WESTENRA HOTEL JUNIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI FINAL.
Drumhowan 2-12, Toome 1-5.
The predatory instincts of James McElroy allied to the finishing of Christopher McGinnity and creativity of Dermot McDermott and Stephen McGinnity were the main elements that saw Drumhowan ease to a fairly comfortable victory over Toome in the junior championship semi-final at rain swept Aughnamullen on Saturday last. McElroy struck with deadly effect for two goals, one in either half, the first 12 minutes into the first half to help his side establish a foothold in the match and the second in the 21st minute of the second-half to kill off any lingering thoughts of a late revival by Toome. At that stage the margin stood at just four points after Toome had come with a magnificent third-quarter performance but McElroy’s strike kick started a late flurry by Drumhowan that saw them register a goal and three points without reply in the final 10 minutes to give them 10 points to spare at the final whistle. The weather conditions were difficult and led to some scrappy play but overall Drumhowan looked the more comfortable side and always appeared to have more options particularly going forward. For Toome it was just one of those days when a number of things did not go according to plan but to their credit they gave it a real lash with Gavin Flanagan imposing himself more effectively in the third quarter and the switching of Steven Lambe to attack creating a number of chances but ultimately they had given themselves too much to do after they had fallen behind by nine points six minutes into the second-half. Drumhowan were never headed in the entire contest after Kieran Mooney opened the scoring after a mere 30 seconds with a good point following good work by Enda McElroy and Stephen McGinnity. Three minutes later though Toome were level after Paul Kelly had played a good ball through to Gavin Flanagan but that was the best it was to be for the underdogs. In the nine minutes though that followed that score until James McElroy found the Toome net in the 12th minute Toome might well have taken the lead had they converted a couple of chances, one from a free and one from a ‘45. In that time too they had to be grateful to their keeper Niall Finnegan who denied Colm Lambe when the Drumhowan captain looked to have a goal at his mercy. The goal did eventually come in the 12th minute when Christopher McGinnity placed James McElroy who outpaced the Toome defence before planting the ball in the bottom right-hand corner of the net for a lead his side never subsequently relinquished. Christopher McGinnity converted a free to put Drumhowan four points in front a minute later and while Gavin Flanagan pulled back a point for Toome from a free in the 18th minute Drumhowan finished the half strongly with points by Christopher McGinnity from a free in the 20th minute, James McElroy who fisted over at the end of another strong run in the 22nd minute and Christopher McGinnity from another free a minute into stoppage time to leave the half-time score Drumhowan 1-5, Toome 0-2. On the resumption Drumhowan picked up where they had left off with three unanswered points in the opening six minutes of the second-half to put them nine points in front. Kieran Mooney got the second-half off to a good start in the third minute, Stephen McGinnity finished for a well worked score in the fifth minute and James McElroy got his second point of the match in the sixth minute to leave nine points between the sides and Drumhowan looking comfortable and set for victory. By the end of the third quarter though they realised that they still had a fight on their hands as Toome rallied and in their strongest period in the game they scored a goal and three points without reply in a blistering five minutes spell that rocked Drumhowan back on their heels. Alan Lambe got his side’s first score in 20 minutes at the end of a move involving Joe Kelly and Cian McGovern and Lambe started the move three minutes later that saw Toome awarded a free that was converted by Shane Moore to bring the deficit down to seven in the 12th minute. A minute later the deficit was down to a much more manageable four points when a centre by Gavin Flanagan was touch down by Gerard Cunningham, substitute Stephen McCooey gathered and rifled to the net from close range to put a totally different complexion on the match at this stage. Gavin Flanagan continued to drive his side foreword and when Gerard Cunningham picked off an opportunist point to reduce the deficit to three in the 14th minute it looked as if it would be a close finish. That was not how it worked out however and that point turned out to be Toome’s last score of the match as Drumhowan gradually regained control but they had to keep their concentration right to the finish. Signs of Drumhowan’s strong finish came in the final minute of the third quarter when Stephen McGinnity delivered a long pass in to James McElroy and but for the alertness of Niall Finnegan who took off a great save at point blank range McElroy would have finished with three goals. Entering the final quarter Christopher McGinnity converted a free to restore Drumhowan to a four points lead and the game as a contest was effectively over five minutes later when Rodney Mooney, Colm Lambe and Stephen McGinnity created the opportunity that saw James McElroy in behind the Toome defence and he stabbed home from close range to put his side seven points in front. Toome did respond with spirit and a cross by Steven Lambe looked to have given the opportunity of a similar finish to full forward Cian McGovern but his effort was just outside the Drumhowan post. Following that let off Drumhowan regrouped to hit three points, one each from frees by Christopher McGinnity and Colm Lambe and the third by Enda McElroy to leave 10 points between the sides at the finish.
Teams and Scorers: Drumhowan: Enda Duffy, Darren Duffy, Liam McGurk, Martin McElroy, Damien Duffy, Niall Mooney, Kevin Mooney, Enda McElroy 0-1, Dermot McDermott, James McElroy 2-2, Stephen McGinnity 0-1, Gerard Duffy, Kieran Mooney 0-2, Christopher McGinnity 0-5 (4f), Colm Lambe 0-1 (f). Subs: Rodney Mooney for K Mooney, David Millar for G Duffy.
Toome: Niall Finnegan, Damien Wilson, Alan Lambe 0-1, Darren Conlon, Francis Quinn, Stephen Lambe, Shane Moore 0-1, Stephen Quinn, Paul Kelly, Gary Wilson, Gavin Flanagan 0-2 (1f), Breffni Morgan, Joe Kelly, Cian McGovern, Gerard Cunningham 0-1. Subs: Stephen McCooey 1-0 for G Wilson, Keith O’Reilly for J Kelly, Gary Wilson for P Kelly. Referee: Pat McEnaney (Corduff).
