Drumragh U17 boys had a brilliant win over Strabane last Thursday
Drumragh U17 boys beat Strabane away after a thrilling game last Thursday evening.
The game had plenty of brilliant scores, fielding, passing, saves and defending from both sides.
It was Strabane who got off on the front foot. They scored an early point and forced Drumragh corner backs Carraig McKenna and Sean O’Kane into some good clearances. One such clearance began an attack that ended with a nice Kian Murphy point.
Strabane replied with 1-1 but Drumragh fired back with a goal from Niall Maguire. Ben Monk took a fantastic mark at midfield, the ball then found its way to Niall who finished so well past the Strabane goalkeeper. A foul on Ethan Maguire then allowed Niall McCarney to bring the sides level with a free.
Ryan McCrystal made an excellent save in the Drumragh goal, and from that, the away side went up the field and took the lead for the first time through a Kian Murphy free.
An incredible mark from Niall McCarney from a kickout, led to Eoin Coyle supplying a precise pass into Kian Murphy who pointed again. Ethan Maguire also scored from a very tight angle to double the lead.
However, Strabane retook the lead with their second goal of the game and quickly added a point from play.
Kian Murphy responded for Drumragh, first with a brilliant long-range free from near the sideline, and then from play after Niall McCarney, Ben Monk and Conor Barrett had combined to set up the chance.
Strabane went ahead again but Drumragh finished the half strongly and points from Cormac Dolan, Kian Murphy and Niall McCarney gave Drumragh the lead at half-time.
A patient attack at the start of the second half involving Eoin Coyle, Niall McCarney and Cormac Dolan was rewarded when Kian Murphy put the ball over the bar.
Strabane though got their third goal and threatened a few other times. Ryan McCrystal made another big save, Cahir McAnenly made a brave block to deny a certain goal while Blaine Feeney and Matthew O’Donnell turned the ball over when Strabane looked likely to score.
Drumragh looked dangerous when they went forward too. Eoin Coyle, Ben Monk and Cormac McCann were getting on plenty of ball and were using it well creating opportunities.
Kian Murphy got in for a well-taken goal but Strabane answered back almost immediately with a goal of their own and added a 45 not long afterwards.
The game was hugely entertaining with the lead changing hands numerous times. A move that was started by Carraig McKenna at the back ended with a mark being kicked over the bar by Kian Murphy, and Drumragh in the lead again. Kian added another point from play but back came Strabane with a goal and a point.
It was end-to-end stuff. Kian Murphy kicked a brilliant point off his left foot having done well to win a long ball in and then Ryan McCrystal made another good save. Cormac Dolan kicked a fantastic score and then Ben Monk and Kian Murphy combined for Niall McCarney to point.
It was still anyone’s game. Strabane got a good score but a foul on Eoin Coyle allowed Kian Murphy to kick a free and then Niall McCarney exchanged a neat one-two with Ethan Maguire to fire over the bar.
That left Drumragh with a one-point lead but Strabane had one last chance to grab an equaliser. They were awarded a free from far out deep into injury time. It was dropped into the square but Niall McCarney made a great catch under his own crossbar and with that, the referee blew the full-time whistle, giving Drumragh a brilliant win after a wonderful football game.
Scorers: Kian Murphy 1-11, Niall McCarney 0-4, Niall Maguire 1-0, Cormac Dolan 0-2, Ethan Maguire 0-1
Team: Ryan McCrystal, Carraig McKenna, Cahir McAnenly, Sean O’Kane, Cormac McCann, Blaine Feeney, Matthew O’Donnell, Niall McCarney, Eoin Coyle, Cormac Dolan, Ben Monk, Niall Maguire, Conor Barrett, Kian Murphy, Ethan Maguire
