Drumaness Mills beat Crumlin Star in NAFL Clarence Cup semi-final
The NAFL,
Clarence Cup Semi-Final,
Venue: Seaview, Belfast, on Tuesday 9th May 2023,
Final Score: Crumlin Star 0 – 1 Drumaness Mills.
This was shaping up to be an exciting semi-final match and Crumlin Star being third top of the Premier Division were taking on underdogs Drumaness MIlls third from the bottom of the league writes Jim Masson.
But Drumaness came out fighting and did so through the whole match. After a cautious start by both teams, they eventually locked horns and it was game on for the fans who travelled to Seaview.
Crumlin pressed forward on a number of occasions and it would be dafe to saw they just had the edge in the first half.
An early move by Kevin Lynch to James Doyle saw Drumaness keeper Marc Reid forced to make the first of his may saves to keep a clean sheet.
Drumaness were slow to challenge the Crumlin goal but a kick out by Reid saw Sharvin go up two gears as he struggled towards the goal. It was his first effort and showed his hunger to win.
Photos from the Clarence Cup Semi-Final – click link!
Winger Eoin Rooney moved fast down the right and was taken down and the free kick by callum Dougan went straight to James McGivern who struck well but the ball just inched over the top bar.
A quick attack from Rooney again passing to Adam Kearney to Dougan almost paid off with the Crumlin defence reeling at the speed of the assault.
But Crumlin constantly replied and a corner from the first of many saw their forwards trying to nod in a glancing header time after time. Keeper Reid was on form and managed to save a number of Crumlin attempts.
Crumlin’s Francis Nolan lashed a strong volley on target but again Reid managed to fingertip it out for a corner.
Increasingly, the Drumaness front line started to show excellent pace and their attacks eventually starte dto balance out those of Crumlin in this see-saw affair where either team could have opened the scoresheet.
The Drumaness wingers were fast and furious and kept the game open as they fought back against a determined Crumlin who were initially showing good possession skills and passing… but this began to erode as Drumaness dug deep.
Keegan Domican made a brilliant steal from a Crumlin defender and headed for the goal and his powerful volley was just saved by keeper McNeill on 30 minutes into the match
Crumlin again attacked and on one occasion Drumaness defender Eoin LUndy cleared the ball of his goal line. Then on 37 minutes Mark Lyons struck a volley that hit the Drumaness side net.
Crumlin tightened the screws as the first half was closing looking for that goal that eluded them.
But Drumaness fought back again and the half ended with Jack Sharvin on a break for the Crumlin goal.
The second half started with Crumlin pressing forward but quickly Drumness responded and pushed play into the home side’s half to the box. Adam Kearney opened the proceedings with a ferocious run at pace up the wing worrying the Crumlin defence. He passed to Dougan who hit for the back corner post but keeper McNeil scrambled and just caught it.
Sharvin took a corner and again McNeill was forced to fingertip the ball to safety.
Dougan then made a great pass through the centre to Rooney whose shot was just over the bar.
Drumaness were turning the match round and Crumlin were getting far less corners compared to their first half exploits. Drumaness had made the adjustments.
Increasingly midway through the second half Crumlin started to look vexed in a match they thought they should have been a couple of goals up. Frustration was setting in.
Dougan and Thomas McConville were starting to combine well in attacks and Thomas McConville hit the ball over the keeper to the Crumlin back post for a well taken goal from a pass from Dougan to open up the scoring for Drumaness in this tight match.
But Crumlin dug deep and wanted an equaliser to stay in the match.
Francis Nolan got a chance in the 86th minute with a shot on target from outside the box but that was blocked.
The Drumaness defence were working well. Then Kevin Trainor tried a volley but it went over the bar.
Dougan and Sharvin kept up the pressure on the Crumlin defence holding on to their precious one goal lead.
Crumlin were struggling against the buoyant Drumaness side who smelled victory and were playing their hearts out.
In the proceedings Sharvin picked up a yellow card for clipping a defender. And then McConville gave away a free to Crumlin on the edge of his box.
The last hurrah from Crumlin came when Aidan McNeil hit the ball over the Drumaness bar.
Sub David Bell and midfielder Joseph Givern also picked up yellow cards along with Rory Mason, Eoin Rooney and scorer Thomas McConville to the four yellow dished out to Crumlin Star players in their strongly contested match.
Drumaness manager Mark Kerr speaking after the win said: “I am absolutely delighted for the team. They played well as a team and came through strong in the second half when it really counted.
“In the first half to be fair they were sitting back too much. I have told them they must not come away from matches with a clean sheet. They must score! And they did just that.
“It was a well deserved win for them and we are now all looking forward to the final at Breda Park against Crumlin United.”
Crumlin Star: 1 Ciaran McNeil 2 Samual McBurney 3 Aidan McNeill 4 Nial Hawkins 5 Mark Lyons 6 Joseph McNeill 7 Francis Nolan 8 Kevin Trainor 9 Kevin Lynch 10 James Doyle 11 Barry McKervey. Subs: 12 Stephen Smyth 14 Conor McLaughlin 16 Patrick McIlkenny.
Drumaness Mills: 1 Marc Reid 2 Keegan Domican 3 Eoin Lundy 4 Thomas McConville 6 James McGivern 7 Eoin Rooney 8 Wylie McCleery 9 Callum Dougan 10 Jack Sharvin 11 Adam Kearney. Subs: 12 David Bell 14 Joe Healy 15 Rory Mason.
(More photos to come later!)
