Draperstown Celtic battle to League Cup draw

Draperstown Celtic 1 ... Garvagh 1

The firsts battled to a 1-1 draw against a well drilled Garvagh side in a crucial League Cup match.

Draperstown Celtic welcomed back key players Irwin, Flanagan, Niall Higgins and Steven Higgins, bolstering the squad. The game started slowly with few clear chances, though both sides tested each others defences. There was a brief scare when Haskins went down after a tough tackle, but after a prolonged stoppage, he was able to continue.

Flanagan and Niall Higgins showed sharpness throughout the first half but neither could break the deadlock before half time. DC introduced prolific striker Murray at the break, and the change sparked life into the attack. They were rewarded on 60 minutes when a slick move forced a Garvagh defender to accidentally turn the ball into his own net giving the visitors the lead.

Garvagh however hit back with just ten minutes to go, scoring on the counter to make it 1-1. Despite the lads pushing for a winner, the game ended level. A win will now be essential next week if the Firsts are to progress to the league cup final.

Meanwhile goals from Conor McCann, Shea Murray (x2) and Killian McGuigan were enough to give the Reserves a 4-1 victory on the road and send them to the top of the league.

2009s 3 ... Clooney 8

The 2009s had their first home game of the season as they welcomed familiar opposition in Clooney up to Cahore.

Another week in which the boys can feel relatively hard done by from the scoreline as the attacking play was much improved from this time last week, with the Clooney keeper making a pair of massive saves in the first half that could've changed the outcome of the game.

However, the lads were caught out defensively too often and were punished for it.

The Draperstown Celtic 2015s who played in the Friday night games.

DC goalscorers were Eoin, Noah and Eoghan. A real captain's performance from Eoin saw him get the Player's Man of the Match vote, with honourable mentions to Brian, Ben, Daithi and Noah. Credit to Brian who stepped up from the 2010s team, to fill our keeper void. Brian didn't look out of place against a physically imposing Clooney side and made some real top class saves. Well done Brian!

Thanks to everybody who came up to Cahore to support the lads, it's much appreciated.

2010s unlucky at Cahore

The latest 'Friday night under lights' seen the 2010s welcome Trojans to Cahore. In the early part of the first half it was the home side that was on top, the lads playing some fine passing football, but against the run of play they found themselves a goal down as the visitors scored with one of their first meaningful attacks.

The lead didn't last long though as a Ryan McEldowney found himself with time at the edge of the box and his shot across the keeper found the back off the net off the post. Trojans came out fast in the second half and regained the lead in the opening minutes with a fine range from effort lobbing the keeper.

Again the lead didn't last long. Connlan Hegarty charged into the box and was hacked down, but he picked himself up and scored the resulting penalty.

As the young celts pushed to go ahead for the first time in the game, they conceded a contentious free on the edge of the box and a wicked deflection took it past the keeper and into the net to again leave them trailing the visitors. With minutes to go, Trojans secured the points with a fourth goal.

A cruel result and not what the lads performance deserved but their style of football and effort levels with reap far more positive than negative results as the season progresses.

The 2011s travelled to Derry and faced a tricky Maiden City side who grew in to the game as the first half progressed. Despite two goals from Callum, the lads came out on the wrong side of a 3-2 scoreline.