By Matthew Wilson
Drumkeen United 4
Curragh Athletic 1
Drumkeen United secured their place in the next round of the Brian McCormick Cup with a superb 4-1 victory over Curragh Athletic at St Patrick’s Park on Sunday.
The hosts were trailing at the midway point of this match however, a fine second stanza, which saw them score four goals, earned them a spot in the next round of the cup.
Curragh Athletic started this contest the brighter of the two and had a chance to hit the front after seven minutes of play.
Stephen Carlin had possession on the right-hand side and swung an inviting delivery in the direction of Daithi Scanlon at the back post but he couldn’t make sufficient contact with the ball.
On the 21 minute mark, the visitors did manage to find the breakthrough.
Cian Gallagher played a brilliant through ball into the path of striker Stephen Carlin who darted towards goal before slotting the ball past Roy Duffy and into the net.
Drumkeen United grew into proceedings and had a glorious opportunity to level terms on the half hour mark.
An inswinging corner-kick from Niall Howley found Paul Clarke at the back stick but the defender saw his attempt come back off the post.
The hosts continued to search for an equaliser and came close to finding it in the closing stages of Act One.
Shane Barclay pounced on a stray pass from Jefferson Marques de Moraes and tried his luck from distance but his attempt went over the crossbar.
This would be the last action of the opening stanza, leaving the away side with a narrow cushion at the interval.
Five minutes after the restart, the home outfit did find a leveller courtesy of a set-piece.
Substitute Kieran Doherty delivered a great ball which was met by the head of Paul Clarke, who saw his effort saved by Jason Woods but he tapped in the follow-up.
This goal gave the St Patrick’s Park residents a boost and just after the hour mark, they found the back of the net for a second time.
Kieran Doherty swung in another superb set-piece delivery, and once again it was Paul Clarke who rose highest to head home his second goal of the game.
Five minutes later, the home side came close to adding their third goal of the second half, but Chris Darby’s long-range effort rattled the post.
As we approached the final 15 minutes, another opportunity fell the way of the home side.
Shane Barclay played a great ball over the top of the defence which Shane Laverty got to before goalkeeper Woods but his lofted attempt went just wide off the mark.
Moments later, the Drumkeen men did manage to stretch their advantage, as Chris Darby poked the ball home from inside the box, much to the delight of the home faithful.
On the 80 minute mark, the hosts added a fourth and final goal as Shane Barclay’s effort was saved by Woods, but Kazeem Balogun was on-hand to tap home the rebound moments after being introduced.
Teams
Drumkeen United: Roy Duffy; Shea Alex Deasley, Kevin Boyle, Fergal Quinn, Paul Clarke; Niall Howley, Kieran Cunningham, Shane Laverty, Shane Barclay; Chris Darby, Mark Higgins. Subs: Kieran Doherty for Quinn (half-time), Kehinde Ibikunle for Cunningham (56 mins), Enda McDevitt and Mickey Black for Deasley and Boyle (66 mins), Kazeem Balogun for Darby (80 mins).
Curragh Athletic: Jason Woods; Dennis O’Brien, Michael O’Brien, Cian Gallagher, Dylan Gallagher; Daithi Scanlon, Bernard Lafferty, Cian O’Brien, Jefferson Marques de Moraes; Stephen Carlin, Oisin Coyle. Subs: Ryan Coyle for Gallagher (half-time), Caolan Burns for Coyle (80 mins).
Referee: George Clinton