Drung come from six down to stun Shannon Gaels

Junior Championship quarter-final

Drung 1-17

Shannon Gaels 1-14

Paul Fitzpatrick at Kingspan Breffni

Drung produced a seismic upset as they came from six down to dump Shannon Gaels out of the Junior Championship. In a dramatic finale, reserve goalkeeper Niall Curran came off the bench in the second half, conceding a late penalty and then making amends with a tremendous save from Caoimhan McGovern’s spot kick as Drung held on for a deserved win.

Early on, McGovern (45) and Gary Watters traded scores before McGovern landed a two-point free. Declan McEntee replied with a free for Drung but the Gaels were on top at this stage and after Jason McLoughlin landed a two-pointer from play, the west Cavan side moved 1-5 to 0-2 clear on 14 minutes when Shane Walsh won a breaking ball and Clive Moffitt found the net.

But it all changed after that as Drung began to dominate Shannon Gaels’ kick-out. From six down, the Dalcassians landed 1-5 unanswered to take control. The run started with a free from Gary Watters, with Declan McEntee adding an orange flag from play. Watters and Stephen Jackson tacked on two more points from play before Declan McEntee found the net.

Although McGovern replied just before half-time with a point to cut the gap to one, 1-7 to 1-6 at the break, and the Gaels would enjoy some success in the second half, in truth they didn’t really recover from that second-quarter blitz.

The second half began with McGovern converting a close-range free after Moffitt was fouled. Almost immediately, Gary Watters conjured a brilliant point, beating two defenders and swinging over with the outside of the boot.

Barry Watters then laid off to Michael McEntee who curled in a quality point as Drung went 1-9 to 1-7 ahead within four minutes of the restart.

McGovern’s long-range free fell short and Drung countered, only for Rossiter to shoot wide. Shannon Gaels hit back when McGovern evaded the tight marking of Ronan Brady to curl over a lovely point and then McLoughlin landed another booming two-pointer from distance to push the Gaels in front again, 1-10 to 1-9.

At this stage Drung lost goalkeeper Francis Hughes to injury, with Curran introduced. His first kick-out was solid and set up a patient move ending with Emmett O’Reilly linking with Rossiter, collecting the return and slotting over.

Moments later, McLoughlin produced another dummy solo and nailed a long-range point, restoring a two-point Gaels lead at 1-12 to 1-10 – but Drung were finding pockets of space in the Gaels’ defence and the pre-match favourites began to look gassed, too.

Drung responded emphatically. Michael McEntee arced a spectacular two-pointer off the outside of his left boot, before Galligan broke the next kick-out and McEntee again sauntered through to fire over and level it. Declan McEntee then punished a turnover with a point to push Drung 1-14 to 1-12 ahead.

Shannon Gaels thought they had equalised when Walsh delivered across the goalmouth and Moffitt rose to palm in, but the effort was ruled out for a square ball infringement with ten minutes left.

Rossiter stretched the Drung lead further, taking advantage of loose marking in the Gaels’ defence. Shannon Gaels were increasingly wasteful, with O’Donnell missing the target, McGovern dropping a free short and O’Mahony wide from a half-chance.

Drung made them pay when Curran fielded a dangerous high ball and instigated a counter-attack which ended with Galligan clipping over a smart point to leave it 1-16 to 1-12 on 57 minutes.

Nevin O’Donnell briefly lifted Gaels hopes with a two-point free from the hands, reducing the margin to two, but time was almost up.

Then came the penalty. McGovern sent a high ball goalwards and, in a scramble under it, Curran brought down Moffitt. The referee pointed to the spot. McGovern’s penalty was struck well if a little high but Curran guessed correctly, diving to his left, and produced a stunning save. From the recycled ball, McGovern’s left-footed two-point attempt drifted narrowly wide.

Drung closed it out with a composed insurance point from corner-back Paul Hueston. Shannon Gaels launched one final attack as McLoughlin dropped in a high delivery but John Cassidy climbed to claim it and the Drung defence held firm.

When the whistle blew, Drung’s players and supporters erupted in celebration of a win which few neutrals saw coming.

Shannon Gaels: Gavin Fee, Gearoid Flanagan, Stephen McManus, Johnny Doherty, Stephen Fitzpatrick, Donncha Maguire, Niall Higgins, Jason McLoughlin, Caoimhan McGovern, James Maguire, Shane Walsh, Jody Savage, Clive Moffitt, Dan Fitzpatrick, Ronan McCaffrey.

Subs: Nevin O’Donnell for R McCaffrey (45), Shane Dolan for J Doherty (47), Billy O’Mahony for N Higgins (53), Brian McLoughlin for C Moffitt (60).

Drung: Francis Hughes, Paul Hueston, John Cassidy, Ronan Brady, Riain Monahan, Ryan O’Reilly, Kevin McCaul, Emmett O’Reilly, Ciaran Galligan, Barry Watters, Declan McEntee, Michael McEntee, Niall Fitzpatrick, Gary Watters, Stephen Jackson.

Subs: Greg Rossiter for K McCaul (ht), Niall Curran for F Hughes (41), Lachlan Maguire for S Jackson (53), Fergal Hueston for N Fitzpatrick (60), Sean Curran for M McEntee (60).