Dromara Village Squeeze Past Celtic Bhoys By One Goal

Dromara Village get through to Round 5 in the Clarence Cup With A Goal In Extra Time

The NAFL,

Clarence Cup Round 4,

Venue: Bellsbridge, 15 3 25,

Final Score: 1-0 (AET).

For most of the 90 minutes Celtic Bhoys were working harder and building attacks faster than Dromara who were playing with an under-strength team.

Missing from the Dromara team were players such as Phil Kerr, Ben Martin and Patrick Shearer and others. Through the two halves, most of they time they lacked the decisive goal edge despite having hit the Celtic post in the opening minutes.

Dromara did have some flashes of good play, but were outshone most of the game by Celtic who worked hard, probably too hard, to get a goal, and the frustration built up to a toxic level.

Celtic’s Sean Ferris made a great run to face keeper Oisin McStay but the whistle had gone for offside. Then Corey McCartan made a spot-perfect chip to Conaill Kerr but defenders scrambled the ball out for a corner.

A short time later Jordan Curram crossed to Ferris but it was just foiled by keeper McStay.

There were a number of sharp attacks by Celtic and the Dromara defence did well to hold the visitors at bay.

Jarleth Brannigan was starting to work well up front for Celtic and created a number of opportunities but try as he may, he could not get the ball in the net.

It was one of those days when they just did not get a rub of the green.

But Dromara did make several useful attacks into the Celtic half and a cross from Nigel Prentice to Ryan Milligan almost found the Celtic net.

For the last ten minutes Celtic seemed to take their feet offthe pedal and gave Dromara an opportunity to ply for a goal.

Celtic’s Corey McCartan made a lovelty cross to Ferris who almost converted. And Branagan had a chance when a pass fed through to him and his first time effort did not quite connect properly.

So the game remained balanced at the end of the first half as Ferris hit a long ball into the Dromara box and Kerr connected with a low volley by McStay managed to block it.

Ferris launched a volley over the bar as the half-time whistle blew.

The second half started with Celtic pressing early but Dromara soon picked up and fought back attacking up the right wing with Prentice hiting a free kick on target only to see Celtic keeper Nathan Curran push it out.

Then Ryan Leetch volleyed from just outside the Celtic box and his shot went inches over the top bar.

In a counter-attack, Ferris hit a zippy shot but it was well held by keeper McStay.

But it was Dromara that settled and started to build up constructive attacks despite the hard slogging through the match by Celtic.

On one attack, Celtic midfielder Jordan Curran made a solo run through the middle passing a couple of defenders and his shot was a trifle rushed as he got into striking distance. And minute later he took the ball into the box and could not get a clear shot as he was crowded out by defenders.

Ferris tried a volley but it sailed over the bar from inside the box.

In the last section of the game it was Dromara who were pressing forward and Taylor Graham tried to first time a cross but mis-fired.

The match went into extra-time as it end 0-0, and Nigel Prentice almost drew the ball into the top of the Celtic goal from a corner forcing keeper Nathan Curran to palm the ball out o safety. The home-side were starting to press back more consistently.

Then in the 96th minute a volley from Alex Burtney found Taylor Graham positioned at the Celtic goal area. Keeper Curran pushed the ball out and Graha seized the moment knocking the ball in on the rebound to put the homeside in the lead in this match which had seen countless futile efforts to score so far.

Dromara were buoyant after this goal and pushed forward again, as Celtic started to flag.

Celtic won a corner and Jay Gibney knocked the ball into the pack at the Dromara goalmouth but it was not to be their lucky day.

The final whistle was like a death knell for Celtic Bhoys who had fought so hard in their Clarence Cup Campaign. Their next cup match will be In the Toals Junior Shield :

Good luck to Dromara in their next match in the Clarence Cup!

And good luck to Celtic Bhoys as they face Greencastle Rovers.

Dromara Village: 1 Oisin McStay (GK) 2 Jordan Clarke 3 Gavin Conn 4 Ryan Milligan 5 Ben Hanna 6 Jonathan Gregg 7 Nigel Prentice 8 Nathan Hamilton (C) 9 Alex Burtney 10 Ryan Leetch 11 Tom Stannage. Subs: 12 Callum Mills 14 Taylor Graham 15 Ryhs Holland-Hanna.

Celtic Bhoys: 1 Nathan Curran (GK) 2 Shaun Megahey 3 Eamon Gargan 4 Peter Turley 5 Michael Rice (C) 6 Jay Gibney 7 Corey McCartan 8 Jordan Curran 9 Sean Ferris 10 Jarleth Brannigan 11 Conaill Kerr.