Cookstown Youth 1-0 DC Youth
February 17, 2010
North West & Coleraine Youth League
Draperstown made the short journey to local rivals Cookstown Youth in the third round of the NIBFA U15 Cup. The hosts have an excellent youth set-up and are experienced in performing in this competition. This is Draperstown Youth’s first year in this cup but you would not have known who the most experienced team were by watching this game. Draperstown matched Cookstown in all areas of the pitch and were unlucky to lose 1-0. Cookstown started the brighter and in the third minute a good through ball put them on the attack but Scullion in the Draperstown goal was well positioned and cleared the danger with a great block tackle just outside his area. Draperstown settled and on 8 minutes a good pass from Doyle was just too long for McGuigan.
Both teams then had a good deal of possession without any real chances. Draperstown won the ball through English whose pass found T. Flanagan who went on a run and beat a couple of players and then played the ball to his brother but the Cookstown defender showed good strength in holding off the forward and shepherding the ball back to his keeper. From his kick-out Cookstown went straight on the attack down the right wing and finished with a shot that went narrowly wide of the far post. Again both teams saw a lot of the ball without any clear cut chances but it was Draperstown who finished the half stronger when another break from Flanagan put Doyle through but the keeper collected well.
After half time Cookstown went straight on the attack and a cross from their left winger skimmed the Draperstown bar. The only goal of the game came on the 5th minute when a goal bound shot was bravely blocked by O’Hara and the rebound fell to another Cookstown forward whose shot was again well defended by the Draperstown defence but it was third shot lucky for the hosts when the ball fell kindly to the forward and he hit the ball into the bottom corner with Scullion’s view blocked by all the bodies. Draperstown then went on the attack and when awarded a free kick from 30 yards out O’Hara stepped up and hit a ferocious shot which the keeper could not hold – unfortunately the Draperstown forwards were not alert to the follow up. Draperstown continued to dominate the game but did not have another chance until the 30th minute when a clever free kick from McGuigan was picked up by O’Hara and his shot went just wide of the post.
All in all Draperstown were unlucky to lose the game but they can be extremely proud of their performance and this bodes well for the rest of the league campaign.
Best on the day for Draperstown were Stephen O’Hara and Mark McAuley
Draperstown Youth (4-4-2)
C.Scullion, J. English, C. McCabe (Capt.) S. O’Hara, M. McAuley, C.McAuley C. McKenna, D. Doyle , P. Flanagan, R.McGuigan, T. Flanagan
Subs: S. McBride, O. McGuigan, A. Lagan, C. McDevitt
Next Fixture
Sat 20th Feb 2010: To be arranged
Training
Training continues on Wednesday nights in Cahore Park at 6.45pm. All players must attend training.
Draperstown Celtic 3-1 U.U.C
February 15, 2010
NI Intermediate League
Question: When is a goal not a goal?
It appears that the answer to that problem is when Benny Heron hits a screaming drive from 25 yards which hits the inside of the left hand post, rebounds behind the keeper onto the right had stanchion and back out. Oh and the other part of the answer is that the referee is the only person in the ground who did not see what had happened.
The phantom goal was certainly the main talking point of the game which Celtic fully deserved to win. Indeed added to Heron’s wonderful “goal” was a missed penalty from Eamon Murray which should have resulted a greater margin of victory. The early exchanges did not give much of a clue as to the later excitement. Indeed UUC had plenty of early possession but the Draperstown back four appeared to dealing comfortable with the early pressure but their concentration was badly lacking on the half hour when a harmless looking free kick was allowed to bounce on the six yard line and Paddy Trolan pounced to put the students a goal up after 30 minutes.
Celtic have conceded first in their last 3 outings but have come back strongly and Saturday was no exception. With Garteh Haskins and Adrian McGuigan operating well on both wings, Draperstown soon had UUC under pressure. A series of corners brought the equaliser on 35 minutes when Bradley’s in swinging corner was headed past his own keeper by Handford. The visiting side appeared almost handed Draperstown the lead right on half time when Haskin’s great cross was hit against his own cross bar by McLoughlin as he attempted to clear the danger.
The second half was largely dominated by Draperstown who had UUC on the back foot from the re start. The lead was gained on 47 minutes when Haskins’ great pass found Caulfield on the right with space and time to pick out the in rushing McGuigan who volleyed home from 12 yards for a good team goal. Haskins almost finished off another good on 57 minutes attacking move when he volleyed just wide of the McGeough’s post after an excellent Murray pass. Such was the dominance of Celtic at this stage that only a despairing challenge prevented Darren McKillion bearing down on goal after the centre half’s foraging run from the half way line.
Heron came on for Higgins on the hour mark and his probing runs and passes only added to UUC’s woes. Such a run on 70 minutes saw his ghost past a defender before shooting, with the unfortunate Tasker deflecting the ball past a flat footed McKeough. This left the visitors with a mountain to climb if they were to get anything out of the game and to be fair, they did not really seem able to sustain any sort of possession or pressure on Draperstown. It should have been much worse for them on 75 minutes when Heron’s sublime movement saw him get by two challenges before he unleashed a ferocious drive from 25 yards which deflected off the post and onto the stanchion and back out to Eamon Murray who kicked the ball away before turning to join in the celebrations. These were cut short by the referee who awarded a goal kick and despite the obvious and legitimate appeals he did not change his decision.
The referee was soon in the action again this time in favour of Celtic when Kirkpatrick took down McGuigan in the box and he awarded a penalty on 84 minutes. The usually reliable Murray banked on McGeough doing what most keepers do when facing a spot kick and dive to one side. However, he stood his ground and caught Murray’s chip leaving him rather embarrassed at his effort. The last few minutes saw no more goal scoring opportunities and the game ended in a comfortable 3-1 win for Draperstown. Or was that 4-1?
Check out the match action on our new Flickr Photostream http://www.flickr.com/photos/draperstownceltic/sets/72157623313543221/
DC 2-2 Newbuildings
February 9, 2010
NI Intermediate League
Draperstown’s first home game of 2010 saw a battling performance against a Newbuilding’s side sitting near the top of the league. Both teams will feel that they could have taken all three points and certainly there were chances to do so, but for the home side the biggest disappointment will be the fact that they appeared to be down to the bare bones in terms of squad numbers. With many players not available for one reason or another, John McKee was only able to call on the services of 11 players with another arriving later as substitute. The inability to bring on fresh players in the final quarter of the game was a significant factor in Celtic not seeing out the game while in a winning position.
It all started well for the visitors when they awarded a penalty in the 3rd minute when McKillion handled Buchanan’s cross with Gregory McIvor scoring from the spot. But Draperstown responded well and enjoyed a lot of possession but the final pass was too often a poor one and as a result Glenn in the Newbuildings’ goal was not severely tested in the opening half. A Haskins’ header did have the young keeper scrambling the ball away at the foot of his post while John Higgins blasted a good opportunity over the bar from the edge of the box. McKillion partially redeemed himself in the last minute of the half when a brilliant tackle prevented Casey from scoring.
The opening 30 minutes of the second half saw Draperstown launch wave after wave of attack on the Newbuilding’s goal. Certainly their quality of approach play was much better with Haskin’s causing all sorts of problem down the right flank. The equaliser came in the 51st minute when Gavin Bradley latched onto John Higgins’ pass, brushed aside the challenge of Blair and coolly lobbed the ball over the advancing Glenn.
Two minutes later and the same player saw his free kick flash past the post before Haskins saw his effort beat the keeper but also the far post. McGuigan then saw his effort scrambled off the line and Glenn did very well to block Bradley’s shot for a corner.
It appeared only a mater of time before Celtic took the lead which their attacking play deserved. It came on 65 minutes when Murray flicked on O’Connell’s long clearance to Bradley who in return crossed to the far post for Murray to power his header home. Bradley thought he had scored Celtic’s third on 71 minutes with a fierce free kick, but the referee quite rightly ruled it out as the kick had been given as an indirect free.
It was at this stage that several Celtic players began to tire and Newbuildings took advantage. An in swinging corner was allowed to travel across the edge of the 6 yard box to Buchanan who swept the ball home for the equaliser. It was the visitors who had the best chance of securing the win when on 88 minutes a great run by Gary McIvor set up Casey but was denied by O’Connell good save.
So the points were shared but not the result either side would have wanted, but more importantly for Draperstown was the knowledge that a full squad would certainly have resulted in a win and a rise up the league table. A more determined effort is therefore greatly needed.
DC Youth 0-0 Dungiven U15′s
February 9, 2010
North West & Coleraine Youth League
Draperstown Youth had not played in 7 weeks since these teams last met on 12th December 2009 and it showed in what was a really scrappy hard fought game. While both sides toiled and gave plenty of effort there was little to be seen in terms of skill from either side, especially in front of goal. The opening 15 minutes were scrappy with neither side in control and both teams giving away possession easily. On 20 minutes Piaras Flanagan beat his marker and accelerated up the side line; however the Dungiven right back covered well and made a great tackle to break up the attack. This was about as good as it got excitement wise in the first half for the spectators.
The second half was a more open affair but as for the first there was a dearth of skill and hence much of the game became a mid-field battle. Dungiven started and a couple of mistimed clearances by O’Hara, who it turned out was carrying an injury, put the Draperstown defence under pressure. However McGuigan in goals cleared the first with a well timed sliding challenge and then McCabe made a great interception for the second. Draperstown upped their game and started to put the Dungiven defence under pressure but all too often the final ball was poor. Dungiven then broke through the defence and it was only a magnificent tackle from O’Hara that prevented Duddy from having a clear shot on goal. Draperstown then attacked with the best move of the match.
Jack English won the ball at left back, carried it out of defence and found P. Flanagan with a great ball – Flanagan played a neat one-two with his brother and his cross come shot was palmed out by the keeper. The loose ball was collected by Doyle who then found T. Flanagan whose shot hit the bar with the keeper beaten. With Dungiven playing largely on the break, their chances were few, but they did have another good chance on 60 minutes when Duddy, who was Dungiven’s only real threat, broke down the right wing and hit a scorching shot which skimmed the top of the cross bar.
The last 5 minutes saw Draperstown encamped in the Dungiven half as they attempted to secure the win but the Dungiven keeper was equal to all the Draperstown players threw at him.
Best on the day for Draperstown were Cahir McCabe, Conor McKenna and Stephen O’Hara
Draperstown Youth (4-4-2)
R. McGuigan, J. English, C. McCabe (Capt.) S. O’Hara, M. McAuley, P.Flanagan C. McKenna, D. Doyle , C. McDevitt, T. Flanagan, C. McAuley
Subs: O. McGuigan, K. Webb, Z. Elalilou, S.McBride
Next Fixture
Sat 13th Feb 2010: NIBFA Cup – Away to Cookstown Youth. Kick –Off 11.00am
Training
Training continues on Wednesday nights in Cahore Park at 6.45pm. All players must attend training.
Next First Team Fixture
V 
Draperstown Celtic v Broadway Celtic
Under 15 Presentation Evening
The under 15 Presentation evening has been arranged for this Saturday evening 19th June 20.Re: Technical Issues
issues resolved..Technical Issues
Currently having a few technical problems with the website, hopefully be resolved ASAP.Quick League Table
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