This annual pre-season tournament is now a firm fixture on the local football calendar, and with a very competitive spirit shown over the years by all participating teams it has proven to be a great preparation source for all clubs as they commence their new season.

This years tournament will kick-off on Monday 25th July between Dungiven Celtic and in their first visit to the tournament, Dungannon Tigers. Tuesday 26th sees host club Draperstown Celtic up against a progressive Moyola Park outfit. Wednesday see’s Intermediate League’s Magherafelt Sky Blues take on on IFA Championship 1 Tobermore Utd in what should be a hotly contested tie. Thursday 28th July see’s Roe Rovers take on Draperstown Celtic Reserves.

The Semi-Finals wil be played the following Monday 1st and Tuesday 2nd August, with the Final scheduled on Friday 6th August 2011.

All games will kick-off at 7pm and if level after 90 minutes the game will be decided by a penalty shoot-out.

Monday 25th July: Game A – Dungiven Celtic 0-7 Dungannon Tigers

Tuesday 26th July: Game B – Draperstown Celtic 7-1 Moyola Park

Wednesday 27th July: Game C – Magherafelt Sky Blues 3-1 Tobermore Utd

Thursday 28th July: Game D – Roe Rovers 4-0 Draperstown Celtic Res.

Monday 1st August: SEMI-FINAL (1) Dungannon Tigers 4-3 Draperstown Celtic

Tuesday 2nd August: SEMI-FINAL (2) Magherafelt Sky Blues 0-1 Roe Rovers

Friday 6th August: Dungannon Tigers 2-1 Roe Rovers

Kick off 7pm Sharp at Cahore Playing Fields.

45minutes each way to be decided on a penalty shoot-out in the event of a draw.
All games played under IFA rules.

A very successful night was had by all with…. A big thank to all invloved in organising the event.

Award Winners Season 2010/11

Photograph’s from the night (courtesy of Colm Heron)

We intend to hold a similar draw again and the details are as follows.

2 directors’ box tickets Celtic v Hamilton (March 5th) (Strict dress code applies)
Complimentory bar pre and post match.
Buffet lunch at half time.
Signed shirt presented by player after game.
2 nights B&B in Glasgow Crowne Plaza
2 return flights

Tickets £5
Draw to be made at Draperstown Celtic Christmas Quiz on Dec 28th in the Market Inn.

1st. Weekend in Roganstown Hotel and Country Club : Lyn Kelly

2nd. £100 : Brendan Kidd (jnr)

3rd. £50 : Tiernan McKenna

4th £25 O’Kane’s Chemist voucher : Denise Falls

Thanks to all who bought a ticket. The club greatly appreciates your support.

It may have been Paddy Mallon who scored the winning penalty which sent Draperstown through to Round 4 of the Irish Junior cup, but it was the heroics of keeper Martin Farniouk which was the foundation for the result. There were times when it seemed that he was single handily keeping the home side out such was his prowess and Lower Shankill will feel that apart from his performance their name would have been in the hat for the 4th round draw. But football is all about taking chances when they arrive and Draperstown did that in the tenth minute when a long ball found McGuigan who stroked the ball past the keeper to give his side the lead against the run of play.

Twice before that, Farniuok had denied Lower Shankill when they looked certain to score, but they did find an equaliser on 17 minutes when Mallon failed to clear and the forward broke into the box and scored in off the post. The remainder of the half saw the home side put a lot of pressure on the Draperstown team but with Mallon and McDaid standing strong in the heart of the defence, the sides were level at the half time whistle. The second half saw Lower Shankill push forward looking for the lead goal and had a great opportunity when Mallon was harshly adjudged to have handled and a penalty was awarded. However, Farniouk produced a wonderful save to his left to keep his side in the game.

Draperstown themselves were more of an attacking force in the second half with the pace of Flanagan and McGuigan together with the guile of Manning causing the home defence a few problems. Kennedy’s forceful ventures caused Lower Shankill to concede territory and frees but Draperstown didn’t really put the home keeper under enough sustained pressure. Paul McGovern did produce a good shot on the turn which the keeper managed to palm away while McGuigan almost got his second when he latched onto Groogan’s excellent pass, beat the keeper with a low shot but a home defender managed to clear with the referee indicating the whole of the ball had not crossed the line.

With game heading into extra time Draperstown had loud claims for a penalty turned away when McGuigan was crudely taken down in the box for what seemed an obvious penalty, but with the referee waving on play this was the last opportunity to win the game in normal time. Extra time saw two tiring teams do their best to grab the all important second goal but with Franiouk looking unbeatable the game went to penalties. Here, the keeper’s heroics continued as he saved the first two Lower Shankill penalties to put Draperstown firmly in the driving seat. Successful penalties from McGuigan, Bradley, McCullagh and Mallon saw the reserves home by 4 – 2 and a place secured in the next round.

The bad run for Draperstown’s reserves continued. With heavy defeats in their last two league encounters, there was at least a much better performance this time around for Draperstown.

The side Draperstown faced had previously won the reverse fixture by the same margin they did this time. A well contested match was marred with a flurry of cards handed out from the referee. The first incident of the game came after approximately 20 seconds. A late challenge by the BBOB winger on the returning Murchan surely should have resulted in at least a yellow card. However, going unpunished set the precedent for the game where a number of challenges didn’t receive the required punishment. This again eventually led to frustration for both sets of players.

The first twenty minutes saw both sides playing decent football without managing to test either keeper. This however ended after twenty five minutes when a slack goal was concededs by the home side. Coming down the left side, BBOB played a neat one-two resulting in a good finish just inside the box past the unlucky McGuigan in nets. Draperstown will be unhappy with the manner of the goal with the goalscorer not being tracked back by the Draperstown midfielder.

Feeling aggrieved that they had conceded a sloppy goal, the home side pressed for an equaliser. A tactical switch by McKee saw Murchan and Kelly exchange roles down the right hand side. This paid almost instant dividends with Murchan doing good work down the right, near the penalty area, holding off the opposition defender, allowing the midfield to break in support. He eventually released the ball to the oncoming Murray, who was felled rashly by the centre half inside the penalty area.

The resulting penalty was coolly dispatched by Martin McGuigan, sending the ball to the opposite corner to the goalkeepers dive. Following the equaliser, there was only one side in it for the final ten minutes of the opening half. Heavy pressure from all angles couldn’t be converted into a goal. Despite this, Draperstown could ultimately be pleased with their first half performance.

Unfortunately, the first half began in the same vein as the first, with both teams meandering, finding their feet for the first fifteen minutes. Coming from a Draperstown free kick deep inside their own half, possession was lost easily. A large gap in the centre of their defence was exposed all too easily by the BBOB right midfielder who dispatched the chance well past the again hapless McGuigan.

Back to square one, Draperstown again battled to find the equaliser. It was all one way traffic, but in the same all as the conclusion of the first half, none could be found. A number of chances were created which Draperstown will be disappointed they couldn’t convert. Late on, midfielder Kelly, frustrated at being seemingly clearly fouled, but receiving no free from the referee, petulantly swiped out at the opposition. This resulted in a red card, and summed up a disappointing end result. Draperstown need to start picking up points very quickly, or risk being embroiled in a difficult struggle at the wrong end of the table.

Draperstown returned to league action at home for the first time since the first week of September. Unfortunately the match ended with the same score line.

There were two changes made to the starting line-up with Flanagan and Groogan coming in for the absent Manning and Murray. Unfortunately it wasn’t a player from either set of teams which made the greatest impact on the match, but the referee. Weak decisions coupled with no decisions resulted in frustration for both sides. Such frustration even resulted in the boiling over in emotion between Draperstown’s own players with verbal altercations the management won’t want repeated.

The match itself didn’t do justice to the superb surface at Cahore, with neither side taking control in the first twenty minutes. Scrappy long, high balls relayed back and forth with little skill involved. It was after twenty minutes, the first of three major decisions by the referee was made. The Lincoln Courts forward managed to get around Mallon in the penalty area, who then attempted to recover but fouled in the area. The resultant penalty was dispatched well, just out of reach of Farniok who almost made the save.

Following this incident Draperstown rallied, piling pressure on the Lincoln defence. Kelly pushed forward down the right flank along with the jinky McGuigan. McKenna and Flanagan pushed the defence with the latter shooting well near the end of the half. This goalbound effort was clearly handled by the Lincoln defender, but was not given for the second major decision of the match.

Draperstown regrouped at half time and set out about finding the equaliser. Conway, introduced fifteen minutes into the second half, showed promise initially down the left wing. However, he wasn’t supplied with enough ball. The approach was more direct from the Draperstown side. This method was proving troublesome for the opposition defence but the ball just wouldn’t fall for the home side.
As Draperstown pressed positively, the game became much more open with Lincoln playing counter attack football. This almost resulted in a goal, with the Draperstown full back clearing with the use of the woodwork with the keeper beaten.

In saying this, Farniok had prevented many other attempts in a solid performance from the youngster. The third major decision was yet another penalty area one. Flanagan reached the ball just before the keeper, who then proceeded to tumble the forward. Again, no penalty was given. Draperstown pressed until the end of the game but it just wasn’t to be their day.

Draperstown still await their first league win of the campaign. Surely it will arrive sooner rather than later and act as a springboard for the rest of the season.

The Club has just acquired a long term lease for both pitches and changing room facilities from Magherafelt Council.

Having already carried out extensive improvements on our main pitch to bring it up to Irish Football Association standard, we can remain playing in Intermediate grade football for the foreseeable future.

We do realise in this present financial climate it is not easy for a business to stretch their budgets to sponsorship of any description but to that end we are trying to make it as affordable as possible,

We have therefore outlined the following pricing structure so as to give you an option on any sponsorship you may wish to pledge;

• OPTION 1:
  8Ft x 2Ft CORREX BOARD
  1 YEAR SPONSORSHIP
  COST= £135

• OPTION 2:
  8Ft x 2Ft PVC BANNER
  2 YEAR SPONSORSHIP
  COST= £275

• OPTION 3:
  8Ft x 2Ft PVC BANNER
  3 YEAR SPONSORSHIP
  COST= £375

If you are interested please do not hesitate to contact us on the following details below.

Austin McKillion
T: 028 7962 7068
M: 077 1483 5976
E: austinmckillion@googlemail.com

More to follow.

More to follow.