Mills prosper as Kelly sees red in feisty derby clash

24 August 2016

DRUMANESS Mills collected their first points of the new season when they won a low key encounter at Meadowvale on Saturday.

Both sides were far from being at full strength, but the rub of the green went Drumaness’ way and they took full advantage of Ardglass going down to 10 men when Peter Kelly was harshly red-carded for hand ball in the 27th minute.

There was nothing to separate the the sides up to this point with few chances at either end.

James McGivern had an effort saved by Ardglass goalkeeper Mark Armstrong at one end and at the other, Christian O’Connor shot straight at Steven Keenan when left with only the ‘keeper to beat.

The game then turned on a moment of controversy. A shot inside the box from Michael McGarritty, who lined up against his younger brother Matthew, was superbly tipped on to the post by an alert Armstrong.

Unfortunately, it bounced straight on to Kelly’s arm. The referee immediately pointed to the spot and sent the Ardglass midfielder off.

Sean McQuoid, not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, calmly tucked the resultant penalty past Armstrong.

Two minutes later Stefan Mason could only find the side netting after McQuoid and Mark McMahon had carved out the opening.

With 33 minutes gone McMahon had a shot saved by Armstrong as Drumaness looked to kill the game off, but Ardglass were having none of it and O’Connor kept Keenan interested with another shot on target..

As the first half drew to a close it was Ardglass asking the questions and the busy O’Connor was again out of luck after breaking past Conor Black.

It was all Drumaness at the start of the second half and McMahon curled one over the top, McGarritty, who revelled in the cut and thrust of the battle for midfield, failed to get a good connection when Brendan Ward headed the ball into his path.

With 55 minutes gone they did make it 2-0 when Mason scored at the second attempt after Armstrong denied McQuoid with another great save.

McGarritty had a header cleared off the line in the 65th minute before Owen Wright made it 3-0 four minutes later. He gave Armstrong the eyes from the edge of the box and as the Ardglass custodian expected the Mills midfielder to shoot across him, Wright cutely steered the ball home at the near post.

It was game, set and match two minutes later when McQuoid went on one of his mazy runs before drilling the ball home for a fine individual goal.

Drumaness saw the game out without too much bother as Ardglass simply ran out of steam, but the visitors had plenty of positives to take from this game

with superb performances from Armstrong, Chris Teggart, Caolan O’Shea, Sean Paul Halpin and Matthew McGarritty.

Drumaness Mills: S Keenan T McConville, C Black, G Murdock, B Ward, O Wright, M McMahon, Michael McGarritty, S Mason, S McQuoid, J McGivern. Subs: J McKnight, P Morgan, J Patterson.

Ardglass: M Armstrong, M O’Shea, M Crangle, C Teggart, C O’Shea, Matthew McGarritty, P Kelly, S P Halpin, K O’Neill, C O’Connor, L Mulhall. Subs: M Halpin, A Mulhall, C Kearney.

Drumaness Mills 4

Ardglass 0

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