STRENGTHENED DURRUS GET THEIR POINT ACROSS

DURRUS 0 TOGHER CELTIC 0

If anyone told you that this was to be a contest between the team that was second to top and the team that was second to bottom you'd have been sure that you'd turned up at the wrong match. Maybe Celtic were still thinking that it was the first encounter earlier in the season which they won by six goals to one; that they could sit back and enjoy an easy day? How wrong they were.

Durrus played some sublime football during this game; they controlled for long periods and left the visitors to try their luck from half chances. This was always going to be a midfield battle, the ball rarely venturing into either penalty area. For their part, it was the home side that had the upper hand, full backs Peter Thornton and Joe O'Donnell superbly marshalling the flanks and with Cian Cronin and captain Timmy O'Mahony taking care in the centre half positions, Togher were finding goal chances few and far between.

David 'Golly' Hourihan made the move up into the centre of the park and his link up play with Nick Cole was a treat. Both goalkeepers were called into action sporadically as it turned into a game of cat and mouse. Up front for Durrus Brian Gleeson had a few good chances and with Clive Cremin, who played a fantastic game, running on to any loose balls you were left wondering how long it would be before Durrus scored. But the Togher defence were no fools and they played their part in keeping this an entertaining contest. On the right side of midfield Kieran O'Donovan worked tirelessly in the first half, holding the ball up well but again there was no way through the defence.

In the second half the pace of the game picked up, Durrus had introduced Pat McGrath, who had come back out of his retirement, to produce a fantastic comeback performance. On the left of midfield, Cian Whooley was solid and his vision was not to be surpassed by any other player on the field.

Time wore on and the game kept flowing, mainly due to the great work of referee Paul McDermot, whose approach and attitude was a big bonus in ensuring that the entertainment factor stayed high.

When all is said and done it was Durrus who would be more happy at the outcome; true, they may feel as though they'd done enough to clinch all three points, but after their recent run of poor results they will see this game as the one that turned their campaign.

Man of the match was Nick Cole for his tireless work in the midfield but it was a close call between himself and Clive Cremin, who was a constant thorn in Togher's side. Another player who's work rate went unnoticed was Durrus 'keeper Kieran Hourihan whose no nonsense approach  was as good as you'd get.

Team: Kieran Hourihan; Peter Thornton, Timmy O'Mahony, Cian Cronin, Joe O'Donnell: Kieran O'Donovan, Nick Cole, David Hourihan, Cian Whooley, Clive Cremin; Brian Gleeson. Sub used: Pat McGrath.