MARTIN FERRY rescued a draw from the jaws of defeat as Glenea battled their way to a draw with defending Donegal League champions Drumoghill at Pairc Joe this afternoon.
Glenea United 1 Drumoghill FC 1
Richard Moore’s first-half goal was all that stood between the teams when, as the game entered its final minute, Drumoghill missed a chance at one end and saw Glenea work their way down the other to secure a draw that keeps the Glaserchoo men top of the table.
Just when the goose looked cooked, Glenea pulled the burning embers from the fire.
Drumoghill had a breakaway chance when Gareth Hamilton, Tristan Ferris and Richard Moore surged away. Hamilton opted to shoot, rather than square to Moore, but Joe Coll saved.
From Coll’s long clearance, Kevin Mulhern won the ball ahead of Paul McCauley, the Drumoghill goalkeeper, and pulled the ball across the six-yard box. In the scramble, sub Martin Ferry – who was only on the park – forced the ball over the line to secure a dramatic draw.
They had played with ten men for the last 20 minutes as Paul Sweeney was shown a second yellow card on 70 minutes.
Glenea had piled on the pressure since the interval.
Patrick McGee floated a dangerous free kick into the area and Lee O’Brien’s flicked header was well saved by McCauley.
The Drumoghill ‘keeper superbly denied Ciaran McFadden’s powerful drive soon after as Glenea sought a way back.
Coll, though, came to his team’s rescue on 68 minutes as he saved wonderfully from Jay Dee Alawiye’s blisering shot after Liam O’Donnell’s cross created the chance.
Drumoghill had taken the lead in the 42nd minute. Alawiye’s corner was worked with Richard Moore, who cut inside two defenders before unleashing a stunning, curling effort to the top corner from 25 yards.
Drumoghill had the better of the chances before they grabbed the opener.
Moore was blocked well when he had a sniff of goal in the 19th minute and Stephen O’Donnell, the former Finn Harps and Sligo Rovers player, flashed a shot just wide for his men.
It hadn’t been all one-way traffic and Eamon Cannon’s shot was just too high with Glenea’s first purposeful venture forward.
The home side breathed a sigh of relief on the half-hour when Liam O’Donnell blasted over the top after Cheis Malseed and Pajo Rafferty created the chance for the inrushing O’Donnell.
Drumoghill held on, but they were finally broken when Glenea grabbed that late, dramatic share of the spoils.
Glenea United: Joe Coll, Dean McCarry, Patrick Cannon, Patrick McGee, Paul Sweeney, Eamon Cannon, Kevin Mulhern, Ciaran McFadden, Lee O’Brien, Sean Coll, Ryan McFadden. Subs: Kevin McFadden for S.Coll (57), Aodhan Ferry for R.McFadden (85), Martin Ferry for O’Brien (89).
Drumoghill: Paul McCauley, Tristan Ferris, Ray Quinn, Philip Whyte, Chris Malseed, Liam O’Donnell, Marcus Rodgers, Stephen O’Donnell, Pajo Rafferty, Richard Moore, Jay Dee Alawiye. Subs: John O’Kane for S.O’Donnell (51), Gareth Hamilton for L.O’Donnell (86).
Referee: Mick Lagan.
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