Drumalee ease past Killeshandra

Junior Football Championship

Drumalee 2-11

Killeshandra 1-6

After drawing their opening round match against Redhills, Drumalee went in search of their first win of this year's Junior championship against Killeshandra who suffered an opening round defeat at the hands of Swanlinbar. Ciaran O’Malley’s side entered the game missing his top scorer from last week in Cian Byrne but the reintroduction of Tomás O’Keeffe and Leigh Dunne worked a treat.

Drumalee opened the scoring on the fifth minute with a well taken point from player of the match Sean O’Kane. The leaguers replied with veteran Damien Higgins splitting the posts and on the eight minute they took the lead through a Eoin Brady free from 30 meters.

The sides were level after 13 minutes when Andrew Fallon pointed from long range and Drumalee hit the front again on the 17th minute when Tomás O’Keeffe finished off a well worked team move. Joe Masterson denied Drumalee a goal with a one on one save when the Lilywhites played Micky Brennan through on goal.

With five minutes remaining in the half a direct run but Leigh Dunne at the Killeshandra defense saw him raise a white flag and give Drumalee a two-point advantage. That lead was cut with Killeshandra’s next attack as Damien Higgins claimed his second point of the day.

With half-time approaching Drumalee produced the score of the game with the ball moving fast through the hand. The would be winners found Sean O’Kane close to goal and with a single solo and turn he blasted the ball to the back of the net. With Drumalee leading by four and half-time quickly approaching Ray McBrien’s side responded with a point at the end of a driving Tomás O’Reilly run to leave the score 1-4 to 0-4 at the break.

Drumalee came out ready to take control in the second half and were quickest off the mark with a point from Micky Brennan. On the fifth minute of the half Sean O’Kane added another to his tally before Leigh Dunne made it three points without reply for Drumalee. A point from Ryan Brady briefly stopped the bleeding but Drumalee soon regained control.

A point from Tomás O’Keeffe, Dylan Duffy and a long range free by Micky Brennan left Drumalee leading 1-10 to 0-5 as the final quarter began. With six minutes to go the game was put beyond doubt when Tommy Walsh volleyed home a rebound from a Joe Masterson save.

Eoin Brady broke through on goal and finished well after some sloppy Drumalee defending but a brilliant free from 45 meters by Dylan Duffy restored Drumalee’s nine point lead. The final score of the game came in injury-time when Eoin Brady pointed from out the field before the final whistle sounded.

Drumalee: Brian Combes, Eoin Donohoe, Daire Donohoe, Kieran Lynch, Niall Young, Philip McArdle, Tommy Walsh(1-0), Andrew Fallon(0-1), Dylan Duffy(0-2,1f), Jimmy Fallon, Leigh Dunne(0-2), Micky Brennan(0-2,1f), Enda McCormick, Sean O’Kane(1-2), Tomás O’Keeffe(0-2). Subs used: David O’Keeffe, Gerard Reilly, Dean Sherlock.

Killeshandra: Joe Masterson, Ryan Bennett, Gerry Clarke, James Dinneny, Oisin Shanley, Michael O’Reilly, Tomás O’Reilly(0-1), Eoin Brady(1-2,1f), Ryan Brady(0-1), Aaron Fowler, Damien Higgins(0-2), Jason Woods, Jude Collins, Cein Sweeney, Darren O’Hanlon. Subs used: Celab Calder, Ryan Dinneny.