AIB Ulster Club Junior Football Championship Semi-Final: Drumlane 3-15 Newtownbutler 1-8
Drumlane are still in contention to keep the Ulster Club JFC title in Cavan hands after they powered past Newtownbutler at St Tiarnach’s Park yesterday. After one-point wins over both Craigbane and Clones, Drumlane had this one wrapped up long before the end, with inside-forwards Daryl McGurren and Michael Owens hitting a combined 2-7. Newtownbutler, who had cruised through their provincial quarter-final, had their chances, but were left to rue their 11 wides against a clinical Drumlane attack, whose only wide arrived late on. Drumlane will now hope to follow in the footsteps of 2021 winners Denn when they take on Stewartstown, who will be looking to become the first Tyrone winner of the Paul Kerr Cup since 2016.
Drumlane were first off the mark through Ryan Connolly and although a brace of points from midfielder Jason Flanagan and a well-struck ’45 by Diarmaid King got Newtownbutler up and running, the Cavan side made hay during their extended purple patch midway through the half.
A hat-trick of points from Liam Belton and a quick-fire brace by Daryl McGurren saw Drumlane pull away, before Connolly and Michael Owens continued the one-way traffic. A strong run by Darragh Dolan set up McGurren to slide home the opening goal and make it 1-6 without reply and even though Newtownbutler had plenty of possession in the latter stages of the half, they could only manage a solitary reply from Ger O’Keefe, which left them trailing by 1-9 to 0-5 at the break, before both teams emerged for the second half without their captains.
The Fermanagh men needed a strong start to make a contest of it, but instead it was Drumlane who quickly moved through the gears again, with two points each from McGurren and sub Gary Tubman. 1-1 by Owens and a James McCahill effort meant Martin Dunne’s charges had 1-6 to their name inside nine minutes and although their scoring rate slowed as both sides emptied the bench, the job was done by then.
After a couple of close calls, Drumlane got their third goal via Dolan, who became their seventh scorer of the afternoon in the process. Newtown sub Frank Mulligan responded almost immediately with a consolation goal and while they had several efforts at another, they had to settle for a brace of points from Seán Conlon.
Drumlane will return to Clones for their third game in a row when they contest the final next Saturday against 2004 winners Stewartstown.
Drumlane: H Clarke; D Monahan, J O’Dowd, J Marsden; M Maguire, J McCahill (0-1), F Lunney; C Crowe, D O’Dowd; R Connolly (Capt., 0-2, 0-1 free), D Dolan (1-0), L Belton (0-3); D McGurren (1-4), M Owens (1-3), C Flynn.
Subs: C O’Brien for Lunney (28); G Tubman (0-2) for Connolly (H-T); S Dolan for J O’Dowd (40); C Connolly for D O’Dowd (42); D Lunney for O’Brien (45); K Freehil for Marsden (53).
Newtownbutler: G Mullaney; R O’Keefe, P O’Brien, C McBride; J Jackman, J Connolly, R Rooney; S Conlon (0-3), J Flanagan (0-2); G O’Keefe (0-1), J Maguire (Capt.), J McCaffrey; C Courtney, R Carson, D King (0-2, 0-1f, 0-1 45).
Subs: C Quinn for Maguire (H-T); D Martin for McBride (40); F Mulligan (1-0) for Courtney (42); D McDaid for O’Brien (52); S Carson for Rooney (56).
Referee: E McFeely (Donegal).
