LCC Junior Championship Wrap Up

Monday 11.10.2021

The LCC Junior Championship double header at Fintona on Sunday night drew a large crowd and produced two exciting but contrasting games. The first fixture saw Drumragh defeat Glenelly 2-14 to 0-11 in a game where they were always in control and during which they played some superb football. The second game was every bit as exciting but much closer with the result in doubt right up to the final whistle. Urney eventually sealed the win 2-12 to 2-8 with a last minute Johnny Lafferty goal the difference between the sides.

Drumragh started well with early points from Shane Cleary and Tommy Murphy but Glenelly responded with points from Aodhan Mc Connell and Rory Kennedy to tie the score. Ronan Maguire edged the Sarsfields ahead but Mc Connell once again pointed to draw the sides level. Cleary and Mc Connell traded scores to leave the sides on 0-4 apiece after twenty minutes before points from the impressive Ronan Maguire and Gareth Mc Grath moved Drumragh two clear. Seamus Harkin sent over his side’s fifth point to reduce the gap to one before Drumragh pulled clear with a Tommy Murphy point and a slam dunk rebound goal from the hand of Aaron Montgomery after Murphy had rattled the crossbar with a rasper of a shot. 

Half time score : Drumragh 1-7, Glenelly 0-5.

Drumragh were hugely impressive in the third quarter outscoring their opponents five points to one and moving nine clear with scores from Maguire, Cleary, Eoin Montgomery (2) and Shane Devine. Glenelly’s only score during that period came from the boot of Ronan O’Kane. Cormac Mc Bride and O’Kane added points for Glenelly and by the forty eighth minute they had reduced the second half deficit to six. However a brilliant Sean Mc Gale goal ended any hopes of a comeback and Drumragh added further points from Cleary and Murphy to win 2-14 to 0-11. Ronan O’Kane and Barry Mc Connell with the last pair of points from Glenelly.

The second game was a much closer contest as Killyman pushed Urney all the way before falling to an injury time goal from late substitute Johnny Lafferty. 

Urney opened the scoring with points from Jamie Mc Aleer and Danny Lynch but the response from Killyman was immediate and very effective. Points from Darragh Morgan, Ronan Mc Veigh and Enda Mc Gahan and a goal from Mickey Donnelly put Killyman 1-3 to 0-2 ahead and shook Urney with eight minutes gone. Urney responded well and moved one clear after points from Ryan Henry and Sean Mc Gowan and a goal from Jamie Mc Aleer. Mickey Donnelly pointed for Killyman to tie the scores again before Martin Owens and Ronan Mc Veigh swapped scores to leave it at 1-5 apiece with twenty one minutes on the clock. Urney however finished the half strongly with late points from Ryan Henry, Jamie Mc Aleer and Kyle Henry to go off at the break leading 1-8 to 1-5. 

The second half was real old fashioned championship fare with no quarter asked or given. Scores were hard to come by as Ryan Mc Kenna and Enda Mc Gahan points for Killyman were split by a fine effort from Jamie Mc Aleer for Urney. However things changed considerably when Mickey Donnelly hit the net for Killyman and Urney were reduced to fourteen men midway through the second half. 

With Killyman a point up Urney were forced to “go to the well”. Jamie Mc Aleer and Christopher Bogle pointed but still Killyman kept coming. Urney were forced to spring the injured Johnny Lafferty from the bench and their faith in the former county man was rewarded when he scored the goal that sealed the win deep in injury time.

Credit to both sides for their displays and tenacity.

Final score: Urney 2-12, Killyman 2-8.