ULSTER CLUB JUNIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI FINAL.
Greencastle 1-8, Drumhowan 1-7.
A point by Terry McDermott three minutes into stoppage time saw Tyrone junior champions, Greencastle, edge out Drumhowan for a place in the final in this entertaining if never spectacular game in casement Park, Belfast on Sunday last. Entering the final minutes Drumhowan appeared to have done just about enough to book their place in the decider this Sunday when they led by two points but Greencastle staged a storming finish to hit three points without reply to snatch a late dramatic victory. Drumhowan got off to a brilliant start and led by six points at the end of the first quarter, Gerard Duffy doing most of the damage as he tapped over a couple of frees and took a good pass from Stephen McGinnity for the opening goal of the game. Greencastle didn’t register their first score until the 20th minute when Barry McNulty pointed and that score kick started a strong period for the Tyrone side and in the final 10 minutes of the first half they outscored Drumhowan by 1-3 to a point, Enda Clarke powering through for the goal in stoppage time to leave the half-time score Drumhowan 1-4, Greencastle 1-2. Drumhowan extended their lead with a point by Gerard Duffy in the opening minute of the second-half but with Enda Clarke beginning to dominate in midfield Greencastle clawed their way back into the game. Entering the final minutes points by James McElroy and Gerard Duffy saw Drumhowan two points in front but it was always a tenuous lead with Greencastle building in momentum. Terry McDermott reduced the deficit to the minimum with a good long-range point in the final minute of normal time and Edan Clarke equalised as the game went into stoppage time. A draw would probably have been a fair enough result but Greencastle had one last foray into attack with McDermott picking off the winner from a difficult angle.
Teams and scorers: Greencastle: Colin Touhy, Ronan McDermott, Michael Conway, Darren O’Hagan, Michael Conway, Niall Conway, Ronan Conway, Enda Clarke 1-0, Edan Clarke 0-1, Kevin Ferrity, Emmet Clarke, Brian McNulty 0-1, Barry Devlin 0-1, Terry McDermott 0-8, Ciaran Carson. Subs: Brendan Treacy for C Carson, C Carson for B O’Hagan, S Coyle for K Ferrity, Peter Keenan for Emmet Clarke.
Drumhowan: Michael Mooney, Gavin Sheridan, Patrick Duffy, Niall Mooney, Dermot Mooney, Dermot McDermott, Patrick Mulligan, Damien Duffy, Christopher McGinnity, Padraig Atkinson, Ciaran McElroy, Gerard Duffy 1-4, Stephen McGinity 0-1, James McElroy 0-2, Ciaran Mooney. Subs: Colm Lambe for P Atkinson, Enda McElroy for K Mooney, Ciaran Deery for C McElroy. Referee: Gavin Corrigan (Down).
