MILLS BEAT THE DRUM AFTER FIRST WIN AT MAC

DRUMANESS skipper James Mcgivern looked to the heavens as if to thank his god and then almost sank to his knees, crouching low while clenching his fists.

The final whistle had just blown at ‘The Cage’, with Drumaness bagging their first league victory of the season after stunning Immaculata 4-1 on their own backyard, avenging a 4-0 drubbing at Meadowvale earlier in the season in the process.

What does it mean to win a game of football these days for amateur players who, held up against older generations, so often have their commitment to the cause called into question?

Well, this is what it means. It means everything.

Drumaness have had it tough this season; a squad of inexperienced youngsters spliced with a few wiser heads, they are a club in transition and still finding their way.

But it would appear that their spirit is unbroken by the steep learning they’ve been on, and the seven defeats in 10 they have suffered so far in the top flight.

The players’ body language up at the Mac certainly suggests as much, and that was the message from manager Mark Kerr as he assessed where they are right now as a club.

“We have good players, we’ve been competing in games, and that result’s been coming,” said Kerr.

“The ‘joy’ of having young players is that, sometimes they can be a bit fragile when things go wrong.

“Last week, we were 2-0 up against Chimney Corner with 65 minutes played, playing some excellent stuff, they score a goal which is deflected twice, and then five minutes later, we’re 3-2 down.

“We’ve had a few of those, Rathfriland earlier in the season, 1-0 up after 65 minutes, so it’s been coming because there is ability there, but we’re delighted with the result.

“It’s been a weird one this season in that we haven’t played anyone around us, the Larnes, the Shankills, we played Crumlin in the cup and that was one of our worst performances.

“In two weeks’ time, we will have played the Mac twice, the East twice, Rathfriland twice, so there are certainly points out there we think we can pick up over the rest of the season.

“If we have our day like we did yesterday, we can beat anyone put in front of us, but being young and inexperienced, we’ll lose games too.”

Coming after a run of four straight losses in the Premier Division, it goes without saying Saturday was a timely boost for the club, with Rory

Mason (2) and the Carew brothers Oran and Conor both on target.

“It was deserved,” added the Drumaness chief. “At half-time, it could have been 5-5, both teams had chances, we took a couple of ours.

“They hit the post, we hit the crossbar, and second half, we played really well, defended well, and hit them on the counter and it was a real mature display from a young team.” DELIGHTED

Mills captain James Mcgivern