Rampant Heights book their spot in NW final

This is the first time in the Club’s history that they have reached the final of the competition.

Heights raced into the lead after just ten seconds when Johnny Gaile skipped through the Draperstown defence to slot home. Ten minutes later and the Coleraine men doubled their lead. Wilson picked the ball up in midfield, he found McGonigle to play McGahon in on goal.

At the other end Draperstown had a couple of chances but they didn’t really test the Heights keeper.

On the half hour Heights found the net for the third time, McGahon rifled home to grab his brace. They could have been further in front when a McGonigle cross was met by the energetic Darren Stewart who hit just over from a overhead kick. Draperstown then had a great chance to pull one back on 40 minutes but the Heights keeper pulled off a great save. From the resulting corner McGonigle cleared from the front post, but only to a Draperstown player who crossed low and hard into the Heights box and somehow a Draperstown player managed to get a flick and divert it past the keeper, leaving the score 3-1 at the break.

Draperstown upped the pressure in the second half, but at the other end the Heights had their chances through McGahon, Wilson and Stewart. With time running out Heights still felt they had a another goal in them and on 85 mins Matty Graham showed fantastic skill on the right to bamboozle his opponent and cross to the back post for Hollinger to cooly finish past the keeper making it 4-1.

With the game all but over, a deliberate foul by Wilson on a Draperstown midfielder and his reaction caused a melee between both sets of players. The referee handed a Draperstown player a red card putting a miserable end to his and Draperstown’s night. A solid performance from Heights FC, who now progress to the final on Friday, May 20 to face Ardmore.

Heights Manager Anthony Olphert expressed his delight at progressing to the final: “This is a massive achievement for everyone associated with Heights FC, we have all worked hard this season and to reach the North West Cup final is a great reward for that.”