Naomh Eoghan tops in derby

Naomh Eoghan  2-10

Strabane 0-7

PAIRC Naomh Eoghain played host to the North Tyrone ACL Division Two  derby clash between Naomh Eoghan and Strabane on Sunday afternoon with the home side recording a comfortable win which all but ensures their place at Intermediate level for next season whilst Sigersons are set to be relegated to Junior level.
It was the first time that the two teams had officially clashed at this level as they played in different sections last season and on the basis of this result, they will undoubtedly play in different divisions next season.
The home side got off to a fantastic start in the opening five minutes when Ryan Mayse got on to the end of a long ball in by Damien Coyle and finished low and hard to the Strabane net. Strabane responded with Oran McGrath sending over a point from a free kick with Aidan McSorley responding for the home side. Strabane then hit three unanswered points to level matters with Oran McGrath firing over a fine brace from play and Kyle Morrison also landed a long-range point.
Naomh Eoghan edged in front with a fine point from play via the industrious Aidan McSorley and then Strabane had a chance to go in front when they were awarded a penalty, but goalkeeper Declan Devine turned Conal Crawford’s effort around the post.
Ruairi Gormley pointed from the resultant forty-five metre kick but in the run up to the interval Naomh Eoghan added a brace of points via the diligent Ryan Mayse.
It looked as though it was all to play for in the second half, but Naomh Eoghan totally dominated the proceedings as Strabane struggled. Aidan McSorley fired over a brace of points, one from play and one from a free kick whilst the impressive Ryan Mayse added a trio of points, two from play and a sweet sore from, a forty-five-metre kick.
It took Strabane eighteen minutes to register their first score with Oran McGrath who tried hard landing his fourth point of the contest.
With seven minutes of the game remaining, Naomh Eoghan struck for their second goal and again it was that man Ryan Mayse who was involved taking on the Strabane defence and unselfishly laying the ball off to Tiarnan Mayse who planted it in the Strabane net to seal an emphatic win. Aidan McSorley and Mickey Logue traded late points for their respective sides.
Naomh Eoghan will be happy with the win and the manner of their play whilst for Strabane, it’s inevitable that they will play at Junior level for the first time since 2008.