Gaelic Football

Dromintee’s late fightback puts Dungiven to the sword in St Paul’s semi-final

A third-quarter rally from the Armagh champions sees them overturn a five-point deficit to book an historic place in Ulster minor final

Dromintee's Jarleth O'Neill gets away from Dungiven's Michael McVeigh during Friday's semi-final at St Paul's GAC. PICTURE: Seamus Loughran
Dromintee's Jarleth O'Neill gets away from Dungiven's Michael McVeigh during Friday's semi-final at St Paul's GAC. PICTURE: Seamus Loughran
By Paul McIntyre

fonacab Ulster Minor Football Tournament: Dromintee 1-13 Dungiven 1-10

A STRONG last quarter from Dromintee saw the Armagh side see off a battling Dungiven and book an Ulster minor final appearance against Clontibret on New Years Day.

Trailing by five points at one stage, a 48th minute Michael O’Neill goal swung momentum in Dromintee’s favour before late points from Oisin Byrne and Calvin Mooney capped off a deserving win.

It was a tense affair from start to finish as two evenly matched teams went toe-to-toe. However, with Dromintee looking after the ball much better, they went to outscore the Derry men 1-7 to 0-2 in the final quarter to clinch a place in the final for the first time ever.

Jarleth O’Neill may have been wearing the number two jersey but his he spent more time attacking Dungiven’s right flank than in his own full back line and his assist allowed Diarmaid O’Rourke to open the scoring with a well taken point on the run.

Dungiven then started to take control and Paddy Higgins levelled matters in the 10th minute.

The Derry side were now on top and after Peader Pio Peoples effort came back off the upright, the ball was recycled to Michael McVeigh who kicked over the games first two-pointer.

Points from Higgins and Sean O’Kane put Dungiven in control but Jarleth O’Neill and O’Rourke kept Dromintee in touch before the St Canice’s extended their lead to five-points through the game’s opening goal.

Daithi McCloskey stormed through the heart of the Dromintee defence and the towering midfielder played in Higgins whose low crisp drive gave James McBennett no chance in the Dromintee goal.

Turning around at the break leading 1-6 to 0-5, Dungiven were still bossing matters early in the second half, but in the final quarter, poor decision making began to be punished.

The game’s decisive moment arrived in the 48th minute.

Michael O’Neill looked to had missed his chance at goal when he was swallowed up by two Dungiven defenders, but the half-back managed to get a toe to the loose ball and nudge the ball over the line.

With O’Rourke to the fore, Dromintee were well on top and Fionn Toale’s two-pointer in the 60th minute established a three-point lead.

Two Pádraig Haran frees at the beginning of additional time set-up a grandstand finish, but Byrne and Mooney stepped up when it mattered to seal the win for the Armagh side.

Dromintee: J McBennett, J O’Neill (0-1), C Dunne, D O’Rourke (0-3), F Toale (0-1), T Fox, M O’Neill (1-0), C Laverty, K McArdle, C Mooney (0-2) , F Toale (0-3), M Walker, R. Martin (0-2), O Carnegie, O Byrne (0-1).

Replacements: S Harris for McArdle (39).

Dungiven: T McCloskey, C McKenna, P O’Kane, E Òg McKeever, D O’Neill (0-1), R McGilligan, D Colgan, D McCloskey, K B Mullan (0-1), M McVeigh (0-2), P Haran (0-3f), P P Peoples, M Harkin, P Higgins (1-2 1f), S O’Kane (0-1).

Replacements: D McKenna for Peoples (HT), E Murphy for McKenna (HT).

Referee: Mr Colm McDonald (St Galls).