Ulster Club Junior Football Championship
Drumhowan ( Monaghan) 1-12
An Port Mor ( Armagh) 1-8
A strong first half by Drumhowan gave them the cushion against an impressive second half recovery by Armagh side An Port Mor in this entertaining and at times exciting junior championship game in Clones yesterday. However it was only for a short period that it looked as if Drumhowan might be threatened by the Armagh champions. In the end the Monaghan side ran out comfortable winners. The opening twenty minutes saw a sharper, more composed and much more pacy Drumhowan side take complete control of the game, as they dictated the play in all sectors. While An Port Mor took the opening score through Tom McGleenan, Drumhowan launched a major response in the fourth minute and over the following 20 minutes hit a goal and eight pointsto help Drumhowan to a half time lead of 1-8, to 1-3, the Armagh goal coming just on the break.
Drumhowan got off to a good second half start when James McElroy and Gerard Duffy sent over points apiece but An Port Mor had other ideas and as their midfield pairing of Mark Curran and Neil McGleenan began to impose themselves in the centre the supply up front began to come and over a strong 10 minute period they hit four points without reply to unexpectedly narrow the gap to three points. Austen McKenna, Gary Treanor, Neil McGleenan and David Curran were the score getters and at this stage a much less composed Drumhowan looked to be in some trouble but they held out in an exciting finish.
Teams and Scorers: Drumhowan: Enda Duffy, Gavin Sheridan, Paddy Duffy, Niall Mooney, Enda Mooney, Dermot McDermott, Patrick Mulligan, Damien Duffy, Christopher McGinnity (0-2), Pauric Atkinson (0-1), Ciaran McElroy Gerard Duffy (0-3), Stephen McGinnity (0-1), James McElroy (0-3) Kieran Mooney (1-1). Subs: Colm Lambe (0-1) for G Duffy, Ciaran Deery for K Mooney, Enda McElroy for K McElroy, Dermot Mooney for P Duffy.
An Port Mor: Michael Higginbotham, Jason Lennon, Philip Casey, Niall McKenna, Tom McGleenan (0-1), Shane Nugent, Tom Mullan, Neil McGleenan(0-2),
Mark Curran (0-1), Gary McCrilly, Austen McKenna (0-1),John McBride (0-1), Christopher Lennon (0-1), Gary Treanor (1-1), Michael Casey. Subs: Peter Lavery for P Casey, Jason Curran for G McCrilly, David Curran for M Casey. Referee: Leo Smyth (Down).
