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
