Drumragh……….0-25 | Aghaloo……….2-13
Drumragh senior men are one game away from intermediate football after a thrilling extra-time play-off win over Aghaloo on Saturday.
Drumragh were excellent in the opening 30 minutes and had established a 0-11 to 0-1 lead. Eoin Montgomery was on target seven times in the first half, including two excellent scores from play. Benny Drumm, Niall McCarney, Shane Devine and Ben Monk also scored good points in the opening period.
However, Aghaloo brought themselves back into the game with a quick 1-3 in first half injury time.
Drumragh’s captain Eoin Montgomery with the Aghaloo captain and referee ahead of the play-off game in Killyclogher
Aghaloo took control of the game throughout the first 20 minutes of the second half. They scored 1-5 in this time to take the lead, with Alex McGlinchey responsible for Drumragh’s only score.
But Drumragh responded well to this and came storming back. Niall McCarney collected Aaron Montgomery’s pass and kicked a great point, Oran Devlin sent the ball over the bar, and Eoin Montgomery brought the teams level with a free.
Two quickfire scores from Aghaloo gave them the lead again as the game went into injury time. But Drumragh showed plenty of determination and refused to accept defeat. Martin Taggart caught a long pass in and drilled the ball over the bar leaving it a one-point game. Drumragh had one last attack, and when Oran Devlin was fouled, Niall McCarney held his nerve to convert a difficult free and send the game into extra-time.
In extra-time, Drumragh controlled the game. Eoin Montgomery put them in front, with Barry Fitzgerald doubling the lead when Eoin McGread set him up. Aghaloo kicked a free, but Oran Devlin had the final say of the half to restore Drumragh’s two-point lead.
Martin Taggart got the scoring underway in the second half with a point and Eoin Montgomery followed that up with another after Niall McCarney’s pass had found him in space. Aghaloo were on target, but a point from play by Aaron Montgomery and two frees from Martin Taggart – including one brilliant effort from out near the sideline – secured Drumragh’s progress to the play-off final.
Drumragh’s Niall McCarney on the attack during Saturday’s game
