All too easy for Drung against Maghera

Junior Football Championship

Drung 4-17

Maghera MacFinns 0-5

Paul Fitzpatrick at Kingspan Breffni

Drung could afford the luxury of kicking 17 wides and missing a late penalty as they ran out 24-point winners against Maghera on Saturday afternoon.

The MacFinns’ long wait for a win – over a decade – goes on. They competed reasonably well early on but as the match progressed, Drung’s dominance became more apparent; they were fitter and used the ball better in every department.

Drung opened an early two-point lead through the lively inside duo of Caolán Reilly and Paddy McEntee but two Michael Muldoon frees levelled the game by the eighth minute.

That was good as it got for the Maghera men, however, as Drung reeled off 1-8 unanswered before half-time, the points coming from Michael McEntee, Caolán Reilly (two, one free), Paddy McEntee (four, one mark) and Martin O’Reilly and Caolán Reilly tucking away the goal well.

By the second water break, it was 2-13 to 0-5, Reilly sending over three more and Declan McEntee burying a smashing goal after a pass from brother Paddy.

For Maghera, Michael Muldoon registered two more frees and an excellent effort from play in this period; Muldoon and Brendan McConnell, whose fielding was exceptional, the pair were Maghera’s best performers.

Muldoon kicked another great score from play but at the other end, it was far too easy for the Dalcassians who had time and space and should have scored a lot more.

Sub Steven Fay sent over two points from play and added a well-taken goal as Drung piled on the pressure. Noel Fitzpatrick’s side ran in another goal in injury time, finished by Niall Cassidy after a clever pass from Gary Watters and could have had a fifth; Maghera goalkeeper John McConnell felled Steven Fay as he rounded him but made amends when he saved Niall Fitzpatrick’s spot kick.

Drung, after an opening loss to Drumalee, march on while it is an uphill battle for Maghera who have no points and a score difference of -63 after two rounds.

Drung: James Reilly, Paul Heuston, John Cassidy, Gregory Rossiter, Ronan Brady, Niall Fitzpatrick, Michael McEntee (0-1), Mark Cassidy, Aidan McCaul, Declan McEntee (1-0), Andrew Rossiter, Martin O’Reilly (0-1), Caolán Reilly (1-7, 4f), Paddy McEntee (0-5, 1m), Kevin McCaul

Subs: Gary Watters, Steven Fay (1-2), Stephen Jackson, Niall Cassidy (1-0)

Maghera: John McConnell, Cian Reilly, Brendan McConnell, Pauric Baugh, Derek Dillane, Cathal Brohan, Tadhg Hagan, Aaron Brady, Michael Muldoon (0-5, 3f), Luke Murphy, Aiden Tierney, Oisin Brady, Fintan O’Reilly, Killian Clarke, Michael McKeon-Boyle

Subs: Darragh Brady, Liam Gilsenan, Mark O’Carroll