WESTENRA ARMS HOTEL JUNIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP.
Drumhowan 4-10, Killeevan 1-8.
A stronger, hungrier Drumhowan experienced little difficulty in booking their place in the final of the junior football championship at the expense of a lacklustre Killeevan in what was overall a fairly one-sided contest in Scotstown on Sunday evening last. Drumhowan essentially laid the foundations for victory in the first half at the end of which they led by 12 points but it was their more industrious approach to the task in hand that marked them down as a side that will be difficult to unsettle in the decider. Drumhowan were very strong at midfield where they won most of the possession and with their half forward line setting up a good supply the Killeevan defence was under pressure with James McElroy causing all sorts of problems at full forward. The introduction of Darren Greenan about midway through the first half helped to tighten up the defence considerably but Drumhowan always seemed to have a number of options going forward although Killeevan did not help their cause by missing a number of very scoreable chances particularly from frees. Half-time score Drumhowan 2-8, Killeevan 0-2. Killeevan in put in a promising start to the second half and their renewed determination paid early dividends as they took three points off Drumhowan’s lead in the early minutes of the second period. That however was as good at it got as Drumhowan fashioned another period of power play mostly through the work of james McElroy who was now operating in midfield, and when they scored their third goal in the 16th minute, Christopher McGinnity put clear behind the Killeevan defence with a long-range pass from James McElroy, any notion of a Killeevan revival was gone completely. Killeevan to their credit did not give up the struggle but on the day they were forced to play second fiddle to a bigger, stronger Drumhowan team and their disappointment on the day was compounded with the red card dismissal of Richard Burns five minutes before the end of normal time.
Teams and Scorers: Drumhowan: Michael Mooney, Gavin Sheridan, Patrick Duffy, Damien Mooney, Niall Mooney, Enda Mooney, Dermot McDermott, Christopher McGinnity 1-3, Aidan Duffy 2-1, Damien Duffy, Ciaran McElroy, Padraig Atkinson, Kieran Mooney 1-1, James McElroy 0-1, Colm Lambe 0-4. Subs: Patrick Mulligan for D Mooney, Gerard Duffy for C McGinnity, Enda Duffy for D Duffy, Kieran Deery for N Mooney.
Killeevan: Rory Larmer, Sean Clerkin, Nioall McCooey, Philip Graham, Paul O’Reilly, Vincent Martin 1-0, Gavin McKenna, Declan Clerkin, Ian Larmer, Noel Smith 0-7, Colin Quigley, Casement Lynch, Dermot Lynch 0-1, David Flynn, Richard Burns. Subs: Darren Greenan for P Graham, Gerard Hughes for C Lynch, Ciaran Quigley for D Flynn. Referee: Kevin Murtagh (Toome).
