Dub Get a Hard-Earned Point

Ormeau Park, Sunday 25 November 2001, 1:30PM

Deanby Swifts FC (0)3 Dub FC (0)3

Dub FC came from 3-0 down to complete a remarkable comeback at Ormeau Park last Sunday. This hard-fought draw ensured that Dub stayed in the top four in the second division of the Belfast Sunday Premier League.

This keenly contested match got of to an explosive start as Deanby Swifts dominated the opening 25 minutes. Deanby got the breakthrough that their play deserved with a well worked goal as early as the 5th minute. Dub, missing star players Dickson, Quinn, Mullan and Harvey, were in total dissarray as Swifts were on top in every area of the pitch. It was no surprise that Deanby added to their tally with a second goal in the 15th minute as the Dub defenders struggled to come to terms with the Deanby attack.

A third goal seened inevitable and sure enough it arrived soon after. With Dub constantly defending a cross from the left wing was rifled in to the net with keeper Mark Donnelly only able to get a hand to it. Donnelly, returning from a suspension, must have wondered if it was worth his while turning up at all as the Swifts threatened to run riot. Just as the game seemed all but over Dub made a tactical switch was to change the course of the match. Ryan McGaughey was moved from centre midfield into sweeper and his reading of the game saved Dub time and time again.

In the 25th minute Dub got the lucky break they needed when Shane Murphy fired home following a scramble in the box. With Dub losing 3-1 it was left to the Kernan bothers to salvage the match. Both players have now scored in three of the last four matches. First, Art Kernan tapped home after John Magee (the flame-haired wonder) had rounded the Deanby keeper. Then, five minutes before half-time, Cormac Kernan fired home after a quick free-kick from Se?n Doherty was headed on by the impressive McCollum.

At half-time it appeared that Dub would go on and win the match but the second half proved to be an even contest with chances at both ends. McCusker and Murphy continued to push forward for Dub as a number of last-ditch tackles from McGaughey and Donnelly epitomised the Dub spirit and ensured that Dub salvaged a hard-earned point from a match that they seemed destined to lose.

Squad

Mark Donnelly, Michael Smyth, Shane Murphy, Sean Doherty, Liam McCollum, Neal Ward, Shane McCusker, Art Kernan, John Magee, Kristian Hill, Ryan McGaughey, Cormac Kernan

Subs

Match Statistics

Goals	Cormac Kernan Shane Murphy Art Kernan
Assists	-
Yellow cards	Michael Smyth Sean Doherty
Red cards	-
Man of the match	Ryan McGaughey