Reillys lead Drung to JFC final

JFC semi-final

Drung 0-10

Shannon Gaels 0-8

Paul Fitzpatrick at Kingspan Breffni

Drung are back in the Junior Championship final for the first time since winning it in 2008 as they overcame Shannon Gaels in this well-contested semi-final.

There was little between the teams over the hour but Drung had enough quality in attack and heart in defence to get over the line.

At the end of a low-scoring first half, Shannon Gaels held a slender 0-4 to 0-3 advantage.

The men from the west of the county will feel they should have been further ahead, having kicked seven wides in the opening stanza, but Drung did hit the woodwork twice.

Defences were very much on top, with the result that there were just four points scored in the first 28 minutes, with the sides tied at 0-2 apiece, before the game opened up a little just before Raymond Tynan sounded the half-time whistle.

The first score didn’t arrive until 12 minutes into the match when Tiernan Reilly stroked over a 45. The former Cavan U20 player was involved again three minutes later when his free fell short and Declan McEntee pointed from the rebound.

On 17 minutes, the Gaels got off the mark with an excellent free from the right wing by Nevin O’Donnell and they drew level four minutes later when Galway native Micheál Collerarn won a kick-out and played a good ball to O’Donnell, who fielded acrobatically and converted an attacking mark.

Tiernan Reilly had hit the post with a speculative effort early on and brother Caolán, whose battle with Conor McCaffrey was a highlight, also rattled the upright as the missed chances racked up at the other end.

A minute before half-time, Shannon Gaels hit the front for the first time when Jason McLoughlin forced a turnover and Colleran split the posts with a fine effort from 40 metres.

Caolán Reilly showed his pace and skill to make space and send over after a one-two with Paddy McEntee but a mark from O’Donnell completed the first-half scoring as Tom O’Reilly’s side went in leading by the odd point in seven.

Drung started the second half on the front foot; they won the throw-in and Tiernan Reilly curled over a lovely point with just 17 seconds on the stopwatch.

Nevin O’Donnell (free) and Aidan McCaul, with a huge effort from the right wing, traded scores before Tiernan Reilly pointed a free following a foul on Paddy McEntee to make it 0-7 to 0-5 in the 41st minute.

The Bunnoe-based outfit looked like they would kick on but Shannon Gaels were providing stubborn resistance. James Reilly, who had a very good match, saved from O’Donnell but the ball was not cleared by the defence and the former Leitrim senior player ended up knocking over a free to make it a one-point game again.

The next point was the best score of the game as Declan McEntee picked out Tiernan Reilly with a perfect pass and the latter did the rest, finishing stylishly from the left of goal but a couple of missed chances let the Gaels off the hook and the Blacklion-based side pulled one back when Philip McGoldrick and O’Donnell combined for the experienced Colleran to thread over another.

Shannon Gaels were pressing hard but Drung’s defending was lion-hearted and they had pace on the break. After a block down, they countered and Caolán Reilly supplied a point and when Tiernan Reilly forced a turnover, sub Gary Watters was in space for the insurance score.

O’Donnell responded with a free as Shannon Gaels hunted the green flag which would have returned them to the county final but it wasn’t to be as Drung held on for a victory which they just about deserved.

Shannon Gaels: Kenneth McNiff, Oisin Dolan, Donal Flanagan, Gearóid Flanagan, Daniel Fitzpatrick, Jason McLoughlin, Shane Dolan, Sean McHugh, Micheál Colleran (0-2), Conor McCaffrey, Nevin O’Donnell (0-6, 4f, 2m), Niall McGrath, Billy O’Mahony, Ronan McCaffrey, Kieran McPartlin

Subs: Philip McGoldrick for McPartlin (ht), Stephen Fitzpatrick for S McHugh (35 mins), Kevin McGovern for O Dolan (43), Caoimhan McGovern for O’Mahoney (43)

Drung: James Reilly, Paul Heuston, John Cassidy, Michael McEntee, Ryan O’Reilly, Niall Fitzpatrick, Declan McEntee (0-1), Mark Cassidy, Aidan McCaul, Tiernan Reilly (0-5, 2f, 45), Ronan Brady, Caolán Reilly (0-2), Martin O’Reilly, Niall Tiernan, Paddy McEntee

Subs: Andrew Rossiter for P McEntee (44 mins), Gary Watters (0-1) for M Cassidy (47)

Ref: Raymond Tynan