Kildrum Tigers Reserves came from two goals down at half time at The Moss to win 3-2 and clinch the Old Orchard Division 2 title.
Drumoghill Reserves 2 Kildrum Tigers Reserves 3
by Stuart Connolly at The Moss
The Tigers, as so many of their teams have done in the past, pounced in the dying embers of a match heavily affected by the weather.
Keith Davis and Jamie Doherty had Drumoghill 2-0 up at the break after Daniel McNulty missed a penalty before the half-time whistle.
A brace from McNulty along with a Brian Coll goal to start the comeback in the second half helped Kildrum lift the title with a game to spare.
Having let the league title slip from their grasp last time around against Cappry Rovers Reserves, Kildrum were keen to wrap things up with a game to spare.
A draw would also suffice should results elsewhere go their way.
Playing against the wind in the first half, Kildrum were up against it and created very little clear cut chances.
Drumoghill had no such problems and used the weather to their advantage, taking the lead in an outstanding manner on the twenty seventh minute.
Davis stood over a corner on the right side, whipped it in and the curl on the ball helped by the wind took it into the far corner.
Things got worse for Kildrum two minutes after the half hour as the hosts lead was doubled.
Following a set piece from the left side, Shay McDaid laid the ball off for Doherty on the edge of the area and he fired left footed past Gibson in goal.
The title challengers were offered a route back into the game late in the first half, with Gareth Colhoun brought down in the area by Kyle Devine.
McNulty stepped up but blasted over the bar as Drumoghill led at the interval.
Kildrum introduced a triple substitution entering the second half and that, along with playing with the wind, had the desired effect.
Just under ten minute in and the visitors reduced the deficit.
Brian Coll stood over a free kick, near the dugout on the right side, left foot curling in and the keeper off his line, the wind registered another assist, helping the ball over Wosser in nets.
Substitute Ethan Coll squandered an excellent chance to level the game after the hour, he ran onto a well time through ball by McNulty but shot straight at Wosser who saved with his feet.
Not long after that chance and Kildrum were level.
A hopeful strike from range by Michael Ayton was tipped onto the crossbar by debutant Wosser but he could do nothing about the follow up as McNulty finished.
Drumoghill had a number of chances late in the game to break Kildrum hearts but Gibson had other ideas keeping the shots at bay more than once.
Kildrum were heavily on the front foot in the dying stages, and after it looked to be ending level they completed the comeback in stoppage time.
A short corner by McNulty to Justin McGee was passed back to the former and he lobbed the ball into the area, it went over everyone and into the back of the net to earn Kildrum the title.
Drumoghill FC: Jay Wosser; Ciaran Hunter, Gareth Temple, Kyle Devine, Shane Duffy; Keith Davis, Shay McDaid, Gary Houston, Shaun Wogan; Jamie Doherty, Darius Gibbon. Subs: Jonathan Wilson for Hunter (82), Kyle Doherty for Gibbon (90+)
Kildrum Tigers: Keenan Gibson; Michael Ayton, Michael Lynch, Brian Coll, Ryan Higgins; Connor Matthewson, Emmet O’Donnell, Chris Cronin, Daniel McNulty; Gareth Colhoun, Dominic Keys. Subs: Ethan Coll for Colhoun, Justin McGee for Keys, Oran Higgins for O’Donnell (all half-time), Denim Rowan for Ryan Higgins (85)
Referee: Con McLaughlin
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