Drung 1 - 8 Cootehill Celtic 0 - 12 Cootehill Celtic gained a hard fought win over near neighbours Drung on Wednesday night last in Bunnoe in the ACFL Division 2 with only a Colm Smith free separating the sides. A late Shane O'Rourke goal in the dying moments of the game give the Celts a scare as up to that point Cootehill were coasting home and Drung hadn't scored in over 25 minutes of the second half but the visitors held on for a deserved and rare win in the GAA grounds in Bunnoe. The Town side were slow to start the game and played second fiddle to Drung in many stages during the first half no doubt showing signs of rustiness as the Celts haven't played a competitive game since the 25th April - nearly 10 weeks ago. Ciaran Galligan was first out of the traps and came away straight from the throw in and pointed almost immediately to open the scoring after 10 seconds of play. Brian Sherlock found space in the Drung defence to level the game with a neat point a few minutes later and a great left footed point from John McCutcheon, lining out at full forward, put the Hoops in front before two points from Stephen Fay and Alan Curran put Drung back into the lead. Shane O'Rourke and Colm Smith both swapped frees and the impressive Celtic corner forward Dean Connolly pointed in the 20th minute to level the game. Michael McEntee and Smith exchanged points as the game was very much nip and tuck at this stage. A sweet Alan Curran point in the 25th minute was cancelled out almost immediately by Mark Mullen but another O'Rourke free, after a decent save from Cootehill Keeper David Clegg, meant Drung went in ahead seven points to six at half time. A point from sub Fergal Heuston extend Drung's lead to two points just after half time but they wouldn't score again till O'Rourke fisted goal some 25 minutes later. A superb move from Cootehill involving six players working the ball right from a short kickout the whole length of the field which Smith got on the end of to fire over the bar really lifted his side's spirits and kick started a period of dominance for the men in Green and White. They rattled off another 5 unanswered points and good defensive play kept the Drung men at bay at the other end of the field. Smith added to his earlier effort within two minutes with a neat point after good play by Chrissie Sherlock. Paul McCarney was unlucky to see his fisted shot come back off the post with Drung Keeper James Reilly beaten. McCutcheon fired over his second of the day straight away after Dean Connolly had robbed the Drung defence of the ball while they were trying to clear their lines. Glen Nulty curled over a good score to put two points between the teams and two minutes later Cathal McCabe jumped highest between two Drung players to claim the ball and shoot over a fine effort. Colm Smith converted a difficult free from the right wing after Josh Hayes was fouled to put the Celts four in front but almost immediately Shane O'Rourke onto the end of a high ball around the square to punch past Clegg in the Cootehill nets. But it was a case of too little too late and Cootehill held on for a deserved victory. Cootehill: David Clegg; John Deery, Daithi McCarney, John Deery; Christopher Sherlock, Josh Hayes, Cathal McCabe (0 - 1); Glen Nulty (0 - 1), Brian Sherlock (0 - 1); Neil Kelly, Paul McCarney, Colm Smith (0 - 5, 2 frees); Mark Mullen (0 - 1), John McCutcheon (0 - 2), Dean Connolly (0 - 1). Tweet

Most Read Stories