Keadue Rovers will be playing Premier Division football next season after this tight draw against Rathmullan.
Keadue Rovers 1 Rathmullan Celtic 1
It was a decent day for football but a stiff breeze made it occasionally tricky.
The visitors did the most pressing in the opening ten minutes but created nothing in the way of chances.
On 16 minutes they had their first chance, but the effort was easily saved by Danny Rodgers.
Four minutes later Rathmullan were through again but again Danny Rodgers was equal to the effort.
A few injuries stalled the game at the half hour mark but then Keadue got more into it. They had a shout for a penalty on 32 minutes, but it was turned down.
Rathmullan had a cross into the box on forty minutes but it was cleared by the home defence.
Keadue finished the half well and had the best chance with a Cory Gallagher’s cross just evading Calum Boyle at the far post.
Keadue continued on top at the start of the second half and had a few deep runs and crosses knocked away.
Rathmullan had a free kick blocked on 52 minutes but on fifty-five minutes they took the lead when Aaron Mc Cafferty connected with a loose ball on the edge of the box and struck into the corner.
They should’ve been two up on 60 minutes when a Cory Gallagher free kick hit the bar. The visitors responded well, forcing a few corners which were dealt with but a few minutes later a back pass caught the home defence flat and Jaydee Aliwee got between two defenders to poke home a leveller.
Keadue responded well and Cory Gallagher almost put them ahead with a header on 80 minutes.
It was a tense final ten minutes with both sides knowing a defeat would be harmful. Rathmullan pressed in the last five but Keadue probably had more openings but just couldn’t take them.
Best for Rathmullan were Jaydee Aliwee and Alan Boal while best for Keadue were Danny McGlynn and Hugh Moy.
