Drumragh Through To Junior Semi

Sunday 17.09.2023

Championship Football

Drumragh are through to the last four of the Tyrone Junior Championship but only after they were pushed all the way by a Glenelly side who will look back on this one with great regret considering the place they found themselves in as the game entered the closing minutes.

Early points from Ronan Maguire and Shane Cleary gave Drumragh the perfect start but graft and determination from the North Tyrone side allowed them back level with points from Eoghan Mc Connell and Garrett O’Neill. The first half was fiercely competitive and physical with every ball fought for and some big hits from both sides.

Shane Devine and Lorcan Mc Cullagh exchanged points before Glenelly goalkeeper Conor Mc Aneney was called upon to make a point blank save from Sean Mc Gale after he had slalomed through the Glenelly defence without so much as a hand being laid upon him.

Drumragh moved two points to the good after a point apiece from Tommy and Kian Murphy put the Sarsfields 0-5 to 0-3 ahead. A Cormac Mc Keown score narrowed the gap to a single point but Drumragh made it a two point game again when Shane Cleary pointed to send the teams off at the break with Drumragh leading 0-6 to 0-4.

After the restart Lorca Mc Cullagh and Shane Cleary swapped early points before Conor Mc Aneney converted two free kicks to tie the scores at 0-7 apiece midway through the second half. Both sides made several changes as the game entered the final quarter and man of the match Cleary pointed to put Drumragh ahead again.

It was then that Glenelly appeared to seize the initiative hitting three unanswered points from Cormac Mc Bride (2) and Rory Kennedy to lead 0-10 to 0-8. With the clock ticking down they had a chance to extend the lead to three when Kevin Mc Connell burst through. Unfortunately for Mc Connell and Glenelly a moment of indecision cost him and his team and the ball ran out for a forty five.

Drumragh’s response was exactly what was required as they they scored the last three points of the game courtesy of Niall Mc Carney (2) and Malachy Mc Manus to win 0-11 to 0-10 and secure a place in the semi final where they will face league winners and championship favourites Cookstown.