Drumoghill stay top of Division Two with win over Drumkeen United

Drumoghill remain top of the Division Two table after taking a 4-2 win over Drumkeen United in St Patrick’s Park on Sunday.

The league leaders had a fast start and Liam O’Donnell and an own goal had them two goals ahead inside 15 minutes.

They went three up instantly in the second half thanks to a Ben Cassidy finish, but Niall Sweeney hit back in no time for the hosts.

Niall Howley’s penalty made it a nervy final 25 minutes, but Dylan McElhinney’s header late on sealed the victory for the visitors.

Drumoghill had a couple of early half chances from James Lenty frees, Dean Murray heading wide from the first, but they soon took the lead. 

It came in a bit of a fortunate manner, Lenty shooting from outside the box, which fell into the path of Liam O’Donnell, and he buried the ball into the far corner on eight minutes. 

Niall McCrossan made a good run down the right, and his cross was parried into danger by Luke Russell, but Conor Doohan’s shot was blocked, while Murray had another shot blocked soon after. 

But they doubled their lead on 17 minutes, a Ben Cassidy corner was curled in, and with the help of some pressure from Murray, the ball deflected into the net by a Drumkeen defender. 

Drumoghill kept up their dominance as Lenty fired wide from a free, while Russell made a great save to deny Murray, as Cassidy also had an effort saved.

Chances were at a premium in the final twenty minutes of the opening half, with Drumkeen failing to threaten, but the second half had a bright start with a goal each inside five minutes.

It was the visitors who extended their lead to three with less than two minutes gone, a brilliant touch in the middle from Niall McCrossan and a through ball to Ben Cassidy on the left of the box saw the midfielder find the far corner with a neat finish.

But Drumkeen responded well, Shane Laverty first had a shot from outside the box go over, and soon after, he played a ball forward, Gavin Bonner letting the ball pass him and into the path of Niall Sweeney, and the substitute found the bottom corner to get one back.

Bonner almost got in soon after, but McElhinney did well to get back and deny him, while Leon Doherty had an effort at the other end from outside the box go just wide.

And Drumkeen got another back on 65 minutes, a long kick from Russell was flicked on by Bonner to the pacey Sweeney, who was in one-on-one, but he was taken out by McElhinney as Diego Rainey pointed to the spot.

Naill Howley stepped up to take the penalty, and the captain made no mistake as he found the bottom right corner.

READ NEXT: Ardara overcome Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin to make U-21 B decider

Sweeney had an effort go over the bar soon after, while Donnachadh Devenney snatched at a chance when played through as the home side increased the pressure.

They could have levelled when Oran Ayton’s shot from range was blocked to Laverty outside the box, but he fired wide.

At the other end, Drumoghill had two great chances through Lenty, the first saved by Russell after a cross, and the next was again stopped by the goalkeeper when through on goal.

But Lenty then did well to win a free as he used his pace, with Cassidy whipping the ball in to the back post, and McElhinney headed in from close range.

That came on 83 minutes and took the sting out of the game, Drumoghill ending with a good late chance as O’Donnell was in one on one, but he fired over, but Drumoghill were full value for the win as they stay top.

Drumkeen United: Luke Russell; Kazeem Balogun, Paul Clarke, Mickey Black, Kevin Boyle (Oran Ayton 28, Hamzat Basharu 79); Gavin Bonner, Conal McDermott, Shane Laverty, Fergal Quinn (Niall Sweeney 24), Niall Howley (Sean Doherty 82); Rory Craig (Donnachadh Devenney 66). 

Drumoghill: Callum Crampsie; Leon Doherty, Dylan McElhinney, Sergey Alcorn, James Lenty (Karol McGinley 86); Conor Doohan, Niall McCrossan (Conor Crossan 88), Ben Cassidy, Dean Murray (Joshua Hay 74); Liam O’Donnell. 

Referee: Diego Rainey