MONAGHAN JUNIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL.
Drumhowan 1-9, Rockcorry 0-12.
A point by Gerard Duffy from a free four minutes into stoppage time saw Drumhowan snatch a late dramatic draw in this keenly contested and at times niggly junior championship final in Scotstown yesterday. In a game that really only came to life in the second-half Rockcorry looked to have done enough when they came from a point behind four minutes from time to re-take the lead after playing catch up for long periods but Drumhowan piled forward in numbers and when county player James McElroy was fouled Gerard Duffy obliged from the spot kick. Drumhowan opened the brighter and led by two points after 11 minutes with Rockcorry finding it difficult to hit the target and it wasn’t until the 20th minute that they opened their account with a point from a free by man of the match Mark Daly. Rockcorry added a further three points without reply in the space of four minutes, two by Mark Daly to come from being scoreless after 20 minutes to lead by two after twenty five. Points by James McElroy and Gerard Duffy brought the sides level going into stoppage time with Rockcorry then going in one ahead at the break with a point by Paul McKeown to leave the half-time score Rockcorry 0-5, Drumhowan 0-4. On the resumption Rockcorry picked up where they had left off at the break and four further points without reply between the fifth and ninth minutes saw them open a five points lead. Any thoughts though of pulling away were quickly killed off when Drumhowan struck for the only goal of the game, James McElroy on hand to crash to the net after an initial attempt by Steven McGinnity was blocked on the line. McGinnity added a point in the 14th minute to reduce the margin to the minimum and by the 23rd minute Drumhowan were level with points by James McElroy and Gerard Duffy after Mark Daly had put Rockcorry two in front on 15 minutes. Further Drumhowan pressure saw Steven McGinnity pick off a valuable point with a deft overhead kick and time was running out when Mark Daly converted a free to level the game for the third time. Just on the half hour Barry Patterson restored Rockcorry to the lead when he threaded the ball between the post from an almost impossible angle but Drumhowan earned a reprieve when Gerard Duffy converted a free for a foul on James McElroy four minutes into stoppage time. The replay takes place in Scotstown this Saturday at 3:30 p.m..
Teams and Scorers: Drumhowan: Michael Mooney, Aidan Duffy, Patrick Duffy, Niall Mooney, Dermot McDermott, Enda Mooney, Gavin Sheridan, Christopher McGinnity 0-1, Damien Duffy, James McElroy 1-2, Ciaran McElroy, Padraig Atkinson, Kieran Mooney, Stephen McGinnity 0-2, Gerard Duffy 0-4. Subs: Patrick Mulligan for C McElroy, Colm Lambe for N Mooney.
Rockcorry: Paul Matthews, Ciaran O’Harte, Ciaran McCormill, Pauric Reilly, Noel Carroll, Keith Daly, Colin Quinn, Mark Daly 0-7, Barry Patterson 0-1, Johnny Reilly 0-1, Gary Calvert, Cormac McFadden, Stephen McGuirk, Martin Carroll, Paul McKeown 0-3. Subs: Anthony Tate for S McGuirk, Damien Matthews for C O’Harte. Referee: Xavier Coyle (Tyholland).
