Aghyaran deny Drumquin victory with brace of late two pointers

Drumquin 0-14  Aghyaran 0-14

AGHYARAN rescued a draw with a brace of two pointers in injury time at McGirr Park on Friday evening, denying hosts Drumquin their first victory since being promoted back to Division Two.

The free from captain Eoghan McHugh which restored parity with the last kick prompted a brief dust up between both sets of players after the final whistle, with the Wolfe Tones aggrieved that the original award of a “45” had been overturned for a technical infringement, which under the new rules enabled the St Davogs to plant that two point equaliser from the placed ball outside the 40m arc.

Drumquin had led 0-14 to 0-10 courtesy of a 58th minute two point free by impressive midfielder Oisin Gormley which left them on the cusp of an encouraging victory in their first home game of the season, but with the dynamics altered these days in terms of the scoring system, it just took a mighty hoof from midfielder Caolan McGinty to halve the deficit, before skipper McHugh stepped up to put the visitors back on an even keel.

On a dank overcast evening Aghyaran almost enjoyed a dream start but Pearce Goan’s fisted goal was ruled out by referee Mark Loughran for a square ball.

Oisin Gormley then belted over a superb two point effort at the other end to get Drumquin off and running, and while McHugh replied with a free, it was the home side who looked the more assured and cohesive in the first period.

Ronan Strain surged up the middle to split the posts, while the lively Finnen Patterson was twice on target with skilful finishes, and Gormley then thumped another monster two pointer to leave it 0-7 to 0-1.

Despite another couple of converted McHugh frees, Aghyaran struggled to make much attacking headway against a resolute and tenacious Drumquin rearguard (a series of athletic block downs highlighting their determination). And another composed strike over the black spot by Patterson left Drumquin firmly in the box-seat leading 0-8 to 0-3 at the break.

They almost opened further significant daylight on the resumption when Gormley floated another dangerous delivery in around the Aghyaran square, and it took an agile goal-line clearance by full-back Cormac McHugh to keep St Davog’s net intact.

Eoghan McHugh and Gormley did trade frees, before the former sent a rocket of a two pointer over from the left wing, and quickly followed up with a two point free to leave one in it- 0-9 to 0-8.

The visitors suffered a blow when half-forward Connor McHugh was red carded midway through the second half, but a subsequent black card for Drumquin attacker Paul Sheridan levelled up the numbers for a ten minute spell.

It was ten points apiece when another McHugh two point free cancelled out Sean McDonagh’s close range free for the Tones.

With the outcome in the melting pot Drumquin attacker Oisin McMenamin put them in the driving seat again with a couple of sharply taken scores, and with Gormley following up with a two point free, they appeared to be almost home and hosed.

However Aghyaran refused to throw in the towel and eventually earned due reward for their late endeavours.

 Scorers

Drumquin: Oisin Gormley (0-7,2 tp, 1 tpf), Finnen Patterson (0-3), Oisin McMenamin (0-2), Ronan Strain (0-1), Sean McDonagh (0-1,f)

Aghyaran: Eoghan McHugh (0-12, 2tpf, 2tp, 4f), Caolan McGinty (0-2,tp)

 Teams

Drumquin: Enda Gormley, Padraic Rodgers, Daniel Patterson, Cormac Donnelly, Eoin Skelton, Ronan Strain, Stephen Gormley, Finucane Glackin, Oisin Gormley, Oisin Rodgers, Finnen Patterson, Oisin McMenamin, Frankie McAlynn, Sean McDonagh, Paul Sheridan. Sub used: Caolan Gormley for O Rodgers (21mins)

Aghyaran: Niall Hilley, Jack Gallagher, Cormac McHugh, Caolan McHugh, Tomas Dolan, Barry McMenamin, Alex Dolan, Ciaran McGlinchey, Caolan McGinty, Connor McHugh, Ronan McLaughlin, Kevin Penrose, Brian Penrose, Eoghan McHugh, Pearce Goan. Subs used: Odhran Browne for K Penrose (45mins), Gerard Carlin for P Goan (45)

Referee: Mark Loughran (Errigal Ciaran)