Around a Pound Junior Football Championship quarter-final
Drumaness 0-13 Newry Mitchels 0-9
DRUMANESS scored first in this Junior Football Championship quarter-final through Neil Stranney but once Mitchels settled they were soon ahead.
They recorded scores from Conor Murphy, after a strong solo run by Rory Cunningham, and then Conor Murphy finished good play by Nigel Allen over the bar. The city side had failed to stamp their authority on proceedings and indeed went 25 minutes without a score.
Ten minutes in, Damian Murdock converted a free to tie the match and his second free put Drums ahead. This score filled the East Down side with confidence and they added seven points in a 12 minute spell, the pick a point from Brian McIlmurray after good approach play from Donal Kennedy and a huge effort from Damian Murdock way out on the right sideline.
Ten points to two behind, Mitchels gave themselves a platform for a second half rally with injury time scores from Shannon Cooney and Conor Murphy to trail by six, 0-4 to 0-10, at the break.
On the restart Mitchels continued where they left off with three quick points halving the deficit to a more manageable goal between the teams but again some wayward finishing proved costly and in the 40th minute Daryl McAlinden put two scores between the teams.
There followed a lengthy spell without a score and when it came in the 52nd minute it was a sixth point for Damian Murdock to put five in it. Shannon Cooney replied from the kick-out but just as quickly Mickey Rainey added his second score for Drumaness and Mitchels now needed goals, and quickly. Rory Cunningham pointed a Newry free and though they had all the possession in the closing minutes, Mitchels could not get in for the major strike they needed and exited the Championship.
Drumaness, though relegated to Division Four, can still salvage something from their season.
Drumaness: Gary O’Hare; Neil McAlinden, Conor Deegan, Mark Rainey; Brian McGivern, Neil McAleenan, Ryan Walsh; Mickey Rainey 0-2, Malachy Noade; Paddy Bell, Donal Kennedy 0-1, Neil Stranney 0-1; Daryl McAlinden 0-2, Brian McIlmurray 0-1, Damian Murdock 0-6.
Mitchels: Darren McGeeney; Marty Boyle, Neil Manley, Killian McLogan; Nigel Allen, Gerard Murphy, Barry Quinn; Barry McAteer, Shannon Cooney 0-2; Michael Heaney 0-1, Conor Murphy 0-3, Rory Cunningham 0-2; Eamon Pollack, Shane Cooney, Richard Troope 0-1. |
