Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship Round 1B
Drumhowan 2-18 Éire Óg 0-15
Drumhowan produced a dominant second-half performance to see off Éire Óg and get their first win of this year’s JFC in Scotstown last Friday evening. Drumhowan needed a goal from substitute Aidan Duffy to finish the first half on level terms, but they outscored Éire Óg by 1-8 to 0-1 between the 34th and 54th minutes to kill this one off as a contest. Colm Lambe and Kevin Mooney hit a combined total of 1-11 for Drumhowan, who had seven scorers over the hour. County minor Dermot Gleeson was a constant threat for a largely youthful Éire Óg team, but it wasn’t enough for the Smithborough club to avoid an early exit for the second year in a row.
It was open right from the off, with Ryan Sherlock kicking a brace of early points for Éire Óg, before David Millar got Drumhowan up and running. Dermot Gleeson and Kevin Mooney then swapped points from frees, before Kevin Mooney and Colm Lambe edged Drumhowan ahead for the first time. Lambe and Mooney kept the scoreboard ticking over for Drumhowan, but points from Paddy Croarkin, Michael Tierney and Gleeson moved Éire Óg into a 0-8 to 0-6 lead. Drumhowan then struck for the opening goal from sub Aidan Duffy, although Enda Doran and Gleeson helped Éire Óg go in level at 0-10 to 1-7.
Tierney briefly handed Éire Óg a narrow lead after the restart, but a brace from Lambe started a run of seven unanswered points for Drumhowan. Patrick Mulligan, Kieran McElroy and Millar were also on target in this dominant spell for the mid-Monaghan side and although Gleeson stopped the rot for Éire Óg, their hopes of a comeback suffered a double blow when they conceded a goal to Lambe, before having Jonathan McMahon sent off on a second yellow card. Éire Óg showed some spirit to close the gap to six, with Gleeson hitting three points in the space of four minutes – two from frees – only for Drumhowan to finish with a flourish, as Anthony Mulligan landed a brace, either side of Kevin Mooney’s fifth point. Drumhowan’s reward for this win is a Round 2B game against Oram on Saturday week, July 26, while Éire Óg need to improve their league form to maintain their chances of a semi-final place there.
Drumhowan: Enda Duffy; Martin McElroy, Dermot Mooney, Darren Duffy; Liam McGuirk, Barry McGuirk, Niall Mooney; John Paul O’Neill, Anthony Mulligan (0-2); David Millar (Capt., 0-2), Kevin Mooney (0-5, 2f), Kieran Mooney; Paddy Mulligan (0-1), Kieran McElroy (0-2), Colm Lambe (1-6, 0-4f).
Subs: Aidan Duffy (1-0) for M McElroy (16 mins), Conor Duffy for B McGuirk (60).
Éire Óg: James Morrow; Conor Toal, Darren McMahon, Seán Flynn; Jonathan McMahon, Darach McCluskey (Capt.), Cian McAree; Christopher McGorman, Enda Doran (0-1); Michael McPhillips, Dónal Tierney, Dermot Gleeson (0-8, 5f); Michael Tierney (0-2), Paddy Croarkin (0-2), Ryan Sherlock (0-2).
Subs: Stephen Kerr for McPhillips, Alan McGorman for C McGorman (both 38), Fearghal Sheridan for D Tierney (52).
Referee: Dermot Boylan (Killanny).
