Drumsurn versus Desertmartin

Drumsurn Vs Desertmartin, 15/04/11

The seniors travelled to Drumsurn last Friday evening for the third league game of the campaign, and the conditions were far from ideal on a blustery, wet encounter between two sides that have both been playing good football lately. It was the home side who started the brighter and caught Desertmartin cold, firing over four unanswered points before the visitors had time to settle. However Barry McEldowney opened the Martins’ account for the evening and this was quickly followed up by an Enda McGuckin point to cut the Drumsurn lead to two and settle a few Desertmartin nerves. Donal Murray then took a knock and had to receive treatment but was soon back on his feet and back in the action. Enda McGuckin converted an easy free for the away side to leave a point between the sides. The Drumsurn half forward line were causing a few problems for the Martins’ defence and the raw pace of the wing forward led to the first goal of the game, a ball over the head of the onrushing Paddy Kidd was buried by the free man from close range. Things went from bad to worse for Desertmartin in the next attack as another quick ball in found its way to the back of the next after Brian McElhennon got fingers on it. Donal Murray responded with a typical left footer’s score, cutting in from the right and firing over the bar. The next ball was caught cleanly in midfield by Ryan Kidd who played a direct ball into Paul McGovern who swivelled well and pointed from close range. Desertmartin then missed a relatively easy free but were left unpunished by the home side and danger-man Donal Murray took advantage of this by neatly slotting over his second point of the game to leave the half time score 2:04 to 0:07. The second half started at a frantic pace, with the Martins’ starting the brighter of the two sides, but were again quite wasteful in front of the Drumsurn goal. However with a few consecutive diagonal balls, the Desertmartin forwards caused problems and Paul McGovern got his second point of the game, a brilliant effort from a stationary position. The full back line were doing well keeping the Drumsurn full forwards at bay, with Gregory McGovern sweeping u a lot of loose ball and starting attacks from the back. A high ball in was fielded well by Barry McEldowney who was giving his marker a torrid time, forcing him into another cheap foul. Donal Murray again stepped up and made no mistake from 25 yards, and quickly followed this up with another superb point from play to leave the sides all square. Desertmartin continued to dominate midfield, but some mistimed challenges and a lack of communication in the Martins’ defence allowed Drumsurn to capitalise and add two more free kicks before a fisted effort left them trailing by three again. Desertmartin were given a timely lift when influential powerhouse JP Higgins entered the fray after recovering from a leg injury, and replaced Ryan Kidd. Barry McEldowney added a point for the Martins’ before more substitutions were made to try and take some pressure of the defence. Paddy McCann replaced Ryan Murray and Aidy McGuigan came on for Brendan Higgins. The home side then stretched their lead to four after a mix up in defence let the centre forward burst through and point from 20 yards. Connor Monaghan was reading the play excellently from corner back and cutting out a lot of potential threats from the fast moving Drumsurn forward line. JP Higgins rose highest and picked a ball out of the clouds before quickly releasing it to Aidy McGuigan who ran at the home team’s defence and forced the foul. Donal Murray casually stroked over his sixth point of the match to leave three between the sides. Full forward Barry McEldowney then pointed spectacularly with his back to goal after some good build up play from Gregory McGovern and Aidy McGuigan. Johnny McGovern then replaced Cormac McGuckin before Donal Murray again split the posts and the momentum swung back in favour of the Martins’. Approaching the last 5 minutes of the match both teams swapped scores leaving a point between them in favour of Drumsurn. Then in the dying moments corner back Gregory McGovern raced up the field and knocked over a monster score to level the sides for the final time before the referee blew his whistle on the kick-out. Desertmartin will feel slightly aggrieved about some of the decisions made (or not made) by the referee in the last quarter of the game, however having not led the match once can’t complain too much about leaving Drumsurn with a share of the spoils. Final score, Drumsurn 2:10 Desertmartin 0:16

Man of the match: Donal Murray

Desertmartin team and scorers:
Brian McElhennon, Gregory McGovern (0:01), Paddy Kidd, Connor Monaghan, Cahir Madden, Mark Madden, Ryan Murray, Danny Murray, Ryan Kidd, Donal Murray (0:07), Cormac McGuckin, Enda McGuckin (0:03), Paul McGovern (0:02), Barry McEldowney (0:03), Brendan Higgins.
Subs:
JP Higgins for Ryan Kidd
Aidy McGuigan for Brendan Higgins
Paddy McCann for Ryan Murray
Johnny McGovern for Cormac McGuckin