They followed up with another two points from play, one eachfrom Raymond Magorrian and Connaire Harrison to put four points between the teams by the twelfth minute. Darragh Cross were not to be outdone and cme back with four unanswered points to level the game again after twenty five minutes. Connaire Harrison steadied Glasdrumman with a pointed free kick a minute later, which was followed by another point from Darragh Cross. Raymond Clarke completed the fist half scoring with a point in the final minute of the half to leave the half time score Glasdrumman 1-5 Darragh Cross 0-7.

The second half was anything but a classic, but as the mist began to clear, Glasdrumman made a good start to the half. James McDowell scored two well taken points in the first seven minutes of the half to put three points between the teams before Darragh Cross replied with a point in the forty second minute. Connaire Harrison put over his third point of the game two minutes later and Raymond Magorrian followed up with another point in the fiftieth minute. Darragh Cross closed the gap again to three points but points from Raymond Magorrian and Art McCartan eased Glasdrumman nerves. It was a tense final five minutes but Darragh Cross scored only one more point to leave the final score Glasdrumman 1-11 Darragh Cross 0-10.

This was a good all round performance from all of the Glasdrumman players in achieving this victory. Ronan McDowell was his usual assured self, commanding his square well and making a good save early on. The full back line of Daniel McCartan, Frank O’Neill and Colm Carr were very determined in the tackle, winning a lot of fifty fifty ball from a very lively Darragh Cross forward line. The half back line of Martin O’Neill, Brian Burns and Art McCartan worked hard throughout and played some good ball into the forward line. Midfielders Declan Grant and Pat Mallon showed a lot of grit and determination in driving the team forward and wining a lot of ball in the middle of the field. The half forward line of Christopher McDowell, Raymond Clarke and Raymond Magorrian played well, getting some vital scores and generally keeping the Darragh Cross back line under pressure. The full forward line of James McDowell, Shaun Brennan and Connaire Harrison all had a good game, getting themselves on the scoresheet also and making themselves available in good positions throughout. Substitutes Gary McGreevey and Mark Trimble also played their part when called upon, showing the same determination as the rest of their team mates to earn a vital two points

Glasdrumman : Ronan McDowell, Daniel McCartan, Francis O'Neill, Colm Carr, Martin O'Neill, Brian Burns, Art McCartan (0-1), Declan Grant, Pat Mallon, Christopher McDowell, Raymond Clarke (0-1), Raymond Magorrian (0-4), James McDowell (0-2), Shaun Brennan (1-0), Connaire Harrison (0-3).

Subs used : Gary McGreevy for Shaun Brennan, Mark Trimble for Christopher McDowell

Subs not used : John McAteer, Shane O'Neill, Sean Cunningham, Sean McVeigh, Darren Joyce.