Drumragh minor boys picked up an excellent win away to Greencastle on Sunday afternoon.
It was a game played in absolutely horrible weather conditions, and as such, both sides deserve credit for producing an entertaining contest.
Greencastle scored 1-1 in the opening 60 seconds, but Drumragh soon settled and played some fantastic football to build a lead by half-time. First, Conor Barrett got Drumragh on the scoreboard with a point after Dara Cox harried the Greencastle defence into turning the ball over. From the kickout that followed, Ryan Montgomery took a mark at midfield, his pass inside then found Dylan Lowry, who turned his marker and fired the ball over the bar.
The home side always had a threat going forward. A brave block from Lorcan McGrath prevented them from scoring a goal, while goalkeeper Sean O’Doherty also made two good saves in the opening 15 minutes. Connor McLaughlin and Oran Barrett made strong starts to the game as well.
Frankie Monk and Rory Dolan combined for Conor Barrett to hit a point, while Conor quickly after gave Drumragh the lead with a goal, finishing off a team move in off the post.
Aidan McCarney hit a couple of brilliant points from distance, before Rory Dolan put Drumragh in control by firing the ball to the roof of the net after Dylan Lowry’s clever pass had created the chance.
Niall Maguire scored two points in quick succession – one off either foot – while Aidan McCarney added a free after Conor Gormley had been fouled. Connor McLaughlin, Aidan and Dylan Lowry (2) all hit quality scores from play as Drumragh continued to impress.
Greencastle responded with two points but Ryan Montgomery had the last say of the half with a free after he had fouled himself.
Drumragh captain Frankie Monk pictured with the referee and Greencastle captain
Aidan McCarney got the scoring underway in the second half with a nice point after good play from Conor Gormley, Dara Cox and Oisin McManus.
Greencastle needed goals, and got one in the early moments of the half following a well-worked move. They almost got another in the very next attack, but were denied by a brilliant save from Sean O’Doherty in the Drumragh goal. Niall Maguire, Shea Mullin and Oran Barrett also came through with some timely interceptions to help protect Drumragh’s lead.
Greencastle sent a few frees over the bar, but James Fyffe answered back for Drumragh with a point after Oisin Kerlin and Dylan Lowry combined to put him in a scoring position.
The Drumragh defence were put under a lot of pressure in the closing stages of the game, but, led by Lorcan McGrath and Frankie Monk, they were brilliant and restricted Greencastle to a couple of points. At the other end of the pitch, Oisin Kerlin’s clever lay-off allowed Matthew Barrett to send the ball over the bar, and Aidan McCarney concluded the scoring with a lovely point from play. A brilliant team performance from Drumragh and their second win of the league.
SCORERS: Aidan McCarney 0-6, Conor Barrett 1-2, Dylan Lowry 0-3, Rory Dolan 1-0, Niall Maguire 0-2, Ryan Montgomery 0-2, Connor McLaughlin 0-1, James Fyffe 0-1, Matthew Barrett 0-1
TEAM: Sean O’Doherty, Oran Barrett, Lorcan McGrath, Shea Mullin, Frankie Monk, Niall Maguire, Connor McLaughlin, Ryan Montgomery, Conor Gormley, Rory Dolan, Aidan McCarney, Dara Cox, Conor Barrett, Dylan Lowry, Oisin McManus
SUBS: Matthew O’Doherty, James Fyffe, Oisin Kerlin, Ben McCullagh, Padraig Gormley, Sean O’Donnell, Ryan Baxter, Matthew Barrett
Drumragh’s Dara Cox wins the ball ahead of his marker
