Saval entertained both teams
on a wet and windy Sunday for
this Division 3 decider. Although
promotion was already secure for
Glasdrumman, Carryduff needed
to avoid defeat to be sure of
going up. This led to a very cagey
game of football played in poor
conditions in which neither team
wanted to lose.
Playing against the wind it was
Carryduff who scored first after
three minutes, although James
McDowell levelled for Glasdrumman
a couple of minutes later. Both
teams were having difficulty adjusting
to the wind and scores were few
and far between for the greater
part of the half. In the thirteenth
minute, Glasdrumman gave the ball
away easily from a short goal
kick and Carryduff made the most
of the opportunity with ball flying
past Ronan McDowell for a goal.
The score shocked Glasdrumman
into lifting their game and were
rewarded with three points in
five minutes, two for Cormac Murphy
and one for Raymond Magorrian,
to level the scores again with
seven minutes to half time. Despite
a number of chances falling to
both teams the game spluttered
to half time with the scores level
at Glasdrumman 0-4 Carryduff 1-1.
The second half offered better
fayre when Glasdrumman's Connaire
Harrison won the ball well on
the edge of the square and managed
to hook the ball into the Carryduff
goals only two minutes after the
throw in. However, they were playing
into a strong wind and well knew
there was along way to go in this
game. Carryduff replied quickly
with a point but it was midway
through the half before the next
score, again from Carryduff. The
teams were level again with twelve
minutes remaining when Carryduff
scored their fourth point. Again
Glasdrumman dug deep and after
a period of pressure they were
rewarded with a free kick from
which Connaire Harrison slotted
the ball over for a point to edge
them ahead with six minutes remaining.
It was Carryduff's turn now to
dig deep and entering the final
minute they broke away and scored
the final point of the game, earning
both teams a deserved draw with
the final scores Glasdrumman 1-5
Carryduff 1-5. The draw was a
fair result on the day with neither
team playing particularly well
in the conditions going forward
but resolutely in defence.
A great result for Glasdrumman
who defended resolutely throughout
the game and dug deep to make
Carryduff fight to the end for
a result which also means that
Carryduff gain promotion as runners-up.
Glasdrumman : Ronan McDowell,
Ryan Doran, Kevin Burns, Francis
O'Neill, Martin O'Neill, Art McCartan,
Mark Trimble, Pat Mallon, Declan
Grant, Cormac Murphy (0-2), Raymond
Clarke, Colum Carr, Raymond Magorrian
(0-1), James McDowell (0-1), Connaire
Harrison(1-1).
Subs used : Colm Gribben for Kevin
Burns
Subs not used : Sean Cunningham,
Daniel McCartan, Conor Clerkin,
Christopher McDowell, Gary Trimble,
Shaun Brennan, Darren Joyce, Ryan
Clerkin, Paul Grant, Sean McVeigh,
Brian Burns, John McAteer.
