NEFL | McDermott does it again as Redeemer roar to the top of Division Two

NEFL Division Two | Redeemer Celtic 1–0 Hazel Lane United

Andy McDermott’s late winner moved Redeemer Celtic two points clear at the top of Division Two as they overcame Hazel Lane United in Muirhevnamor on Sunday afternoon.

Stephen Fisher’s side impressed yet again over the 90 minutes, pressing every ball and creating a lot of chances against the Drogheda outfit but it looked like the game would end up scoreless as the clock ticked towards the 86th minute.

McDermott, however, had other ideas and after picking the ball up on the left, he cut in and smashed the ball past the Hazel Lane ‘keeper to give Redeemer all three points.

This is the third time this season that McDermott has come up trumps for the Cox’s Demesne club. A brace in Navan earlier in the campaign secured Redeemer a big victory against Parkvilla and he bagged another double in the 5–3 win away to Oldcastle last week.

Despite missing a host of key players, Redeemer bossed the game throughout with Woicheck Gladszy and Keith Harmon going close early on.

Teenager Kevin McCormack was then desperately unlucky to hit the side netting after a bouncing ball hopped over the Hazel Lane goalkeeper and allowed him to direct an effort at the target.

With new signing Sean McCourt and defensive partner Paul Gartland hoovering up anything that was thrown at them, Hazel Lane struggled to open Redeemer up.

As a result, stand-in goalkeeper Stephen McGuinness was relatively untroubled, easily gathering a free-kick which proved to be the visitors’ best effort of the first half.

An injury to McCourt saw the experienced Barry Grimes introduced at the break and his composure on the ball kept Redeemer ticking over in the second-half.

Playing with a three-man defence, the local side controlled possession with the return of Martin Murphy helping them to dictate proceedings in the middle of the park.

It looked like time was going to run out on the hosts but Redeemer kept going and they got their reward in the final stages when McDermott made no mistake to rack up win number seven of the season and propel Fisher’s men clear at the top of the table.

REDEEMER CELTIC: Stephen McGuinness, Andy McDermott, Paul Gartland, Sean McCourt (Barry Grimes), Caolan Carroll, Dean McConnell, Woicheck Gladzsy, Martin Murphy, Kevin McCormack (James Clinton), Keith Harmon (Colm Bracken), Chad McEneaney.