A draw was a fair result if you were a Drumsurn supporter, Faughanvale will wonder how this game ended this way. Drumsurn’s defence was superb keeping the Faughanvale score line within reach. The result came at a cost when with three minutes remaining on the clock Ciaran Mullan was carried from the field of play with a knee injury.

Faughanvale opened the scoring in the second minute courtesy of a wayward pass out of defence from Martin Mullan. Two minutes later Paul Butcher kicked the equalizer after Dean O’Neill won the ball in the corner and skilfully worked it across the pitch. Ciaran Mullan gave the seniors the lead in the eighth minute when he converted a free won by Pierce McNickle.

The visitors to Billy Doran Park equalised two minutes later when a defensive mistake forced Mick Coll to pick the ball off the ground. With fifteen minutes played Faughanvale re-established the lead this time from play when they worked a short sideline ball across the pitch, eventually kicking their point. Three minutes later a second Faughanvale sideline ball was played square across the pitch resulting in another point.

With two points between the teams Drumsurn drew level courtesy of a fisted point from Pierce McNickle and another from Ciaran Ferris after a period of good possession football.

Faughanvale replied with two points of their own, one from a forty yard free kick and the other from the resulting kick out when they won possession and kicked it straight over the bar.

Ciaran Mullan brought the half to a close by kicking his second point of the game courtesy of a free won by Jonathan Irwin. Drumsurn went in at the break trailing by one point on a score line of 0-05 to 0-06.

Drumsurn were slow to exit the changing room after the half time break but when the whistle blew they were quick off the mark and scored two points to regain the lead. The first was scored by Ciaran Mullan, after he won a free. The second was by Paul Butcher which must be considered the point of the match due to a number of quick one two’s between him and his team mates.

With five minutes played Dean O’Neill was substituted for Cathair Friel, he was lightning fast and caused mayhem for the Faughanvale defence over the next twenty five minutes.

Faughanvale played a speculative high ball into the Drumsurn box and as a result Stephen Harbinson fisted it into his own net. This was his only mistake of the game; he was instrumental in every counterattack out of defence and cleared his line on many occasions.

For the next ten minutes neither side registered a score until Ciaran Mullan kicked a point from a free in the seventeenth minute to reduce the gap once again to one point. Four minutes later he converted his final point when he converted a free kick won by Cathair Friel.

Faughanvale replied immediately with a point regaining the lead. Two minutes later Jonathan Irwin fielded a high ball on the edge of the box, turned and kicked the ball over the bar to draw the team’s level again.

At the other end Ryan Mullan made an important goal line clearance to keep the teams level before Ciaran Ferris scored his second and the final Drumsurn point to re-establish the lead with five minutes left to play.

Marty Mullan was replaced by Colm Feeney to bolster the midfield and protect the lead. Then disaster struck …..

Ciaran Mullan went down holding his knee and was eventually carried from the field of play. Faughanvale concluded the scoring for the day bringing the teams level with two minutes to play on a score line of 0-11 to 1-08.

Throughout the game Stephen Harbinson and his defence worked tirelessly to keep the Faughanvale forwards at bay. In midfield Damien Canning was missed for his high fielding.

This has been a good start to the season by the seniors with three games played and five points gained. Keep it up!!

Team and scorers
Stephen Harbinson, Craig Chewing, Christopher Harbinson, Dane Mullan; Michael Archibald, Cahir Mullan, Paul Butcher (0-02); Michael Coll, Ryan Mullan; Martin Mullan, Ciaran Ferris (0-02), Jonathan Irwin (0-01); Pierce McNickle (0-01), Ciaran Mullan (0-05), Dean O’Neill

Subs
Cathair Friel for Dean O’Neill, Colm Feeney for Martin Mullan, Mark McLaughlin for Michael Archibald, Dean O’Neill for Ciaran Mullan