Brutal, vile, rotten all words to describe the seniors performance tonight in the championship.

If the Ballymaguigan result last Friday night was a shock, then this result was SHOCKING!. Be grateful lads that the championship format has changed from a straight knockout competition to give you a 2nd chance. The difference between men and boys are the lessons they learn in life. I hope a valuable lesson was learnt in Magilligan.

This was a typical championship performance from a team we expected so much from. Something we have become accustomed to over the years. We looked very tired all over the pitch. Faughanvale, on many occasions cut through our midfield and defense unchallenged like a knife through butter. They were up for the game and wanted to make amends for their league defeat two weeks previous. Had their shooting been better on the night the difference at the end of the match could have and should have been more than five points.

Having played poorly in the first half and going in at half time only one point down the game could have gone either way. Drumsurn emerged after the break to score six points to no reply to go five points in the lead. Game set and match you would have thought, but not so. Faughanvale turned the game in the last thirteen minutes scoring (2-4) to no score winning the game by five points.

Key senior players just didn't perform on the night and our desire to shoot for goal instead of putting the ball over the bar cost us dearly. Banty, Pierce and Ryan all guilty of the later. With two points in it and two minutes remaining on the clock plus four minutes of injury time to be added Banty opted for goal instead of a point only to see his shot saved. Who knows what would have happened had he simply put the ball over the bar.

The full forward line accounted for (1-5) of our final score. Danny O'Connor scored 1-3, but drifted in and out of the match and had one silly episode late in the 2nd half with a defender. Ciaran Ferris on his championship debut looked sprightly on the ball. Scoring two points his first was delightful taken from the left wing about thirty yards out, his 2nd cleaning up after Ryan Mullans shot hit the post. It was strange that he was substituted after fifty minutes; there were poorer performers on the park that should never have made it out of the changing room after half time. Pierce McNickle didn't get on the scoreboard.

The Half forward line of Jonathan Irwin, Ryan Mullan and Paul Butcher offered nothing on the night. All three had a poor game. Balls played into our forward line came straight back out, not allowing our defenders any respite. They also offered no protection to the midfield pairing of Damian and Banty. With the absence of Micky Coll in Midfield Damian was expected to run the show and marshal his troops. This never materialised

Colm Feeny, playing centre half back had a good game and scored a wonderful fisted point. Cahir and Michael had a very quiet game at wing half back, the big occasion may have got to them. Our full back line were shown wanting for the first time this season. It's been a long time since I seen Dane Mullan play so poorly. Barry Moore the better of the three full backs had an average game and never put a foot wrong. Christopher Harbinson found himself wanting on several occasions, a contrast to the fantastic game he had against Ballymaguigan.

A depleted squad due to injury hasn't helped our cause (Micky, Marty, Gerard). No excuse at all can account for Thursday's overall team performance. To concede four goals in any game shows defensive frailties which need to be urgently addressed.

The match

Danny O'Connor registered the first point of the game after four minutes. He was played in by Ciaran Mullan and without thinking kicked the ball over the bar with the outside of his right foot. Faughanvale went straight up the pitch and won a free kick about twenty yards out, the kick was cleared by the Drumsurn defenders for a side line ball. This was fired straight into the box and fisted into the back of the nets. Faughanvale leading by two points with 7 minutes gone on the clock.

A free won by Cahir Mullan was played quickly by Pierce McNickle to Ciaran Ferris on the wing. His thirty yard acute shot dropped over the bar to reduce the gap to a point. Colm Feeny then popped up, he ran 45 yards with the ball out of defense playing a series of one two's and eventually fisted it over the bar to draw the teams level.

For the next ten minutes it was all Faughanvale. They dominated this period scoring (1-2) and missing at least two close range free kicks. Paul Butcher conceded a close range free, which was converted. This was followed up with a point from a thirty yard sideline ball and then with twenty one minutes on the clock Dane Mullan miss-timed his jump allowing the Faughanvale forward to go one on one with Stephen Harbinson. This dreadful mistake was rectified by Danny O'Connor immediately when he broke through and scrambled the ball to the back of the net just as he was falling to the ground.

For the remaining eight minutes of the first half Faughanvale didn't score. Ciaran Mullan registered his first score of the game just on half time, when he converted a thirty yard free kick from his hands.

Half Time: Faughanvale 2-02 Drumsurn 1-04

Drumsurn started the second half in energetic form. They dominated the first sixteen minutes, scoring six points for no reply. Two minutes into the half Ciaran Mullan won a free thirty yards out, which was converted by Danny O'Connor to draw the teams level. One minute later Ryan Mullan and Danny were guilty of missing a golden goal opportunity to turn the screw even further. Ciaran Mullan converted his second and final point of the game to put Drumsurn in front by a point.

On thirty seven minutes Ryan Mullan kicked his only point of the game, two minutes later he saw his goal bound shot strike the post and fall to Ciaran Ferris who duly pointed it. Three minutes later Ciaran Mullan's sideline ball was caught by Jonathan Irwin, who converted it from twenty yards out with his first kick of the day. Danny O'Connor concluded Drumsurn's scoring in this game on forty six minutes, when he was played in by Ciaran Ferris.

Enter Faughanvale Ņ

They dominated the remainder of the game, scoring (2-4). Drumsurn had lost the midfield battle, defensively we looked weak and the forwards provided no protection at all. It was as if the whole team had decided they had done enough to win the game. Even the introduction of Dean O'Neill couldn't help the cause.

Their first point was from twenty yards out and kicked straight across the face of the goal. For their second, the ball was won in midfield and carried unchallenged through our defense. Their third was from a twenty yard free kick. With two points between the teams Faughanvale scored their third goal of the game to take the lead for the first time in this half.

They won the midfield battle once again and cut through the defense, kicking the ball to the back of the net. Jonathan Irwin was guilty of giving the ball away, from which Faughanvale converted to bring the score line to (1-10 to 3-06)

With two points in it and five minutes to go all was not lost, especially when additional time had also to be added. Drumsurn started to apply the pressure, but just couldn't capitalise on it. With two minutes remaining on the clock Ciaran Mullan opted to shoot for goal only to see his shot saved. Faughanvale then on the counterattack broke and found the net for a fourth time. A cross field ball cut apart the defense once again.

Game set and match Faughanvale Ņ.

In youth we learn, with age we understand. I just don't understand how a teams performance and fitness can diminish so much in the space of six days.

Team and scorers
Steven Harbinson; Dane Mullan, Christopher Harbinson, Barry Moore; Michael Archibald, Colm Feeney (0-1), Cahir Mullan; Ciaran Mullan (0-2), Damian Canning; Jonathan Irwin (0-1), Ryan Mullan (0-1), Paul Butcher; Danny O'Connor (1-3), Pierce McNickle, Ciaran Ferris (0-2)

Subs
Dean O'Neill for Ciaran Ferris (51 mins)