Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship Round 1A
Seán McDermotts 2-14 Killanny 1-6 16/6/13
Seán McDermotts now have two convincing wins under their belts in the JFC after they proved too strong for Killanny in Drumhowan on Sunday. Killanny competed well in the early stages, but the Seáns’ superiority became apparent, underpinned by their midfield dominance. Patrick Kieran starred for the Seáns, adding two goals to the one he scored in their preliminary-round win over Toome, while Brian McQuaid, Damien Larkin, Páraic McGuirk and Noel Rice were also prominent. Adam Kieran, Ronan Duffy and Peter Dooley were best for Killanny, who were unable to replicate their recent league form, managing just 0-3 from play.
Killanny were first off the mark through a left-footed point from Peter Dooley, but Derek McMahon brought Seán McDermotts level with a fine score after a one-two with Danny McNally. Dooley and James Treanor swapped points from 20-metre frees after fouls on Mark Conlon and Martin Kieran respectively, before a strong run by Patrick Kieran set up David McEntee to edge the Seáns ahead for the first time.
The Threemilehouse men wasted little time in adding to that lead, adding five unanswered points in the closing minutes of the half, the first coming when Damien Larkin won and scored a 20-metre free. Larkin added a brace of well-struck frees from distance – one from the left wing after a foul on McNally and the other from the right, following a foul on McEntee. McEntee then set up Treanor for a point and he was also involved, along with Conor McElroy, in releasing Brian McQuaid to make it 0-8 to 0-2 in favour of the Seáns at half-time.
McEntee and Philip Farrell combined to create the first point of the second half for McNally and although Dooley converted a 30-metre free for a foul on Tiernan Duffy to end 25 scoreless minutes for Killanny, Patrick Kieran raced through to fist over and restore the seven-point gap. Kieran then got on the end of a move involving Noel Rice and Larkin to fire home the opening goal, but Steven McMahon gave Killanny a lifeline when he netted a penalty after a foul on Conlon. Dooley won and scored a 30-metre free and Tiernan Duffy added a point to cut Killanny’s deficit to five, but the Seáns replied when a McQuaid shot was deflected over the bar, after a one-two with Patrick Kieran made space for the county Under-21.
The Seáns all but wrapped the game up when Kieran took a pass from Larkin and rattled in his second goal and Larkin then fisted over, following good approach play by Emlyn Clerkin and Eamon McQuillan. Páraic McGuirk made a fine interception to deny Dooley a possible goal chance at the other end, before Larkin curled over a free from a difficult angle, after he had been fouled. Killanny got a point back from substitute Tommy Kiernan, who had been well-placed by Cillian Leegan, but a foul on Farrell allowed Larkin to send over his sixth point from the last kick.
Seán McDermotts: M Cleere; P Farrell, P McGuirk, E McElvaney; E McQuillan, M Kieran, B McQuaid (0-2); D McMahon (0-1), N Rice; D McNally (0-1), D McEntee (0-1), P Kieran (2-1); J Treanor (0-2, 1f), D Larkin (0-6, 5f), C McElroy.
Sub: E Clerkin for Treanor (45 mins).
Killanny: D McGlew; C Leegan, R Duffy (Capt.), Adam Kieran; C Vernon, C Wakely, E Markey; D Traynor, T Duffy (0-1); K Crawley, S McMahon (1-0, pen), M Vernon; M Conlon, P Dooley (0-4, 3f), G Traynor.
Subs: T Kiernan (0-1) for G Traynor (39), D McArdle for M Vernon (52).
Referee: G McCarron (Emyvale).
By cshalvey Mon 17th Jun
