Drumragh senior men beat Aghaloo in the league play-off in Augher on Saturday.
DRUMRAGH……….2-17
AGHALOO………….1-14
Drurmagh senior men are through to the Division 3 promotion play-off final after a thrilling extra-time win over Aghaloo in Augher last Saturday.
It was a deserved victory for Drumragh who played well throughout the 80-plus minutes.
Drumragh got off to a strong start and built up a three-point lead with a point from Aaron Montgomery, a mark from Martin Taggart and then a free from Martin.
Aghaloo came back strong though and were denied a goal by a super save from Drumragh goalkeeper James Colgan. But they were soon level with three quick points on-the-spin. Drumragh retook the lead when Eoin Montgomery converted a free after Cormac Norris, Daniel O’Neill and Ronan Maguire had done well to set up an attack.
Two points gave Aghaloo their first lead of the half but the Drumragh repsonse was good with Kian Murphy, Eoin Montgomery and Ronan Maguire all belting over excellent scores. Aghaloo looked to regain the lead before half-time but a combination of Paddy Colgan, Eamonn Kerrigan and Lee Brown allowed Drumragh to clear the ball, protecting their two-point lead at the break.
Drumragh captain Gareth Haughey with the Aghaloo captain and referee before the start of the game
Malachy McManus opened the scoring in the second half with a good score from distance, while Eoin Montgomery soon added another. Between those points came some important defending from Alex McGlinchey and Eoin McGread in the Drumragh defence.
It was developing into an excellent game of football. Aghaloo scored a couple of good points from play with Eoin Montgomery replying for Drumragh with another excellent score. Daniel O’Neill did well to create a goal-scoring opportunity and was unlucky not to score with the Aghaloo goalkeeper making the save.
Aghaloo then enjoyed a period of dominance and scored 1-2 to go back into the lead.
Drumragh, however, refused to give in. Daniel O’Neill won the ball out around midfield, took off on a run through the Aghaloo defence before firing past the goalkeeper for a fantastic goal.
Drumragh then stretched out the lead when Martin Taggart won a free which he converted himself, while Alex McGlinchey kicked a point as well.
Aghaloo finished the game strongly though, and three points from them brought the game to extra-time.
But it was Drumragh who were very much in the ascendancy in extra-time. Martin Taggart split the posts with the outside of his right foot, Cormac Norris set up Kian Murphy for a point and Eoin Montgomery put the ball over the bar with a free after Daniel O’Neill had been fouled.
Aghaloo cut Drumragh’s lead of two in half with a free at the start of the second half of extra-time. But it was all Drumragh after that.
Sean Diamond, Gareth Haughey and Kian Murphy combined to send Alex McGlinchey through on goal and he made no mistake with a composed finish past the goalkeeper.
Kian Murphy and Eoin Montgomery came up with further scores as Drumragh secured a place in the next play-off round, against Fintona this Sunday.
SCORERS: Eoin Montgomery 0-6, Martin Taggart 0-4, Alex McGlinchey 1-1, Daniel O’Neill 1-0, Kian Murphy 0-3, Malachy McManus 0-1, Ronan Maguire 0-1, Aaron Montgomery 0-1
TEAM: James Colgan, Eoin McGread, Eamonn Kerrigan, Lee Brown, Cormac Norris, Paddy Colgan, Alex McGlinchey, Eoin Montgomery, Aaron Montgomery, Ronan Maguire, Daniel O’Neill, Malachy McManus, Gareth Haughey, Kian Murphy, Martin Taggart
SUBS: Sean Diamond, Jude Campbell, Ben Monk, Blaine Feeney
