PARAGON BAR JUNIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP.
Corduff 0-13, Drumhowan 2-6.
Corduff held out in a frenetic finish to this exciting Junior championship match in Clontibret on Sunday evening last to record a first championship victory over Drumhowan in quite a few seasons, one point separating the sides at the end of an intriguing contest. Corduff just about deserved to hold out as they had been the more consistent team all through while Drumhowan will be left to look back on a match where they started and finished well but lost their way somewhat in that vital middle period. Drumhowan got off to the perfect start with a goal and a point in the opening three minutes of the match, Christopher McGinnity with the opening score and Paddy Mulligan with the goal in the third minute, both chances created following excellent long-range passes from Dermot McDermott. Mark Gilsenan got Corduff off the mark from a free in the fourth minute and his accuracy from placed balls along with a hard-working display from full forward Shane Malone played a vital part in Corduff’s resurgence and eventual victory.
Having got off the mark Corduff went on to add two further points without reply, both from freeze by Mark Gilsenan although both sides were also guilty of some poor finishing in the opening 20 minutes. A point by Paddy Mulligan in the 20th minute put Drumhowan two points in front and two minutes later Niall Mooney broke through for a score after excellent work by Dermot McDermott, Ciaran McElroy, Pauric Atkinson and Stephen McGinnity. McGinnity had Corduff under pressure again a minute later but Darren Byrne in the Corduff goals took off an excellent block, something that triggered a strong finish from the Gaels with the pressure yielding two further points, both by Mark Gilsenan, the second from a free, to leave the half-time score Drumhowan 1-3, Corduff 0-5.
Within two minutes of the restart Corduff had equalised through Shane Malone and they took the lead for the first time some five minutes later when Raymond Byrne converted a free from distance following a foul on Shane Malone. Drumhowan struck back for an opportunist point from Pauric Atkinson’s when he exploited a defensive mix-up but Corduff now lifted their game considerably to hit a purple patch that yielded six unanswered points in a 15 minutes spell of almost total domination to open a six points lead with less than five minutes left on the clock. Drumhowan to their credit refused to capitulate and came searching for scores. One promising move ended with Christopher McGinnity being grounded for a penalty that was tucked away by Dermot McDermott to throw the issue wide open with just two minutes of normal time remaining. Drumhowan now seemed to realise that the game was there for the taking and they went on all out attack in attempt to salvage the match but their only reward was two further points from Ciaran Deery and a Stephen McGinnity free to leave the minimum between the sides as a relieved Corduff heard the final whistle.
Teams and Scorers: Corduff: Darren Byrne, Paddy McMahon, Louis King, Ciaran Malone, Ciaran Brennan, Gareth King, Gerry Mee, Raymond Byrne 0-1, Declan Larkin, Martin McDermott, Mark Gilsenan 0-7, Brendan Kerley 0-1, George McKitterick 0-1, Shane Malone 0-3, Lee McGardle. Subs: Paddy Gollogly for M McDermott, Martin Mills for P Atkinson. Drumhowan: Matthew Lambe, Damien Mooney, Gavin Sheridan, Martin McElroy, Rodney Mooney, Enda Mooney, Niall Mooney 0-1, James McElroy, Dermot McDermott, Christopher McGinnity 0-1, Kieran McElroy, Pauric Atkinson 0-1, Paddy Mulligan 1-1, Stephen McGinnity 0-1. Paddy Duffy. Damien Duffy for E Mooney, Kieran Deery 0-1 for M McElroy. Referee: Hugh McKenna (Monaghan Harps).
