Draperstown Celtic travelled to Lurgan to face Sunnyside in the opening fixture of the new season. It was not a vintage performance from the young Celts but maybe that was to be expected in the first match of the season. At the end of the game the only thing that matters is the result and the young Celts took the three points with a 5-3 victory.
The opening encounters were scrappy as the long break showed and DC did not play to their usual high standards. However they were the first to settle with Mark Doole again proving his calibre with great work down the left. After another great run from Doole the Celts won a corner. The in swinging corner from Flanagan along with the presence of the DC “big men” caused panic and the ball pinged around the penalty area until a smart turn and shot from Adam McLaverty found the bottom corner. The Celts did settle a bit and started to take the game more to Sunnyside and they could have extended their lead further when a stunning 25 yard shot from Roghan McCloskey rattled of the cross bar and bounced on the line with the keeper a spectator.
The second goal followed shortly after when Scullion rammed the ball home following another corner. Last season this may have heralded a rush of goals but the Celts sat back and let the Lurgan team come into the game and it was not long before Sunnyside pulled one back following slack play down the right side. Instead of raising their game DC seemed to panic and resorted to long balls and not using the midfield players which gave the possession straight back to Lurgan. The second Sunnyside goal arrived when slack play left the forward with time and space to hit a shot which gave Conor Gallagher no chance. DC could have gone into the break ahead but the home keeper pulled off a magnificent save from a Tiarnan Flanagan header. Half Time 2-2.
Within five minutes of the second half DC took the lead again when Odhran McGuigan popped up in the visitors box and drilled the ball home to make it 3-2.However the Celts still had not learned their lesson and slack marking again let the home side to outnumber the DC defence and a sweeping shot again gave Gallagher no chance. At last DC seemed to wake up and they began to play their trademark passing game with Doole and Scullion taking the game by the scruff off the neck. The Draperstown team took the lead when a magnificent pass from Doole put McLaverty through and he scored his second goal of the game and campaign. The Draperstown defence of Mullin, McGuigan, McCloskey and Murphy began to snuff out the threat from the forwards and this gave the DC boys fresh heart. After Convery won the ball in midfield he passed to Scullion who skipped around a couple of players and his rasping shot hit the crossbar with the keeper nowhere in sight.
Following a home corner Doole picked the ball up just outside his own 18 and he beat four players in a great surging run but his shot hit the post. Sunnyside put 3 up front to try and salvage the game but the DC defence, well marshalled by McGuigan, held firm. Draperstown finally got a bit of breathing space when following good work from Flanagan the keeper could only parry a Doole cross and Lagan tapped home to make it 5. Final Score 3-5
Thanks to the supporters who made the trip to Lurgan – as always it is much appreciated.
Thanks also to John Doole for his sponsorship of the Energy drinks
Squad: Conor Gallagher, Roddy Mullin, Odhran McGuigan, Roghan McCloskey, Ronan Murphy, Mark Doole, John Eddie Convery, Ciaran Scullion (Capt), Peter Lagan, Adam McLaverty, Tiarnan Flanagan, Eunan O’Kane, Pearse Grant, Danny Gillespie, Eoghan Gilmore
Goals: McLaverty (2), Scullion, McGuigan, Lagan
