Dromara claim the bragging rights in derby

Dromara Village 4

Rathfriland Rangers 3

Bragging rights belonged to Dromara Village after they claimed a thrilling derby win over Rathfriland Rangers in the Intermediate Cup.

After racing into a three-goal lead at the break, the Villagers were pegged back as Rathfriland scored twice and looked to have the momentum to go on and win.

But a fourth goal for Dromara took the game away from the Whites, despite the visitors reducing the deficit once more before the final whistle.

Dromara’s league form this season has been catastrophic, but this cup clash was a welcome break from league action.

Rathfriland, meanwhile, had stumbled in recent weeks, but a 6-1 win in their last outing looked to have turned their form around.

Dromara had other ideas and took the lead when a cross into the box was not dealt with by the Whites defence, allowing the striker to side-foot it home from eight yards out.

And they doubled that lead when they won possession in midfield and broke forward to score on the counter attack.

And remarkably they made it three before the break.

The Dromara winger burst in again and chipped Whites ‘keeper Blaine Hughes who was coming out to close down the angle.

The Whites came back out with some much needed fire.

In an unusual incident, Dromara ‘keeper Kieran Gordon gave away a free-kick inside his own box for lifting the ball twice, and Wilson drilled the set-piece home from eight yards.

It was a lifeline but Rathfriland needed more, and Darren McGrath provided that with a volley low into the bottom corner.

As the game moved into the final 10 minutes Dromara eventually did score again.

Rathfriland responded instantly when Conor Larkin headed in McGrath’s corner, but the Whites had left themselves with too much to do and not enough time in which to do it.

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