Drumgoon continue fine form

Drumgoon 1-12 Butlersbridge 0-4 Drumgoon's concerted bid for IFC honours this year received another filip in neighbouring Cootehill on Friday evening last when they brushed aside a feeble challenge from Butlersbridge. The winners weren't flattered by their 11 point winning margin which was built primarily on the back of an emphatic second half performance which saw them out-score their opponents by nine points to two. Butlersbridge's clear-cut margin of defeat was all the more ironic given that they were 0-2 to 0-0 in front after four minutes when their only forward of note, Senan Flanagan, found the target each time. In the wake of their gutsy, enterprising display against Ballyhaise, the manner of the 'bridge's defeat last weekend was as surprising as it was lamentable. The fact that the 'bridge notched just two points in the final 59 minutes of the game, including one free, tells a tale in itself. The losers notched six wides in the first half and Drumgoon 'keeper Niall McIntyre pulled off three goal-bound saves over the course of the 60 minutes-plus but the gulf between the sides on the day was glaring. Drumgoon held all the aces, bar none. Their superior aggression in the close-quarter exchanges plus their greater work-ethic, teamwork and the inclusion in their ranks of a number of leaders proved all-powerful. To cap it all, the Eire Og men benefited from a five-star performance by Paddy McCabe for whom almost everything he touched to gold. The worry for the winners ahead of their quarter-final outing is that only one other starting forward other than McCabe managed to get on the scoresheet. It was McCabe's goal in the 8th minute - capping a six man move - which burst the bridge's balloon and nothing and no one came close thereafter to re-inflating it. With the impressive Niall Fortune pulling the strings going forward, Drumgoon got on the frontfoot with great vim and vigour and, in truth, had no difficulty in staying there. The 'bridge were too easily knocked off the ball and robbed while in possession for them to build up any sort of momentum or gain confidence or belief. The game suffered from the fact that an air of inevitability hung over proceedings once McCabe's goal had the 'bridge playing catch-up. The first of the bridge's four, half-decent, goal chances arrived on the half-hour but Andy McConnell's soccer-like shot - after the ball broke from the grip of Micheal Fitzpatrick - flew chest high wide of the Drumgoon goal. Two minutes later at the other end of the field, Martin Shannon did well to block Pauric McGorry's point-blank shot at goal after the latter was slipped through by the lively McCabe. The 'bridge raced out of the blocks at the start of the second half as if jet-propelled forward by a half-time rollicking. A hat-trick of wides inside the opening 90 seconds plus a McIntyre save from a Martin Fitzpatrick daisycutter let Drumgoon off the hook however as they sought to copper-fasten their 1-3 to 0-2 interval lead. In the 36th minute, the 'bridge fashioned another opportunity at goal but Micheal Fitzpatrick's shot was easily gathered by McIntyre. Despite Michael McDonald nullifying the influence of Lorcan Mulvey at midfield, the relocation of Noel McPhillips to the cockpit did help conjure up more possession for the chasing team in the third quarter. McPhillips and co engineered a point for John Shannon in the 38th minute but, amazingly, it wasn't until the 55th minute when Micheal Fitzpatrick converted a free that the 'bridge added to their tally. In between times, Adrian Crossan and Michael Hannon poured forward at will, supplementing the playmaker skills of Fortune and keeping McCabe in ammunition. It was just all too easy for the leaders as the now free-running Michael McDonald added salt to the bridge's gaping wound with two points. McIntyre prevented Andy McConnell from netting late on before, appropriately, McCabe fisted over to put the cherry on the cake. Drumgoon; Niall McIntyre; Michael Hannon, Adrian Crossan, Edward Gaffney; Killian Moynagh, Philip Smith, James McDonald; Michael McDonald (0-2), Keith Fannin; Cathal Smith, Niall Fortune (0-1), Pauric McGorry; Paddy McCabe (1-8, four frees), Jim McNally, Shane McGorry. Subs; Edward Jackson for C Smith; Conor Moynagh (0-1) for P McGorry. Butlersbridge; Keith Gumley; Stephen O'Hara, Mark Shannon, Ciaran Greenan; Darren Fitzpatrick, Andy McConnell, Brian Greenan; Lorcan Mulvey, Killian Shannon; John Shannon (0-1), Micheal Fitzpatrick (0-1, free), Fergal Flanagan; Senan Flanagan (0-2, one free), Noel McPhillips, Carlos Conlon. Subs; Martin Fitzpatrick for K Shannon; Paul Murphy for J Shannon.