The seniors played host to local rivals Moneymore in the league last Saturday evening. Desertmartin started sharply scoring 1-1 to no reply in the first nine minutes with the goal coming from Eamon Burns and a pointed free from Enda McGuckin. But the following nine minutes belonged to the McCracken’s. Opening their account with a penalty goal they added four further points to lead by three at the eighteenth minute. But the Saffrons leveled the game when Eamon Burns under great pressure hit his second three pointer. Moneymore edged ahead on the twenty-fourth minute with an Emmet Crozier point but Enda McGuckin leveled with a free a minute later. In a period of rapid play Callum Bloomer restored the visitors lead with a point three minutes before the break only to be matched by Paul McGovern’s thirty-third minute equaliser to leave the sides level at halftime 2-3 to 1-9.Three minutes into the second period Moneymore got their second goal when they flighted a high ball into the Desertmartin square which was finished to the net from close range. Ronan McGuckin replied with a point for the Martin’s but Christy Young kept the visitors ahead by three with a point on the thirty-seventh minute. Declan Murray kept the Saffrons in touch with a point but Moneymore went further ahead with their third goal. Dermot Breen and Christy Young exchanged points to leave Moneymore leading by five entering the last quarter of the game. The remaining fifteen minutes saw Desertmartin at their best. Pressing forward constantly they hit 1-3 to no reply to lead by one with seven minutes to go. Moneymore leveled on the fiftieth minute but Cormac McGuckin restored the Martin’s one point lead with four minutes to play. Entering extra time and trailing by the slenderest of margins Moneymore broke downfield and within seconds had the ball in the Desertmartin net. Within a minute they added a further point to win a tight encounter 4-10 to 3-10.
Desertmartin scorers: E McGuckin (1-4 1pen, 4f); E Burns (2-0); Declan Murray (0-2 1f); D Breen (0-1); R McGuckin (0-1); C McGuckin (0-1); P McGovern (0-1) F