Four Bogue goals helps Clogher past Drumragh

A REMARKABLE Friday night contest saw Clogher overcome an early eight-point deficit to lead by nine at halftime, thanks to a stunning 18-point first-half turnaround.

This Division 3A league game exploded with goals and flowing scores, delivering a breathtaking spectacle of junior football at its finest.

End-to-end, score for score, game of two halves… all the old clichés could easily have been rolled out for what turned into a Friday night thriller at St Patrick’s Park as hosts Clogher eventually edged a seven-point win against Drumragh, who played a full part in the drama.

An 18-point first half turnaround was the feature of the game, with not a two pointer in sight through that spell as the goals and points flowed.

The Sarsfields soared eight ahead, only to trail by nine at the break. Remarkable stuff in perfect conditions with Ciaran Bogue the key difference.

This was a great advert for the junior game with some exquisite performers on show. Bogue recorded an eye-catching 4-4 to steal the headlines but Barry McKenna and Ryan McCaughey also impressed for the victors, while the Montgomery brothers, Eoin and Aaron, nippy Ronan Maguire and Eamon McCann kept Drumragh in contention.

In the end though it was the goals that decided this tie and, boy, we had some crackers over the hour!

The visitors got off to a flier with Brendan Quinn finishing Maguire’s through ball to the net although on the kick out Finbarr McCaughey was denied at the other end by a combination of defenders and goalkeeper Sean O’Doherty.

Drumragh points from Paddy Colgan and Quinn were followed by a well-directed penalty from Niall McCarney. By the 12th minute they led by eight points as Eoin Montgomery landed two frees with Ryan McCaughey hitting two home frees to get them moving. If those opening minutes belonged to Drumragh the next ten were the Ogs.

McKenna finished to the net after great work by McCaughey down the by line, a well-worked move teed up Michael McCaughey for a tidy second goal minutes later.

Marc McConnell finished a sweeping move and Bogue tagged on his first point sandwiched between a McCarney free before remarkably the sides were level on 20 minutes Michael McCaughey launching a score from the right.

Quick-fire points from Bogue, McCaughey and Cillian Barkey turned the game before two Bogue goals in as many minutes had the hosts nine clear, Barkey and McCaughey’s initial shots were saved by O’Doherty before Bogue slammed in and he was on-hand from the right for the fourth.

Barkey’s point from the right again completed the 18-point turnaround. A late first half white flag from McCarney left it a nine-point game that quickly stretched to 11 four minutes into the second half with quick fire home points as O’Doherty made a great stop to push away McConnell’s drive.

Cue the evening’s second comeback! Montgomery 0-3, Maguire, Quinn, Daniel O’Neill 0-2 and McCarney points closed the gap to a manageable three with 13 minutes of the half gone with Bogue crashing a goalbound effort off the Sarsfields post inbetween.

The rot was halted at the start of the final quarter as McCaughey dropped over a brace of frees and Bogue was on hand for his sides fifth goal as they opened the margin back to seven points – Montgomery dropping over a visitors’ free.

Bogue in a man of the match display flashed over two great points with seven minutes left, yet Drumragh were not put away. McCarney drilled over the night’s first two pointer, O’Neill was on hand to steer McCann’s huge long range pass past Jamie Callaghan and with two minutes of normal time left McCann sent Montgomery in for a point that left just a goal between them again.

A time for steady nerves and Clogher stepped up again. Conor Shields and the impressive Eoin Mellon hit points with Bogue finishing well for the evening’s ninth goal, McConnell carrying well to send him through. Montgomery’s free at the death wrapping up an incredible haul of scores. If this is junior football we can’t wait for the seniors!

Scorers

Clogher: Ciaran Bogue 4-4, Ryan McCaughey 0-5, Michael McCaughey 1-1, Cillian Barkey 0-3, Barry McKenna 1-0, Marc McConnell, Finbarr McCaughey, Conor Shields and Eoin Mellon 0-1 each.

Drumragh: Niall McCarney 1-5 (1 T/P), Eoin Montgomery 0-8, Daniel O’Neill 1-2, Brendan Quinn 1-2, Paddy Colgan and Ronan Maguire 0-1 each.

Teams

Clogher: Jamie Callaghan, Ruari McCaughey, Dom McKiernan, Gareth McKenna, Conor Shields, Mark Bogue, Matthew Callaghan, Darragh Mellon, Barry McKenna, Michael McCaughey, Cillian Barkey, Marc McConnell, Ryan McCaughey, Ciaran Bogue, Finbarr McCaughey. Subs: Sean McCaffrey for McKenna.

Drumragh: Sean O’Doherty, Carraig Mc Kenna, Eamon Kerrigan, Alex Mc Glinchey, Paddy Colgan, Aaron Montgomery, Oran Devlin, Niall McCarney, Sean McGale, Brendan Quinn, Daniel O’Neill, Eamon McCann, Barry Fitzgerald, Eoin Montgomery, Ronan Maguire. Subs: Ben Monk for McKenna, Malachy McManus, Sean McGale.

Referee: Cathal Forbes (Ardboe)