Table toppers Drumaness overcome struggling Ardglass side

15 June 2022

DRUMANESS continued their unbeaten run in Division 4A after they comfortably overcame a struggling Ardglass side at Ardtole on Friday evening.

It was tit for tat in the opening exchanges until a series of cards brandished by referee Sean McCashin – including a red and black for the hosts – allowed the visitors to take advantage and pull away on the scoreboard.

From here on out, Drumaness never looked back and their lead never seemed to be threatened.

Ardglass began well with Caolain O’Shea pointing from a free just two minutes in to give his side the lead.

Jamie Morgan replied with a point from play for Drumaness before Jamie McDarby gave the home side the advantage once more.

Daniel Bell squared things up at two points apiece and at this stage Ardglass were holding their own against the favoured opponents.

The sunshine had threatened to turn to rain but the playing conditions wouldn’t be the home side’s only concern as defender John Polley limped off the pitch just eight minutes in with Daniel Smyth replacing his position.

O’Shea kicked over another free but once again Drumaness responded, this time through forward Callum Dougan who would finish the game as top scorer with 0-7.

Gary Murdock converted a free to give the visitors a lead they would cease to relinquish before things went from bad to worse for the hosts.

Ardglass forward Conor Feenan was shown two consecutive yellow cards, resulting in a red, after continuously swiping unfairly at his marker in the same passage of play just 15 minutes in.

Drumaness added another point through James McGivern before more cards followed in the space of a minute for Ardglass.

Firstly, Antoin O’Shea entered McCashin’s book with a yellow and then Aaron Ibinson received a black card. With Ardglass now temporarily down to 13 men, Drumaness smelt blood and applied pressure further up the pitch.

Dougan kicked over a free before Ardglass substitute, Daniel Smyth, picked up another yellow card for his side.

Murdock added another free and Dougan continued the onslaught with a further point from play. Ardglass were awarded some relief when the lively McDarby sprinted away from his marker and latched onto a looping hand pass before dispatching his effort beneath Drumaness ‘keeper Gary O’Hare for the game’s only goal.

However, Drumaness would finish the half stronger thanks to a brace of Dougan points.

Half-time: Ardglass 1-3 Drumaness 0-10.

Ardglass may have hoped for a brighter second half, especially when Drumaness’ Patrick Bell received a black card just two minutes after the restart.

However, Jason Noade registered the first point of the half for Drumaness, albeit Caolain O’Shea did manage to reply from a free for the hosts.

Despite being a man down, Drumaness didn’t relinquish in their efforts and added points from substitute Neil McAleenan, a fisted effort from Morgan and a Dougan brace.

Paul Gilchrist and Owen Wright also split the posts for Drumaness to make it six points without reply.

Ardglass’ Daniel Smyth awarded temporary respite when he finally added another for the home side.

Again, Ardglass were awarded a glimmer of hope when Drumaness danger man Dougan was shown the black card and O’Shea added a point from play for the hosts.

However, this hope was short lived as McDarby saw his effort at goal saved this time round by Drumaness custodian O’Hare, meaning it would be near impossible for Ardglass now to get a positive result as the clock was against them.

A few wide efforts from both sides but no score could be added in the final five minutes of play.

Ardglass: S Moore; M Crangle, J Polley, M Magennis; S Teggart, C Mahon, A Ibinson; C O’Shea (0-4, 3f), J O’Shea; G O’Shea, E McEvoy, A O’Shea; C Kearney, C Feenan, J McDarby (1-1).

Subs used: D Smyth (0-1) for J Polley (8)

Yellow cards: C Feenan (x2), A O’Shea, D Smyth

Black cards: A Ibinson

Drumaness: G O’Hare; P McGurnaghan, C Carew, P Cassidy; O Madine, G Murdock (0-2f), P Bell; D Bell (0-1), J Noade (0-1); O Wright (0-1), J McGivern (0-1), M McClean; J Morgan (0-2), C Dougan (0-7, 1f), D Lyons.

Subs used: N McAleenan (0-1) for Mark McClean (40), Paul Gilchrist (0-1) for P Bell (42), D Kennedy for Darren Lyons, J McMullan for P McGurnaghan (54)

Black cards: P Bell, C Dougan

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