Diver left frustrated after defeat to Donagh and Magpies

St. Pat’s claimed a second league win on Tuesday evening as they defeated Maguiresbridge in a low-scoring affair at the Louis Leonard Memorial Park.

The sides were tied 0-04 apiece at halftime in a cagey affair but after Donagh established a two-point advantage at the beginning of the second half, it was a lead they would hold on to in the end.

Their meeting with Brookeborough was brought to a halt early on Friday night after key player Johnny O’Reilly sustained an injury, that fixture will have to be replayed further down the league season.

Maguiresbridge enjoyed more of the possession, in the first-half, on Tuesday with the home side sitting deep as Caolan Duffy eventually opened the scoring when he created space before driving through the centre of the pitch and lifting the ball over the bar.

Sean Corrigan added a second point shortly after until St. Pat’s got off the mark through two points from Tiernan Wray. Mark Hughes and Brian McDermott then traded scores.

Barry Flanagan found space on the right wing to send another effort over with Eoghan Curran then hitting the final score of the half to tie the game at 0-04 each going into the break.

The game opened up slightly more in the second half with the hosts adding two early scores.

Hughes and Corrigan tagged on scores with the latter hitting a brilliant outside-of-the-boot shot from just inside the 45’.

Corrigan may have counted himself lucky to escape two yellow cards in quick succession but the visitors then did go down to 14 men when Ryan Gavin was shown a black card.

Shay Cadden pointed twice with another from Jack Collins and Pearse McDermott hit the final score for St. Pat’s while Hughes kicked two more frees but time eventually ran out for the St. Mary’s side.

Maguiresbridge manager Adrian Diver was left frustrated after the game: “This was a game that we didn’t deserve to lose. Donagh were playing very defensive and although we had plenty of the ball, we struggled to break them down.

"I thought, defensively, we were excellent and kept the Donagh forwards quiet.

"There were a number of decisions which went against us which I find very difficult to understand. Donagh were awarded a point which was clearly wide and both umpires gave it wide, but the referee overruled them and gave the score.

"Also, on two occasions we were in front of goal when our player was clearly fouled. When games are in the balance like it was today, these decisions have a massive impact and they went against us today.”

It was two defeats on the bounce Diver’s side as they lost out to Aghadrumsee on Friday night.

With a small squad, their task was made more difficult by Dwayne Rice’s red card after 15 minutes and even though they hit three goals through Fionn Nolan, Ryan Hyde and Barry Flanagan, Aghadrumsee hit four of their own via a brace from Daniel Crudden and Caolan Adair and Tommy O’Hara to run away with the win.