Seniors reach McGlinchey Cup final

Desertmartin: 2-08

Castledawson: 1-08

Desertmartin travelled to Castledawson on Tuesday evening March 15th to play the hosts in the semi-final of the McGlinchey Cup. Played on a superb surface and under ideal weather conditions both sides displayed good handling skills and a willingness to be adventurous when breaking from defence. Castledawson set the pace for the first ten minutes playing secure methodical football. Desertmartin matched their persistence with well organised defending forcing the Brough men to shoot from distance and limiting scores. The following fifteen minutes saw passages of fluent attacking play from both sides leaving both teams level on 0 – 4 each entering the last five minutes of the first half. After exchanging two wides apiece the game saw the best score of the match. Eamon Burns won possession on the Dawson 20 m line stepped inside his tackler and unleashed an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the net to leave the Saffrons leading by three points at half time. The second half saw Castledawson determined to exert their authority by winning a greater amount of possession and creating numerous scoring chances. But Desertmartin matched the home side point for point and when Conor Monaghan netted on 53 mins to give the visitors a six point lead the game was all but over. Castledawson scored a goal on the stroke of full time leaving Desertmartin winners by three points.

Desertmartin team: C Scullion; C Burns, M Breen, C Murray; P McGovern, G McGovern (0 – 1), C Monaghan (1 – 0); O Hegarty, A McGuigan (0 -1); Declan Murray (0 – 4), C McGuckin, P McCrystal; E Burns (1 – 1), D Burns, F Higgins (0 -1). Subs used, D Breen and Paul Kidd