UNIVERSAL GRAPHICS JUNIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI FINAL.
Drumhowan 0-14, Clones 0-9.
A hungrier Drumhowan brought a degree of intensity to this junior championship semi-final that proved just that little bit too potent for a Clones side who gave their all throughout but who could not prevent one of the favourites moving through to the final with a little bit to spare. Drumhowan were only headed once in the entire contest and that after just 30 seconds when Paul Shiels opened the scoring with a point for Clones but thereafter Drumhowan more or less dictated the course and pace of the game with the accuracy of Colm Lambe, especially from frees, being a crucial element in their victory. Lambe finished top scorer with eight points, six of those from frees and it was his accuracy that helped them maintain an edge throughout. Drumhowan were six points in front at half-time and while Clones got it back to four in the early stages of the second-half they were never able to close the gap sufficiently to threaten Drumhowan’s position.
Played at a cracking pace throughout this was also a tough and at times hard-hitting contest with a number of key contests between opposing players. Paul Shiels opened the scoring with a point for Clones after just 30 seconds, David Freeman the provider. Clones though were not to score again until the 14th minute by which stage Drumhowan had registered points from Michael Atkinson in the third minute and three from Colm Lambe, one from play in the fourth minute and two from frees in the sixth and 11th minutes and they also had another effort off target while a shot by Kieran Mooney dropped short to Clones keeper Damien McGorman. Clones now responded with points by Adrian Alford in the 14th minute and 16th minutes while Fintan Kelly saw his effort go wide off the upright. Clones were not to score again for the remainder of the first half while Drumhowan went on to add points by Patrick Mulligan in the 19th minute when he exploited a poor clearance, Colm Lambe from a free in the 23rd minute, Kieran Deery in the 26th minute, Lambe again from a free in the 28th minute and David Millar in the 29th to leave six points between the sides at the break, Drumhowan 0-9, Clones 0-3.
Clones started the second half with real purpose and early pressure saw them awarded two frees, both of which were converted by Adrian Alford in the second and fifth minutes, the latter seeing Drumhowan cornerback Martin McElroy pick up a yellow card for an off the ball foul on Colm Connolly. Drumhowan opened their second half account in the 11th minute with a point from a free by Colm Lambe, Ciaran Kelly picking up a yellow card for the indiscretion. Lambe added another point in the 12th minute with Ciaran Deery fisting over in the 14th minute and they should probably have found the Clones net a minute later when David Millar was gifted a chance with a misplaced pass from Clones keeper Damien McGorman but he blasted wide. Clones now lifted their game for points by David Freeman in the 15th minute and Daragh Holland in the 17th but they also saw efforts by Adrian Alford and Holland off target. Entering the final 10 minutes five points separated the sides with Ciaran Deery putting Drumhowan six in front in the 21st minute when he punished Clones for not clearing their lines adequately. David Freeman took a good save out of Drumhowan keeper Enda Duffy in the 23rd minute and pointed a free in the 24th minute but his long-range effort a minute later was just off target. Colm Lambe converted a free for Drumhowan in the 27th minute for a foul on Ciaran Mooney and both sides were off target from reasonable chances in the final minutes of normal time before Clones registered the final score of the game, a point by David Freeman a minute into stoppage time to leave five points between them at the final whistle.
Teams and Scorers: Drumhowan: Enda Duffy, Martin McElroy, John Paul O’Neill, Niall Mooney, Darren Duffy, Patrick Mulligan 0-1, Dermot Mooney, Kieran McElroy, Anthony Mulligan, David Millar 0-1, Kevin Mooney, Michael Atkinson 0-1, Ciaran Deery 0-3, Kieran Mooney, Colm Lambe 0-8 (6f). Subs: Ciaran Duffy for A Mulligan, Aidan Duffy for D Mooney.
Clones: Damien McGorman, Eugene Holland, Danny Rooney, Paul Connolly, Daragh Graham, Michael Treanor, Ciaran Kelly, Adrian Alford 0-4 (2f), Paul Shiels, Ethan Audley, Finatan Kelly, Colm Connolly, Jake Rehill, Daragh Holland 0-1, David Freeman 0-3 (1f). Subs: Martin Slowey for A Audley, Declan McQuaid for P Connolly, John McDonald for J Rehill, Brian McDonald for C Kelly. Referee: Donal Connolly (Scotstown).
