Draperstown Celtic 0-0 Riverside Colts
February 26, 2007
This was a disappointing result for Draperstown who dominated large parts of the game and created the best chances without being able to secure the win their overall play deserved.
Celtic, who had to make three late changes from their preferred starting line up, took a little while to settle into the game as a result, and it was in this early stage that Riverside had their best opportunity when the lively winger Stephen Campbell was thwarted by a good save from Kevin Leonard in the third minute.
Eamon Murray came close for Draperstown when he shot wide when well set up by John Higgins and Sean McBride’s burst through a static Riverside defence was only stopped by an excellent tackle by Curtis. Little was seen of the Riverside attack but Gareth Sproule and Campbell were attempting to work together despite being starved of any decent supply of the ball.
The second half began in a scrappy fashion with the heavy pitch not helping. Sproule saw an effort flash wide following a corner kick on 47 minutes while at the other end, good work from Declan Graffin on the left found Murray on the edge of the box but his shot went narrowly wide of McGilloway’s goal. Graffin was beginning to cause Cassidy a few problems on the left and another good cross saw Nicoll do well to head over his own bar to clear the danger on the hour mark, with McGilloway easily dealing with the corner.
It was fairly much one way traffic at this stage as Celtic were putting the visiting defence under a great deal of pressure, but a combination of a poor final ball and some timely tackles were keeping the home side at bay. Ryan Bradley was unlucky to see his goal bound effort tipped over the bar by the impressive McGilloway and the striker had another glorious opportunity when he blazed over the bar from 20 yards after a wonderful pass from Graffin on 77 minutes.
Still the chances came especially for Eamon Murray who had two opportunities to seal the victory in the last ten minutes. Firstly he scuffed an effort wide with the keeper beaten and then saw McGilloway save with his legs after being put through on goal by McBride. In a rare Riverside attack, McLaughlin could have stolen all three points for his side but he hesitated and the chance was gone.
A frustrating result for Draperstown who not for the first time this season failed to secure the victory which was there for the taking, while Riverside will have returned home grateful for the point.
Team:
Kevin Leonard, Stephen Caulfield, Stephen McKee, Raymond Caulfield, John Higgins, Declan Graffan, Martin McGuigan, Cathal Donnelly, Sean McBride, Ryan Bradley, Eamonn Murray
Subs: Conor McDevitt, Chris McGarrigle
Draperstown Celtic 3-2 Trojans
February 22, 2007
Draperstown emerged victorious in this closely fought game against Trojans in another very entertaining game. Last week these two sides shared 8 goals in an exciting draw and there was little to divide them after another exciting game.
Celtic were forced to make a number of changes from last week with Higgins, McKee and O’Kane returning to the starting line up replacing Donnelly, Brown and last week’s hat trick hero Chris McGarrigle. However the changes didn’t appear initially to make a great deal of difference to Celtic’s approach to the game. Twice in the first 5minutes John Higgins came close to opening the scoring, only to be thwarted by Martin in the Trojan’s goal, the second of which was a good reflex save. Despite this good opening from Draperstown it was Trojans who opened the scoring on 16 minutes when Leonard initially saved well from John Travers but the ball fell for James Gallagher who slotted home from 8 yards.
Draperstown responded well and Seamus Bradley shot just wide after a good move involving Eamon Murray and Ryan Bradley. Murray also saw a good free kick smothered by Martin on 23 minutes but two minutes later came the deserved equaliser when good work by Seamus Bradley on the left saw him cross to John Higgins who swept the ball home from close range. Drapertown almost conceded the lead straight when a piece of careless play allowed Gallagher in on goal but he hesitated and the Celtic defence were able to scramble the ball away. Gallagher was again involved in the thick of the action for Trojans when he crashed the ball against the cross bar from close range as Trojans finished the half looking the stronger side.
As with last week however, it was Draperstown who had control of much of the second period. Bradley put keeper Martin under a lot of pressure with the keeper happy to hack the ball clear of danger. But he was soon picking the ball out of the net on 57 minutes when McKee’s pass found Murray whose shot was parried by Martin only for John Higgins to score his and Celtic’s second of the day. But back came Trojans and three minutes later they had their equaliser when after Celtic failed to clear their lines, McGuinness scored from 6 yards. Gallagher again came close with a header on 63 minutes but Celtic responded to this pressure by again taking the lead in spectacular fashion when Seamus Bradley’s corner was met on the volley by Declan Graffin , the ball flying into the top corner past Martin for what turned out to be the winning goal.
In this end to end game Kevin Leonard did well to save from Nash and Trojans will be wondering how they did not score after a goal line melee on 73 minutes eventually saw Celtic clear the danger. However they in turn were relieved to see Bradley’s shoot wide after breaking through the Tojan defence on 75 minutes. There followed a series of bookings as the game became rather scrappy which perhaps suited Draperstown as Trojans could not mount a constructive threat to the home goal. Indeed it was Celtic who finished the stronger and Gary Conway was unlucky to see his shot canon off the post with Martin well beaten. All in all another very entertaining game between these two evenly matched sides, with Draperstown taking the spoils on this occasion but with Trojans feeling they did enough to gain a point.
Team:
Kevin Leonard, Ryan Browne, John Higgins, Declan Graffan, Stephen McKee, Cathal Donnelly, Raymond Caulfield, Conor McDevitt, Sean McBride, Chris McGarrigle, Kevin Ward.
Subs: Seamus Bradley, Ryan Bradley
Draperstown Reserves 1-1 Glendermott
February 22, 2007
Draperstown Reserves season finally got up and running with a hard fought 1-1 draw with Glendermott. Lets hope they can push on from here.
Trojans 4-4 Draperstown Celtic
February 11, 2007
This encounter played at the Templemore complex could well go down as the game of the season as both sides served up a great advertisement for Intermediate football.
Trojans were cruising at half time leading 3-1, but a spirited comeback by Draperstown , due in no small part to a wonderful hat trick from Chris McGarrigle saw them power into a 4-3 lead with 5 minutes to go before the home side snatched a draw on 89 minutes.
Trojans, playing with the wind in the first half took an early lead when Travers scored from a well hit free kick on 10 yards leaving Leonard with no chance. Celtic responded well when following a foul on Kevin Ward, Browne’s free kick was flicked on to McGarrigle who made no mistake from 10 yards. With the game very open even at this stage, Leonard pulled off a smart save from O’Donnell who had been cleverly set up by Travers. Trojans regained the lead when poor defending by Draperstown left Gallagher in acres of space and he scored easily with a low shot past Leonard. Worse was to follow for Celtic’s keeper on 33 minutes when Eamon Donnelly’s free kick was fumbled by Leonard and McGuinness reacted quickly to head the Derry side into a comfortable lead.
Draperstown began the second half with a lot of work to do if they were to gain anything from the game and the fight back started on 50 minutes when McGarrigle scored direct from a corner leaving Martin in the Trojan goal grasping thin air. This really spurred Celtic on and they mounted a series of threatening attacks with Murray and Bradley causing the home defence a lot of problems. Ex-Celtic Player Eamon Donnelly cleared off the line from Murray on the hour mark but 4 minutes later, The visitors drew level when another excellent corner from McGarrigle was weakly fisted out by Martin only to Kevin Ward who headed in the equaliser.
It was all Draperstown now and the midfield of Caulfield, McGarrigle, Ward and McBride were pushing forward at every opportunity. Such an attack on 83 minute saw Murray fouled on the edge of the box and up stepped McGarrigle to hit his free kick over the wall into the top corner past Martin to put Celtic into what at half time would have been considered an unlikely lead. This did lead to some pressure from the home side for almost the first time in the half and on 89 minutes they drew level when substitute Gallagher beat the offside trap and crossed low into the Celtic box. Both McKillion and Caulfield blocked goal bound shots before the ball bounced up for Travers who headed home. Even at this stage with the game well into added on time McGarrigle almost stole it for Draperstown when he attempted to lob Martin from close range following a free kick, but it was not to be and both sides had to settle for a point, but it was the Draperstown side who left the pitch feeling the more disappointed at not having recorded what would have been a remarkable victory.
Kevin Leonard, Ryan Browne, John Higgins, Declan Graffan, Stephen McKee, Cathal Donnelly, Raymond Caulfield, Conor McDevitt, Sean McBride, Chris McGarrigle, Kevin Ward.
Subs: Seamus Bradley, Ryan Bradley
Burndennett 2-1 Draperstown Reserves
February 11, 2007
Burndennett continued their push towards promotion with a hard fought victory over DC Reserves but it was very harsh on this young reserves side who had a perfectly good goal ruled out and a last minute penalty appeal turned down by the refeeree.
Full match report to follow.
Draperstown Celtic 2-3 Churchill Utd
February 3, 2007
Not for the first time this season, Draperstown failed to secure a win when comfortably in command both in terms of possession and more importantly on the scoreboard. They lead 2-0 and looked on course for a comfortable win with Churchill somewhat off the pace in the first half hour of this league game.
However the visitors slowly but surely gathered momentum and added to a number of the Celtic players growing visibly tired it was the visitors who took the spoils.
It all started so well for Draperstown who took the lead on 12 minutes. McGarrigle did well to save Cathal Donnelly’s well hit volley at the expense of a corner. Gary Conway’s kick was cleared back to him, but his second delivery found the head of Kevin Ward who headed home from 10 yards. Good defensive play was preventing Churchill from looking threatening at this stage but Ryan Browne was lucky not to be given a red card for a two footed lunge on Ryan Devine which gave Churchill a dangerous free from 20 yards. However the ball was cleared up field and as Brian Scanlon and keeper McGarrigle left the ball for each other, Ryan Bradley nipped in to slot the ball home from close range to put Celtic two up inside the first half hour and in command.
Churchill were given a lifeline when the referee awarded a penalty following hand against Browne. Brian Devine scored with ease.
The second half was only three minutes old when poor defensive play allowed Smallwoods to score from close range and level the score. The tide had turned in Churchill’s favour but Eamon Murray came close on 2 occasions as Draperstown sought to regain the lead. However it was Churchill who were to do so when Smallwoods cross found the unmarked McGill who headed home past Leonard to put the visitors in the lead. Celtic almost produced a draw when Devine headed off the line from Murray with 5 minutes to go, but this was to be their last worthwhile attack and it was Churchill who emerged triumphant in this see saw game.
Draperstown Reserves 0-1 Roe Rovers Reserves
February 3, 2007
Draperstown Reserves problem’s continue as first half strike from Roe Rovers sinks them on a sunny but bitterly cold day at Cahore Playing Fields.
Full Match Report to follow.
Next First Team Fixture
V 
Draperstown Celtic v Mountjoy FC
Youth Training and Ticket Returns
Folks - training continues tonight at 6-45pm at Cahore Park Could everyone who receiv.Re: Glasgow Celtic Weekend
The draw will take place this Friday, the 12th in the Market Inn. Last few days to sell yo.Footwear for the 3G pitch at Moyola
Folks before we play Moyola on Friday night at 6.30pm (under floodlights on the new 3G p.Quick League Table
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