UNIVERSAL GRAPHICS JUNIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI FINAL.
Drumhowan 2-10, Aughnamullen 0-6.
A sharper, more incisive Drumhowan proved too strong in practically every department and too streetwise for an out of sorts Aughnamullen in this quite one sided Junior championship semi-final that was played in blustery conditions in Inniskeen on Sunday afternoon last. Drumhowan got off to the perfect start with a goal and a point in the opening six minutes and from there they never looked back while Aughnamullen struggled to string any sort of game together while Drumhowan built in momentum and were full of inventive running and excellent score taking with the result that the outcome of this one was assured well before the finish. Drumhowan led by six points at half-time and while Aughnamullen looked like staging a recovery approaching the midway stage of the second-half Drumhowan responded with spirit to kill off any thoughts of a revival hitting 1-4 as against two points in the final quarter to wrap up a comfortable victory. Drumhowan opened the scoring with a point by Kevin Mooney in the fifth minute and two minutes later they went four in front when Colm Lambe converted a penalty after he himself had been fouled. Aughnamullen were off target from two frees in quick succession in the following minutes before they opened their account in the 14th minute when Sean Sheridan got a fist to a centre by Christopher Keenan. Keenan himself was on target two minutes later to reduce the margin to 2 but that in fact was to be Aughnamullen’s final score of the first half as Drumhowan went on to dominate the second quarter. Aidan Duffy put them three points up in the 19th minute and two minutes later David Millar extended their lead to four. A minute later still an excellent move saw Kevin Mooney through on goal only to be denied by the crossbar but Drumhowan kept up the momentum for a good point from Anthony Mulligan in the 25th minute following good work by Kevin Mooney, Colm Lambe and David Millar. Aughnamullen were not completely out of it at this stage but they were somewhat ponderous in their approach work with the result that they were turned over repeatedly and one such turn over saw Kevin Mooney win possession to place Aidan Duffy for a good point to leave the Geraldines six ahead at the break, Drumhowan 1-5, Aughnamullen 0-2.
Aughnamullen mounted the the first attack of the second-half only for Christopher Keenan to be denied by the crossbar and seven minutes had elapsed before Drumhowan extended their lead to 7 points through David Millar. Both sides now squandered chances before Aughnamullen hit two quick fire points from Edmond McArdle in the 11th minute and Sam Dooney in the 12th to reduce the deficit to five and a possible revival on the cards. Any such thoughts though were quickly killed off as Drumhowan mounted a period of pressure that saw them register points from Colm Lambe in the 14th minute, Aidan Duffy in the 15th and Kevin Mooney in the 17th minute, those latter two resulting from Aughnamullen squandering possession going forward. With eight minutes of normal time remaining Edmond McArdle converted a free for a foul on Pete Dooney but Drumhowan then struck back for a goal and a point inside a minute, Aidan Duffy with the goal following good work by David Millar, Colm Lambe and substitute Michael Atkinson and an excellent point as Colm Lambe curled over a free in the 27th minute to put Drumhowan 11 points in front. With one minute of normal time remaining Alan Sheridan pulled back a point for Aughnamullen but it was scant consolation as they were a well beaten side at the finish.
Teams and Scorers: Drumhowan: Enda Duffy, Martin McElroy, Aidean Quinn, Darren Duffy, Liam McGuirk, Barry McGuirk, Patrick Mulligan, Kieran McElroy, Anthony Mulligan 0-1, David Millar 0-2, Kevin Mooney 0-2, Niall Mooney, Kieran Mooney, Aidan Duffy 1-3, Colm Lambe 1-2 (1-0 pen, 0-1f). Subs: Michael Atkinson for D Duffy, Conor Duffy for N Mooney (Black Card), Christopher McGinnity for M McElroy.
Aughnamullen: Gary Mulligan, Damien Hamilton, Colm Flanagan, Stephen ward, Thomas Finnegan, Keith Sheridan, Shane Conlon, Sam Dooney 0-1, Pete Dooney, Edmond McArdle 0-2 (1f), Christopher Keenan 0-1, Sean Sheridan 0-1, Michael Keenan, Lee Conlon, Damien Duffy. Subs: Mark McArdle for M Keenan, Brendan Finnegan for L Conlon, Pauric Bannigan for D Duffy, David Shevlin for S Sheridan (Black Card), Alan Sheridan 0-1 for S Dooney, Colin Fox for T Finnegan. Referee: Barry Grimley (Cremartin).
