Greenlough travelled into North Derry for their crucial final league game against Drumsurn on Saturday afternoon, 7th November, knowing they needed at least a point to avoid a relegation play-off against Faughanvale.
In what was the final game in Division 3 for 2009, Drumsurn were in the same position as their opponents, so both teams desperately needed the points. Despite the intensity of the game, the match was preceded with a minute silence in memory of the Drumsurn player who so tragically died last week, and was observed impeccably by both sets of players and supporters.
When the game started, the first six minutes saw the St Oliver Plunkett's men start the brightest, with 2 pointed frees from Enda Lynn; Niall Bradley being upended for the first and Enda fouled for the second. Drumsurn replied with their first point of the game a minute later, only for Greenlough to reply with a further 3 to stretch the lead to 4 by the 10th minute.
Christopher Henry, making a rare outing for the senior team, pointed the first of the three unanswered scores with a good effort from distance following good work from Cormac O'Neill and Seamus Graham, before Christopher turned provider, setting up Enda Lynn for his 3rd in under 5 minutes. Seamus Graham then completed the burst of scoring with a good fisted effort in the 10th minute.
Just when it looked as though Greenlough were getting a grip on the game, the homeside found the back of the net when a high ball evaded the Greenlough defence and county player Ciaran Mullan blasted home the goal. Two quick points then saw Drumsurn take the lead for the first time in the game, but only for a short period.
Fintan Kelly rifled over from 30 yards to level in the 16th minute, and then 3 minutes later Greenlough were ahead when Christopher Henry proved his accuracy in front of goals yet again, with a massive point following good work from Cormac O'Neill and Fintan.
The lead continued to swing back and forwards between the teams in the hotly contested game, with three unanswered points from Drumsurn putting the homeside two points up with seven minutes of the first half remaining.
Enda Lynn then had a great chance to put Greenlough ahead, but his rasping shot was well saved, only for Fintan Kelly to hit another long range point moments later to close the gap to the minimum. Then as the game entered the final minute of the first half the teams were drawn level yet again, when Christopher Lagan got on the score sheet with a well taken point.
Soon afterwards the half-time whistle was blown and the teams entered the changing rooms as they exited 30 minutes earlier, on level terms.
Half-Time: Drumsurn 1-06 Greenlough 0-09
As with the first half Greenlough started the brighter, and despite two early wides, retook the lead with a point from Cormac O'Neill in the first minute. A further point from Fintan Kelly in the 6th minute, following good build up play by Seamus Graham and Christopher Lagan was cancelled out within seconds with Drumsurn's first of the half.
However Greenlough then stepped it up a gear again and pushed forward with two further points. The two men involved in setting up the visitors' previous score, then getting on the scoresheet themselves. Christopher Lagan getting his second of the day from a tight angle, before Seamus Graham powered through and pointed following a pass from Cormac O'Neill.
As with a period in the first half when Greenlough looked as though they would pull away from their opponents, Drumsurn dug in and hit back with 3 unanswered points to tie the game yet again. St Matthews continued to put the Greenlough goal under pressure, but only saw their shots sail wide.
Indeed it was against the run of play that Enda Lynn gave St Oliver Plunkett's the lead yet again, when he pointed a 20 meter free, before Fintan Kelly completed his haul of 4 points for the day with a great score when he scythed through the Drumsurn defence and fired over.
Unfortunately for Greenlough, Fintan's score with 9 minutes remaining would prove their last of the game and the season. However, it certainly wasn't Drumsurn's. The homeside again pushed hard, and after even more missed chances, pointed to close the gap to one in the 53rd minute of the game, and then with 4 minutes remaining hit an equaliser to the cheers of the home support.
Both teams then pushed hard for a winner, as both managed to have a couple of wides in the dying minutes. But when the referee blew for full time, the sides, as had been the case all day, could not be separated, leaving the game as a draw at the end, and both in Division 3 for 2010.