Drumconrath put a number of disappointing results of late behind them played with real commitment and passion to secure a well deserved point in Round 7 of the A Leagues Drumconrath 0-13 Kilmainhamwood 2-7 h/t 0-5 to 2-5. Drumconrath opened well and had two points on the board early on with the very influential Terry Skelly opening the scoring and this followed on 3 minutes with a well taken Alan Byrne score.Jude Collins relied for the visitors and David Russell netted after a slick move and some uncertain defending by the Home defense. Both teams then swopped a brace of points with Padraig McMahon and Leighton Irwin scoring points from awkward angles but these where cancelled out by 2 K-wood points one a terrific shot from Ray Magee. The 'Wood pointed again and Magee showed plenty of what we seen from him in his heyday when expertly finishing to the net from close range but it was his approach play that made certain of his goal when he showed plenty of trademark pace and clever use of coolness in the build up. Drums down 7 at that stage looked in trouble but Skelly led from the front and pointed on the half hour to leave 6 in it at the short whistle. Drumconrath needed a good start to the 2nd half to stay in the game. This did happen and if fact Drums dominated for long periods and restricted Kilmainhamwood to just two 2nd half scores points from play by Russell and Paudi Owens as Drumconrath defense tightened up and Oran Finnegan belittled his tender years by keeping the otherwise rampant Magee scoreless. Indeed the two other 17 yearolds in the Drumconrath full backline also stepped up to the mark and both had excellent 2nd halves. Early points from Skelly and Byrne had the gap to 4 points and when frees from Byrne and Irwin where cancelled by those two Kwood point the gap was still 4 with 10 minutes to go. Both teams had goal chances when Peter McEvoy and Irwin were both kept at bay by the 'Wood backs and Sean Kane made a finger tip save from Magee when he for once got the better of Finnegan. Alan Byrne had an audacious goal attempt from 45 meters when he fielded a poor kickout and seen his opportunist goal attempt trickle by the ungraded net with the Kwood 'Keeper frantically back tracking. Drumconrath sensed all was not lost and again Skelly was influnactial and pointed for the 4th time, a foul on the same player resulted in an Irwin pointed free and when Ollie McMahon pointed to leave a single point in it with 7 minutes on the clock. Both teams spurned chances with Padraig McMahon narrowly wide on two occasions and Peter McEvoy also missing the target as the Wood missed 3 chances of their own all be it from distance. A good move from defense resulted in Jamie Myles now at Fullback breaking forward to receive a pass from Stephan Crosby and Myles duly pointed from 35 meters to level the game. Best for Drums where the outstanding Skelly and for his 2nd performance Oran Finnegan was only just behind him. Other to play well in a good team performance where Stephan Crosby, Derek Duff, Alan Byrne and Padraig McMahon. An understrength Kilmainhamwood team let a win slip through their fingers as Drumcondrath battled back in the second half in perfect conditions in Drumconrath. The Wood got off the mark with a point through Jude Collins and Drumcondrath hit another point. Stephen Kiernan the scored the woods first goal. Kilmainhamwood then hit a purple patch with points through Ray Magee(2) and David Russell(2). Drumcondrath responded with a brace of points. Magee then hit a goal for the wood for the last score of the half. Drumconrath opened the scoring with a point. The Wood responded with a Padraig Owens point. Drumconrath then hit 3 points in a row. Russell responded with a point for the wood. Drumconrath then hit the last four points of the game to bring the game level for a fair result. Players that shone for the 'Wood were Stephen Smith, Russell and Magee. Drumconrath; Sean Kane; Keith McConnon, Ollie McMahon (0-1), Alan McEvoy; Oran Finnegan, Peter Tighe, Stephan Crosby; Derek Duff, Terry Skelly (0-4); Alan Byrne (0-4), Jamie Myles (0-1), Christopher Tighe; Sean Reilly, Padraig McMahon (0-1), Leighton Irwin (0-2). Subs Peter McEvoy for Reilly (4m),Terry Halpenny for McConnon (55m) and Gavin Finnegan for Byrne (60m) Kilmainhamwood : M Clarke, D Cunningham , S Smith,S Mulligan , E Clarke,L Shankey, P Barber, A Farrelly, R Madden, J Collins(0-01),D Russell(0-03) , P Owens(0-01), S Kiernan (1-00)R Magee (1-02,1f) , K Shields. Subs: P Kiernan For Shields Tweet

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