Drumragh minor boys were denied a win in the league on Monday evening when visitors Coalisland scored an equaliser with the last kick of the game. It was an excellent, exciting game of football with never much between the two sides, and the outcome in doubt right up until the final whistle.
Drumragh got the opening score of the game when Ryan Montgomery took and converted a mark. The team swapped frees – Aidan McCarney on target for Drumragh – before Ryan and Niall Maguire added super scores from play.
Coalisland scored two points on the bounce with Rory Dolan answering back for Drumragh after a patient team move involving Conor Barrett, Ryan Baxter and Carraig McKenna. Conor Gormley also converted a free after Niall Maguire had been fouled.
The away side then went in front for the first time with two goals in quick succession. However, Drumragh finished the half strongly and two excellent points from play by Aidan McCarney meant they only trailed by two at the break.
The home side made an excellent start to the second half and quickly re-established a lead. Aidan McCarney opened the scoring with a nice score while Niall Maguire brought the teams level with a point off his left foot. A brilliant bit of link-up play between Ryan Montgomery, Dara Cox and Ryan Baxter led to a Conor Gormley point – putting Drumragh in front – while Ryan Montgomery quickly added a free after a run forward by Frankie Monk had been stopped illegally.
Connor McLaughlin sent over a fantastic point from distance after Shea Mullin had set him up, while a foul on Niall Maguire allowed Aidan McCarney to put a free between the posts. Drumragh looked dangerous every time they went forward, and Rory Dolan was unlucky not to score a goal, with the Coalisland goalkeeper making a good save.
Coalisland refused to give in, however. They converted a 45 and added another good effort from play. They went in search of goals and were denied by, first, a save from Drumragh goalkeeper Sean O’Doherty, and then brave blocks from Oran Barrett and Aidan McCarney.
James Fyffe was fouled with Ryan Montgomery converting the free that followed, while Ryan then turned provider, and a quick bit of thinking and pass found Conor Gormley in space, and he made no mistake with a composed finish.
Coalisland kicked the next two scores leaving it a one-point game in injury time. Coalisland had the ball and went looking for the leveller. The Drumragh defence made them work for it, putting their bodies on the line and exerting pressure on the man in possession. But after a number of phases a forward got the shot off and scored a terrific point under severe pressure. The referee blew the full-whistle when the kickout was taken. A draw game. Drumragh are now four games unbeaten and remain well in the hunt for a play-off spot.
SCORERS: Aidan McCarney 0-5, Ryan Montgomery 0-4, Conor Gormley 0-3, Niall Maguire 0-2, Connor McLaughlin 0-1, Rory Dolan 0-1
TEAM: Sean O’Doherty, Oran Barrett, Lorcan McGrath, Shea Mullin, Frankie Monk, Niall Maguire, Carraig McKenna, Aidan McCarney, Rory Dolan, Conor Gormley, Conor Barrett, Dara Cox, Ryan Baxter, Ryan Montgomery, Connor McLaughlin
SUBS: Matthew O’Doherty, James Fyffe, Oisin McManus, Dylan Lowry, Matthew Barrett, Sean O’Donnell, Joseph Taggart, Ben McCullagh
Frankie Monk of Drumragh presses forward during the league game on Mnday evening at Clanabogan
