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Drumkeerin 4-6 Glenfarne/Kiltyclogher 1-12

Drumkeerin advanced to the Final of the Leitrim Under-21 championship side at the expense of Glenfarne/Kilty after an exciting hour of football in the Bee Park, Manorhamilton last Saturday afternoon.

The game began with Fergal Clancy opening the scoring with a point from a free for Glenfarne/Kilty. A minute later the same player increased the lead with a point from play as Glenfarne/Kilty dominated the early exchanges. Drumkeerin finally got off the mark on five minutes when Thomas Davitt shot to the net from close range after the Glenfarne/Kilty defence failed to clear. The next ten minutes saw Glenfarne/Kilty dominate the exchanges and a point from J.J McDermott and two from Fergal Clancy put them into a two point lead. Edward McTiernan cut the gap to the minimum on twenty minutes with a point from a free before a superb point from play from the impressive Padraig Sweeney restored Glenfarne/Kilty’s two point advantage. Stephen Gilhooley reduced the deficit once again with a well taken point from play before Fergal Clancy restored the Glenfarne/Kilty lead with a point from a free. As half-time approached Drumkeerin’s challenge got a major boost when a Stephen Feeney shot from forty yards was allowed go all the way to Glenfarne/Kilty net. This left the Drumkeerin leading by a point on a half-time scoreline of 2-2 to 0-7.

Drumkeerin got the perfect start to the second half when the Glenfarne/Kilty keeper failed to hold a dropping ball and Edward McTiernan pounced to put the ball in the net. Glenfarne/Kilty responded quickly and a point from Fergal Clancy from a free cut the gap to three points. The game was back in the melting pot three minutes later when Padraig Sweeney finished a well worked Glenfarne move to the net. Colin Clarke restored the Drumkeerin lead on ten minutes with a point from play. J.J McDermott equalized with a point from play for Glenfarne. Drumkeerin regained the initiative on fifteen minutes when Edward McTiernan shot to the net after a mistake in the Glenfarne/Kilty defence. Drumkeerin now enjoyed a period of dominance and a point from a free and a further one from play put Drumkeerin five points to the good. J.J McDermott pointed from play on twenty seven minutes as Glenfarne/Kilty started to make a comeback. Fergal Clancy cut the gap to three points a minute later with a point from a free. J.J McDermott then had a quickly hit free brilliantly saved by Drumkeerin keeper Barry McPadden. Edward McTiernan steadied Drumkeerin nerves with a well taken point from play as the game entered injury time. Padraig Sweeney cup the gap to three points in injury time but try as they might Glenfarne/Kilty could not get the goal that would take the game to extra-time and Drumkeerin held on for the win that sees them through the Under-21 B Championship final.

Glenfarne/Kilty will be very disappointed with the concession of goals from bad defence mistakes which cost them a place in the final. The played some great football over the hour and had good performances from Conor O’Rourke and J.J McDermott in midfield and Diarmuid Clancy, Fergal Clancy and the impressive Padraig Sweeney in attack.

Drumkeerin will now that luck was on their side on this occasion and an improved performance will be necessary next time out if they are to take the Under-21 B Championship title. They had good performances from Aidan Dolan in defence, Stephen Feeney in midfield and Edward McTiernan and Stephen Gilhooley in attack.

Drumkeerin: Barry McPadden, Fintan Harvey, Brendan McNama, Hugh Harvey, Aidan Dolan, Enda McNama, Stephen Feeney(1-0), Colin Clarke(0-1), Patrick Bierne, Tomas Davitt(1-0), Edward McTiernan (2-4), Stephen Gilhooley(0-1), Seamus Dolan.

Glenfarne/Kilty: Cathal McMorrow, Ciaran Clancy, John Sheerin, Bartley Clancy, Sean McManus, Gavin McGowan, J.J McDermott (0-3), Conor O’Rourke, Shane McLoughlin, Fergal Clancy (0-7), Diarmuid Clancy, Padraig Sweeney(1-2), Francis Dillon. Sub Stephen Sweeney for Francis Dillon, Francis Dillon for Bartley Clancy.