Armagh SFC:Pearse Óg 2-12 Dromintee 1-5
A MUCH more economical Pearse Óg booked a quarter-final spot against holders Crossmaglen with a comfortable 2-12 to 1-5 victory over a youthful and wasteful Dromintee in Silverbridge on Saturday.
The Pearse Óg goals didn’t arrive until the final five minutes, by which time the contest was well and truly over.
The victors led 0-8 to 1-1 at half-time, Ross Clarke and Tommy Turley sharing eight points from play. Dromintee’s top marksman Cathal McKenna scored their point and, close to the interval, he raised a green flag with the help of a mistake from Óg's 'keeper Ryan Kearney.
Midfielders Seán Moore and Chris Rafferty extended the lead on the turnover, before Gareth McCrink pulled one back for the south Armagh men.
In the opening 10 minutes of the second period, Dromintee increased their first half tally of eight wides by five. By the 50th minute, points were traded between Marc Cullen and McKenna and, after Conor Clarke had made it 0-12 to 1-3, he snapped up a goal chance created by Marc Cullen’s clever approach play. Goal number two quickly followed when substitute Seán Hughes chipped the Dromintee 'keeper from an acute angle.
Dromintee had two late goal chances themselves. Óg's defender Conor McNicholl whipped an effort from Conor Quinn off the line, while 'keeper Keanrey redeemed himself for his earlier misdemeanour by spectacularly tipping a rasping shot from Shane Carroll over the bar.
MATCH STATS
Pearse Óg scorers: R Clarke (0-4), C Clarke (1-1), M Cullen (0-3), S Hughes (1-0), T Turley (0-2), S Moore, C Rafferty (1-0 each).
Dromintee: C McKenna (1-3), G McCrink, S Carroll (0-1 each).
