Drumoghill off the mark in Division 1

The game looked done and dusted after Charlie Shovelin had put his side 4-1 ahead with 20 minutes to go, but Drumoghill made life difficult for themselves when they allowed Cronan McFadden to score twice for the visitors in the final 5 minutes to make it 4-3 and set up a nervy finish.
Drumoghill were excellent today and the quality of their goals was something that needs to be commended.
However, Leon Doherty made the points safe in the final minute of injury time to finally put the game beyond the reach of the visitors.

Both teams began the game with intent.

Both lost their respective opening day fixtures last weekend and both began with a determination to get their seasons back on track. Both keepers were called into to making fine stops at either end in a frantic opening 5 minutes.

Calum Crampsie was the busier of the keepers during the opening half-hour with a couple of point-blank saves as Gweedore started to assume control.

However, it was the home side that broke the deadlock when Dylan McElhinney found the net on 35 minutes to give his side a half time lead.

The goal seemed to galvanise Drumoghill, and they were much the stronger team in the second half. Conor Doohan doubled the lead on 50 minutes with a goal that will surely be an early candidate for our goal of the season.

The goal came after Karol McGinley found space on the left wing and drifted inside the full backm before crossing for Conor Doohan to produce an acrobatic overhead kick that arrowed into the top corer. A brilliant strike that is already an early contender for goal of the season.

However, Liam Breathnach pulled one back for the visitors on 64 minutes to bring his side back into the game.

But the reprieve for the visitors was only temporary as Drumoghill though restored their two-goal advantage straight from the kick off.

It came after a brilliant through ball from Charlie Shovelin picked out a well-timed run from Karol McGinley; McGinley beat the offside trip to finish well and make it 3-1 on 65 minutes before Shovelin curled home a fine effort from 25 yards after good work from Reuben Doherty.

That should’ve been game over at 4-1 until Drumoghill contrived to let the visitors back into the game in the final 5 minutes. Cronan McFadden latched on to a misplaced pass to make it 4-2 before McFadden scored again from the restart to set up a nervy finish at 4-3.

It could have been even worse for Drumoghill with Crampsie again having to make a fine stop to preserve their narrow lead before Leon Doherty settled the nerves with a fine finish in injury time.

Doherty took possession on the left side of the penalty area, found space and found the top corner to make it 5-3.

Thanks to Eamonn Sheridan for officiating.