Desertmartin 1-12
Craigbane 1-09
In their second league game of the season at home on Sunday 24th against Craigbane, Desertmartin needed an injury time goal from Cormac McGuckin to see off the visitors in a tense finish to win by three points. While Desertmartin were totally in control in the first half Craigbane were likewise in the second.. In the first thirty minutes the home side were mercurial in everything they did. Secure in defence, strong in mid-field and a forward line that ran Craigbane ragged forcing the North Derry men to foul repeatedly which Declan Murray punished with ease. Leading 0-10 to 0-1 at the break it was difficult to see how Craigbane could recover. But that they did. Ten minutes after the restart they had nine scoring attempts registering five points and the Saffrons lead was down to four. With time on their side Craigbane were relentless in their assault on the Desertmartin rearguard. But stubborn defending and one really good save from B McElhennon kept Desertmartin in the game. On the stroke of full time Craigbane scored a goal that seemed to offer both sides a share of the points. But Desertmartin weren’t finished. A minute into injury time St Martin’s had one last raid into the Craigbane defence where the ball fell to Cormac McGuckin who blasted to the net from close range giving Desertmartin a 1-12 to 1-9 victory.
Desertmartin team: B McElhennon; P McCrystal, M Breen, C Murray; P Mc Govern(0-1), G McGovern, E O’Kane; P McCann, E Hegarty; F Higgins, A McGuigan, D Breen; E Burns, Declan Murray(0-11,8f) ,O Kelly.
Subs used: A Trainor, C Monaghan, C McGuckin(1-0)