By 
JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
Clogher 1-21 Drumragh 0-12
A DEVASTATING display of forward power during the opening stages of this clash laid the platform for Clogher to clinch their first Tyrone Junior title for 25 years by defeating Drumragh at Healy Park on Saturday night.
It was ultimately all so straightforward for the Eire Ogs as they confidently dispatched a Sarsfields side which never reached its potential.
There were 13 points between the teams at the finish of a game that will be remembered and forgotten in equal measure among the players and supporters of both clubs.
Marc McConnell’s goal after only two minutes put Clogher on the road to victory.
They led by nine at half-time, as Drumragh failed decisively to repeat the heroics of their semi-final victory just seven days earlier.
Team captain, Conor Shields, lifted the Pat Darcy Cup to the delight of the Eire Og players and supporters.
They will now be looking forward to Intermediate football in 2026, and an Ulster Junior campaign to come this autumn.
Wind advantage in that first half really inspired Clogher to a gigantic effort.
They had won every game in the championship by double figures and there were long periods in the opening period here where they looked more than capable of repeating the feat.
Matty Callaghan, Conor Shields and Barry McKenna dominated around midfield, and the Eire Ogs certainly made hay while the sun shone. Ciaran Bogue opened their account with a two-pointer and it set the tempo for some brilliant scores to follow.
A goal just moments later saw them lead by five points after only two minutes. A poor kick-out saw Marc McConnell intercept possession, and he made no mistake to score from close range.
They led by 1-2 to no score, and were ahead by six, on a score of 1-3 to nothing as Drumragh struggled to find their feet.
To their credit, though, the Sarsfields didn’t panic even as the situation facing them became increasingly tough.
Good steady play from Gareth Haughey, Aaron Montgomery and Niall McCarney gained them a foothold and it was Aaron Montgomery who got their first score in the ninth minute.
But the situation facing them was still stark. Further two-pointers from Conor Shields and Ciaran Bogue had the potential to put the Eire Ogs almost beyond reach. They now led by 1-7 to 0-1 at the end of the first quarter, and even at this stage Drumragh demanded urgent action to retrieve things.
What followed was a tremendous spell of dominance from the Sarsfields, and it was most definitely required to provide them with any hope of cutting the deficit on the resumption. Six points in a row brought them from nine points down to a much more manageable four, on a score of 1-7 to 0-6.
More important, though, was the boost that this spell of control gave them.
Those scores courtesy of Eoin Montgomery, Ben Monk, Kian Murphy and Niall McCarney showed that they were still very much in contention.
They were also playing with purpose, passing the ball well, and creating good attacking chances.
Aaron Montgomery also blocked what would have been a goal on the line and, while Clogher remained in control on the scoreboard, the issue was now destined to be much more in the balance than might have been the case otherwise.
It was the Eire Ogs who finished in the kind of flurry that they required to make the most of the wind.
A third two-pointer for them, this time from Barry McKenna, and points from Marc McConnell and Vincent Lowry left them 1-14 to 0-8 ahead at the interval.
But the big question centred on whether Drumragh could make similar progress with the wind in the second half. Nothing less than a strong start on the resumption would suffice for them.
Instead, they were soon facing an even steeper challenge to remain in touch. Three points in quick succession saw Clogher increase their lead. Marc McConnell, Ciaran Bogue and Cillian Barkey all hit the target for the Eire Ogs. More crucially, though, their ability to retain possession hit Drumragh, as Conor Shields, Ciaran Bogue, Marc McConnell, and Barry McKenna dictated play for long periods in that third quarter.
Drumragh in contrast seemed lethargic, perhaps due to the hectic schedule which faced them in the semi-final draw and replay.
Ben Monk did score for them in the sixth minute after the restart, but they just didn’t look to have the momentum to seriously reduce the deficit.
Further points for Clogher, this time courtesy of Ciaran Bogue stretched their lead entering the closing stages.
It was now 1-19 to 0-9, a gap of 13 points which highlighted just how frustrating this final had been for the Sarsfields. They did manage to increase their total before the finish thanks to Kian Murphy and Niall McCarney.
But it was far too little far too late as Clogher’s celebrations of their third title had already begun, a red card for Daniel O’Neill compounding Drumragh’s disappointment.
Scorers
Clogher: Ciaran Bogue 0-7 2x2pt, Marc McConnell 1-3, Conor Shields 0-3 1x2pt, Barry McKenna 0-3 1x2pt, Ryan McCaughey 0-2 1f, Vincent Lowry 0-1, Cillian Barkey 0-1.
Drumragh: Niall McCarney 0-6 5f, 1x2ptf, Ben Monk 0-2, Kian Murphy 0-2, Aaron Montgomery 0-1, Eoin Montgomery 0-1.
Teams
Drumragh: Patrick Colgan, Carraig McKenna, Barry Fitzgerald, Alex McGlinchey, Aaron Montgomery, Gareth Haughey, Oran Devlin, Niall McCarney, Eoin Montgomery, Michael Roche, Sean McGale, Malachy McManus, Kian Murphy, Ronan Maguire, Daniel O’Neill. Subs: Ben Monk for R Maguire 16, Eamon McCann for S McGale 37.
Clogher: Rory McElroy, Sean McCaffrey, Eoin Mellon, Ruairi McCaughey, Conor Shields, Matty Callaghan, Mark Bogue, Barry McKenna, Dominic McKernan, Sean Bogue, Ciaran Boue, Michael McCaughey, Ryan McCaughey, Marc McConnell, Vincent Lowry. Subs: Cillian Barkey for V Lowry half time, James Callaghan for S McCaffrey 52, Darragh Mellon for B McKenna 54, Finbar McCaughey for S Bogue 55, Eoin McCarron for M Callaghan 57.
Referee: Paul Gallagher (Castlederg)