UNIVERSAL GRAPHICS JUNIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP.
Drumhowan 0-11, Oram 0-10.
A more streetwise Drumhowan kept their championship aspirations on track and ended Oram’s interest in this year’s competition when they struck late and emphatically for the winning point in this well contested back door game that was played in blustery conditions in Blackhill on Saturday evening last. Colm Lambe who came in as a second-half substitute was the man who pounced for the winner after his side had fought back from being three points adrift 10 minutes into the second half. The strong wind that favoured each club in either half did have some influence on the game but Drumhowan showed that little bit more aptitude in fighting back from falling into arrears a couple of times during the game to eventually edge the result. Oram for their part were left to rue a number of missed chances, one in particular an effort for a goal by Ryan McGuinness that cannoned off the bottom of the post and they were also off target twice in stoppage time where one of those efforts, if converted, would have seen them earn a replay. Drumhowan though could claim that they could have won the game by more as they were quite wasteful, hitting a total of 15 wides in all, 10 in the second-half, while Oram hit nine wides over the hour. Oram had the advantage of the wind in the first half but it was Drumhowan who opened the scoring at the end of a counter attack started by Liam McGuirk and involving Kevin Mooney with David Millar popping over the bar after just 40 seconds. Pauric Graham equalised for Oram from a free two minutes later with Drumhowan re-taking the lead in the sixth minute when David Millar pointed a free after he himself had been fouled. Oram now picked up the pace but the woodwork denied Ryan McGuinness, Pauric Graham the provider, but they then went on to hit three points without reply inside two minutes from Daniel Forde, Pauric Graham, Danny Lynch the provider and Ryan McGuinness from a free after he himself had been fouled to open a two points lead after 12 minutes. Oram had two chances to extend their lead but were wide of the target from both before Drumhowan responded with points by Niall Mooney and Kevin Mooney to draw level in the 20th minute and then go on to retake the lead with another point by Niall Mooney following good work by David Millar. A point from a free by Pauric Graham for a foul on Ryan McGuinness brought Oram level but Drumhowan retook the lead in the 28th minute when David Millar converted a free to leave the half-time score Drumhowan 0-6, Oram 0-5.
Oram came out for the second half with renewed purpose and by the 10th minute they had not only over turned that one point halftime deficit but they had opened a three points lead with scores by Danny Lynch, substitute Aaron Molloy, Leo Burke and Pauric Graham from a free as Drumhowan’s wasteful ways continued. Oram though were only to score one further point for the remainder of the game as Drumhowan dug in. By the 16th minute they had drawn level with points by Kieran Mooney, Kevin Mooney the provider, Aidan Duffy, when his shot was deflected over the bar by Oram keeper David Sheehy and then Kieran Mooney with an opportunist point when he was placed from a quick free by David Millar, to leave the sides tied up at nine points apiece entering the final quarter. A point from a free by Pauric Graham restored Oram to the lead with eight minutes of normal time remaining and they could have extended that lead again but poor finishing and squandering possession saw chances go amiss before Drumhowan equalised with a point by David Millar with two minutes of normal time remaining when he picked up a clearance by Oram keeper Sheehy. A well worked Oram move saw Ryan McGuinness in with a chance but his shot was off target with Colm Lambe then hitting the winner for Drumhowan in the final minute of normal time to leave the minimum between them at the final whistle.
Teams and Scorers: Drumhowan: Enda Duffy, Martin McElroy, Dermot Mooney, Darren Duffy, Liam McGuirk, Barry McGuirk, Patrick Mulligan, John Paul O’Neill, Anthony Mulligan, David Millar 0-4 (2f), Kevin Mooney 0-1, Niall Mooney 0-2, Kieran Mooney 0-2, Aiden Quinn, Aidan Duffy 0-1. Subs: Colm Lambe 0-1 for A Duffy, Kieran Mooney for A Quinn, Michael Atkinson for P Mulligan.
Oram: David Sheehy, Chris McGuinness, Stephen McBride, Gerard Keenan, Cathal Crowe, Rory Murphy, Lorcan Keenan, Sean Graham, Deaglan Crowe, Daniel Forde 0-1, Ryan McGuinness 0-1 (f), Danny Lynch 0-1, Justin MOne, Leo Burke 0-1, Pauric Graham 0-5 (4f). Subs: Aaron Molloy 0-1 for S Graham, Jason McDonald for A Molloy, Chris McGeough for D Forde (Black Card).
