Drumsurn edge intense Championship opener

Drumsurn 2-14 ... Castledawson 0-14

Goals from Shea Murray and Dara Rafferty proved the difference as Drumsurn picked up a vital win under lights on home soil on Friday night.

It leaves Castledawson facing a crunch game with Greenlough this weekend to keep their championship hopes alive.

It was a cracking game, played at championship intensity, typifying what was at stake. An excellent advertisement to get the competition off the ground.

The ‘Dawson will rue a host of missed chances in the third quarter as they chased the game. There were times when it looked like there was a momentum change until Dara Rafferty’s opened a five-point gap with the finish line in sight.

Niall Keenan handled a monopoly of ball but they weren’t able to keep their supply to the dangerous Dara O’Kane in the second half.

Fearghal McKenna went through a mountain of work at midfield with Dara Rafferty doing likewise for the winners.

While Castledawson ‘keeper McOscar was forced to vary his kick-outs short, Ronan Rafferty went long towards Dara Rafferty. Drumsurn’s tactic of having Ruairi Rafferty hoover up the breaks was a major influence on the game.

Ruairi was everywhere. They also had the McHugh brothers – Tiarnán and Turlough – as options with Conor Rafferty another target when the went long on the left wing.

John McAllister kicked two important scores to keep Castledawson in touch but it was Drumsurn’s use of Daryl Mullan and Shea Murray that was key.

Murray was always an outlet away from goal with Mullan’s catch from a Dara Rafferty the source of Murray’s first-half goal that separated the sides at half-time, 1-8 to 0-9.

With two teams emerging from all four groups to make up the quarter-final line-up, this weekend’s games weren’t knockout. However, Greenlough’s presence in this group heaped extra importance on Friday night’s encounter.

Who knows, the six-point margin could be a useful tool with the potential of score difference becoming a factor ahead of the quarter-finals.

Drumsurn had the aid of a slight breeze in the first half and flooded their attack with a well-planned kick-out press. They were also very vocal as they closed down the space, all adding to a cocktail of intensity in the opening quarter.

It forced Castledawson to either kick long into the McHughs and Raffertys or work it short. McOscar’s ability to kick off both feet meant Drumsurn couldn’t cheat on leaving anyone free and he was still able to get some kicks away.

When Turlough McHugh pulled a two-point effort wide early on, a short kick-out had the ‘Dawson out of trouble with Niall Keenan’s footwork invaluable. He began the move that led to Dara O’Kane’ opening score.

Dara Rafferty levelled the game before another Niall Keenan possession led to a second Dara O’Kane score.

After a superb Conor Rafferty two-point score, a Daryl Mullan point – originally waved wide – put the home side 0-4 to 0-2 after referee McWilliams overruled his umpires.

Rian Connery and Niall Keenan were involved in the move that led to a third and identical Dara O’Kane point, peeling inside on the loop before kicking over off his left peg.

It was his last from play with Niall McNicholl getting a vital block as the jinked left and right before pulling the trigger on the shot later in the first half.

Shea and Fearghal McKenna kicked points to level the game before a Shea Murray free edged Drumsurn into a lead they never lost, 0-6 to 0-5 with the 20th minute in sight.

Then game Drumsurn’s first hammer blow. Dara Rafferty spotted Daryl Mullan at the edge of the square before feeding him with a perfectly flighted angled ball. It was brilliantly fielded before he laid off to the incoming Shea Murray who blasted to the net for a 1-6 to 0-5 lead. Direct, simple, perfectly time and an important boost.

Murray and Niall McNicholl added frees to give Drumsurn the six-point lead they were able to control the rest of the game with.

Castledawson survived another goal chance, a speculative one when a long ball caused panic in the box before McOscar was able to clear the danger.

In the end, it was a lead Drumsurn needed. Castledawson hit the last four points of the half. First, it was Conn and John McAllister on target in quick succession before a Dara O’Kane free left a goal between the sides. Their revival was complete when Fearghal McKenna’s shot crept inside the post and it was game on, 1-8 to 0-9.

If anything, the interval came at the wrong time for Tiarnan Boyle’s side. It gave Drumsurn a chance to regroup and after they won the second half throw-in, Turlough McHugh extended the margin back to three.

He added a second point before the influential Ruairi Rafferty made a score for Shea Murray. Turlough McHugh then cut inside before feeding older brother Tiarnán who fisted Drumsurn 1-12 to 0-10 ahead.

John McAllister notched a timely score for Castledawson who may have added another only for an excellent Tiarnan Woods block on Shea McKenna.

McKenna then added a free before brother Fearghal kicked a two-point free to leave just a point between the sides, 1-12 to 0-14. It was Castledawson’s last score.

It was around the time Niall Keenan had a goal chance but a Woods hand was enough to avert the danger. A Shea Murray free giving Drumsurn some breathing space as Castledawson began to tighten the screw.

The ‘Dawson where then left to rue a host of missed chances including a free that came down off the post. There was also an important intervention from Daniel McNicholl. It was one of those typical game of inches moments.

Their hopes then came crashing down when Woods fed Dara Rafferty on the run who crashed his shot to the net.

As Castledawson chased a game that was beyond them, it was Ruairi Rafferty who capped off an all-energy performance with the final score of an enthralling game.

Scorers

Drumsurn: Shea Murray 1-3 (2f), Dara Rafferty 1-1, Turlough McHugh 0-3, Conor Rafferty 0-2 (tp), Sean Butcher (f), Niall McNicholl (f), Tiarnán McHugh, Daryl Mullan and Ruairi Rafferty 0-1 each

Castledawson: Dara O’Kane 0-5 (2f), Fearghal McKenna 0-4 (1tpf), Shea McKenna (1f), John McAllister 0-2 each and Conn McAllister 0-1

Drumsurn: Ronan Rafferty; Eoin Ferris, Daniel McNicholl, Niall McNicholl; Fearghal McIntyre, Tiarnan Woods, Ruairi Rafferty; Dara Rafferty, Conor Raffferty; Tiarnán McHugh, Turlough McHugh, Sean Butcher; Harry Foster, Daryl Mullan, Shea MurraySubs used: Shane Harkin, Micheal McCloskey, Aaron Butcher

Castledawson: Tiarnan McOscar; Ronan McCloy, Sebastian Layden, Tony Gallagher; Niall Keenan, Tom McLarnon, Conn McAllister; Fearghal McKenna, Colman Bradley; Rian Connery, Shea McKenna, John McAllister; Dara O’Kane, Sean McOscar, Odhran McKennaSubs used: Pearse Keenan, Patrick Craig, Joe Craig

Referee: Gregory McWilliams (Ballinascreen)