Improved performance sees Dromahair advance
St. Patrick's Dromahair rediscovered some of their early season form as they overcame near neighbours Drumkeerin in Drumshanbo on Saturday last in this winner takes all GWP Intermediate Championship clash.
GWP INTERMEDIATE CHAMPIONSHIP
ST PATRICK'S DROMAHAIR 2-10
DRUMKEERIN 0-7
With both teams failing to get the better of Glenfarne/Kiltyclogher, who advanced safely from group 4, this was a game both side's simply had to win.
Drumkeerin, last year's beaten finalists, have been hit by the loss of several key players through injury and emigration since their agonising one point defeat at the hands of Aughnasheelin while many were wondering whether or not the Dromahair players had peaked too early as a result of their involvement in the Celebrity Bainisteoir competition.
From the throw-in, Dromahair looked to have upped their levels of intensity and got off the mark in the opening minute when Adrian Fowley rose highest to claim Shane Fowley's sideline ball. Adrian was presented with a clear-cut opportunity which he duly took although the power with which he hit the ball suggested he was perhaps looking for a goal.
Within a minute Dromahair doubled their advantage and this time there was no doubt that Adrian Fowley was looking for a goal as he claimed Paddy McGowan's free. His shot seemed to be on course for the Drumkeerin goal but it clipped the crossbar before going over the bar.
Although the game was still in its very early stages, it was looking positive for Dromahair as there was plenty of urgency, particularly in midfield where Paddy McGowan looked like a man on a mission.
Drumkeerin for their part were slow to make any impression on the game and although they reduced the deficit with a James McPartland effort they looked second best during the opening exchanges.
Despite being off the pace, Drumkeerin were presented with an opportunity to get back on level terms, but John Cullen's free dropped harmlessly into the arms of Padraig Flanagan.
Wing-back Barry Loughlin re-established a two point lead for Dromahair when he was on the end of a good passing move involving Kevin Conlan and Christy McGowan.
Initially it seemed as though the Drumkeerin defence had the situation under control but when Loughlin burst forward his run went untracked and when he took possession of the ball, he calmly slotted it between the uprights.
Having made such a positive start during the open seven minutes, it was a further 11 minutes before Dromahair registered another score. The fact that Drumkeerin also failed to score during this period illustrated that the game had lost some of its early spark.
When the deadlock was broken it was Dromahair who struck first. Christy McGowan did very well to create space for himself initially before picking out Brian Feeney. Feeney was the only change to the Dromahair starting 15 from the previous week and finished well.
Drumkeerin had now gone 13 minutes without scoring and were looking flat in all areas of the pitch. They were being over run in midfield, where Paddy McGowan in particular was very dominant.
If there was one note of encouragement for Drumkeerin it was the performance of Jason Byrne, who looked confident on the ball and was eager at every opportunity to get forward from his wing-back position.
Eight minutes before the end of the half, the Drumkeerin players had their goalkeeper, Conor Woods to thank as he produced a fine save to deny Shane Fowley what looked like it was going to be a definite goal.
From the resulting ‘45, Padraig Flanagan effortlessly pointed to increase the Dromahair lead to three points.
For all their possession and dominance a three point lead wasn’t a true reflection of how much better Dromahair had been in the opening 27 minutes. With time in the opening half running out, they finally struck for the goal they had threatened for so long.
Quick passing between Shane and Adrian Fowley along with a clever run from Stephen Smyth tore the Drumkeerin defence apart. Approaching the goal from the right wing, Smyth played a measured pass for the waiting Christy McGowan who palmed to the net.
That goal was quickly followed by a Kevin Conlan free and a Christy McGowan point to give Dromahair an eight point lead, which in truth was more reflective of their first half dominance.
Drumkeerin scored the final point of the half when James McPartland capitalised on some sloppy defensive play to leave the score 1-7 to 0-3 at the interval.
Dromahair registered the opening score of the second half when Kevin Conlan converted a second half, but they didn’t have it as easy as they did in the opening half.
The importance of the game seemed to register with the Drumkeerin players and they proved to be much more competitive in the second half.
A pointed free from Darragh Flynn after a foul on Richard McTiernan was followed by further Drumkeerin points for Stephen Gilhooly and James McPartland.
With 16 minutes of the second half played there was a growing feeling that if Drumkeerin could score a goal, they would be right back in contention. The fact that they didn’t was down to a wonderful reaction save from Padraig Flanagan who dived to his left to deny Stephen Gilhooly.
To further compound the disappointment of that miss, Dromahair’s Christy McGowan pointed within a minute to shift the momentum back in his side’s favour.
With nine minutes remaining Richard McTiernan reduced the deficit to five points but that proved to be as close as they would get as that was Drumkeerin’s final score of the game.
With the game in injury time Dromahair put a gloss on the scoreline when they scored their second goal. Stephen Smyth and Kevin Conlan combined to create a goal scoring opportunity for substitute Keith Carty.
Conor Woods produced a fine save, but could only watch as Kevin Conlan, who was one of Dromahair’s best performers slotted the rebound to the Drumkeerin goal from close range.
The scoring was completed when Carty pointed three minutes into injury time to hand Dromahair a six point winning margin.
For Drumkeerin, defeat means the end of their championship involvement for another year which will no doubt be bitterly disappointing considering how much they would have wanted to go one better than last year’s final defeat.
For Dromahair, victory means a quarter-final against Aughawillan and while they will be pleased with last Saturday’s performance, they will be equally aware that there is still room for improvement and improvement will be needed against a side who look to be the form team in the Intermediate Championship.
St. Patrick’s Dromahair
Padraig Flanagan (0-1), Brian McMorrow, Kenneth Casey, Michael McKeown, Fergus Meehan, Kieran Meehan, Barry Loughlin (0-1), Paddy McGowan, Brian Feeney (0-1), David McDermott, Shane Fowley, Adrian Fowley (0-2), Kevin Conlan (1-2), Christy McGowan (1-2), Stephen Smyth. Martin Clancy for McKeown (24 mins), Keith Carty (0-1) for McDermott (36 mins), John Evans for Feeney (47 mins).
Drumkeerin
Conor Woods, Fintan Harvey, Damien McPadden, Brendan McNama, Jason Byrne, Stephen Feeney, Aidan Dolan, Richard McTiernan (0-1), James McPartland (0-3), Daniel McSharry, Stephen Gilhooly (0-1), Keith Gallagher, Darragh Flynn (0-2), Colm Clarke, John Cullen. Subs: Francis Davitt for Harvey (22 mins), Colin McKenna for Gallagher (HT), John Gallagher for Cullen (40 mins), Gabriel Flynn for McSharry (52 mins).
Referee: Finbarr Keaney.
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Weather for Carrick-on-Shannon, Ireland
Tuesday 22 May 2012
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