Clarke inspires Drumkeerin to shock victory
A great team effort built on a super first half performance saw Drumkeerin shock neighbours Dromahair at Pairc Shane McGettigan on Saturday to claim their place in the GWP Intermediate fchampionship final.
GWP INTERMEDIATE CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINAL
DRUMKEERIN 1-7
ST PATRICK'S DROMAHAIR 1-5
Drumkeerin took the lead in the second minute of the game and never relinquished it, although a Dromahair penalty deep into injury time at the end of the match meant the conclusion was much more nervous than it needed to be for the victors.
Manager Jimmy Langan saw his side play with that irresistible combination of a team ethic backed up by some outstanding individual displays.
The tigerous tackling by all six defenders was exemplified by Stephen Feeney who gave a display in how to cleanly dispossess an opponent in the tackle while Damien McPadden's assured play, especially under the high ball, nullified Dromahair's main attacking threat of Christy McGowan.
Both defenders were ably assisted by Jason Beirne and Darragh Flynn, the latter taking to his new role of corner back with considerable aplomb for someone more noted as a corner forward.
Further up the field, Colm Clarke produced a display that justified the great expectations many people place on his shoulders - not only in Drumkeerin but around the county too.
He was the driving force in the middle of the field and his two first half points showed not only leadership but self-belief – something his game occasionally lacks.
It was his eighth minute second half goal that sealed this famous win. Dromahair had scored the first two points of the second period, a Kevin Conlon free and a fine point from Keith Carthy, to narrow the gap to just three, 0-6 to 0-3.
But the well-worked goal typified Drumkeerin's attitude as Eddie McTiernan chased what seemed like a lost cause, only to win possession and feed the ball to the waiting John Cullen.
Cullen's defence-splitting pass to Clarke was inch perfect and Clarke rounded the last defender before coolly finishing past the advancing Padraig Flanagan in the Dromahair goals. (Flanagan had replaced the injured Kieran Meehan 20 minutes into the first half.)
The goal was essential as Drumkeerin struggled to maintain their work-rate as the game entered the final quarter. However they were also seriously hampered by the loss of Cullen to injury 13 minutes into the second half.
Dromahair reacted to the goal by hitting the next two points, both rousing efforts from Martin Clancy and Conor Farrell, but crucially they also recorded four bad wides as the game sat in the balance.
Trailing by 1-6 to 0-5 with 57 minutes played it looked like they were in for the goal they so badly needed when Conor Kelly raced onto a long ball that evaded the Drumkeerin full back line.
Fisting the bouncing ball from the edge of the square, the umpire was already reaching for the green flag when Conor Woods made an incredible reflex save.
The rebound came to Kevin Conlon but a last ditch block deflected the ball just wide of the post for a ‘45 which Conlon missed.
It looked like Drumkeerin had sealed the win when Stephen Gilhooley - with just two minutes of normal time left - won a free on the 45m line which Eddie McTiernan thumped over but there was plenty of drama left yet.
Several stoppages for injuries meant there would be over four minutes of injury time played and in the first minute of it, Woods pulled off his second brilliant save to deny Kelly a certain goal. However, Stephen Smyth collected the rebound and as he was about to pull the trigger he was fouled – penalty.
Despite not having the best day from dead balls, young Conlon calmly slotted away the spot kick to leave just two between the sides, 1-7 to 1-5, with two minutes of injury time to play.
Christy McGowan almost got inside the cover in the last attack of the game but another Dromahair goal would have been tantamount to daylight robbery and Drumkeerin managed to hold out for a deserved win.
As mentioned, the game was won in a first half where every Drumkeerin man played for his team mate and worked tirelessly not just to apply pressure in defence but to deny Dromahair the opportunity to build from defence. They kicked six points from play in the first period, as well as four wides, while Dromahair managed just one in return, recording six wides over the half.
Drumkeerin really should have been out of sight at half time but Cullen panicked when he found himself inside the last defender on 22 minutes. Sprinting goalwards with the ball bouncing in front of him on the 13m line his decision to volley the ball proved rash as it sailed high and wide
Drumkeerin
Conor Woods; Aiden Dolan, Damien McPadden, Darragh Flynn; Calvin O’Donnell, Stephen Feeney, Jason Beirne; Ciaran White, Colm Clarke (1-2); Richard McTiernan (0-2), Stephen Gilhooley (0-1), Colin McKenna; Eddie McTiernan (0-2), Francie Davitt, John Cullen. Subs: Daniel McSharry for Francie Davitt (30 mins); James McPartland for Stephen Gilhooley (39 mins); Stephen Gilhooley for John Cullen (39 mins); Francis Davitt for Colin McKenna (60 mins).
St. Patrick’s Dromahair
Kieran Meehan; Ronan Fowley, Martin Clancy (0-1), Jamie Conlon; Fergus Meehan, Kenneth Casey, Barry Loughlin; Patrick McGowan, Kevin Conlon (1-1); Keith Carthy (0-1), Stephen Smyth, Conor Farrell (0-1), Adrian Fowley, Christie McGowan (0-1), Conor Kelly. Subs: Padraig Flanagan for Kieran Meehan (20 mins); Shane Fowley for Adrian Fowley (32 mins); Brian Feeney for Keith Carthy (49 mins).
Referee: Vinnie McMorrow.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Weather for Carrick-on-Shannon, Ireland
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 11 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: South
