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Dungiven Celtic 3-2 DC

Draperstown crashed to another defeat this time at the hands of Dungiven. A robust encounter as always between these two teams saw a typical end to end game with lots of energy and no shortage of skill from both sides. Dungiven will claim they deserved the victory especially as they contrived to miss some excellent opportunities in the first half while Draperstown will look to having lost a lead twice as being their claim for at least a share of the spoils.

Draperstown got off to a flying start when Caulfield’s excellent right wing cross was headed in at the far post by Seamus Quinn, his first for the club. Dungiven managed to carve out and miss two good opportunities almost straight before O’Kane managed to miss from 6 yards with the goal at his mercy. Another good opportunity for the home side went astray when Marius Dunne hit wide after Celtic keeper lost possession outside of his area and Draperstown were glad to survive. It wasn’t all Dungiven however and Gavin Bradley’s flick on from Murray’s header cleared the bar with Henry stranded to remind the home side that there was game to be won.

Conor O’Kane almost grabbed a dramatic equaliser in the first minute of the second half when after a mazy run which gave him a great shooting chance he decided to pass and Draperstown were able to clear the danger. Ally McLean almost doubled Draperstown’s lead when his header from Graffin’s corner flew past the far post of Henry’s goal.

The equaliser came on 50 minutes when McKillion gave the ball away to O’Kane who scored past McNicholl from the edge of the box. The Draperstown response was direct and decisive. Gavin Bradley had a shot cleared off the line by McLaughlin before Benny Heron put Draperstown back into the lead on the hour mark with a fabulous goal from 20 yards after a run which took him past two defenders and gave Henry no chance. With Draperstown looking in control it was a little against the run of play when poor defending allowed McGuigan to score from close range from Dunne’s pass on 72 minutes.

Sean Young almost put Draperstown back into the lead on 76 minutes but his shot flashed past the far post while three minutes later O’Kane and McGuigan had opportunities to snatch the lead but frantic defending denied Dungiven. But it was to no avail as in the 82 minute Dunne’s cross was headed home by Kealey for the winner and the defeat for Draperstown meant that they come to the Christmas break without a league win under their belt, a startling demise for the current league champions.

Mountjoy 2-2 DC

Draperstown collected their first point in this year’s league campaign, at the fourth attempt, at league newcomers, Mountjoy, and yet it should have been so much more. Typical of many of Draperstown’s performances this season, they dominated large parts of the game and certainly had the lion’s share of the possession but were caught twice on the break to concede goals and but for the home side to miss a penalty late on, Celtic would have returned home with nothing to show for their effort which would have been a total travesty.

It was Draperstown who controlled the early stages with Sean McBride in centre midfield the dominant figure. In the 12 minute it was his header which found Sean Young on the right and his excellent cross was headed past home keeper Gilligan by Gavin Bradley to put Celtic in a deserved lead.

The home side were having difficulty in getting forward in numbers and it was Draperstown who should have turned their domination into further goals. Gilligan saved Murray’s free on 23 minutes while Bradley shot wide four minutes later when well placed. A Draperstown corner caused a great deal of panic in the Mountjoy defence with Aiken eventually clearing off the line from Marshall’s slice.

Little had been seen from Mountjoy in attack but they drew level very much against the run of play on 42 minutes when good work from Hamilton on the left set up Graham who scored from close range. There was still time in the half for Gavin Bradley to spurn another good chance for Draperstown when after being set up by Young he shot tamely wide.

The second half again saw Draperstown largely dictate matters, though Northern headed wide on 50 minutes when well placed and it was the home side who took an unexpected lead when after sustained pressure from Celtic, Mountjoy broke down the left wing through Good and his cross was dispatched first time by Matthews. It took Draperstown just five minutes to equalise when from Heron’s corner Gavin Bradley scored through a ruck of players. Two minutes later and Eamon Murray’s headed goal was incorrectly ruled offside by the referee as Celtic sought to grab the win. Bradley could have claimed a penalty on 70 minutes for Draperstown when he was clearly impeded by Aiken while Good cleared Murray’s shot off the line on 78 minutes with Gilligan beaten.

However it was the home side who were awarded a somewhat fortuitous penalty after 80 minutes when Caulfield was adjudged to have fouled Northern but Matthews crashed his kick off the cross bar, and the home side’s last chance was spurned. It was Celtic who finished the game on top in terms of possession and chances the best of which fell to the in-rushing Heron who blasted over from 12 yards. It was a very disappointed Celtic dressing room after the game with the knowledge that further important league points had been left unclaimed in a season which has yet to hit the heights of last year.

Christmas Quiz

Just a quick reminder that the Draperstown Celtic Christmas quiz will be held in the Market Inn on Sunday December 28th with an 8:30 start.
Last year was the best supported Christmas quiz which we have ever held and there was literally not a seat to be had. So if you are coming down make sure you are there early.
Look forward to seeing you in the Market Inn and a big thanks for all the help given by Maurice and his staff on this night.

DC 0-4 Killyleagh YC

The scoreline may suggest an emphatic victory for Dee Heron’s side in this second round Intermediate Cup clash, and while Amateur league leaders deserved the win the margin of victory certainly flattered them. Two goals in the final minutes put a somewhat slanted view on the game in which, as in recent weeks Draperstown contributed to their own downfall at times and failed to score when good opportunities came.

The visitors certainly made light of the heavy conditions in the opening minutes and Kelly did well to palm away a dangerous cross with Nixon lurking at the far post but the first real chance came to the home side when Gavin Bradley’s header from Young’s corner went wide with Morgan beaten. Barry Walsh fired over from a free on 26 minutes while Celtic captain Gary Conway tested Morgan from 25 yards.

Killyleagh had to thank Wallace for a great block to prevent Murray opening the scoring for Celtic on 33 minutes. Murray again almost found an opening when he robbed Savage but Morgan was able to block the striker’s shot. Just as it seemed the half would end scoreless, Killyleagh took the lead when Draperstown lost possession in midfield and Sheeran’s cross come shot eluded Kelly and went in off the far post for a lead which was a little against the run of play.

Celtic brought on Danny Mulholland in place of the injured Burns and the striker almost found an equalise in the 48 minute when he got onto the end of Bradley’s cross but Killyleagh scrambled the ball clear off the goal line. Minutes later and the visitors were two up when McKenna’s excellent free found the back of the net from 20 yards. Celtic were now facing an uphill battle but could have pulled a goal back straight away when Young blasted wide with only the keeper to beat.

With that went Draperstown’s best chance of salvaging the game. Kelly made good saves from Walsh and Leckey but Nixon did score on 88 minutes on the break despite a good effort from Kelly to thwart the effort. The scoring was wrapped up when John Murray scored from the penalty spot 94 minutes, thus ending Draperstown’s involvement in the major cup competitions this season.

Next First Team Fixture

NI Intermediate League | 13th March 2010
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Draperstown Celtic v Mountjoy FC