DRUMKEEN UNITED missed the chance to move joint-top of the Glencar Inn Saturday Division One when they were held to a 3-3 draw by resilient Glencar Celtic this afternoon.
Glencar Celtic 3-3 Drumkeen United
With the clash between the top two in the division, Arranmore United and Orchard FC, falling foul of the weather, it meant that Drumkeen (pictured above) could’ve joined the Islanders at the summit on 16 points had they won at Flagpole Park in Rathmullan.
However, they relinquished a 2-0 lead that had been given to them by Anthony Browne’s penalty and Peter Brannigan, when Garvan Grieve and Jordan McGinley scored to leave it at 2-2.
Brannigan put Drumkeen back in front on 67 minutes and the visitors had opportunities to move further in front but having not taken them, were punished when McGinley tapped home his second of the afternoon with two minutes to play.
Although Glencar started the brighter with the bulk of possession, they were 2-0 down on 16 minutes. Drumkeen were awarded a penalty on 14 minutes when referee Liam McConigley adjudged Liam Doherty had fouled Brannigan.
Glencar claimed the challenge was a bit like ‘Ireland’s Call’ – shoulder to shoulder and all that – but the spot kick was awarded and Browne’s penalty was perfect, right into Ray McFeely’s top corner.
Still reeling and claiming it was never a penalty, Glencar fell further behind when, less than two minutes later, Brannigan drilled home from the edge of the area after approach play from Kevin Boyle and Aaron Doherty.
On 18 minutes, Glencar joint-manager Grive, carrying the can due to his stablemate John ‘Junior’ Russell being unable to make the match, pulled a goal back when his strike deceived Eamonn Conaghan in the Drumkeen goal.
The Glencar Celtic side that drew 3-3 with Drumkeen United this afternoon in the Glencar Inn Saturday Division One at Flagpole Park in Rathmullan
It was still 2-1 to the side from St Patrick’s Park at half-time but 43 seconds after the restart, it was level when McGinley tapped home from Eddie McLaughlin’s centre following Grieve’s ball down the right.
It was all to play for but with Glencar missing a host of players for one reason or another – Paddy O’Kane, Kieran Doherty, Eugene Sullivan, Graham Cullen, Anthony Doherty, Paddy McLaughlin, Declan Scanlon, Seanie Houston – their threadbare squad had only 12 players.
On the other hand, Drumkeen, who were without the injured Justin Deasley themselves, threw Kevin Bonner on to telling effect on the wing.
The goal that put them in front did owe a little to some good fortune. Aaron Doherty put in an excellent cross from the right but with two Glencar defenders going for the same ball, it struck Brannigan on the head behind them and rolled into the corner.
He might’ve have know much about it but Brannigan’s goal was enough to sneak out a 3-2 lead. Drumkeen felt it was merited as, on 53 minutes, they had a goal chalked off when Browne headed home a corner from Ryan Kettle. Referee McConigley, though, blew for a push.
In the closing stages, there were opportunities for Drumkeen.
Kettle failed to take advantage of a pull back and could only shoot over when in space and substitute Peter McNamee was always a threat.
Then, McFeely in the Glencar goal made a fine save to deny Kettle and from the resultant corner, McFeely saved well from Chris Kyle.
The failure to push two goal ahead would come back to haunt Drumkeen as, on 88 minutes, a tame enough free-kick from Eddie McLaughlin wasn’t held by Connaghan and a bright backheel from Mark Graham was tucked in by McGinley from a yard out for a share of the spoils.
Glencar Celtic: Ray McFeely; Charles McLaughlin, Mark Forde, Liam Doherty, Rory Gallagher; Eddie McLaughlin, Mark Graham, Garvan Grieve, Ryan Moore (Dominic Friel 71); Michael Molloy, Jordan McGinley.
Drumkeen United: Eamonn Conaghan; Mark Conway, Chris Kyle, Shaun Gallagher, Michael Patton; Aaron Doherty, Ryan Kettle, Anthony Browne, Ronan Carlin (Kevin Bonner, half-time); Peter Brannigan (Peter McNamee 73), Kevin Boyle.
Referee: Liam McConigley.
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