Tailteann Cup: Drums impress against Carnaross
February 23, 2015
Drumconrath's Stephan Crosby
Drumconrath 1-6
Carnaross 0-5
Drumconrath laid down a marker in this tough battle on a heavy pitch after the early morning down pours tested Drumconrath's drainage system to the maximum.
In the end as the rain which stopped a few hours before throw, the Referee gave the go ahead to play the game as there was no surface water on the pitch and while the ground was sticky the game was played.
Typical of games on a heavy surface this game was a real defensive battle with the slippy ball leading to many mistakes on both sides and while Jamie Myles pointed a fine point from play after 8 minutes it was the only score from play for the half with Carnaross hitting 2 free's from John L Magee and Stephan Crosby added another free to the Drumconrath tally as the sides retired locked at 0-2 apiece.
Carnaross would have felt they should have led but 6 first half wide's ensured they didn't while Drums had reason to feel they could have lead as both their 1st half wide's have looked easier to score.
As the cut began to cut up the fare improved little in the 3rd quarter as Myles pointed from play and Magee added a well struck free form near the side line.
Drumconrath won this game in a four minute spell between the 47th and 51st minutes when first of all Stephan Crosby pointed and then following good work from Damien Glass, Eoin Martin delivered a peach of a pass to Crosby who rounded a defender and the Goalkeeper to roll the ball to the empty net. Alan Byrne rthen hit a booming point from 45m to give Drums a 5 point advantage.
Dermot Magee got the visitors only score from play on 54 minutes and Crosby scored on 56 to keep the 5 point difference. John L Magee pointed an injury time free to finish the scoring.
This was the 1st of 5 meetings these clubs will have this year as they are also due to play in the Junior Championship the A & B Leagues and the Junior D Championship but today it was Drumconrath who took the spoils to progress to the Quarter Finals of this Competition
Best for Drums in a good team performance where Colm McEvoy, Peter Tighe, Stephan Crosby and the live wire Eoin Martin.
Drumconrath; Sean Kane; Colm McEvoy, Thomas Carolan, John McDermott; Damien Glass, Peter Tighe, Eoin Martin; Alan McEvoy, Jamie Myles (0-2); Tomas Conlon, Stephan Crosby (1-3), Chris Tighe; Derek Duff, Gavin Finnegan, Peter McEvoy. Subs; Alan Byrne (0-1) for Finnegan, Conor OHalloran for Conlon, Aiden Tighe for Martin and Sean McMahon for A McEvoy.
Carnaross report
Carnaross suffered Tailteann Cup elimination in the opening round following a four point defeat at a rain soaked Drumconrath.
Following a very wet morning the playing conditions were tough for both teams, but a downpour after ten minutes ensured that that the quality of football would not be from the top drawer. When the rain eased off twenty minutes in, only a point apiece had been registered with John L McGee converting for Carnaross. McGee edged Carnaross in front with another free and could have put Carnaross in the driving seat after twenty five minutes but was unlucky to see his goal attempt go the wrong side of the post. Drumconrath levelled matters with a free to leave it 0-2 each at half-time.
Both sides exchanged a point each early in the second-half with John L McGee pointing once again for Carnaross. However, there was no further score until Drumconrath pointed with twelve minutes remaining as the deteriorating conditions took their toll. Then with nine minutes remaining Drumconrath found the net in a game where a goal was always going to be a crucial score. As time ran out Carnaross did hit back with a point apiece for Dermot and John L McGee but another point from Drumconrath ensured they would hold on to advance to the next round.
Carnaross: Shane McNiffe; Stephen Dawson, Thomas Nugent, Cian Gillic; Peter Carpenter, Ian Donoghue, Tomás Plunkett; Charles Brogan, Eamonn Comaskey; Pierce Fleming, Patrick Nugent, Cillian Comaskey; Colm McDonagh, Dermot McGee (0-1), John L McGee (0-4); Subs: Cian O'Reilly for Colm McDonagh; Peter Mullan for Cillian Comaskey;
