BLANKET attack! Craigbane and Drumsurn turned modern day notions of ultra defensive football on their head with a scorefest that would have had the RTE's reactionary television panel pundits purring with satisfaction.
Seven goals and 27 points in an hour of exhilarating football, this was spectacular stuff as Craigbane recovered from spell of defensive dereliction in the first half, reeling in a deficit that at "one stage stood at nine points, to book their place in the final of the Intermediate football championship.
That they managed it was largely down to the finishing power of county panellist Lee Moore, who contributed a whopping 2-08 to his club's tally. But he was ably supported by Bliain Gormley and Aidy McLaughlin, who stepped things up in midfield after the break while the experience of former Derry players Fergal Crossan and Cathal O'Kane at centre half-back and centre half-forward also proved vital.
Drumsurn will be left wonder how they managed to score five goals and lose this game. The St Matthew's men played some stunning attacking football at times with Pearse McNickIe and Cathair Friel a well matched duo with the former's power and ball winning ability complemented by the latter's searing pace.
The opening exchanges saw the teams trade points as Brian Rainey and Ryan Moore's points for Craigbane were cancelled out by Ciaran Mullan's 45' and Pearse McNickle's beautifully taken score on the turn.
Then the fun really started as the Craigbane defence seemed to lose concentration for a three minute spelL Michael Coli, who impressed throughout the first half in Drumsurn's midfield, claimed a final ball at midfield he launched a pass into Friel who laid the ball off for McNickle to round the keeper and finish to the empty net.
Ninety seconds later came a second Drumsurn goal as FergaI Crossan slipped while carrying the bailout of defence, allowing Ciaran Mullan to feed Friel, who finished with aplomb.
The Craigbane full-back line was reeling and within a minute they shipped a third goal when Ryan Mullan exchanged passes with Friel before finishing past the shell shocked Paul Sharkey for a 3-02 to 0-02 lead.
Lee Moore steadied the Craigbane ship after a foul on younger brother Ryan but the St. Joseph's side came within inches of conceding a fourth goal as a last gasp challenge flected Paul Butcher's goal attemp for a 45' which Mullan converted for a point.
Craigbane finally began to get a foothold in the game as Gavin Conwell moved out the field to win some importan breaks around the middle.Lee Moore kicked two frees and Cathal O'Kane pointed to close the gap to six but Drumsurn sti went in with a health 3-04 to 0-06 lead at the break.
The 10 minutes after half-time were to prove decisive as Craigbane too control of the game. Bliain Gormley from a 45' and O'Kane from plaj kicked points to close the advantage and then Lee Moore sent a penalty to the net when he himself has been bundled down in the square after claiming the rebound when his brother Ryan's goal attempt came back off the upright.
The elder Moore brother then added another point from a free and when Aidy McLaughlin burst forward to point, it meant that Drumsurns handsome seven point interval advantage had been wiped out in just seven minutes.
Gavin Conwell edged Craigbane in front from a free and though Cathair Friel responded with a goal attempt that just skimmed the top of the crossbar for point it was the St Joseph's who were in control and two points from Lee Moore and one from Rory Gormley saw them lead by 1-14 to 3-05 with 15 minutes to play.
Friel then had another effort on goal well saved before Paul Butcher notched his second point of the game. Another Conwell free kept up the Craigbane onslaught but just when it looked they had victory in their grasp back came Drumsurn with Butcher setting Friel free to finish superbly to the net with the outside of his boot to level matters at 4-06 to 1-15 with nine minutes to play.
The experienced Crossan kicked an important long range score to edge Craigbane back in front. Noel Reilly then carved open the Drumsurn defence with a searing burst of pace his finish was poor but Lee Moore was on hand at the back post shoot home from close range and when he added another point from play Craigbane led by five.
Still Drumsurn refused to yield and Ciaran Mullan blasted home a fifth goal on 59 minutes to keep on their nerves. Fergal Crossan's second point put a goal between the teams again but Mullan replied from a free. Lee Moore took his tally for the day to 2-8 in injury time to restore the three point gap and Drumsurn's last attack saw Friel fire just over from a close range free as he attempted to find the top corner as Craigbane finally saw the valiant challenge of Dominic Woods' side.
Craigbane playmaker Cathal O'Kane was just glad to get out of Celtic Park with a win, but paid tribute to the influence Gavin Conwell made when he came out around the middle.
They used the wind they blitzed at the start with the goals a couple of them came from our own mistakes and we were up against it after that.
"We knew at half-time we had to regroup, we'd missed a couple of chances ourselves in the first and we knew that if we tagged on the points the goals would come eventually but it was hard work.
"They were winning a lot of around the middle in the first and with the wind they were putting it in early and to be fair it worked out well for them. There are a few things we did out there that we will have to have a look at before the final.
"Gavin Conwell is an experienced man and he won a lot of breaking ball for us towards the end of the first half when we needed to steady things.
"Maybe we took our foot off that gas after we got back in front and Drumsurn came back at us with a couple more goals, fair play to them and we were delighted to have hung on there at the end. Lee is a class act we always know that if we can the ball into him he'll do the damage in terms of scores, he said.
For a Drumsurn side who have had a superb championship adventure. the game was typical of the drama and excitement they've brought to this competition, but that made the pill no less bitter for their manager Dominic Woods.
"It's a bitter pill to swallow, I'd say that's one of the best games ever seen here at Intermediate level, unfortunately we weren't victorious but we can be proud of the performance. It wasn't to be on the day.
"We knew at half-time that they wouldn't come out and go for goals that they would use the breeze and come out and they had players who could fire the ball over from anywhere.
"The penalty changed the game in their favour once they got the goal then they could work away at kicking points from distance with the breeze and they did that well.
"Drumsurn on their day is as good as any team in the intermediate league. I think maybe our fitness killed us a wee bit at the end, when you get to this stage of the championship it is always going to play a part against a quality team like Craigbane
"I have to say good luck to them. It was always going to be tough for us but we felt we were capable of winning the game.
"We never listen to the pundits. At the start of the year we were tipped to be fighting relegation and to go out of the championship in the first round and then the qualifiers.
"We always felt we have the players to go the whole way and we still have the players to do that as long as we can keep the work situation right at home", he said
Drumsurn : Stephen Harbinson; Dane Mullan, Cahir Mullan, Craig Chewning; Daryl Mullan, Paul Butcher (0-2),. Chris Harbinson; Michael Coll, Damien Canning; Ryan Mullan (1-00), Ciaran Mullan (1-02, 0-02 45s, 0-01f), Ciaran Ferris; Martin Mullan, Pearse McNickle (1- 01), Cathair Friel (2-02)
Subs : Micheal Archibald for Coll (47), Matt Ferris for Martin Mullan (56), Ronan McNickle for Claran Ferris (58)
Craigbane : Paul Sharkey; Cathal McLaughlin, Ruairi Moore, Martin McGinty; Brian Rainey (0-01), Fergal Cross an (0-02), Adrian Devine; Bliain Gorrnley (0-01 45'), Aid)" McLaughlin (0-01); Rory Gormley (0-01), Cathal O'Kane (0-02), David Lowry; Ryan Moore (0-01), Lee Moore (2-08, 0-04f), Gavin Conwell (0-02f)
Subs : Noel Reilly for Lowry (44)
Referee : Joe Mulholland (Moneymore)