PARAGON BAR Junior Football Championship
Drumhowan 1-11, Oram 0-12.
In tight matches it’s the team that is more economical with their chances that usually emerge winners and that is the story of last Sunday nights junior championship clash between Drumhowan and Oram in Aughnamullen. This was a very exciting tussle full of excellent displays, good scores, fair hits given and taken in true sporting fashion before a vocal crowd. However the game will be remembered for Orams profligacy in front of the posts where they hit 14 wides and missed two certain goal chances which ultimately cost them victory. Drumhowan on the other hand kept their wides tally in the lower single figures area and took most of their chances.
The ending of the game was in contrast to the start as Oram started very well going into an early 0-05 to 0-02 lead.
In the opening 10 minutes alone they had three wides while Drumhowans Christopher Mc Ginnitty who along with James Mc Elroy were star performers, used his speed on the counter attack very well to set up Mc Elroy for a towering point. Kieran Mooney, a late call up for Drumhowan will also remember his day in Aughnamullen. He helped himself to a first half tally 0f 1-03, the goal simplicity in itself as two Oram men went for the one ball which neither collected. Stephen Mc Ginnitty grabbed the break and tore down on goal before laying off to Mooney who finished very well and helped the Geraldines into a 1-03 to 0-05 lead. This goal signalled the start of Drumhowans best spell and on reflection proved to be the decisive score. Spurred on by Dermot McDermott in defence who mopped up broken ball excellently, they tacked on further points by Pat Mulligan and Colm Lambe to boost their lead and Oram were for the first time in the game clearly rattled. Drumhowan led at half time by 1-5 to 0-6.
Oram made a strong start to the second half but despite practically laying siege to Drumhowans defence for over 10 minutes they could only draw level with two pointed frees from Michael Mone and half time substitute Paul Brennan. James Mc Elroy lofted over a fine point to give his side the lead once more and two more points on the break from Stephen Connolly and Mc Elroy once more established a three point lead for the winners.
Oram however refused to give in and cut back the deficit through pointed frees by Michael Mone. With 8 minutes to go there remained two points between the sides as both fought manfully to hit the finishing line in front. Oram threw everything into attack but experience allied to luck was Drumhowans saviour and a point for the hitherto unseen Stephen Mc Ginnitty left them 1-11 to 0-11 in front.
Oram continued to press hard and a Barry Mone effort on goal was again stopped by Michael Mooney once more. A Paul Brennan free reduced the deficit to two as the 30 minute mark was reached.
Oram had three glorious chances to win the game when three close in frees but they failed to take advantage and three wides resulted which left drumhowan two in front at the final whistle
Teams and scorers: Oram: – John Keenan, Sean Quinn, Tony Graham, Mark Mone, Barry Mone, Stephen Mone, Lorcan Keenan, Barry Quinn, Peter Finnegan,, Conor Brennan, Michael Mone (0-07, 0-6 frees), P.J. Flanagan, Stephen Mc Bride (0-01 free), Justin Mone (0-02), John Mone.
Subs: Paul Brennan (0-02 frees) for S. Mc Bride, Sean Graham for Conor Brennan, Kevin Flanagan for Peter Finnegan (injured).
Drumhowan: Michael Mooney, Gavin Sheridan, Gerry Woods, Damien Mooney, Rodney Mooney, Dermot McDermott, Stephen Connolly (0-01), Christopher McGinnity (0-01), Kieran Deery (0-01), Niall Mooney, Stephen McGinnity (0-01), Colm Lambe (0-01 free), Kieran Mooney (1-03), James McElroy ((0-02), Patrick Mulligan (0-01). Subs: Pauric Atkinson for Kieran Mooney.
Referee :- Dave Ryan (Carrickmacross).
