A late Brocagh ’45 prevented our Seniors from claiming two points in what was a hard hitting League clash at Clanabogan Park on Sunday. There was plenty of big hits in the league opener, however scores proved hard to come by for both teams for much of the game before a late surge from the East Tyrone side saw them come back and earn a share of the spoils against the Sarsfields.
The home side got straight off the mark in the first minute courtesy of the left boot of Kevin Marron, followed by a point from play by Shane Cleary. Ciaran Donnelly then tapped over an easy free to get Brocagh of the mark, but Drumragh then tagged on two more scores through Cleary and Benny Drumm. Drumragh were on top and could have been further ahead, but they racked up four wides in the opening twenty minutes.
Donnelly came back with a placed ball, before James McKiver hooked over Brocagh’s first point from play. The visitors then struck for a goal, but one on one with the keeper Cathal Donnelly’s low shot came back off the post. The referee pulled the play back after a foul during the build up to the move, and Mickey Hughes split the posts to level the scores. Shane Cleary’s free before the halftime whistle handed a slight lead to the Clanabogan men.
After the break the game became more open, but both teams still knew they were in a game after some hefty challenges from both sides. Tommy Mullin nipped in for a fine score from play for Drumragh, but Justin Campbell responded by finishing a good Brocagh team move with a left foot point. Donnelly and Cleary traded frees, before the latter displayed a good touch to put the home side two in front.
A long ball into the Drumragh box was then flicked goal-ward by Barry Donnell, but James Colgan was able to gather. At the other end, the lead was extended to three by Martin Taggart’s score from the right wing. It looked as though Drumragh would see out the win as the game entered it’s last ten minutes, but Brocagh found some resolve with Cathal Donnelly shooting over a free before finding substitute Mel Scullion with a long ball, who fired over to bring it back to a one point game.
Ciaran Donnelly then had a troublesome ’45 that found it’s way into the hands of young sibling Cathal, but again the goal chance went begging as Drumragh frantically tried to hold on. Ciaran though held his nerve to slot over a repeat kick at the whistle to tie up the game and it ended nine apiece.
