Sunday 10th March 2024

​

The reds march on in the Brian McCormick Cup with this comfortable victory over Lagan Harps in the area final. 

 

Second half strikes from Lee Smyth, Gareth Hamilton and Liam O’Donnell ensured the home sides passage to the next round of the competition after an uneventful first half.

 

The game began with both sides appearing to place an emphasis on avoiding defeat which is never a surprise in any derby encounter, particularly one in a knock out competition. 

 

Neither side committed too many in attack and any efforts on goal were limited to strikes from distance that offered no threat to either Roy Duffy and Michael Toner who were in goals at each end.

 

In truth, the game was crying out for a goal and it arrived early in the second half. 

 

There appeared little danger when Colm Gardiner won possession from Eamon Cannon before releasing Niall McCrossan, whose neat centre was latched onto by Lee Smyth at the near post to put the home side into the lead on 51 minutes.

 

Before Lagan had any chance to respond, they found themselves two goals behind from a strike that was created in similar circumstances.

 

This time it was Stephen Craig who turned creator when his first time cross was hammered home at the far post by Gareth Hamilton on 54 minutes.

 

Drumoghill were now in control and were happy to contain Lagan as part of seeing the game out. 

 

Lagan enjoyed large spells of dominating the ball with Glenn Gallagher notable throughout, but they lacked any kind of killer instinct to trouble Dylan McElhinney and Rory McCrossan at the back for Drumoghill.

 

Drumoghill were content to soak up the attacks and hit the opposition on the counter and it was from one such attack that they put the game beyond doubt through Liam O’Donnell on 88 minutes.

 

This time it was Seamus Bogle who helped set up the attack as he won possession from Taylor Cassidy before releasing Lee Smyth on the right wing. Smyth evaded the challenge of Josh Hay before placing a superb cross into he patch of O’Donnell who tapped beyond Toner to end any hopes Lagan Harps might have had of getting back into the contest.

​

​