Back in April Ballymaguigan left Billy Doran Park knowing they had just robbed Drumsurn of two points when they snatched victory with the last kick of the game. In today’s game there was eight points between the teams at the final whistle, in favour of Ballymaguigan.

Drumsurn lined out for this early morning kick off, missing several of their first team players through injury or what ever!!! (Micky Coll, Martin Mullan, Mark O’Connor, Cahir Mullan, Colm Feeney, Barry Moore, Eamon Ferris and Conal Chivers).

I suppose the result was never in doubt given Drumsurn’s run of poor results and Ballymaguigan’s position at the top of the league. However, Drumsurn were every bit as good as Ballymaguigan on the day and it was only over a fifteen minute period in the second half that Drumsurn lost their way and the game (Ballymaguigan scoring 1-08 for no reply).

Drumsurn could only manage six points in the first half playing with the wind (two from play). Going in at the break the gap between the teams was a single point 0-08 to 0-07, which was fantastic for a so called ‘makeshift Drumsurn team’. In the second period Ballymaguigan used the wind very effectively and kicked numerous long distance points with ease (second half score 1-10).

For the second game running the Drumsurn defence was superb, especially the back three Dane Mullan, Michéal Archibald and Christopher Harbinson. Paul Butcher made some telling runs in the second half and took some hefty tackles when off-loading the ball. The midfield pairing of Dean O’Neill and Damian Canning started slow but found their form five minutes into the game and caused Ballymaguigan some real difficulties with their high fielding and strength on the ball. Up front the football was good by the Drumsurn forwards, but the lack of wind assisted scores in the first half cost dearly.

Tony Walls at full back was the catalyst for most of Ballymaguigan’s attacks. Every time a Drumsurn attack broke down or a ball fell short, in and around the small box he initiated a counter attack, which was often rewarded with a point. The home team had to see out the last five minutes of the game with fourteen men because their centre half forward was issued with a second yellow card for a rash sliding tackle.

The Match

Drumsurn dominated the first ten minutes of this game, but just couldn’t score. Ballymaguigan kicked two consecutive points from play in the fifth and sixth minutes to give them a two point lead.

Ciaran Mullan registered Drumsurn’s first point of the game when he kicked a forty yard free kick, won by Stephen Harbinson. With fifteen minutes gone Ballymaguigan increased their lead to four points (0-04 to 0-01), before Ciaran Mullan kicked his second point of the game. This time it was directly in front of goal on the twenty one yard line.

Both teams exchanged points to keep three points between them; Drumsurn’s was courtesy of Danny O’Connor from yet another free kick. With twenty minutes played Ballymaguigan increased their lead to four points, but for the remainder of the first half Drumsurn dominated once again.

Four unanswered Drumsurn points tied the score at seven points a piece. Ciaran Mullan kicked two of them from free kicks, while Pierce McNickle kicked his two from play (one from 40 yards out). In the last minute of the half Dean O’Neill committed a foul and received a yellow card for it. From the resulting free kick Ballymaguigan established a one point half time lead (0-08 to 0-07).

In the first five minutes of the second half Drumsurn looked more purposeful and accurate with their passing and shooting.

Stephen Harbinson kicked a short range point to draw the team’s level for a second time in the match. One minute later Paul Butcher made a darting run out of defence and fired over a point to give Drumsurn the lead for the first time in the match.

With five minutes of the second half played Ciaran Mullan kicked his fifth point to increase Drumsurn’s lead to two points. Almost immediately Ballymaguigan kicked two wind assisted forty yard points to draw the team’s level at ten points each. Ryan Mullan re-established the Drumsurn lead in the eighth minute when Paul Butcher made another darting run out of defence and found him with a cross field kick.

Over the next fifteen minutes Ballymaguigan dominated. They bypassed the dominant Drumsurn midfield by playing all their football down the wings for which they reaped the rewards. They kicked long distance points accurately from both sides of the pitch and scored 1-08 and had another shot rebound off the crossbar. Their goal was kicked in with power and pace across the face of the goal and at the last minute dipped over Francis Chiver’s head and found the back of the net at the back post.

With six minutes left to play and ten points between the teams this game was over as a contest. Ciaran Mullan kicked his sixth free kick of the game in the twenty-fourth minute after Paul Butcher was fouled. A minute later Ballymaguigan were reduced to fourteen men.

Drumsurn dominated the final five minutes. Ronan McNickle had a wonderful opportunity to reduce the gap to six points but his shot from four yards out just went wide. In the final attack of the game the Ballymaguigan’s goal mouth was swamped with red and white Drumsurn jerseys. Stephen Harbinson managed to off load a shot but it was deflected just over the bar.

This wasn’t a bad performance by the senior footballers, even though the result wasn’t in our favour. With Faughanvale beating Foreglen this weekend, victories in the four remaining league games is vital if Drumsurn want to stay in the third division for next season.

There will be many more twists and turns in this division for Drumsurn and other teams before the end of the season. With five teams on almost the same number of points having to play each other any team could get relegated or find themselves in a play off match. Victories in our home and away games to Greenlough are vital, BUT victory over Faughanvale at Billy Doran Park would count as a four pointer game and generate a comfort zone between third and fourth division football.

Put in the effort on and off the pitch (attend training) because we need one almighty push going into the season finale. Hopefully some key players will come off the physio’s table to see us over the line.

Dig deep lads and good luck !!!!!!

Drumsurn
Francis Chivers; Dane Mullan, Christopher Harbinson, Michéal Archibald; Ciaran Ferris, Paul Butcher (0-01), Mark McLaughlin; Damian Canning, Dean O’Neill; Ronan McNickle, Ciaran Mullan (0-06, 6f), Pearse McNickle (0-02); Danny O’Connor (0-01), Ryan Mullan (0-02), Stephen Harbinson (0-01)

Subs
Martin Mullan for Mark McLaughlin (40 mins)