The seniors exited the James O’Hagan Cup at the semi final stage tonight, going down by three points to an under strength Slaughtmanus team. Still under strength and without some key players it was a much improved performance in comparison to the previous league and championship results. Key players including Michael Coll, Martin Mullan and Gerard Curley returned to the squad from injury. On the down side Stephen Harbison was missing through injury, but Francis Chivers took up the position between the posts and coped admirably. Like Stephen he has a good strong kick and looked very confident when clearing his line.

Persistent fouling and some silly marking cost the team dearly but only accounted for three of the fourteen Slaughtmanus points. Slaughtmanus out scored the seniors nine points to three in the second half. Most of which started in the heart of the Slaughtmanus defence courtesy of some incomplete Drumsurn passes.

Failing to score in the last ten minutes of the second half (the most important period in a game) didn’t help. Drumsurn were leading eleven points to ten and looked comfortable, but Slaughtmanus scored four unanswered points to win the game. Danny O’Connor and Gerard Curley did have chances to draw the side’s level but failed to take them.

Yes, it would be nice to contest a final, but two points on Sunday would be much more beneficial. Winning the midfield battle and getting tighter on our men are the key factors that will win Sunday’s game. We may have lost the battle but not the war.

The Match

The match started spritely for the seniors when Ciaran Mullan found the back of the net in the opening minute. It would be another twelve minutes before they would score again. In this period Slaughtmanus cancelled out Banty’s goal by scoring three points, two from play.

A two point Drumsurn lead was re-established fifteen minutes into the game when Ciaran Mullan converted a forty five and Ryan Mullan converted a point from play. Both were again cancelled out in the eighteenth and nineteenth minute when a Ryan Mullan foul forty yards out was converted. Ryan’s name found its way into the referee’s book for this rash challenge.

Drumsurn dominated the last ten minutes of the half, keeping Slaughtmanus scoreless. They played some lovely football and scored three points, two from play courtesy of Danny O’Connor and Pierce McNickle the third a free kick from the boot of Ciaran Mullan. Colm Feeny’s tackling in this period was ferocious and simply superb.

Half Time: Drumsurn 1-05 Slaughtmanus 0-05

Slaughtmanus were the quicker of the two teams to get started in the second half. They scored three quick points from play within the first five minutes cancelling out the three point half time lead. Three minutes later Dean O’Neill re-established the Drumsurn lead only for Slaughtmanus to reply with two of their own to take the lead for the first time in the game.

With twenty minutes remaining on the clock Michael Archibald was introduced for Colm Feeny and Michael Coll for Barry Moore.

Ciaran Mullan kicked his second forty yard free to draw the team’s level for the fourth time in the game and then followed up with a thirty yard free, won by Paul Butcher to re-establish the lead. This proved to be their final score of the game. With ten minutes to go Dean O’Neill was replaced with Gerard Curley.

At this point Slaughtmanus found their scoring form again kicking three consecutive short range points from play (for no return) bringing their lead to two points with five minutes to play. Danny and Gerard both had chances to draw the scores level but it was Slaughtmanus who scored next to seal the victory.

Hopefully Sunday’s league match will have a different result with the return of so many players from injury. However, no doubt Slaughtmanus will be at full strength too making for an interesting sequel.

Team and scorers
Francis Chivers; Dane Mullan, Colm Feeny, Barry Moore; Christopher Harbinson, Paul Butcher, Ciaran Ferris; Cahir Mullan, Ryan Mullan; Martin Mullan, Pierce McNickle, Craig Chewing; Dean O'Neill, Danny O'Connor, Ciaran Mullan

Subs
Michael Archibald for Colm Feeny, Michael Coll for Barry Moore