Fr Rocks reel in Drumragh to set up a replay

JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINAL

Drumragh 2-14  Cookstown 1-17

AN EQUALISER with the very last kick of the game ensured Drumragh a replay in this Junior semi-final but it could and perhaps should have been so much better for the Sarsfields on Tuesday night in Stewartstown as they prepare for a second instalment on Saturday.

It all appeared to be looking good for Drumragh entering the closing stages of this exciting clash. They led by two with time almost up, before a great Fr Rocks goal from Karol Wawrynkiewicz suddenly put them ahead and left their opponents chasing to bring the tie level and to a replay.

Niall McCarney fired over the resultant free to bring the teams back to Killyclogher this Saturday afternoon for part two to see who will meet Clogher for the Pat Darcy Cup the following weekend. The Sarsfields hopes will be high that they can complete the job, especially after a confident performance for long periods in this drawn tie.

Many from Drumragh also questioned a well-taken Niall McCarney effort that they believed had gone over the bar for a two-pointer midway through the second half. The score was flagged wide and not given.

Two goals in the first quarter saw Drumragh grab the initiative. Ronan Maguire grabbed the first when he raced through before firing a great shot to the net. Further scores soon after courtesy of Daniel O’Neill and Sean McGale put them 1-2 to 0-2 ahead, with Michael McElhatton and Matthew Carbery responding for a Cookstown side that has already gained promotion via the league.

Drumragh, though, were in control. Barry Fitzgerald, Gareth Haughey and Alex McGlinchey were impressing, and their ability to race forward at speed created openings in the Fr Rocks defence. As a result, the speed and accuracy of Kian Murphy, Sean McGale and Ronan Murphy gave them plenty of confidence.

Goal number two arrived right at the end of the first quarter and was once again a classic effort. Kian Murphy received a pass from Sean McGale and embarked on a weaving solo run which culminated in him firing to the top corner. That score, and a point soon after from Daniel O’Neill, left them seven ahead on a score of 2-4 to 0-3.

Cookstown appeared to be in all sorts of difficulty as Drumragh won the breaks around midfield and forged forward with purpose. But the Fr Rocks also responded with scores of their own, and points from Karol Wawrynkiewicz and Michael McElhatton kept them in touch.

It remained tight in the period up until the break. Try as they might to go even further ahead, Niall McCarney registered a two pointer as Michael Roche also fired over. But Cookstown’s Nathan Connolly and then a Karol Wawrynkiewicz two pointer left everything very much still in the balance on an interval scoreline of 2-7 to 0-8.

That score for score trend continued on the resumption. Time and again, Drumragh threatened to pull away to what could have been a reasonably comfortable win. But time and again, Cookstown responded to leave the issue increasingly in the balance as the minutes ebbed away, frustratingly slowly for the Sarsfields and their supporters.

Carriag McKenna and Ronan Maguire left six between them again early in that second half. However, Cookstown were closing the gap, they had a goal disallowed and points from Luke Neeson, Niall McMurray and Michael McElhatton left just three between the teams entering the final stages.

Niall McCarney did respond for Drumragh, but things were now trending in favour of the Fr Rocks. With Luke Neeson, Matthew McNeill, Conall Sheehy and Michael McElhatton gaining more influence, the gap was soon down to two.

One statistic says a lot. Between the ninth and 27th minutes of the second half, Cookstown outcored Drumragh by 0-8 to 0-2. Still, though, the Sarsfields were holding on and looked set to claim the victory until that goal blow right at the start of added time.

Karol Wawrynkiewicz took a pass from Niall McMurray before racing through a forest of Sarsfields defenders to hit the net. Suddenly Cookstown were ahead for the first time in the game by 1-17 to 2-13 and added time was almost complete.

A final attack gave Drumragh a chance. A free was awarded and Niall McCarney confidently converted to bring the teams level, and ensure a replay at the weekend to decide who joins Clogher in the final later this month.

Scorers

Drumragh: Kian Murphy (1-2), Niall McCarney (0-4,1tp), Ronan Maguire (1-1), Daniel O’Neill (0-3), Sean McGale (0-2), Michael Roche (0-1), Carraig McKenna (0-1).

Cookstown: Michael McElhatton (0-6,5f), Karol Wawrynkiewicz (1-2), Niall McMurray (0-2), Eoghan Donnelly (0-1), Nathan Connolly (0-1), Luke Neeson (0-1), Karol McGuigan (0-1), Conall Sheehy (0-1).

Teams

Drumragh: Patrick Colgan, Carraig McKenna, Barry Fitzgerald, Oran Devlin, Aaron Montgomery, Gareth Haughey, Alex McGlinchey, Niall McCarney, Malachy McManus, Michael Roche, Sean McGale, Eoin Montgomery, Kian Murphy, Ronan Maguire, Daniel O’Neill. Sub used: Eamon McCann for S McGale (58).

Cookstown: Danny McElhatton, Ronan Donnelly, Conor Donnelly, Callan Kelly, John McIvor, Luke Neeson, Darragh McHugh, Conall Sheehy, Matthew McNeill, Eoghan Donnelly, Karol Wawrynkiewicz, Michael McElhatton, Nathan Connolly, Matthew Carberry, Karol McGuigan. Subs used: Barry Potter for J McIvor (half-time), Niall McMurray for N Connolly (43).

Referee – Cahal Bell (Killeeshil)