Carrickedmond second string too strong for Dromard

28.08.10 | JFC Semi-Final | Carrickedmond 3-10 Dromard 2-8 | By Deniese O'Flaherty

A strong second half performance saw Carrickedmond advance to their second successive Junior 'A' Football Championship Final when they overcame the challenge of Dromard at Pearse Park on Saturday evening last.

Leading by just one point at the interval, Carrickedmond took control of proceedings midway through the second half and Dromard simply had no answer for them. They were deserved winners and if they hadn't hit several bad wides the final scoreline would have been at lot greater.

It was a very tight first half with both sides unable to stamp their authority on the game. The football on show throughout wasn't the greatest but the players weren't short of commitment and endeavour.

Dromard opened up a two point lead inside the opening five minutes with frees from Martin McGee and John Grey before Keith McGuire and Gareth Flower replied for Carrickedmond.

Mick Kane put Dromard back in front in the 16th minute before Thomas Kelly grabbed his first goal of the game to extend that lead to four points. A fantastic point from Carrick midfielder John Burns and a free from the boot of Keith McGuire cut the deficit to two points but Dromard hit back with their second goal of the game with Thomas Kelly again on target. There was now five between the sides with five minutes of the first half remaining.

Credit to Carrickedmond they didn't panic and they brought it back to a two point game in the 28th minute when Patrick Egan capitalised on a mistake by a Dromard defender to grab a crucial goal.

Points were then exchanged between John Grey (free) and Keith McGuire before Carrickedmond took the lead for the first time and it was a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Gareth Flower chased a high ball and passed to McGuire and he made no mistake to give his side a one point advantage going in at the break, 2-5 to 2-4.

Michael Cunningham fired over another Carrickedmond point two minutes into the second half after he was fouled. Another free from Martin McGee got Dromard back to within one point of their opponents but that was the closest they were going to get.

Carrickedmond hit a purple patch and points from Keith McGuire (two), John Burns (terrific effort) and John O'Rourke put them in the driving seat. Dromard could only respond with a point from Thomas Kelly.

With four minutes remaining Dromard decided to ring the changes in a hope that they could get back into the game but instead of making a difference they could only watch as Carrickedmond grabbed their third goal of the game; Michael Cunningham's effort going in off the post to seal a fine win.

CARRICKEDMOND: Gareth Higgins; Joe Breslin, James Teague, Willie Noonan; Barry O'Farrell, Shane Mulvey, Paul Yorke; Dermot McCormack, John Burns (0-2); David Quinn, Michael Cunningham (1-1), John O'Rourke (0-1); Keith McGuire (1-5, two frees), Gareth Flower (0-1), Patrick Egan (1-0).

Subs:- Eugene McCormack for P Egan (36 mins); Gerard Maloney for W Noonan (43 mins); Aidan Belton for G Flower (59 mins).

DROMARD: Danny Pettit; Thomas Conefrey, James Conefrey, Brendan McLoughlin; Kevin Kane, Ronan Duffy, Keith Masterson; Graham Owens, Padraic McNerney; Martin McGee (0-2, frees), Conor Duffy, Mick Kane (0-1); John Grey (0-2, frees), Thomas Kelly (2-1), Kevin Maguire.

Subs:- Jimmy Kiernan for M McGee and Michael Reynolds for B McLoughlin (38 mins); Niall Berry for K Maguire and Mark Murtagh for M Kane (56 mins); Kevin Hourican for P McNerney (57 mins).

Referee: Ned Monaghan (Ballymore).

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