Draperstown recorded a comfortable victory over a stubborn Newbuildings side which in recent weeks had seen their challenge for league honours all but disappear.
It may have taken a double strike from the enigmatic Eamon Murray which separated the sides but the home side were dominant in all departments though they struggled at times to turn their superiority into clear cut chances especially in the first half.
The heavy pitch certainly did not help either side in the early stages of the game as both vied for early dominance but Murray came close on 13 minutes when visiting keeper Jayklowski partially blocked his shot and Jason Moore cleared the ball off the line. Riddles caused the home defence a few problems when some indecision in the home defence allowed him to get a shot in which was blocked and cleared by Darren McKillion who put in a solid performance all game. A good passing move instigated by Gary Conway and involving Cathal Donnelly and Eamon Murray saw the latter just shoot wide form the edge of the box. Mitchell, in a rare Newbuildings attack forced Kevin Leonard to tip the ball over the bar while the keeper also did well to block from the same player on the half hour mark. This was about as close as the visitors came in the first half as Celtic, spurred on in midfield by Raymond Caulfiled and Gary Conway had largely taken control and it was Caulfiled’s pass which set up Ryan Bradley with a good opening on 40 minutes but he hesitated and the chance was gone.
{tab=Page2}The second half saw Celtic again with the majority of the possession without putting Jayklowski under too much pressure especially in the first 20 minutes of the period. Murray almost broke the deadlock on 65 minutes, when after being set up by an astute pass from Conway saw his shot canon off the crossbar. As the game wore on it seemed as if it was to be another draw for Drapertown but a piece of individual magic from Eamon Murray on 80 minutes turned the game firmly in Celtic’s favour. Cathal Donnelly’s pass found Murray on the right wing whose double step over left Olphort on his back before he fired a great shot high into the net past Jayklowski. This was as much as the hard working Celtic team deserved but they had to rely on a sharp save from Leonard, who turned away McIvor’s header, to keep the lead intact. Two minutes later and Celtic were two up. Gary Conway was fouled 20 yards from goal and Cathal Donnelly’s free was superbly tipped onto the cross bar by Jayklowski but it was Murray who reacted the quickest as he headed into the net and secure the points for Draperstown. Indeed Murray was unlucky not to complete his hat trick when superb skill saw him dance past Graham Moore but his shot from the edge of the box skimmed the cross bar.
So a deserved victory for Draperstown over a good Newbuilding’s who could not complain about the result. For the home side there were excellent performances in all departments. McKillion, Bradley and Steven Caulfield excelled in defence while Raymond Caulfiled and Gary Conway put in superb performances in midfield but it is goals which win matches and Eamon Murray’s double strike earned him the Man of the Match honours.
Team:
Kevin Leonard, Stephen Caulfield, Stephen McKee, Raymond Caulfield, Gavin Bradley, Declan Graffan, Darren McKillion, Cathal Donnelly, John Higgins, Ryan Bradley, Eamonn Murray
Subs: Kevin Ward
