JFC / Junior Cup final

Our hopes of landing some early season silverware were dashed in The Downs last Saturday evening when we were comprehensively beaten by Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall in a JFC game which 'doubled up' as the Junior Cup final.

Finea showed why they are JFC favourites by running out 2-11 to 0-9 winners. The defeat, which was our second of the campaign, was something of a reality check and leaves us needing to win at least one of our two remaining games against St. Paul's and Loughnavalley to reach the quarter-finals.

While we could have no complaints about the outcome, things would have been a lot closer if we had taken our goal chances. In the opening minutes, Fergal Fox had a shot saved and David Fennell rattled the crossbar. Nigel Scally also had a penalty saved early in the second half, while Finea's first goal was shrouded in controversy after the ball appeared to cross the sideline in the build-up. Our frustration was compounded by the fact that there was no linesman on duty at the time.

Playing with a level of intensity we hadn't encountered in any of our previous championship outings, the winners had 1-2 on the board before David Fennell eventually opened our account in the 15^th minute. Warren Maher and stand-in goalkeeper Brendan McMahon were both called upon to make last-ditch blocks before Fennell slotted his second point.

But McMahon could do nothing to keep out Finea's second goal after a slicking passing move which left us trailing by 0-3 to 2-4 at the break.

We enjoyed our best spell just after half-time when James Finnegan and Nigel Scally (free) had points and Paul Fennell was taken down for a penalty. Unfortunately, we couldn't capitalise as Scally's low shot was saved, but he did have the consolation of scoring a point from an ensuing free to reduce the deficit to five points.

We couldn't get any closer, though, as C/F/C/W asserted control thereafter, despite some good scores from David and Paul Fennell.

Team: Brendan McMahon; Colin Draper, Warren Maher, Mel Kiernan; David Marshall, Brendan Nannery, James Fox; Alan Fennell, Colm Heffernan; Dean Fitzgerald, Nigel Scally, Paul Fennell; David Fennell, Fergal Fox, Shaun Pidgeon. Subs used: James Finnegan, Keith Gorry, Simon O'Neill and Aaron McNamee.

Lotto

The numbers drawn last weekend were 13, 14, 20 and 27. Michael Egan was the only match 3 winner. Next Saturday's draw will take place in McNamara's when the jackpot will be €1,650.

Westmeath

Best of luck to Westmeath in next Saturday's All-Ireland SFC Round 4B qualifier against Mayo at Croke Park.

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