Mossley grab the points as Drumaness slow to pull back the goals
The NAFL,
Premier League Division,
Venue: Meadowvale, 24th January 2026,
Final Score: Drumaness Mills 2 3 Mossley FC.
It was a cold and blistery day at Meadowvale as the two teams squared up for this league clash.
At the back of the minds of the Drumaness squad was probably the upcoming match against Glentoran at The Oval on Saturday 7th February for Round 7 of the Intermediate Cup and their thoughts maybe weren’t in the right place for this match.
The Mills had a bye in Round One of the Clear Water Irish Cup, and were lucky to win on penalties away from home against Desertmartin on 4-5 after tying 3-3.
Round 4 saw the Mills at home and they scored six goals against Fivemile Town to their four. And on a very rainy night in Newry, the Mills stepped up to the plate and beat the homeside 1-2 showing that they have the ability to go even farther in this coveted competition.
Then in Round 5 they played Armagh City and beat them 1-4 in Armagh. And now the much awaited Round Six match against Glentoran is on the cards.
The Mills players have proven they can go the distance, they just need the confidence of the day, good plans A and B, and match fitness.
Minnows do win big matches albeit against the odds, and Drumaness could pull off a shock result. They have the firepower in all areas, and will rise to the occasion on the day. Manager Ciaran Brannigan has done well to get the team to this stage but the sky is the limit!
” C’mon the Mills! “
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Drumaness Mills Lose Out Narrowly To Mossley
Drumaness Mills were slow in making an impact on Mossley who opened up the scoring with a goal from Taylor Agnew on 11 minutes.
Mossley pressed hard from the whistle but Drumnaess fought back and Jack Sharvin won a free kick and crossed the ball to Reece Doyle lurking near the goal area whose shot was blocked.
Gary Murdock was on the bench as a sub and normally captains the team and is a centre back defender, an anchor for the team.
Callum Dougan was testing the back line as usual, and Sharvin was lying back feeding balls to the front line.
None of the Drumaness team players wanted to face an injury just before the Glentoran match so their hesitancy in their approach to the game could be excused.
CHECK OUT ACTION MATCH PHOTOS HERE
Mossley’s Stephen Lecky scored on 41 minutes and Drumaness suffered another blow on 44 minutes as Christopher Allan put the visitors three goals in front and the Mills had been coasting in second gear.
But after the half-time break, a different Drumaness came out bringing the game to Mossley but Mossley were not lying down and a shot from Agnew hit the side net just wide.
Sharvin took a free kick from outside the Mossley box and bent the shot from over 30 yards but it just inched over the top bar.
Then eventually on 54 minutes Reece Doyle on the wing crossed in to Sharvin at the back of the Mossley box who first timed a strike into the net heralding a Drumaness comeback.
Drumaness got their tails up and the match certainly hotted up and became more physical, not really what Drumaness wanted in case injuries arose.
Declan Looney was making excellent charges threatening the goal area and Drumaness were slowly turning the game round.
Then in 62 minutes, Reece Doyle received a cross from Sharvin and first-timed it into the Mossley goal reducing the Mossley lead to one goal. And Mossley were reluctant to give up their lead.
Again Sharvin hit over the top bar as Drumaness pressed forward. Midfielder Sean og Gallagher also drove a powerful volley which came off a defender for a corner. And Doyle hit a couple of more strikes on target and was unlucky not to have scored at least one other goal.
Declan Looney in the middle of the Mossley box under pressure tried an overhead kick but it didn’t just fire off straight at the goal due to pressure from defenders but full marks for creativity.
Callum Dougan too was bursting to score and made a number of fine runs at the Mossley goal.
Just before the final whistle, Sharvin made a strong attack into the box flanked by two defenders and went down, his appeal for a penalty going unheaded.
Drumaness had left their comeback just a little too late. A 3-3 draw would have been a fair result, but the strong performance by the whole Drumaness team was reassuring that they can raise their game when they have to.
Doyle came off on 86 minutes replaced by Gary Murdock.
Drumaness are sitting in 10th spot in the Premier League but there is only a few points separating them from the main body of teams below the league leaders and Drumaness will be able to concentrate on their league strategy better after they get the Glentoran match out of the way.
Mossley are currently bottom of the league and could be heading for relegation.
So all roads lead to The Oval in Belfast as Drumaness Mills travel to face Glentoran in the Clear Water Irish Cup Round 6 on Saturday 7th February 2026 at 3pm.
Don’t miss it!
CHECK OUT ACTION MATCH PHOTOS HERE
Drumaness Mills: 1 Aaron Carberry (GK) 2 Keegan Domican 3 Thomas McNeill 4 Adam Garland 5 Sean Paul Holland 6 Sean og Gallagher 7 Declan Looney 8 Anton McGrattan 9 Callum Dougan 10 Jack Sharvin (C) 11 Reece Doyle. Subs: 12 Gary Murdock 14 Eoin Murray 15 James McGovern.
Mossley FC: 90 Paul Hughes (GK) 2 Jonathan Coulter 3 Alan McQuitty 4 Christopher Patterson 5 David McCullough 7 Kurt Cooper 8 Stephen Lecky 9 Christopher Allan 10 Taylor Agnew 15 Ryan Worthington 16 Bobbie Crowe. Subs: George Trimble 11 Calum Adams 14 Caiden Elliot.
