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Draperstown Celtic 2-2 UUC

DC failed to progress to the final of the Pharmacy Supplies Intermediate League Cup by virtue of a home draw to Coleraine University in this their last group match. A win for the home side would have seen them progress through to the final.

DC failed to progress to the final of the Pharmacy Supplies Intermediate league cup by virtue of a home draw to Coleraine University in this their last group match. A win for the home side would have seen them progress through to the final and their failure to do so will be more difficult to accept, as they were well in control of the match leading 2-0 at half time, only to see the visitors take advantage of some poor defending to snatch a draw and thus deny Celtic a final appearance.

The match could not have started any better for the home side when after only 6 minutes a superb cross from Raymond Caulfield was headed goalwards by Eamon Burns. His header was saved by McGeough but Burns reacted smartly and blasted home from close range to put the home side one up. UUC came back well and began to play an open, expansive game and Draperstown’s keeper Kevin Leonard did well on more than one occasion to keep the home side in front, especially when blocking a goal bound effort from Tim Sexton. Chris McGarrigle was keeping UUC’S keeper busy at the other end with a couple of long range efforts as the home side began to up the pressure. A series of corners on the half hour saw Seamus Bradley’s cross fall kindly for Eamon Murray who scored from eight yards to put the home side firmly in command. Celtic almost scored a third when Chris McGarrigle’s pass found Eamon Burns but his lob over the keeper was well cleared off the line by John Coyle. A third goal for the home side would surely have been too much for the university side to recover from.

The second half saw Draperstown open brightly and on 51 minutes, Seamus Bradley’s determination saw him get his head to Kevin Ward’s free kick and head to Chris McGarrigle who blasted wide when he should have scored. This miss appeared to inspire UUC and they came back into the game when Tim Sexton scored with an excellent shot from the edge of the box following a throw in. Questions however will have been asked about the home marking.

There followed a period of pressure from UUC without fully threatening the home goal until with five minutes left a poor backpass from the usually very reliable Declan Graffan was miskicked by Kevin Leonard straight to Ciaran Doherty who passed to the unmarked Eamon Lynch who scored from 6 yards. The visitors had a great chance to win the game only a minute later when Celtic’s keeper Leonard took down Doherty , resulting in a penalty but he redeemed himself when he saved the spot kick from Damian Mc Mullan.

Deep into injury time Draperstown had had every reason to feel aggrieved when Stephen McKee’s surge into the penalty box was ended by a trip from
Cromie which the referee saw fit to ignore and with that saw the home side’s attempt to reach the league cup final disappear.

Team:

Kevin Leonard, John Higgins, Declan Graffan, Stephen McKee, Seamus Bradley, Raymond Caulfield, Conor McDevitt, Eamon Burns, Eamon Murray, Kevin Ward, Chris McGarrigle.

Subs: Darren McKillion, Cathal Donnelly, Gary Conway

Churchill Utd 1-2 Draperstown Celtic

DC have given themselves ever opportunity to progress to the knock out stages of the League Cup after this hard fought victory over Churchill Utd. The score line might suggest a tight competitive game, but in reality this Pharmacy supplies League Cup encounter was one DC could have won at their ease.

They controlled the game for large periods through their hard work and passages of good passing play, and when they did find themselves under pressure particularly at the start of the second half, their defence proved resolute with Churchill scoring their consolation goal only in the 99th minute. A draw for Churchill would have left the home side through to the semi final of the competition but this fine win for Draperstown means that next week’s games in the group will decide who will go through to the knock out stages.

Playing with the wind in the first half, Celtic began in positive manner and in the third minute Eamon Murray was unlucky to see his shot smashing off the cross bar with McGarrigle well beaten. Ryan Brown did well after 10 minutes to block McGill’s shot in what was to be one of Churchill’s few forays in to the Celtic half in the opening period. Celtic came close to opening the scoring in the 20th minute when Murray’s first time volley was pulled wide at the far post and two minutes later Brown rose highest at a corner but headed over from close range. The slick passing of Draperstown was causing Churchill quite a few problems and they were rewarded for their positive play though in a rather fortunate manner, when Kevin Ward’s shot took a wicked deflection past the stranded McGarrigle to put Celtic into a deserved lead.

Celtic’s midfield was well on top while McDevitt and Brown in the centre of the defence dominated the exchanges whenever Churchill attempted to build on their scant possession. Half time saw Celtic a goal to the good but perhaps thinking that their overall play deserved a greater reward.

The second half saw the home side attempt to use the strong wind to their advantage. Kevin Leonard did well to save a well struck Devine free kick but Churchill were rocked when the referee red carded their hard working midfielder Doherty for an off the ball incident. This appeared to spur Churchill on and for a period of twenty minutes they enjoyed good possession but attempts at the Celtic goal were all long range especially from free kicks by Devine, one of which Leonard did well to tip onto the cross bar and away for a corner. It was clear that Celtic had allowed Churchill back into the game, which earlier they had dominated, by not passing the ball as well as they had previously done. However they soon got their game plan back on track and on the hour mark, a flowing move involving Higgins and Murray saw Chris McGarrigle hit a rising shot off the cross bar with the home defence well stretched. Four minutes later and the same player had another good chance to extend Celtic’s lead but saw his header fumbled onto the bar and away by a relieved keeper

The last fifteen minutes again saw Celtic dominate the game with Murray and Burns both coming close but the win was finally sealed when McGuigan’s determination won the ball and sent Murray clear. He in turn passed to Bradley whose quick pass to John Higgins left him 20 yards out but his great chip over the advancing keeper was a great example of the confidence the player exhibited all game.
The referee saw fit to play ten minutes of injury time and it was only in the last of these that the home side, after a goal mouth scramble were able to score a purely consolation goal.

Team:

Kevin Leonard, John Higgins, Declan Grafton, Stephen McKee, Ryan Brown, Conor McDevitt, Eamon Burns, Eamon Murray, Cathal Donnelly, Kevin Ward, Chris McGarrigle.

Subs: Raymond Caulfield, Martin McGuigan

Reserves progress in City & Supplementary Cup

The reserves have progressed to the 2nd round of the City & Supplementary Cup without having to kick a ball as City Colts have withdrawn from the competition at the 11th hour but not to worry as we’ve been paired with them again in the 1st round of the NW Junior Cup with the tie to be played on 11th November.

Torrential rain dampens the fixture list

The torrential rain on Saturday claims this season’s first games, we usually make it to November before the weather plays havoc with the fixture lists but here we are in September reporting on fixture cancellations due to the weather. To be fair to both referees on Saturday it was probably the safest option considering the torrential downpours just before kick-off.

Next First Team Fixture

NI Intermediate League | 13th March 2010
V
Draperstown Celtic v Mountjoy FC