Drumragh minor girls pictured before their first league game against Strabane
A brilliant second-half performance powered Drumragh minor girls to an opening day win over Strabane at Clanabogan Park on Sunday morning.
Having trailed by eight points after 15 minutes, Drumragh took over to end up with a richly-deserved victory.
Strabane opened up with a goal and soon added a second despite a good initial save from Drumragh goalkeeper Aine MacRory.
But Rihanna Mullin got Drumragh on the scoreboard with a point after pressure from Rihanna and Jemma Barrett had turned the ball over and created the opportunity.
Strabane responded with a point while Caoimhe McCarron was on target for Drumragh, with Cara Kerlin and Dana Coyle involved in the build-up.
The away side increased their lead with two points and their third goal of the game.
Rihanna Mullin answered back with two points – one a free, the other at the end of a patient team move – while midfielders Evie Gallagher and Mairead Corrigan combined to set up a score for Caoimhe McCarron.
Drumragh were on the front foot now and Rihanna Mullin and Rihanna Barrett added to their total with quality scores from play.
Strabane pointed but Drumragh finished the half strongly with a Dana Coyle goal. Evie Gallagher won the ball back and Rihanna Mullin’s quick thinking from a free released Dana to find the back of the net with a good shot.
The Drumragh full-back line of Fionnuala Clarke, Lily O’Kane and Caitlin McCarron dealt well with a couple of late Strabane attacks, and so Drumragh were very much back in the game at half-time, trailing by three.
Drumragh captain Evie Gallagher with the Strabane captain and referee before the start of the game
Drumragh played some fantastic football in the second half. And it didn’t take them long to go in front. Evie Gallagher got them going with a point, Rihanna Mullin added another and quickly followed that up with a goal.
A brilliant interception from Lily O’Kane stopped Strabane from scoring a goal, with the ball moved up the field for Dana Coyle to fire over the bar. An excellent team move involving Fianna McGuigan, Grace McCusker, and Cora Walsh ended with a Rihanna Mullin point. Mairead Corrigan won the resulting kick-out, fed Caoimhe McCarron who confidently struck the ball between the posts.
There was no let-up from Drumragh. Caitlin McCarron won the ball back in the defence, and 10 seconds later, her sister Caoimhe pointed, Cara Kerlin and Maia McBride set up Rihanna Barrett for a score and Caoimhe was on target again.
Strabane got in for a goal, but that was to be their last score of the game with Grace McCusker, Oonagh Pancott and Lily O’Kane helping keep them out in the home defence. And at the other end of the field, Rihanna Mullin, Amy-Lee Burt and Dana Coyle all hit great points, completing an excellent Drumragh display and win.
SCORERS: Rihanna Mullin 1-7, Dana Coyle 1-2, Caoimhe McCarron 0-5, Rihanna Barrett 0-2, Amy-Lee Burt 0-1, Evie Gallagher 0-1
TEAM: Aine MacRory, Fionnuala Clarke, Lily O’Kane, Caitlin McCarron, Cara Kerlin, Grace McCusker, Fianna McGuigan, Evie Gallagher, Mairead Corrigan, Dana Coyle, Rihanna Barrett, Caoimhe McCarron, Amy-Lee Burt, Rihanna Mullin, Jemma Barrett
SUBS: Oonagh Pancott, Maia McBride, Cora Walsh
Amy-Lee Burt on the attack for Drumragh against Strabane at Clanabogan Park
