Goals the difference for
Drumreilly
Masonite Senior
Championship Group Three Fourth Round
By John Connolly -
sports@leitrimobserver.ie
Drumreilly 2-12, Melvin
Gaels 0-10
Goals win games and goals,
one in each half, won this Masonite Senior Championship Group Three game for a
far from impressive Drumreilly as they struggled to overcome a determined Melvin
Gaels side who produced their best display of the campaign last Sunday in Pairc
Sean Mac Diarmada.
Drumreilly were put among the favourites for the championship before the
competition started but their stock has fallen after a loss to Gortletteragh
while they had a tough battle to overcome an already eliminated Melvin Gaels.
The Gaels produced their best display of the campaign but lacked the overall
strength to defeat Drumreilly as they relied too heavily on Colin Regan & Thomas
Lipsett. With a very young team, the Gaels are missing all the experience that
has departed the ranks in recent years.
Drumreilly will be pleased they got this win - the pressure was really on after
the loss to Gortletteragh and they had to win this game to keep their hopes
alive. The victory also sets up a make or break clash with neighbours Aughavas
next Saturday, a clash sure to bring the crowds out to Cloone.
Although they were far from their best, Drumreilly will be pleased that when the
chips were down, they pulled through. A goal in each half was vital and gave
Drumreilly a massive advantage in an evenly balanced match.
James Holohan’s second goal was the real killer blow as it stopped a Kinlough
revival in its tracks. And with Olly Maguire proving his usual accurate self,
Drumreilly were able to pull away to a comfortable if somewhat flattering eight
point win.
Melvin Gaels, on the other hand, are in transition. They are not the force they
were but with players like Regan & Lipsett playing so well, they have a backbone
to build on.
Their young players are getting a rough baptism in the senior championship as
mistakes are roughly punished. But if they persist, they definitely have the
talent for the years to come.
Best for Drumreilly were Mick McGirl, John McKeon, Fergus Duggan, Olly Maguire,
James Holohan & Cillian Maguire while Thomas Lipsett, Colin Regan, David
McSharry, Joe Tiffoney, Martin McCarron & Fabian McMorrow did well for the
Gaels.
Cillian Maguire got Drumreilly off to a good start with a first minute free but
Thomas Lipsett replied with a fine score four minutes later. It looked as if
early Drumreilly pressure was going to put them in a huge lead, particularly
when they found the back of the net.
A long surging run up the middle from John McKeon ended with the Drumreilly’s
man being half-blocked but, unfortunately for the defender, it went into the net
anyway.
Ironically, the goal woke up the Gaels and points from David McSharry, a lovely
effort from a tight angle, and Lipsett narrowed the gap by the 11th minute to
just two points.
The Kinlough men were dominating and Colin Regan swept over a lovely point to
level midway through the half. They took the lead two minutes later when a
McSharry free went over the bar in a remarkable turnaround.
A typical Declan Maxwell run on 21 minutes ended with Olly Maguire pointing but
Drumreilly’s hopes were hit when Frank Holohan was injured as he went for goal
and had to be replaced, the agony compounded by a bad miss.
Drumreilly edged back in front when Olly Maguire converted a free but McSharry
hit a brilliant point from the wing to level the scores on 31 minutes. But it
was Drumreilly who finished the half strongest as Olly Maguire then hit a free.
And just to confound them, John McKeon burst through the middle to point,
leaving a struggling Drumreilly 1-5 to 0-6 in front at halftime. That lead was
quickly reduced when, after a bout of pressure, Colin Regan scored an excellent
point to reduce the gap.
Sub Tony Lunney was played through with nobody near him but incredibly missed
the target altogether on five minutes. Mick Holohan made up for the miss with a
fine point.
The game took a definite turn Drumreilly’s way when inexperience on Melvin Gaels
part saw their defence drawn out. And when a high ball came in, it was passed
inside to the unmarked James Holohan who used his speed to get clear and blast
the ball to the back of the net on eight minutes.
Drumreilly pounded home the advantage with points from James Holohan and Olly
Maguire, a brilliant effort from the wing, before David McSharry converted two
frees in the 15 & 18th minutes.
With the Gaels refusing to buckle, Drumreilly were getting nervous as Olly
Maguire’s great point from 50 yards was matched by a Shane McCarron effort on 22
minutes, set up by a Lipsett run.
However, it all came good for Drumreilly in the last five minutes as they hit
three points without reply to break Melvin Gaels’ resistance, the scores coming
from two Olly Maguire efforts and another from Cillian Maguire.
Drumreilly: Mick McGirl, Damian Holohan, Gerard Holohan, Ciaran Holohan,
Damian Holohan, John McKeon (1-1), Fergus Duggan, Declan Maxwell, Pat Donohoe,
Nigel Maguire, Ollie Maguire (0-7), Mick Holohan (0-1), Cillian Maguire (0-2),
Francis Holohan, James Holohan (1-1). Sub: Tony Lunney for F. Holohan (28
mins).
Melvin Gaels: Gareth Phelan, Padraig McGloin, Fabian McMorrow, Matt
Connolly, Paul McGurran, Joe Tiffoney, Colm McGowan, Martin McCarron, Brendan
Brennan, Colin Regan (0-2), Damien Sheridan, Paul McGowan, Thomas Lipsett (0-2),
Shane McCarron (0-1) David McSharry (0-5). Sub: Joe McGowan for P.
McGowan (45 mins).
Ref: Pat Faughnan.
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Copyright © The Leitrim Observer 2004.