Drumragh U14 boys progressed to the next round of the championship with an excellent win over Edendork at Clanabogan Park on Saturday morning.
It was a superb performance from Drumragh. They gave Edendork very little in defence, and hit some quality scores throughout the game.
Matt Gallagher got the scoring underway with a free after Niall Gormley had been fouled. Niall then added a good point off his left foot when Matthew Barrett’s pass inside found him in space.
Drumragh’s good start continued when Lorcan Starrs scored the game’s first goal. Niall Gormley’s shot from out the field hit the crossbar, and Lorcan reacted quickest to place the ball in the back of the net.
Edendork responded with a goal, but the Drumragh defence were playing really well. Tiernan O’Donnell, Oisin Walsh and Luke Hagan in the full-back line all made things difficult for the Edendork forward line.
A good kickout from Matthew O’Doherty allowed Shea Mullin to begin another attack which ended with a nice Joseph Taggart score. Joseph was on target again shortly after when he collected Niall Gormley’s knockdown.
Lorcan Starrs set up James Gallagher for a point, and Matt Gallagher sent over a couple of placed balls as Drumragh continued their good start.
Edendork got in for a point but a Joseph Taggart point, and a goal from the same player after good play from Cahir Keyes and Ollie Hagan, meant Drumragh had a commanding lead the half-time.
Drumragh captain Matthew Barrett with the Edendork captain and referee before the start of the game
Joseph Taggart opened the scoring in the second half after Niall Gormley and James Gallagher created the chance. Niall then caught a long ball in, turned his marker and then fired over the bar as Drumragh increased their lead.
A quick counter-attack involving Tom Barrett, Matthew Barrett and Niall Burt ended with Shea Mullin putting the ball over the bar from a tight angle.
Edendork kicked a free, which could have been a goal only for a brilliant dispossession by Oisin Walsh when they closed in on goal.
But with the introduction of subs, Drumragh remained on the front foot. James Gallagher and Shea Mullin hit good points from play, before Niall Burt’s precise pass sent Joseph Taggart through on goal and he finished well past the goalkeeper. Matt Gallagher showed good determination to go past a few defenders and send the ball between the posts, and Joseph then completed his hat-trick after catching a long ball in and shooting past the goalkeeper.
Edendork repsonded with a free, but Eamon Barrett scored Drumragh’s fifth goal approaching full-time. Another free landed for Edendork and they forced Drumragh goalkeeper Matthew O’Doherty into a fantastic save. The referee then blew the final whistle, with Drumragh safely securing their place in the next round.
SCORERS: Joseph Taggart 3-4, Matt Gallagher 0-4, Lorcan Starrs 1-0, Eamon Barrett 1-0, Niall Gormley 0-2, James Gallagher 0-2, Shea Mullin 0-2
TEAM: Matthew O’Doherty, Luke Hagan, Oisin Walsh, Tiernan O’Donnell, Tom Barrett, Matthew Barrett, James Gallagher, Shea Mullin, Joseph Taggart, Niall Burt, Matt Gallagher, Cahir Keyes, Ollie Hagan, Niall Gormley, Lorcann Starrs
SUBS: Padraig Gormley, Christopher Forde, Eamon Barrett, Ethan Montague, Conor Fyffe, Lorcan McDevitt, Sean Sloan, Paul McSorley, Connor Grimes, James Green, Conor Murray, Che Corry, James Donnelly, Mark Walsh, Ruairi Doherty, Eoghan Boyle
