Sarsfields Upset Formbook To Reach Quarter Final

Friday 11.09.2020

 

Drumragh 2-12 Killeeshil 0-14

Drumragh became the first side through to the Quarter finals of the LCC Junior championship when they were worthy four point winners over prematch favourites Drumragh at Garvaghey on Friday night.

 

The Sarsfields grabbed both of their goals in the first period with the second one coming on the stroke of halftime to give them a six point advantage. To their credit Killeeshil played better in the second half and on a couple of occasions they closed the gap to three points and at one stage just two but that was as good as it got for them. Shane Devine and Tommy Mullin got the Drumragh goals with team Captain Shane Cleary showing real leadership with half a dozen points to his name. At the back Drumragh gave little away with Eamon Kerrigan, Paddy Colgan and Gareth Haughey to the fore as they ensured that their opponents didn’t get the goal that they badly needed.

Killeeshil will be disappointed with this defeat but they can have no argument on the night despite the fact that they scored more times than their opponents. Pascal Donaghy led their attack well with eight points, seven from frees, with Ciaran O’Neill, Darragh Hamill and Jason Doyle all trying hard for them as well.

 

It was Cleary who opened the scoring in the 6^th minute from a free before Mullin cut in from the right wing to double their advantage. In between those two scores Killeeshil had a goal chance when Donaghy laid the ball off to Tomas Hoy but the latter’s effort struck the post and went wide. A brilliant point from Donaghy got Killeeshil up and running in the 11^th minute and in the next two attacks they got their noses in front thanks to a point from play from Doyle coupled with a Donaghy free.

 

A strong run from Ronan Maguire resulted in a point for the centre half forward to leave it 0-3 apiece at the water break. In the 19^th minute a contender for goal of the season arrived when full forward Devine sold a great dummy 45m from goal before embarking on a surging run that finished with him firing low to the bottom left hand corner of the net past keeper Ciaran Reilly. Devine then pointed after good work from Ronan Maguire before a Donaghy free got a much needed score for Killeeshil. The hard working Eoin Montgomery was rewarded with a neat point for the winners before Donaghy cancelled that out at the other end of the field. In first half injury time though Drumragh corner forward Mullin blasted low to the net to leave his side well in control leading 2-5 to 0-5.

 

Ten seconds after the restart Hoy narrowed the gap with a point and moments later midfielder John McMullan registered for Killeeshil as well. McMullan then had an effort saved by Drumragh keeper James Colgan in a key moment in the contest. Maguire opened Drumragh’s second half account from a Mark but Killeeshil responded with frees from Doyle and Donaghy. Cleary and Patrick McMullan exchanged points to leave it 2-7 to 0-10 going into the final quarter.

 

Cleary knocked over a free after he had been fouled himself and while Donaghy replied from a placed ball a superb brace from Cleary put Drumragh five clear with nine minutes left of normal time. Killeeshil though dug deep with two Donaghy frees and one from play from substitute Liam Hughes closing the gap to two with time running out. Drumragh refused to panic though with Cleary knocking over a free before Killeeshil lost Packie McMullan to a second yellow card. With the last kick of the game Devine made sure of victory for Drumragh.

 

Drumragh scorers – Shane Cleary 0-6 [3F, 1M], Shane Devine 1-2, Tommy Mullin 1-1, Ronan Maguire 0-2 [1M], Eoin Montgomery 0-1

 

Killeeshil scorers – Pascal Donaghy 0-8 [7F], Jason Doyle 0-2 [1F], Packie McMullan 0-1, Liam Hughes 0-1, Tomas Hoy 0-1, John McMullan 0-1

 

Referee – Cahal Kearney, Glenelly