Darragh just about do enough to win

Darragh just about do enough to win

10 August 2016

DARRAGH edged through to the next round of the IFC on Monday, coming through a scrappy game in Hilltown against Newry Shamrocks. 

It was last chance saloon for both these sides in this year’s championship, with Darragh having lost to An Riocht last weekend, and St Johns beating Division 3 table-toppers Shamrocks. 

Shane Murray opened the scoring with a free for Darragh, before a Killian McEvoy leveller. Marcus Miskelly pointed off the left boot before a 45 was worked short and Mark McMahon split the posts to put The Cross two up. 

A long range free for Niall Cunningham cut the gap to the minimum, but the first goal of the game soon followed at the opposite end, when McMahon teed up Shane Murray who strode around the ‘keeper and stroked to the empty net. 

Steve Dineen hooked over the next score to put Darragh five clear, but the Newry men rallied and were the better side for the remainder of the half, taking four of the next six scores. 

Darragh extend their lead to 1-6 to 0-3 with points from Anton McGrattan and Marcus Miskelly after Damien McKeown had pointed for Shamrocks. It was game on again soon after, though, when a high ball caused problems to the Darragh full back line, with Rory Miskelly twice making saves in the ensuing scramble, but the ball was eventually poked home by Jody McGovern. 

Shamrocks followed this up with Killian and Ferghal McEvoy scores to go in at half-time trailing by just 1-6 to 1-5, after looking almost dead and buried ten minutes previous. 

Darragh’s Lee Morrison curled over a great free from wide on the right flank to open the scoring in the second half, before a fine score from play at the other 

end from a tight angle from Cunningham.

Shamrocks then levelled it up with the next point through Jordan Murphy, but Darragh tightened up at the back and between the 40th and 52nd minute of the game took five points without reply to take command of the tie. 

Matty Hardy and Steve Dineen scored from play, with two Shane Murray frees and one from Morrison added. 

Niall Lennon and Killian McEvoy pulled back points as Shamrocks chased a goal to get back into it in the closing moments. Darragh progress without ever being at their best on the night, and after the game were drawn to play Glassdrumman in the next round, a match will take place at Pairc Esler this Sunday at 6.30pm. 

Darragh Cross: R Miskelly, T Hughes, O McConvey, P Branney, J Murray, S Dineen (0-2), E Sweeney, M Hardy (0-1), D Heaney, M McMahon (0-1), A McGratton (0-1), S Murray (1-3, 3f), L Morrison (0-2, 2f), M Miskelly (0-2), T McMahon. Subs: C Murray, B Ward and J Flynn.

Darragh Cross 1-12

Newry Shamrocks 1-09

TROCAIRE IFC