{mosimage} This encounter had all the hall-marks of a final league match. Both fielded much below strength teams but still managed to produce an entertaining game. Dungiven had the best in the opening half when they had early chances to open the scoring. Eoghan Harkin lobbed Leonard but saw his effort glide past the post while the same player shot over from the edge of the box.
Kevin Ward and Cathal Donnelly both failed to test McGroarty in the Dungiven nets while the home side should have taken the lead on 40 minutes when the industrious Conor O’Kane fed Donal McGilligan who volleyed over from no more than 6 yards.
The second half saw Draperstown have the lion’s share of the game and they managed to carve out a number of good opportunities which they failed to take. Shiels and Ward were enjoying good possession in mid-field for the visitors who had a let off when Martin McCloskey had a header disallowed for Dungiven following a corner.
Geoffrey Brolly came to Dungiven’s rescue on 70 minutes, clearing Donnelly’s shot off the line with the keeper beaten, but Draperstown deservedly took the lead when Kevin Ward’s quick turn created enough space for him to guide the ball past McGroarty from the edge of the box. Cathal Donnelly had another good chance for Drapertown but saw his shot drift narrowly wide.
Just as it looked as if Draperstown would hold on to secure all three points, Dungiven came up with the equaliser when a cross field pass from Jude McLoughlin found Seamus Harkin whose powerful header gave Leonard no chance. Right at the death, Draperstown’s last attack forced a good save from McGrarty when he managed to push Donnelly’s shot away to safety.
That was to be the last action of the game and indeed the season for both teams who will both be keen to improve on the current season. For ex-league champions, Dungiven, it has been a disappointing campaign while for Draperstown yet another draw was enough to secure third place in the league, their best finish for some time. Only three defeats in the league for Draperstown was a creditable performance but too often, a failure to turn one point into three, which on many occasions their play deserved, robbed them of a runners-up spot.
