CHRISTOPHER O’DONNELL netted a dramatic and controversial injury-time equaliser to inch Drumoghill FC ahead of Milford United at the top of the Brian McCormick Sports Premier Division.
Drumoghill FC 2 Kildrum Tigers 2
As O’Donnell wheeled away in delight, Kildrum players surrounded referee Joe McHugh, their goalkeeper Glenn Boviard the picture of sheer fury at a moment that could have huge implications in the title race.
Just how irate the visitors were is hard to portray, but they certainly felt feeling like the victims of a hit-and-run.
Their anger stemmed from the awarding of the corner, from which O’Donnell scored.
Bovaird had scrambled to keep the ball in play from Chris Malseed’s attack.
In the fading light and with little appeals from Drumoghill, McHugh awarded the corner and, almost inevitably, Michael Lynch’s team scored, with O’Donnell’s equaliser taking The Moss men out on their own at the top – but it’s still all to play for.
Gareth Colhoun’s brace, inside a four-minute spell, also in the closing stages, swung the pendulum Kildrum’s way, but they were also denied a penalty.
At one-nil down, trailing to David O’Carroll’s 51st minute goal, Kildrum were incensed when Johnny McGinty’s goal-bound effort appeared to strike the arm of defender O’Carroll.
McHugh was unmoved, shook the head and dismissed the appeals and the incidents certainly left a sour taste in the Tigers’ mouths.
The Tigers entered this game in a rather curious position: Just one point above the relegation play-off and still with a mathematical chance of winning the title, given that Shane Brown’s team have six games remaining.
If their chances of winning a trophy they last claimed in 2001 are on the ambitious side, then they will certainly have a big role to play in deciding the destination of the silverware.
This weekend, they’re at Milford United and in the final game of the season they host Drumoghill at Station Road Park.
They left The Moss livid, though.
After falling behind when O’Carroll brilliantly steered over Bovaird in the 51st minute, Kildrum responded well with a late surge.
William Lynch riffled over from a glorious position and, after McGinty was denied a penalty, Colhoun drew Kildrum level on 81 minutes. Lynch’s header came back off goalkeeper Paul McCauley, Drumoghill didn’t deal with the danger and Colhoun’s strike was a wonderful, controlled finish.
Colhoun repeated the trick when, after Drumoghill failed to clear Brian Coll’s cross, he drilled in a goal that looked set to sent Kildrum on their way to a derby win.
Bovaird was in inspired form, with key saves from Liam O’Donnell and Malseed before the late drama unfolded.
The Tigers began brightly with McCauley having to race from his line to save at the feet of Shane McIntyre, who’d been picked out by a teasing Oran Higgins cross.
That was in the game’s opening minute and Higgins himself threatened when a wonderful turn and shot was blocked.
The diminutive Higgins was certainly to the fore in the early moments, but a groin injury forced his withdrawal in the 25th minute.
Richard Moore fired up and over while Paddy Collins was off target from just inside the Kildrum penalty area after Moore and Malseed had created the opportunity.
Drumoghill looked set to open the scoring when Liam O’Donnell raced clear, onto a through ball from his brother, Christopher. From these positions, the striker is usually ice cool, but her Bovaird came out to save with his feet.
Former Omagh Town midfielder Bovaird has been a regular stand-in goalkeeper for the Tigers this season, following the departure of Stephen Conroy and the unavailability of Kyle Tinney.
Kildrum were also down the services of Barry O’Donnell, Brett McGinty and Reece Laird here, but there was plenty of zip about the St Johnston side.
McIntyre is well versed to these surroundings having worn the Drumoghill red and white previously. With Lynch beckoning his defence to ‘put him on his right’, McIntyre wonderfully clicked onto his left, but a low shot was saved by McCauley.
Benny Bonner drilled a free over the top and Moore shot at Bovaird as the first half ended with Drumoghill needed an inspired touch.
It duly arrived with O’Carroll’s opener six minutes into the second half, coming just after McIntyre warmed McCauley’s palms with a long-range free.
There was little warning about what was to follow, but what came was a sequence of events that left one side furious and the other relieved. And another, Milford, whose representatives were in attendance, with a renewed spring in their own step.
Drumoghill FC: Paul McCauley; Ray Quinn, David O’Carroll, Christopher O’Donnell; Paddy Collins (Pajo Rafferty 83), Philip Whyte, Gerard McGranaghan, Chris Malseed, Benny Bonner; Liam O’Donnell, Richard Moore.
Kildrum Tigers: Glenn Bovaird; Jamie McKinney (Conor Crossan 75), Johnny McGinty, William Lynch, Brian Coll; Oran Higgins (Tommy Cole 25), Shane Brown, Damian Crossan, Gareth Colhoun; Gary Crossan; Shane McIntyre.
Referee: Joe McHugh.
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