Liam Cunningham

GLASDRUMMAN MINORS UNLUCKY IN BANBRIDGE

Clann Na Banna 2-9 Glasdrumman 0-9

Glasdrumman eyes were on Banbridge last Wednesday with this table topping clash.
Glasdrumman started well and were three points ahead within seven minutes, with a point from David McAlinden and two from Connaire Harrison. Clann Na Banna replied with a point to which Glasdrumman replied with another point this time from Martin McGrath on ten minutes. Despite their poor start Clann Na Banna began to come more into the game and slowly eat into Glasdrumman's lead. Between the twelfth and twenty ninth minutes Clann Na Banna scored five points to go ahead by two before Connaire Harrison scored a point with a minute to half time. Clann Na Banna managed to squeeze in another point before the whistle to leave the half time score Clann Na Banna 0-7 Glasdrumman 0-5.
The second half started much as the first finished with Clann Na Banna moving forward. Shane Harrison made a good save within a minute of the restart but he could do nothing about Clann Na Banna's goal three minutes later. With the deficit now five points Glasdrumman pushed forward for scores but were unlucky not to finish off some good chances. Clann Na Banna then broke away in the forty first minute to score a second goal to leave Glasdrumman eight points down and a mountain to climb to get back into the game. To their credit Glasdrumman raised their game again and kept pushing for scores, and were rewarded with two points from Connaire Harrison, followed by a point from Ryan Doran in the space of three minutes to reduce the deficit again to five points with fifteen minutes remaining. Clann Na Banna replied immediately with another point. Connaire Harrison scored another point this time from a free kick with nine minutes remaining, but try as they might, and with some last ditch defending from Clann Na Banna Glasdrumman were unable to add any further scores before the final whistle. It was left for Clann Na Banna to complete the scoring with a point in the final minute to leave the final score Clann Na Banna 2-9 Gladrumman 0-9.
Both sets of players must be congratulated for an entertaining and hard fought game. The final result does not truly reflect on how close and tight the game was throughout and it was a relieved Clann Na Banna team that left the field on the final whistle.

Glasdrumman : Shane Harrison, Gavin McCracken, Christopher Cassidy, Nathan McCracken, Ryan Clerkin, Jamie Carroll, Paul McCaffrey, Paul Grant, Ryan Doran (0-1), Martin McGrath (0-1), Connaire Harrison (0-6), Darren Joyce, Ryan McDowell, Stefan McGuinness, David McAlinden (0-1).