Paul Fitzpatrick at Kingspan Breffni
Blackwater Gaels survived a stern examination from Drumgoon before running out five-point winners in this thoroughly entertaining Division 3 Minor Championship final.
Blackwater led by 3-8 to 1-8 at the end of a rip-roaring first half. The Maghera-Munterconnaught amalgamation were physically bigger and stronger but a skilful, fast Drumgoon side kept them honest and the result was an outstanding contest, full of speedy football and good scores.
Blackwater got off to a brilliant start and were 1-1 to 0-0 ahead after 40 seconds. From the throw-in, Jack Tobin went on a powerful run and slipped the ball to Ryan Nwaneri, who slotted it under goalkeeper Daniel Reilly.
The Gaels won the resulting kick-out and Corey Reilly sent over a point but Drumgoon came roaring back into contest to draw level by the fourth minute.
A brilliant individual effort from captain Matthew McDermott got them up and running and they drew level when Cian O’Hare bundled home a major after a goalmouth scramble.
Drumgoon hit the front with a well-taken left-footed point from the accurate Ciaran Clerkin but Blackwater quickly hit back when Jack Tobin started and finished a good move, swinging over the equaliser off the left.
Another well-taken Clerkin effort was cancelled out by a stylish point from Conor Barr from the edge of the D but again, the in-form Clerkin responded with a quality score.
It was nip and tuck at this stage; Jack Tobin knocked over a free but a lovely Drumgoon move was finished by Damien Hughes to leave it 2-4 to 1-5 with 18 minutes played.
Then came the crucial third goal for Blackwater. Nathan De Kleer’s high fielding was a feature of the game and from one such catch, on his own kick-out, he released Man of the Match Jack Tobin, who slipped the ball to Fintan Devin, who smashed it to the roof of the net.
Devin then followed up with a super point from a tight angle but Drumgoon replied quickly with a free from Clerkin. The outstanding Nwaneri came up with the next score, going short with a free and taking the return before pointing but another eye-catching point from Clerkin from the right wing cut the gap to five, 3-6 to 1-7, with four minutes remaining in the half.
Killian Hofmann was next to register after a fine fetch from De Kleer and Conor Barr added another after the kick-out was turned over but Drumgoon finished the half strongly with a neat curled point from Cameron O’Reilly.
Tobin drew first blood in the second half, his point turned over the bar by Reilly; Clerkin replied with a free but Tobin again battled his way through to blast over another.
Damien Hughes took a pass from the excellent Matthew McDermott and pointed for Drumgoon, who had upped their game and quickly added two more from Cameron O’Reilly, a lovely effort, and a McDermott free.
But Blackwater were always able to come up with answers. Fintan Devin played in Callum Daly for a point and then Nwaneri went on a brilliant 50-metre run and scored again to leave six between the sides.
A good run and finish from Tobin made it a seven-point game but Drumgoon showed tremendous heart to dig deep again. Damien Hughes and Tobin traded scores but the Eire Ógs were right back in the game when a deflected shot from Lee Murray found the top corner of the net.
With momentum on their side, Drumgoon poured forward. A Clerkin free and a quality point from McDermott after a sort 45 cut the gap to two with 57 minutes played – but again, back came Blackwater Gaels.
A vital interception from Blackwater full-back Lee Glennon led to an important score from Devin and when De Kleer bombed one over from 40 metres, they were four up again entering injury time.
Nwaneri, after a trademark run, split the posts again and Hofmann added a free. Damien Hughes had the final say for Drumgoon with a point but the final whistle sounded soon afterwards, drawing the curtain on a super game of football which was an exceptionally-high standard for Division 3.
Blackwater Gaels: Lucas Daly, Coleman McColgan, Lee Glennon, Lorcan Caffrey, Ryan Gilsenan, Christopher Bough, Nathan De Kleer, Ryan Nwaneri (1-2), Conor Barr (0-2), Jack Tobin (0-6, 1f), Corey Reilly (0-1), Killian Hofmann (0-3, 1f), Fintan Devin (2-2), Oisin Cullen
Subs: Callum Daly (0-1) for L Caffrey (12, inj), Jake Drury for C Barr (46), Conor Enright for C Daly (60)
Drumgoon: Daniel Reilly, Breen Clerkin, Matthew Sherlock, Andrew Murray, Lee Pepper, Brian McDermott, Gerry Morris, Matthew McDermott (0-3, 1f), Ciaran Clerkin (0-6, 2f), Cameron O’Reilly (0-2), Lee Murray (1-0), Cian O’Hare (1-0), Damien Hughes (0-4)
Subs: Rian Crossan for M Sherlock (ht), Jamie Smith for C O’Hare (46), Dylan Murphy, Joseph Coughlan, Charlie Boylan, Caolán Crosson
Ref: Stephen Flynn