DROMINTEE earned themselves a quarter-final spot against Maghery with a comfortable 1-16 to 1-6 victory over Tír na nÓg at the Athletic Grounds on Monday.
Both teams ended with 13 men as tempers flared in the second-half, but the outcome was never in doubt. Dromintee gobbled up most of the middle-third possession and forwards Cathal McKenna and Conor Martin brought their shooting boots with them. The pair shared 0-4 as Dromintee breezed into an early lead and Gareth McCrink’s ninth minute goal had them firmly in the driving seat.
It took the Portadown men 17 minuutess to register through a Brian Mallon free, which was immediately negated by a Patrick Morgan white flag. By the 23rd minute, points had been exchanged by McKenna and Jamie McAleenan before Paul Carvill got Tír na nÓg’s third score from a free.
Conor Martin stretched the Dromintee advantage, but the opposition improved towards the break, Carvill’s second, this one from play, left the half-time score 0-7 to 0-4 in Dromintee’s favour. The impressive McKenna (0-2) and Morgan consolidated the Dromintee lead before Brian Mallon with a monster score from a free pulled one back for Tír na nÓg.
Entering the final-quarter, Dromintee were 1-12 to 0-5 in command and, when Tír na nÓg’s Paudie Judge and Jamie McAleenan were both red carded within minutes of each other, their cause seemed hopeless. However, a Paul Carvill goal gave them hope. Dromintee, who had two defenders - John Molloy and Kevin McLellan - also sent-off late in the game, made sure of their last-eight spot with scores from the classy Martin and substitute Christopher Lynch and Shane McCoy.
In Monday night’s other qualifier, Wolfe Tone’s recorded a 1-9 to 0-7 victory over Forkhill. Forkhill led 0-6 to 0-4 at the break and, despite Finnian Moriarty being sent-off in the 42nd minute, Wolfe Tone’s pulled themselves level at 0-7 apiece. Declan Lavery found the net with a speculative effort for Wolfe Tone’s, who finished stronger and ran out 1-9 to 1-7 winners.
