Drumbaragh caught the opposition and the bookies off-guard with a spirited performance against a well-fancied Oldcastle outfit in Grangegodden on Friday night.
After a thumping by Rathkenny in Round 1, Davy Cahill’s charges needed a reaction. A reaction is what we got as Drumbaragh registered the first point on the Grangegodden scoreboard thanks to a Hughie Corcoran free. Drumbaragh controlled the early exchanges in terms of possession and maybe should have been further ahead at the midway point of the first-half with the score at 0-03 to 0-01. Drumbaragh’s defence kept Oldcastle at arms length for large spells, forcing the Blues to shoot from range in a cross-field wind with mixed results.
Former county minor goalkeeper Jake Balfe was solid between the sticks, smothering two certain goals in the first-half. Debutants Lewis O’Donnell and Carl McGovern showed no signs of nerves in the Drums rear-guard with the lively Conor Lynch chalking up two first-half points. Oldcastle finished the half the stronger reeling off 4 points without reply with the breeze at their backs to leave it 0-06 0-03.
Drumbaragh were quickest out of the blocks at the resumption, Corcoran pointing from a free, before Oldcastle replied with one of their own. The momentum seemed to have shifted in Drumbaragh’s favour when Lynch rattled Packie Kevin’s net on the 33rd minute to lead by the minimum. Credit to Oldcastle, they pointed twice to regain the advantage in game where both defences were on top with space hard to come by.
Liam Ward produced the score of the game from distance to tie things up again, before Corcoran raised another white flag. Drumbaragh then lost Lewis O’Donnell for ten after been issued a black card. Oldcastle looked to make the numerical advantage count, three unanswered dead-ball points later – they were two up with ten minutes to go. Liam Ward was growing into the game and pointed two frees either side of an Oldcastle point to make it anyone’s game. Lewis O’Donnell atoned for this black card on his return to the field with a superb equalising point.
Disaster for Drumbaragh soon after, as Stephen Meegan harshly received his marching orders following a coming-together with his opposite number. Oldcastle put the resultant free wide allowing Drumbaragh to draw a collective breath and regroup. A slick Drumbaragh move found former county man William Carry point on the run to take the lead as the clock hit the 60 minute mark. A tigerish John D Smith was at his very best on the day and snuffed out a certain score late on – seconds later Smith turned creator of what would be Drumbaragh’s winning score via the boot of Ward.
The Drumbaragh defence was fantastic in the final quarter, playing a total of 17 minutes with 14 men. Tailteann Cup winner Harry O’Higgins alongside Carry brothers Joe and Turly defended brilliantly in the five minutes of added-time to keep Oldcastle attack out and in turn, keep Drumbaragh in the Intermediate Championship.
Thanks to a fantastic Drumbaragh support on the night and to our parish neighbours Gaeil Colmcille for their pristine playing surface at Grangegodden.
Photo Credit: @atlssnaps
