Intermediate Championship Tie Ends in a Draw
August 2nd, 2007 by admin
DRUMKEERIN 2-6 GLENFARNE/KILTYCLOGHER 0-12
Both Drumkeerin and Glenfarne/Kilty will reflect on Saturday’s encounter knowing that there will be elements of the game to be satisfied with, but also both sides will be fully aware that there is room for improvement.
Drumkeerin will be delighted with the way they started the game but will be slightly baffled at the manner in which they lost a seven point lead with just over 20 minutes remaining.
Glenfarne/Kilty will know that in future outings they may not be given the opportunity to recover from such a slow start. However, the fact that they, with practically the last kick of the game, secured a draw will no doubt please all connected with the club.
Drumkeerin got off to the best possible start as they carried their rich vein of form into their encounter with Glenfarne as they started brightly. Within four minutes, Drumkeerin had opened up a four point lead. Following an Enda McNama point, Edward McTiernan scored an impressive goal following good work from Colm Clarke.
Glenfarne/Kilty found it difficult to contain Drumkeerin during the opening exchanges but it certainly wasn’t for the lack of trying. Conor O’Rourke registered the first score for Glenfarne/Kilty who looked dangerous when going forward but unfortunately for them, that didn’t happen often enough.
A Michael Maguire free halved the deficit before Conor O’Rourke, Barry and JJ McDermott combined to release Diarmuid Clancy. The quick movement and passing deserved an end product but keeper Thomas Cassidy was in no mood to be charitable and made a fine save.
The mini-revival continued as Maguire dispatched another free between the uprights. Having gone 16 minutes without a score, Drumkeerin regained their composure and a pointed free from Ciaran White once again extended the lead.
A minute later, disaster struck for Glenfarne when Drumkeerin pounced for their second goal. Tomas Davitt surged down the right wing in pursuit of a long ball out of defence. He delivered a pass to the unmarked McTiernan who once again made no mistake dispatching the ball beyond Daragh Keaney.
Drumkeerin scored a further two points before the interval but a tremendous effort from Clancy to keep Glenfarne’s hopes very much alive, despite the fact that they trailed 2-4 to 0-4 at the interval.
Unfortunately for Maguire, his luck in front of goal abandoned him as he kicked two frees wide early in the second half. To compound Glenfarne’s misery, Eddie McTiernan extended Drumkeerin’s lead to seven points with 22 minutes remaining.
Drumkeerin may well have been expected to romp home from that position but they only managed to score a further point, allowing Glenfarne to force their way back into the game. A change in free takers and a lack of discipline in the Drumkeerin defence allowed Fergal Clancy to slot over four unanswered points.
The momentum was entirely with Glenfarne/Kilty and the belief that they could get something from the game was typified by a fine point from JJ McDermott.
At the other end, Glenfarne began tackling with renewed vigour, typified when Stephen Gilhooley created a shooting opportunity but was blocked not once but twice by eager defenders.
With the game already in injury time, Fergal Clancy drew the sides level. However, there was to be another twist to this tale as John Cullen registered a superb point which seemed to clinch a dramatic victory for Drumkeerin.
A draw was probably the fairest result and that was ensured when Clancy took advantage of another needless foul to score his seventh point.
This result saw Drumkeerin into the quarter-finals. Glenfarne/Kilty still have the challenge of Glencar/Manor to come. If form is anything to go by then Glenfarne/Kiltyclogher should be too strong.
Drumkeerin
Thomas Cassidy, Enda McNama (0-1), Jason Beirne, Brendan McNama, Stephen Feeney, Damien McPadden, Aidan Dolan, Colm Clarke, Francis Davitt, Richard McTiernan, Ciaran White (0-1), Kevin Conaire, Edward McTiernan (2-2), John Cullen (0-1), Tomas Davitt (0-1).
Subs: Stephen Gilhooley for White (47 min), Brendan McCauley for B. McNama (52 mins).
Glenfarne/Kiltyclogher
Daragh Keaney, Sean McManus, Enda Gallagher, Stephen Sweeney, Jonathan Keaney, Seamus Dillon, Niall Clancy, Conor O’Rourke (0-1), Dermot O’Rourke, Padraig Sweeney, JJ McDermott (0-1), Michael Maguire (0-2), Shane McLoughlin, Fergal Clancy (0-7), Diarmuid Clancy (0-1).
Subs: Barry McDermott for McLoughlin (12 mins), John McManus for N Clancy (39 mins), Thomas McDermott for P Sweeney.
