Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship Semi-Final

Drumhowan 0-14 Clones 0-9

 Drumhowan are through to the JFC Final after a five-point win over Clones in Scotstown on Sunday. Drumhowan trailed only once in the game, as they quickly took charge, with the championship’s top scorer Colm Lambe kicking eight points over the hour, although it was far from a one-man show. Despite being the only two Drumhowan forwards not to score, Kieran and Kevin Mooney won a huge amount of ball and played their part in a number of scores, while Paddy and Anthony Mulligan, David Millar and Darren Duffy also contributed well. The highly-rated Clones forward line never really got going, with only two of the front six getting on the scoresheet and a few goal chances going to waste in the second half. David Freeman, Adrian Alford and Colm Connolly had their moments, but it was a disappointing performance for Clones.

Clones took barely half a minute to open the scoring through Paul Shiels, but that proved to be the only time that they were in front. Kieran Mooney set up Michael Atkinson to bring Drumhowan level and when Kevin Mooney caught the following kick-out, he created a point for Colm Lambe. Lambe added a brace of points from 20-metre frees after fouls on Atkinson and Kieran Mooney, although Adrian Alford got on the end of a wayward shot from Colm Connolly to keep Clones in touch.

Alford linked up with Connolly once again to kick a fine point over his shoulder, but a slack pass by Clones goalkeeper Damien McGorman allowed Paddy Mulligan to double Drumhowan’s lead with a well-taken score. Lambe added another pair of 25-metre frees, following fouls on Kevin and Kieran Mooney, either side of a point from play by Ciarán Deery, who had been well-placed by Mulligan. David Millar linked up with Kevin Mooney to open up a six-point gap and Clones needed a save from McGorman to deny Kieran Mooney and keep them in the game at 0-9 to 0-3 behind at half-time.

Fouls on Jake Reihill and Fintan Kelly allowed Alford to tap over a couple of 20-metre frees and bring Clones to within four points early in the second half and they had a chance to move closer when Connolly cut in along the end-line, only to have his shot saved by Drumhowan keeper Enda Duffy. Lambe got Drumhowan’s first score of the half from a close-range free after a foul on Kieran Mooney and he added a point from play at the end of a well-worked move involving Kevin and Kieran Mooney and Anthony Mulligan, before Deery caught an Atkinson cross and fisted over to put seven between the teams.

A strong run by Connolly set up David Freeman for a good point and Darragh Holland got another point back for Clones when he punished a poor pass in the Drumhowan defence, but Holland missed a chance to get them right back into it when he blazed wide after Fintan Kelly had knocked a high ball from Freeman into his path. Deery intercepted a Micheál Treanor pass to restore the six-point gap and Drumhowan maintained their healthy lead when Enda Duffy saved from Freeman, who had been well-placed by Darragh Holland.

Alford also had a shot at goal blocked and although Freeman got a point back from a 30-metre free after Darren Duffy had touched the ball on the ground, another foul on Kieran Mooney allowed Lambe to convert a similar effort for his eighth point of the match. Freeman landed a fine point from play in the last minute of normal time, but Drumhowan held on to deservedly book their place in the final against Emyvale.

Drumhowan: E Duffy; M McElroy, N Mooney, JP O’Neill; D Duffy, P Mulligan (0-1), Dermot Mooney; K McElroy, A Mulligan; M Atkinson (0-1), Kevin Mooney, D Millar (0-1); Kieran Mooney (Capt.), C Lambe (0-8, 6f), C Deery (0-3).

Subs: C Duffy for K McElroy (49 mins), A Duffy for D Mooney (52).

Clones: D McGorman; E Holland, D Rooney, P Connolly; D Graham, M Treanor, C Kelly; A Alford (Capt., 0-4, 2f), P Shiels (0-1); E Audley, F Kelly, David Freeman (0-3, 1f); J Reihill, D Holland (0-1), C Connolly.

Subs: D McQuaid for P Connolly, M Slowey for Audley (both H-T), J McDonald for Reihill (46), B McDonald for C Kelly (55).

Referee: D Connolly (Scotstown).