NI Intermediate League Challenge Cup R1
Draperstown stormed through to next round of the Challenge Cup with a solid win over Kesh. By no means did Celtic have things all their own way; indeed at two all most spectators would have expected Kesh to eventually take the win but the visitors appeared to run out of steam and two goals from McGuigan and McKillion sealed the win.
Both sides were missing players with the absence from the starting line up of Mark Jones of Kesh being a blow for the visitors while Celtic again were missing several first team regulars. But it was Celtic who opened the game at a lively pace, with Conway and Sinclair picking up from last week’s game by exerting their influence in mid-field. Kesh were dealt another blow when Nicky Noble was substituted on 9 minutes having struggled right from the kick off. This was compounded on 12 minutes when Celtic opened the scoring when Darren McKillion scored from close range when Kesh failed to clear a corner. Two minutes later and the lead was doubled when Haskins latched on to Murray’s pass and fired past McCusker from 20 yards for a stunning strike, his fourth of the season.
Little had been seen of Kesh as an attacking force up to then but they should have pulled a goal back on 16 minutes when a good run on the right by Nathan Cashel saw him cross for Alan Johnston who, from 4 yards headed horribly wide when it was easier to score. Most of Kesh’s good attacking play was through Cashel but he did lack the support up front. Celtic had opportunities to increase the lead before half time. McCusker saved well from McGuigan’s header on 26 minutes while 10 minutes later Fitzpatrick cleared well from Murray when it seemed the striker was about to turn in Haskin’s cross. Kesh got themselves back into the game in a rather bizarre manner when from a corner on 45 minutes Celtic’s keeper McConnell punched the ball into his own net to give the visitors a lifeline going into the second half. A rare mistake from the usually very reliable McConnell.
The second half saw Kesh take the game to Celtic at every opportunity, but solid defending kept goal scoring chances to the very minimum. But there was very little anyone could do when Lyons latched onto a loose ball and crashed home a great equaliser from 25 yards giving McConnell no chance. The visitors now had the upper hand, in terms of possession but on a break, Quinn’s pass was met by Murrays’s header forcing McCusker into a fine diving save. Draperstown introduced two substitutes at this stage and the impetus of the game once again swung in their favour. They went back into the lead on 75 minutes when McKillion’s pass found Adrian McGuigan who forced his way past a defender before hitting a good goal past McCusker.
Alvin Johnston was forced off with an injury for Kesh before Emmett McKillion latched onto Murray’s headed pass to shoot past McCusker and put Celtic firmly in the driving seat. Indeed the same player could have further increased the lead but his header was clawed away from the top corner by McCusker on 85 minutes. Draperstown were able to see out the remainder of the game well in control and put themselves into the next round where they are away to Mountjoy Utd.
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