Drumalee return to the quarter-finals

Junior Football Championship Round 4

Drumalee 1-17

Swanlinbar 1-9

Drumalee advanced to the JFC quarter-finals with a nine-point victory over Swanlinbar in Belturbet.

Drumalee, aware of the importance of score difference, tore out of the blocks, Tommy Walsh opening their account with a long-range effort.

Cian Byrne and Eamon Quinn quickly registered before a left0-footed Sean O'Kane effort on seven minutes.

A minute later Tomás O’Keeffe became Drumalee’s fifth scorer as he came on the loop to hook the ball over the bar. Drumalee were forced into an early substitution when midfielder Greg Duffy had to be replaced by Sammy Brady.

With inside forward O'Kane showing really well, he added a second point to his tally. Swanlinbar finally opened their account a minute later through the boot of Ruairi Curran but this was soon cancelled out by Byrne.

Byrne and O’Kane combined on the 24th minute with the latter showing great skill to send over his third point. Ciaran O'Malley's side continued at full steam as a well placed pass set up to Tomás O’Keeffe for an attacking mark which he calmly sent over the bar.

From the resulting kick out Drumalee produced super team move as they work the ball through quick hands with Tommy Walsh and Sean O'Kane setting up Cian Byrne for a well placed goal. Before half time Swanlinbar showed they weren't just there to make up numbers.

Attacking from a kick-out, Swad worked the ball to Mark O’Reilly who produced a super finish across the goalmouth low to the left corner of the Drumalee net.

Drumalee once again started the second-half with a well-taken point this time from the left boot of Quinn.

Walsh continued his fine form as he broke forward to extend Drumalee's lead to ten points with his second white flag. With eight second-half minutes played Gerard Clyne converted a free for Swanlinbar.

From the resulting kick out, Drumalee turned momentum back in their favour and after Quinn was fouled Byrne sent over Drumalee's first free of the day and he quickly brought his tally for the day to 1-4 with another good score.

The Swanlinbar defence were finding it hard to curtail the movement of O'Kane and with 13 minutes played in the second-half he added a fourth point from play. With Drumalee leading by 12, Swanlinbar introduced Cian McGovern off the bench for his first appearance of the year, as he was just home from the United states.

McGovern had an immediate impact as he sent over his first point for the west Cavan side. McGovern's energy lit a fire in Swanlinbar as Gerard Clyne sent over his second point of the day as the fourth quarter started.

A free from Clyne from 35 metres closed the gap to nine points as Drumalee failed to keep control on the Swanlinbar attack.

McGovern added a second point to his name and was involved in setting up a point for Darragh McGoldrick closing the gap to seven points with as many minutes remaining. Some nerves began to echo from the Drumalee support in the stand when a point from Gerard Clyne left just six between the sides.

After a couple of substitutions by the Drumalee management they finally woke from their slumber and O'Kane ended a nine minute spell without a score as he sent over his fifth point of the evening.

Substitute Mickey Brennan restored Drumalee’s eight point advantage with two minutes remaining of ordinary time.

The final score of the game saw Drumalee work the ball to O'Kane who, after beating his man, fisted the ball over the bar, leaving nine points between the sides as referee Matty McGahern sounded the final whistle.

Drumalee: Brian Coombes, Daire Donohoe, Philip McArdle, Eoin Donohoe, Kieran Lynch, Enda McCormick, David O'Keeffe, Greg Duffy, Andy Fallon, Tommy Walsh (0-2), Seán O'Kane (0-6), Leigh Dunne, Eamon Quinn (0-2), Tomás O'Keeffe (0-2, 1m), Cian Byrne (1-4,1f)

Subs: Sammy Brady for G Duffy, Mickey Brennan (0-1) for T O'Keeffe, Aiden Lee for K Lynch, Daragh Byrne for L Dunne, Jamie Heffernan for E Quinn

Swanlinbar: Gerry Scollan, Conor McGoldrick, Liam Leydon, James McGovern, Adrian McGovern, Sean McGovern, Thomas O’Brien, Bhreifhe McKiernan, Dillon O’Brien, Mark O’Reilly (1-0), John Joe McGovern, Damien Leydon, Joseph O’Brien, Gerard Clyne (0-3f), Ruairi Curran (0-1)

Subs: Donal McGovern, Cian McGovern (0-3), Oisin Gilheany, Ciaran Hurley, Breffni O’Reilly, Darragh McGoldrick (0-1).