Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship Round 3B
Drumhowan 1-11 Killanny 1-8
Drumhowan are through to the Universal Graphics JFC semi-finals after a hard-earned win over Killanny in Inniskeen last Friday evening. Drumhowan were never caught after an early goal from Michael Atkinson, even though they failed to score between the 24th and 44th minutes, during which time Killanny reduced the gap from five points to one. 11 of the 12 starting forwards on the two teams were on target in this game, including all six for Drumhowan, who have now won three consecutive qualifier games to move within two wins of a fourth JFC title since 2006. Darren Duffy, Kieran, Kevin and Niall Mooney and Colm Lambe played central roles for Drumhowan, while Tiernan Duffy, Daryl Traynor and substitute Conor Vernon led Killanny’s challenge.
A fisted point by Eddie Markey gave Killanny an early lead, but Kieran Mooney equalised for Drumhowan, who moved ahead when Michael Atkinson linked up with Colm Lambe to fire to the net. Another Kieran Mooney point put four between them, but Andrew Kieran got on the end of a move involving Daryl Traynor and Cian Wakely to get one back for Killanny. Kieran then combined with substitute Conor Vernon to set up Markey for a good point, but Lambe set up Darren Duffy to reply for Drumhowan.
Duffy was involved in a well-worked move along with John Paul O’Neill and Niall Mooney, which ended with a Kieran Mooney shot dropping just over, via the crossbar. Peter Dooley converted a 20-metre free for Killanny after a foul on Markey, but David Millar and Niall Mooney combined to release Lambe for his first point on 21 minutes. Millar soon opened his account after taking a pass from Kevin Mooney and although Killanny had the last say of the half through another 20-metre free from Dooley, won by Markey, Drumhowan led by 1-6 to 0-5 at half-time.
Killanny managed the only score of a scrappy first ten minutes after the restart, when Dónal McArdle blazed a goal chance over the bar. Killanny soon had the ball in the net when Mark Conlon flicked home from a high ball by sub Andy Callan on top of Markey. Drumhowan may have had claims for a free in the run-up to that goal, but they were given a free for a challenge on Kevin Mooney at the other end and Lambe sent it over from 30 metres out to finally open his team’s second-half account in the 14th minute. Killanny almost had another goal on the 15-minute mark when Conlon played a one-two with Callan, but the former’s shot was blocked by Dermot Mooney and from Drumhowan’s subsequent counter-attack, a turnover by Millar led to a Kevin Mooney point.
Lambe and Steven McMahon swapped points from 30-metre frees after fouls on Kevin Mooney and Tiernan Duffy, before Lambe sent another effort wide from slightly further out. A 20-metre free by McMahon, following a foul on Conlon, brought Killanny back to within a point, but a jersey-pull on sub Aidan Duffy allowed Lambe to double Drumhowan’s advantage again from a 30-metre free. Niall Mooney added a point from play after exchanging passes with Darren Duffy and the three-point gap proved enough for Drumhowan, despite Killanny’s desperate late attempts at an equalising goal. The first of Killanny’s added-time attacks saw Markey dispossessed on the 20-metre line, while the second and last ended with a pass across the face of the goal from Dermot Leegan being intercepted. Having already seen off the league leaders, Drumhowan will now take on championship favourites Aughnamullen in the semi-finals in Inniskeen on Sunday.
Drumhowan: Enda Duffy; Martin McElroy, Dermot Mooney, Barry McGuirk; Liam McGuirk, Darren Duffy (0-1), Patrick Mulligan; John Paul O’Neill, Anthony Mulligan; Kevin Mooney (0-1), David Millar (Capt., 0-1), Niall Mooney (0-1); Kieran Mooney (0-3), Colm Lambe (0-4, 3f), Michael Atkinson (1-0).
Subs: Aidan Quinn for B McGuirk (22 mins), Aidan Duffy for Atkinson (40).
Killanny: Declan McGlew; Robert Berg, Ronan Duffy, Adam Kieran; Dónal McArdle (0-1), Tiernan Duffy (Capt.), Cillian Leegan; Daryl Traynor, Cian Wakely; Andrew Kieran (0-1), Steven McMahon (0-2f), Michael Vernon; Peter Dooley (0-2f), Eddie Markey (0-2), Mark Conlon (1-0).
Subs: Conor Vernon for Leegan (11), Andy Callan for M Vernon (39), Dermot Leegan for Dooley (53).
Referee: Stephen Hagan (Seán McDermotts).
