The seniors travelled to Faughanvale on Sunday morning and ran out victors. At half time there was only four points between the teams so to turn a four point lead into a fourteen point victory was very impressive, especially against a Faughanvale team who are normally our Achilles heal. In the second half Drumsurn outscored Faughanvale thirteen points to three.

A first half goal from Paul Butcher and three second half goals, two from Pierce McNickle and one from Cathair Friel sealed the victory in what was an outstanding team performance. The St. Marys men’s cause was made that more impossible when after seventeen minutes of the first half they had a player sent off.

Throughout the game the defence was fantastic; Cahir Mullan, Dane Mullan and Micheal Archibald stuck to the job in hand and on occasions made forward attacking runs. The return of Damien Canning in midfield helped bolster this area and at the same time inspired Ronan McNickle who had an outstanding game in the middle of the park.

Up front all six starting forwards looked lively and managed to score. Their work rate was impressive and the youth of Cathair Friel and Matt Ferris on the wings will prove a handful for any oppositions defence this season.

The match

Pierce McNickle opened the scoring after two minutes with a point from play. From the resulting kick out the Drumsurn midfield won possession and played in Paul Butcher for the opening goal of the game. Faughanvale pulled a point back from play before Paul Butcher kicked his first and Drumsurn’s second point of the game to re-establish a four point lead. Faughanvale kicked their second point of the game, which was cancelled out a minute later when Paul Butcher kicked his second point of the game.

Faughanvale reduced the gap to three points when they caught Drumsurn with a short free kick.

Drumsurn’s response was immediate with a point courtesy of Martin ‘Plump’ Mullan, from the resulting kick out the Drumsurn midfield won the ball and this time played Cathair Friel in for his first point of the game. Cathair followed his first point of the game with a second a minute later before Paul Butcher finished his scoring for the day when he kicked his third point from play.

With fifteen minutes of the game played and seven points the difference between the two teams Drumsurn were looking good for the win.

Over the next few minutes Faughanvale had a man sent off and then found the back of the Drumsurn net to reduce the gap to four points. Two minutes later they converted a free kick, to leave a goal between the teams. Two points from play from Ciaran Mullan and Cathair Friel increased the gap once again before Faughanvale scored the final point of the half with two minutes remaining on the clock.

Half time: Faughanvale 1-5 Drumsurn 1-9

Two goals in the space of seven minutes at the start of the second half sealed the victory for Drumsurn. The first was scored by Cathair Friel the second by Pierce McNickle courtesy of a quick short sideline ball from Shane Moore.

Big Damian was yellow carded ten minutes into the second half and from the resulting free kick Faughanvale registered their first point of this half.

Two minutes later Ciaran Mullan converted a 45yrd free kick, which was followed by another Pierce McNickle point from play. With nine minutes left to play Pierce scored his second and Drumsurn’s fourth goal. From that point on Drumsurn knew the game was over and made a number of changes.

Barry Moore was introduced for Craig Chewing. Ciaran Mullan kicked his final point of the game to leave the score 1-7 to 4-12 with five minutes to play. Mark McLaughlin was then introduced for Cathair Friel and Owen Ferris for Ronan McNickle. Francis Chivers even got a stint in goals all be it two minutes ….

Faughanvale kicked their third and final point of the half before Matt Ferris brought proceedings to a halt when he scored his only and well deserved point from play on the half hour mark.

Restricting Faughanvale to three points in the second half (1 from play) was a remarkable achievement. Keep it up lads, the work rate was fantastic, discipline on the pitch was spot on, but most importantly the togetherness stood out a mile.

Three victories and a draw at home to Desertmartin have catapulted the seniors into 2nd place in the league at this early stage of the season with seven points. It’s all good news for the senior management team; everyone is fit and fighting for their place in the starting fifteen (that includes our goalkeepers Stephen V Francis)

Scorers: Paul Butcher (1-3), Pierce McNickle (2-2), Martin Mullan (0-1), Cathair Friel (1-3), Ciaran Mullan (0-3), Matt Ferris (0-1)

Next up is Swatragh at home this Sunday at 7:00pm.