DRUMKEERIN 1-7 GLENFARNE/KILTYCLOGHER 0-10

In what was predicted to be a tight group involving three north Leitrim teams, Drumkeerin and Glenfarne/Kiltyclogher could not be separated at the end of 60 minutes in last Sunday’s opening match of group four of the Intermediate Football Championship in Ballinaglera.

The only real winner from this draw is Dromahair who both sides must now attempt to beat if they are to progress beyond the group stages of the championship and it is fair to say that both sides have a lot of work to do if that is to become a reality.

Diarmuid Clancy opened the scoring after a quick free for Glenfarne/Kiltyclogher but this was soon cancelled out as Colm Clarke, who starred for the Leitrim senior team this year, struck for the opening goal of the game.

Clarke received an excellent pass form John Cullen, who played such an important role in Drumkeerin’s run to last year’s final and he slotted the ball in to the bottom corner of the net.

With the game just four minutes old, Glenfarne/Kiltyclogher responded with a Fergal Clancy point to leave just a point between the sides.

Glenfarne/Kiltyclogher had a sniff of the Drumkeerin goal but Drumkeerin goalkeeper, Conor Woods did well to divert the danger but within a minute they had the consolation of an equalising point as Padraig Sweeney fisted the ball over the bar.

Sweeney then gave his side the lead when he pointed from play.

Drumkeerin’s first point of the game arrived in the 11th minute when Clarke won the ball in the middle of the pitch from a kickout and John Cullen subsequently pointed.

The strong wind seemed to be affecting both sides as 10 minutes elapsed before either side managed to register a score. During that team both sides struck several wides.

It was Padraig Sweeney who put an end to the succession of wides when he pointed from play although that lead didn’t last long as Drumkeerin’s Darragh Flynn converted a free.

That proved to be the final score of the half as the sides left the field level at 1-2 to 0-5 at the interval.

Both sides exchanged points within the opening minute of the second half as Padraig Sweeney pointed for Glenfarne/Kiltyclogher and Darragh Flynn beat his man before pointing for Drumkeerin.

The tit for tat nature of the contest continued as Declan Sweeney and Darragh Flynn pointed for their respective sides to ensure parity was maintained.

After a good start to the half from both sides, a further nine minutes elapsed before the next score arrived as Declan Sweeney scored his second point of the game.

With the game approaching the final 10 minutes Drumkeerin’s James McPartland struck with a point from play to level the sides yet again and with eight minutes remaining substitute Gabriel Flynn struck to put Drumkeerin ahead by the narrowest of margins.

That lead was doubled with just two minutes remaining when John Cullen converted a free and it was beginning to look like Drumkeerin would get their campaign off to a winning start.

However, Glenfarne/Kiltyclogher had other ideas and in the final minute Michael Maguire reduced the deficit to a solitary point when he converted a 13 meter free and with two minutes of injury time played Diarmuid Clancy levelled matter with a point from play.

Defeat in your opening game tends to make qualification extremely difficult and both sides will be pleased not to have got off to a losing start. However, both sides will be all to aware of the importance of victory when they face the other side in the group, Dromahair.

Drumkeerin
Conor Woods, Fintan Harvey, Damien McPadden, Brendan McNama, Andy Feeney, Jason Byrne, Stephen Feeney, Richard McTiernan, James McPartland, Daniel McSharry, Colm Clarke, Keith Gallagher, Darragh Flynn, John Cullen, Steven Gilhooley. Aidan Dolan for Gilhooley (HT), Gabriel Flynn for A Feeney (41 mins)

Glenfarne/Kiltyclogher
Daragh Keaney, Sean McManus, Sean McLoughlin, Stephen Sweeney, John Sheerin, Conor O’Rourke, Johnathan Keaney, Michael Maguire, Barry McDermott, Fergal Clancy, JJ McDermott, Declan Sweeney, Padraig Sweeney, Enda Gallagher, Diarmuid Clancy. Declan Sweeney for Keaney (59 mins).

Referee: Seamus Mulhern

(c) Leitrim Observer 2009