Seniors loose
Despite giving their all the senior men lost their relegation battle with Drumlane on Friday evening in Ballyhaise. Drumgoon got off to a great start and after 15 minutes were leading by 1-6 to 0-4, thanks to a well taken goal by Keith Fannin. The boys continued to play well and led for most of the game when with 10 minutes to go and leading by a point, the turning point came. They were on the receiving end of a black card and minutes later a similar incident was only punished by a yellow card to the oposition. As Drumgoon prepared to take the resultant free, the referee changed the decision to a throw in due to some infringement. Drumlane won the throw in and charged through for the winning goal. The Drumgoon team was, 1. Corey Smith
2. Andrew Murray
3. Dylan Hand
4. Euan Crossan
5. Dominic Donegan
6. Darragh Lynch 0-1
7. Donal Keappock
8. Conor Moynagh
9. Darren Lavery
10. Mark Murray
11. Conall Farrell 0-4
12. Matthew McDermott
13. Gerry Morris 0-3
14. Ben Brennan 0-3
15. Keith Fannin 1-5
Subs used Aogan Og Farrell and John Mc Dermott
Celt Report
RELEGATION PLAYOFF
Sons of O’Connell win relegation duel
Drumlane 1-20 Drumgoon 1-16
DRUMLANE showed exemplary staying power and no little ambition as they made sure they would be playing again next year in Division 2 of the ACFL after a tense relegation tussle last Friday evening.
In a game that ebbed and flowed throughout, the spoils dangled in front of both teams throughout the clash but Darragh Dolan’s 58th minute goal, shortly after the black carding of Drumgoon midfielder Darren Lavery, proved to be the vehicle in driving Drumgoon through the relegation trapdoor.
Drumgoon produced one of their better displays of the year and many of their supporters will wonder just how they didn’t get over the line given their degree of possession and bevy of scoring chances created.
However, in the post mortems this week, partisan and non-partisan supporters will likely point to the significant impact made by former county man Ryan Connolly, the stand-out player on the field with his contribution from frees and from open play veritable nails in Drumgoon’s coffin.
The issue was always going to go right down to the wire though with the early sparring indicating as much even if the Éire Óg men did seem to steal a march by notching the opening goal of the game.
A point apiece by Daryl McGurren (2) and Ryan Connolly (4) sandwiched a Gerry Morris effort for Drumgoon before seasoned campaigner Keith Fannin banged in a very good goal for Drumgoon after meeting an incoming delivery, turning his man and soloing through before rifling the ball to the net.
Drumgoon kept their noses in front thanks, in part, to a brace of two pointers from Gerry Morris and Ben Brennan which propelled their side into a 1-6 to 0-4 lead with 16 min-utes on the clock.
Refusing to push the panic button Drumlane showed their mettle whilst pinned up against the ropes and a brace of two-pointers inside a five minute spell from rampaging full-back Killian Freehill kept the game very much on the boil entering the final ten minutes of the half.
After a delightful Conal Farrell free (22), Drumgoon led by a goal (1-10 to 0-10) but the Sons of O’Connell upped the ante in a big way by notching four unanswered points in the final five minutes of the first half with Killian Freehill’s 25th minute effort being swiftly followed by a hat-trick of Ryan Connolly frees which left their side ahead by the minimum (0-14 to 1-10) at the interval.
True to form, Drumgoon hit back and within three minutes of the restart were again on level terms courtesy of a Conal Farrell free before Darragh Lynch marked his recovery from a long spell out injured with a neat point to put Drumgoon ahead once more.
Drumlane bent but failed to break though and when Fannin floated over a free (39), the Hoops hit back with a Connolly point (41).
Drumgoon responded with a classy Conal Farrell point but Drumlane had a trick up their sleeve after Lavery received his black card.
After a moment of indiscipline within the Drumgoon ranks, the white and green brigade won a throw-up by referee Argue and in a jiffy, the would-be winners had the ball in the net thanks to a driving run in from the wing by the aforementioned Dolan and an excellent finish.
Drumgoon had claims for a black card turned down as the chequered flag came into view but a further Connolly point (free) ensured that Conal Farrell’s late two pointer had the word consolation stamped all over it.
over it.
Drumlane: Conor Fitzpatrick; Shane Dolan, Killian Freehill (0-5), Mark Maguire; Ciaran O’Brien, Dane O’Dowd, Liam Belton; Kian Monahan, Michael Owens; Gary Tubman, Caolan McAenna (0-1, Ryan Connolly (0-12, 10f) Cormac Flynn, Daryl McGurren (0-1), Darragh Dolan (1-1)
Subs; Jack O’Shannon for D O’Dowd; Killian Tubman for C McAenna; Jordan Galligan for D McGurren; Luke Longair for G Tubman.
Drumgoon: Corey Smith; Andrew Murray, Dylan Hand, Euan Crossan; Dominic Donegan, Darragh Lynch (0-1), Donal Keappock; Conor Moynagh, Darren Lavery; Mark Murray, Conal Farrell (0-4), Matthew McDermott; Gerry Morris (0-3), Ben Brennan (O-3), Keith Fannin (1-5, 2f).
Subs; Aogán Óg Farrell for G. Morris; John McDermott for D. Lynch.
