Draperstown kept up their recent unbeaten league run with an emphatic victory over local rivals Magherafelt. The game almost did not take place due to the referee insisting that the very small pitch was not properly lined out but that problem was eventually overcome and the game eventually kicked off.
Magheraflet may have certainly had the better of recent encounters between the two side but on this occasion Draperstown were worthy victors and dominated for large parts of the game and the victory leaves in them one victory away from securing a top three finish in the Intermediate league.
It was Draperstown who got off to a flying start with Murray and McBride causing the home defence all sorts of problems and it was no surprise when another attack on the Sky Blues’ goal led to McBride being taken down by Monaghan at the expense of a penalty in the 11th minute. Marty McGuigan scored from the resultant spot kick.
The Blues certainly upped their game for a short period but were finding little joy against a solid Celtic centre half pairing of McKillion and McSorley, while fullbacks McGuigan and Graffin impressed in positions somewhat alien to them.
By 21minutes, Celtic were two up. The industrious Higgins played a forward ball to McBride who was able to lob Magherafelt keeper O’Neill from 10 yards with an astute finish. This was no more than the visitors deserved and with a very youthful midfield consistently dominating possession, a half time score of 2-0 was an accurate reflection of Celtic’s dominance.
Magherafelt did attempt to gain back some of the possession in the second half and while they might well have managed to do this there were somewhat inept at turning this into goal scoring opportunities and keeper Ferniuk, in this his second game for Draperstown was a commanding figure throughout whenever called into action.
Celtic secured the points on 67 minutes with the best goal of the game. Kevin Ward showed his great touch when he guided Cathal Donnell’s pass to Eamon Murray who turned and brought the ball down in one movement before volleying into the net from the edge of the box. A great goal which encapsulated a great team performance from a team devoid of the injured McKee, Caulfield, Young and Leonard.
Magherafelt did manage to scramble what was no more than a consolation goal when Liam Martin forced the ball over the line, but there was no way back for a well beaten home side.
This was Magherafelt’s first defeat in 11 games while for Draperstown, an excellent league campaign will finish on Saturday away to Dungiven. Victory there could well claim second place in the table.
