GAA - Drum edge out Colmcille

H & A Mechanical Services ACFL Division 3 Drum edge out Colmcille Doire Colmcille 0-7 Drum 2-9 Steven Doherty reports from Pairc Colmcille A Conor O’Reilly goal late into injury time as Doire Colmcille were pushing forward to get somethig out the game, took the shine off a very heart-lifting performance from Division Three bottom club. Drum, one of junior football’s power houses, will know full well they were in a game at Pairc Colmcille and only when Rory O’Reilly fired home the first goal of the game in the 54th minute did Drum manage to stretch any real gap between the two protagonists. Few gave the the city men a chance. Why would they? Winless Colmcille, bottom of the table and favourites along wth Magherafelt 3rds to claim this year’s wooden spoon, were hosting second placed Drum who have high hopes of gaining promotion to the intermediate ranks this season. And yet somehow Doire Colmcille produced a valiant display of football and although that unenviable quest for that elusive first win stretches one week longer, they will take heart from their plucky performance. Perched on the shoulder of Sherriff’s Mountain, Pairc Colmcille can be hostage to the elements, even on a good day. Yesterday at Lowry’s Lane it was unseasonably cold, wet and wintry. And the relentless rain was no friend to football. And that suited the hosts best. The two sides went in at half-time 0-4 apiece, with the lead changing hands four times. Donal Brolly – Drum’s best player on the day – opened the scoring in the 2nd minute of the game. Points from Declan McErlean and star man Dean Curran saw Colmcille reply and take the advanatge soon after. Drum rallied strongly half way through the opening thirty minutes and consecutive scores from the burly Paddy Moore, Conor O’Reilly and that man Brolly again suggested the men drom St Colm’s had found their ryhthm and range. However, the home side fought back gamely. Conal Duffy converted the best point of the half before Dean Curran’s late free took the sides in all square at the break. Half-time 0-4 each With that powerful mountain breeze at their back, Drum’ secnd half showing began brightly through points from Conr O’Reily and Donal Brolly. In truth Drum were far from their free flowing best, but that’s to discount Donal Brolly’s pacy direct runs which opened up the Colmcille defence like a tin of sardines. Two Dean Curran frees, both from distance, brought the home side to within two points as Colmcille produced their best phases of the game. Former Derry City striker Tommy McBride was outstanding carrying dangerous ball from defence to attack at lightning speed, while Dee Watson and Malachy Campbell were also willing ball carriers and key line breakers. However, just when Doire Colmcille were threatening one of the great upsets, two of Drum’s most experienced campaigners brought the curtain down definitively on the home side’s hopes. Brolly made his umpteenth drec run at the heart of the Colmcille rearguard before setting up O’Reilly who made no mistake when finding te back of the net. Colmcille weren’t finished yet. Nor was Dean Curran, Curran made an equally eye catching forage forward, beating a player or two before sending over a find point. Four points down and with time quickly running out, Colmcille then lost Dee Watson who had to be carried off the field after making a fearless tackle with little regard to his own safety. An injury time goal and a free from the reliable Conor O’Reilly stretched Drum’s eventual winning margin to eight points. Duffy sees room for optimism Doire Colmcille manager Brian Duffy, as always, had shouted himself hoarse during a very tight tussle but he had enough words left to speak to the Derry News. “We’ve been saying for a while now that Colmcille are a young team and it wil take time to develop. We fear absolutely nobdoy in this league and we will give everybody respect, but I think Drum will be first to admit that they had a game there today. They’re a very strong team and they sit second in the league. We can make all the excuses about work committmemts, about exams and injuries but we have a sound bunch of dedicated players here at the minute and we will develop week in week out as a team.” Duffy was keen to eulogise a number of talented prospects that gained vital game time at Pairc Colmcille yesterday. “We had four starting minors on there today and they played the full 60 minutes and the Drum players that marked them will kow all about that. We’re developing the club here. The training pitch is going to be developed here, the pitch and changing rooms are already here. Everything is moving in the right direction. A few wins in this league this year is what our ambitions were this year and we still think we will achieve that. And then we have the championship to play for.” More than any othet player, little Dee Watson pitomises the heart of his club. Watson was producing his usual tireless, fearless display of football before a nasty injury caused when both himself and a Drum player collided bravely going for the same ball brougt a premature end to his day. Watson’s manager Duffy is a big fan. “Dee is a fantastic young player. He’s come off there today not knowing what day it is and where he is. But when he’s on the pitch he knows exactly what he’s at. When he’s on the pitch he gives 100%. If I had 20 like him we would be a Divison One club.” “We knew it wasn’t going to be easy. The club went through a lull for a long time because we had no ground. But it might take us 3 or 4 years to get to where we want to be but thee’s no doubt in my mind that we’re on the right road. No doubt about it.” DOIRE COLMCILLE: Michael Nash, Daibhead McHugh, Eamon O’Neill, Ethan McDaid, Thomas McBride, Adam McDaid, Malachy Campbell, Paul Cutliffe, Declan McErlean, Damian Watson, Dean Curran, Matthew Carlin, Conal Duffy, Harry Curran, Matthew Maguire Subs: Sean Brown, James Gillespie, Caolan Tiernaey DRUM: Cahair O’Kane, Liam Miller, Alex Moore, Kevin O’Reilly, Niall Burke, Conor O’Kane, Seamus O’Kane, Ryan O’Kane, James McCartney, Ryan O’Reilly, Niall Farren, Marc McLaughlin, Conor O’Reilly, Paddy Moore, Donal Brolly Suns: Rory O’Reilly, Cathal O’kane, Shea Moore