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For more information contact: Eddie Grace. Mobile: 086 2723526 or Peter Gill. Mobile: 087 2849820.

Moore Cup Joy for Drums

Drumcondra hold out for narrow victory

Drumcondra ...... 4  St Joseph's Glasthule ...... 3
BY ALAN NEARY, TARGET, THE STAR, 6th December 2011

SENIOR Division 1A promotion hopefuls Drums were given a right scare on Friday night by bottom of the fourth tier Joey's in an exciting Moore Cup tie at Santry Stadium.
Two goals down inside four minutes Tom O'Connor's crew clawed back a two-goal deficit and despite trailing by the same margin at half time the 1B side raised their game thereafter.
A late chance fell at the feet of Shane Browne and almost forced extra-time, but with 1B survival the priority for Joey's, they'll return to the league at the weekend with confidence. Following on from their first point of the season away to Garda eight days earlier, the pressure was off the underdogs when they traveled north to face an inform 1A outfit.
However, it was Drums who demonstrated their prowess during the early exchanges, racing into a two goal lead thanks to goals from Graham McCarthy and Jan Koziel.
First-off McCarthy powered home a Jan Koziel cross before the latter scored, benefitting from the perseverance of Chris Allen who weaved his trickery on the right.
Back came Glasthule, dangerman Jonathan Mee whipped in a corner which Luke Whelan glanced back across the face of goal with 11 minutes gone, to make it 2-1..
A quickly taken throw-In followed by a swirling Graham Kinsella cross caused panic in the Drums box, cue Anto Moran who bundled home the equaliser after a scramble.
In Moran's first start for the first team, he had struck for his second ever goal in the grade but despite  that promise from the visitors, the ruthless Drums struck twice before the break.
After a half cleared corner McCarthy selflessly elected to pass I to John Clancy, and the defender netted from 16 yards out.
As gutsy Glasthule pressed clinical Drums countered for a fourth as McCarthy outfoxed the offside trap with a through ball which Zoltan Limbeck raced on to, he obliged.
By the time the second half had begun the elements were playing a major part in the bowl like surrounds of the athletics stadium before Joey's reduced arrears through Moran again.
This time it was defender Karl Dalton who attacked from the right side of the pitch with Moran on hand to head the ball beyond Ronnie Walsh from 10 yards out.
Due to circumstances beyond Joey's control, they will play yet another game on the road again next week but after this display O'Connor's crew will fancy their survival chances.

Savour

It was a weekend to savour for Drums as they gained ground in the cup - and in 1A - with the  club now in the hunt for three trophIes.
In addition to this Moore Cup progression, St James's Gate will provide the opposition in the Gilligan Cup while domestically Drums edged closer to the summit without kicking a ball.
Glenville's setback against Pegasus leaves Drums just level on points with the leaders, although Gary Howlett's crew have played a game more.
Last term Glenville missed out by just five points on a place in Senior 1, Drums languished in the bottom five and finished just two points ahead of relegated Whitehall Rangers.
"I thought in an attacking sense we were sharp, but defensively we need to tighten up", said Howlett after his lot conceded three times.
"In saying that there is a great buzz about the club, it's nice to be heading into the final two games of 2011 with us in the shake-up at the top.
"There's a lot of competition for places now, the likes of Padraig Drew is available again and Chris Allen made one of his first starts since he was injured."
Assisted by the experienced Bobby Browne, Howlett is hoping Drums can emerge from a pack which includes St Francis, Lissadel and Leixlip to make Senior 1.
Thanks to the efforts of Tim Grace, coach Bobby Browne, Eddie Grace and Peter Gill the club are on a high again after testing time which saw Drums lose their Santry slot.

Buzz

"It's great to have the buzz of Friday night games at Morton Stadium (or sure, and credit must go to our ex-Chairman Tim Grace for his hard work in that respect."
Howlett also paid tribute to Friday's opponents who went into the game without a win in ten games in the division below.
"I'm sure when they slipped two goals behind they probably thought it wasn't going to be there night, but they showed an awful lot of character and ran us close late on,"

DRUMCONDRA: Ronnie Walsh, Adam Firych, Alan White, Brian Lynam, John Clancy, Man; Healy, Philip McDonagh, Chris Allen (Stephen Haddock 71), Graham McCarthy, Zollan Limbeck, Jan Koziel (David Aidegway 81). Unused: Mick Hill, Mick Rowley, Ronan Norland.