Doire Colmcille progress after Junior Knockout victory over Drum at Celtic Park

Doire Colmcille 1-10

Drum 1-7

Doire Colmcille secured their place in the quarterfinals of the Junior Championship with a Knockout victory over Drum at Celtic Park.

In the end there were only three points between the teams, but Drum rarely looked like getting the goal they needed, despite outscoring Colmcille in the second half.

Drum were right in the game in a fairly even first half, thanks in main to James McCartney’s goal after 13 minutes. They held a 1-2, 0-4 lead heading towards half time, but the picture of the game changed completely as Colmcille finished with 1-2 in the space of three minutes. Malachy Campbell’s superb individual goal came at a crucial time and that was followed by scores from Fearghal McAnaney and Campbell again as Colmcille went in 1-6, 1-2 ahead at the break.

Michael Farren hit the first score of the second half for Drum, but that was their only score for 18 minutes as Colmcille took over. John McCorry, McAnaney, Ethan Cooper had the city side six points ahead.

A crucial moment in the game came when Colmcille goalkeeper Michael Nash made a point-blank stop from Donal Brolly.

McCartney was a real threat for Drum in the air and therein lay the best chance of any comeback from Drum, but in the final 10 minutes, good defending from Colmcille ensured there would be no encouragement for their opponents. Drum did score the last three points through McCartney, Caolan Hazlett and Padhraic Farren, but there was too much damage done and it was Colmcille who progressed.

Teams and Scorers

Doire Colmcille: Michael Nash, Conall Rooney, Eamonn Gillen (0-1), Jack Tierney, James Gillespie, Fearghal McAnaney (0-2), Braonan Walker, Phil Duffy, Niall Horner, Malachy Campbell (1-3), John McCorry (0-1), Richard Stewart, Ethan Cooper (0-2), Damian Watson, Conor Doherty (0-1, 1f).

Subs: Tiarnan McKeever HT’, Emmet McGilloway HT, Jack Tierney 44’.

Yellow: Fearghal McAnaney 57’.

Drum: Eunan O’Hara, Francis Murphy, Alex Moore, Sean O’Mordha, Kevin O’Reilly, Conor Hasson, Dean Mulhern, Damien Brolly, Michael Farren (0-1), Steven McLaughlin, James McCartney (1-1, 1 mark), Caolan Hazlett (0-2, 2f), Shane McGill, Padhraic Farren (0-3), Seamus O’Cathain.

Drum sub: Dylan Newland 48’.

Yellow: Conor Hasson 45’.

Referee: Caolan McDonald