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Weather Claims Fixtures

Waterlogged pitches are becoming the norm for 2008 as yet another weekend of fixtures succumb to the weather. The 1st teams away game to Newbuildings and the reserve teams’ home game with Eglinton have both been called off due to the weather.

Draperstown Celtic 1-0 Churchill Utd

A Declan Graffin wonder goal was all that separated these two teams in the latest top of the league clash of this seasons’ intriguing Intermediate league campaign.

In a game which was hard and threatened to get out of hand on more than one occasion, it was Graffin’s strike from fully 30 yards which lit up a dark, cold afternoon and warmed the hearts of the Draperstown support.

This was Churchill’s last game of the league campaign and they came with a changed, stonger side determined to finish the day on top spot. Indeed they settled into the game more quickly than Draperstown with Mc Laughlin, Lynch and Stewart Smallwoods all performing well in midfield. Despite their possession Churchill found it hard to penetrate the well organised Celtic defence where Seamus Quinn had another outstanding game. Both sides had half chances to open the scoring. Murray for Celtic and Smallwoods for Churchill both came close while Lynch had the best chance for the visitors on 24 minutes when he cleverly turned McKillion but shot across McGuckin’s goal when he should have done better.

The last ten minutes of the half saw Celtic gain the momentum and almost took the lead in the 35th minute when leading goalscorer, Eamon Murray hit a superb volley only for Emmet Devenny to produce an equally superb save at the expense of a corner. This produced further panic in the Churchill defence and Graffin’s shot came off the inside of the post and was cleared to safety. Churchill came back well and showed they were still to be reckoned with when Smallwood’s free produced a good save from McGuckin in the Celtic goal.

The second half again saw Churchill begin brightly with McGill heading over from a corner while Graffin gave a glimpse of what he was to later produce when he shot narrowly wide from 25 yards. The game threatened to boil over during a fractious period which saw the referee book a number of players, including 6 from the visitors, mainly for dissent. The winning goal came when Raymond Caulfield’s intelligent pass found Graffin who strode forward and fired into the top corner with a vicious swerving shot which left Devenney well beaten.

The vocal home support was almost silenced 5 minutes later when Ryan Devine’s header crashed off the bar following McGlinchey’s free while at the other end Seamus Bradley’s diving header from Eamon Burns’ corner was just over. There was another panic situation in the Draperstown defence when McGlinchey’s free was deflected by Sean Young just past the post which a relieved Shane McGuckin could only watch go past the post.
This was to be the visitor’s last chance and with it went their recently evaporating hopes of league honours. For Draperstown, it was another valuable three points gained, in yet another test of their own title aspirations.

Easter Quiz & Draw

A reminder to all club members who have tickets for our annual draw that the draw will be made on Easter Sunday night after the quiz.

All tickets to be returned to any committee member. The quiz will take place in the Market Inn with a start time of 8:30. Tickets can be returned to me on that night. Michael Kelly will be there from about 8.

IFA Level 1 Badge – Grassroots Leaders Award

DC coaches awarded IFA Level 1 Badge – Grassroots Leaders Award.

Four of DC’s coaching staff recently completed their Level One Coaching Award and took their first steps on the IFA’s coaching ladder.

Austin Mc Killion, Paul Mc Callion,John Mc Kee and Seamus Quinn pictured with Course Tutor Joe Doherty on completion of their IFA Level 1 Badge – Grassroots Leaders Award.

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U.U.C 2-0 Draperstown Celtic

A double strike from Ally Gordon secured all three points for reigning league champions U.U.C in this top of the league clash. Played in very windy conditions but on a good pitch, the university side deserved their win and Draperstown can have few complaints.
A draw for Celtic would have been a good result but they started sluggishly and though they put a great deal of effort and determination into the game they were unable to break through the equally determined home defence The visitors bossed possession especially in the second half but were unable to create any real goal scoring opportunities which was to be their downfall.

U.U.C opened well and were the sharper side. Eager to win tackles and get the ball forward quickly to their three man attack, they were putting Celtic’s back four under some pressure. However the first half chance came on 12 minutes when Sean Young’s surging run and cross almost brought an own goal from Handford who was releaved to see his scrambled clearance go the right side of the post.

But it was U.U.C who took the lead on 15 minutes when Ciaran Doherty gathered a poor attempt at a clearance, passed to Gordon who headed past McGuckin from 8 yards. While UUC were worth their goal, Draperstown had two opportunities to clear the danger before Doherty’s pass and were made to rue this basic mistake.

Dohertry almost doubled the lead on the half hour mark and had he scored, it would have been a very disputed goal to say the least. He gathered the ball after it had clearly gone out for a throw, which was not given, and as Celtic waited for the decision Doherty strode forward only to hit wide from inside the box. As the half wore on, the closest Celtic came was from two free kicks, from Burns and Graffin which caused little concern to McGeough in U.U.C’s nets.

The second half saw the home side content to sit back and play on the break. Their well organised defence dealt well with the Draperstown pressure though on more than one occasion, McGeough spilled shots but managed to clear the danger before a telling strike could be made.

U.U.C secured the victory in the 91st minute when with Draperstown pushing forward, a long ball found Gordon who finished well from 12 yards.

Not the result Draperstown were hoping for and with five games left they find themselves four points behind U.U.C but still with two games in hand. They now take on the mantle of must win games.

Magherafelt Sky Blues 0-1 Draperstown Celtic

This eagerly awaited first league game of the season between local rivals and, more importantly, potential title contenders, was a pulsating affair between two fully committed teams. Hard it certainly was, but never a dirty game, it was Celtic’s ability to create several good chances in the first half and importantly, score from one of them which was to prove decisive.

Magherafelt did have a great deal of possession in the second half and put the Draperstown defence under a great deal of pressure, especially after Seamus Bradley was sent off for two yellow cards, but such was the Celtic determination not to concede, it resulted in the Blues creating few good opportunities for themselves. While it was leading goal scorer Eamon Murray who grabbed the all important winner it was Draperstown’s defence, in which captain Darren McKillion put in an inspirational performance, which was the foundation of this important victory.

Unlike recent games, Draperstown began very well with a high tempo and much sharper in the tackle. With John Higgins and Declan Graffin to the fore in mid-field, the first half chance came in the 8th minute when Murray at the far post couldn’t get the ball down and McGeehan was able to clear the danger. Celtic had a great opportunity to take the lead in the 25th minute when a move involving Graffin, Burns and Murray opened up the Blues’ defence to let in Mark McNicholl but his shot was well saved by Mark McGeehan. Two minutes later and McGeehan again saved well this time from an Eamon Burns effort. Draperstown were reminded that it would not be all one way traffic and following a free on the right, McKillion made the first of his many timely clearances when he hooked the ball away from Chris Larkin who looked certain to score.

Again it was Draperstown’s chance to take the lead when on 33 minutes when, following a corner John Higgins, a yard out but with his back to goal failed to make contact with the ball and McGeehan gratefully smothered. Four minutes later and Celtic’s dominance almost paid off when Burns met Bradley’s corner but his header crashed off the cross bar and was cleared away to safety. The goal the visitors’ deserved eventually came on 41 minutes when Sean Young, back in the first team after a long absence, won possession in midfield, played a good pass to Eamon Murray who beat McGeehan from just inside the box with a rising shot. Back came Magheraflet and Seamus Quinn did very well to clear a dangerous ball while under pressure and in the last action of the half Ciaran Monaghan’s deep cross was headed wide by substitute Nirman.

The second half began as the first had ended with both teams having early strikes on goal in the first few minutes. Shane McGuckin saved well from Chris Larkin while McGeehan did likewise from Eamon Burns. Draperstown created another good chance when on 50 minutes Burns’ cross was headed down by Murray to the inrushing Higgins but he was unable to keep his shot down and the chance was gone.

This saw the beginning of a long period of possession for Magherafelt and their caused was helped when Celtic were reduced to ten men after Seamus Bradley was yellow carded for the second time in the game after kicking the ball away when the Blues’ had been awarded a free.

Nirman should have equalised when for one of the few times in the game, Magherafelt were able to create a clear opportunity but the striker’s shot was well saved by McGuckin. With Diarmuid Larkin and Brian McAleese attempting to spread the game at every opportunity for the home side, Draperstown were again thankful to McKillion on 80 minutes who again cleared a very dangerous situation with home forwards waiting for any mistake. The last ten minutes saw the Sky Blues encamped in the Celtic half but they were unable to create any further chances and Draperstown were able to see out the game and in doing so, gain a very valuable three points.

Following on from Drapertown’s very disappointing result against Strabane last week, this was in many ways the perfect test for any title aspirations they may have harboured. To that end they stood up to the test admirably and will take a great deal of confidence from their attitude and performance into their remaining games.

Grassroots football

Grassroots football/Mini-Soccer for both boys and girls continues on Saturdays in the Back Row Sports Hall.

P3,4,5 from 12 to 1
P6, 7 from 1 to 2
Cost is £1:50 per session

For further information, please contact Paul McCallion on 07841344253
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Injured Players Night

On Saturday, March 8th there is a players’s function in the Market Inn the purpose of which is fund raising for injured players. All club members are requested to attend this important event.

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