Drumgath put Clanns to     sword to clinch title

Drumgath 3-16

Clann na Banna 0-12

DRUMGATH’S opening blitz in Pairc Esler put their Banbridge neighbours to the sword to clinch the Down Intermediate Club Championship title with an emphatic 13-point victory.

Joint captain’s Pearse McPolin and Colm Maginn lifted the WJ Farrell Cup and the win is great for the Drumgath and Rathfriland community, who last won the title in 2-13, just as Clan na Banna would have done for Banbridge had they have won.

But it was Up the Gath that was being sung from the stands and at the final whistle as the blend of youth and then the elder heads such as Maginn and Packie Downey delivering when it mattered most.

Drumgath led by nine points at the break, hitting an early purple patch with 1-06 in the first quarter with young Keelan Taylor ripping the net to give the Rathfrilanders a 1-03 to 0-01 lead.

Shea Byrne, Cathal Tumilty and Tiernan Burns scored for Drumgath, while Clan na Banna’s talisman Niall Scullion, who was well marshalled by McPolin, opened the account for the Banbridge side.

Drumgath had found their groove, as Downey, Byrne and Tumilty rattled over scores. Scullion’s point on 13 minutes cut the gap to seven points but the Drumgath had inflicted the damage and there looked not way back for Banbridge even though Malachy Magee was on target.

Drums led 1-09 to 0-03 at half-time but like the first half they came storming out for the second period and they would have instantly added a second goal but Bann keeper Michael McAllister pulled off a cracking save to deny the lively Byrne.

But it was only a brief relief because moments later big Downey ploughed his way through the heart of Clann na Banna’s defence before letting fly with a stunning shot into the roof of the net.

Drumgath led 2-09 to 0-03 and the game as home and hosed. To be fair to Clan na Banna, they kept their heads and battled back with Odhran McMullan and Donal Scullion on target but Drumgath had the answers with Matthew McConville getting on the score sheet.

And as early as 38 minutes the game was over because Man of the Match McPolin worked a bit magic to set up Downey who bagged his second and Drumgath’s third goal making it 3-11 to 0-05.

It was game over, Drumgath could afford to do their lap of honour long before the final whistle but Clann na Banna were intent on registering points with Scullion bagging five of the remaining seven points, with the Gath did just enough to keep the scoreboard ticking over and they were worthy winners.

Drumgath: Ronan Burns; Patrick Downey (2-1), Tiarnan Burns (0-1), Cathal McGivern; Ryan Byrne, Gary O'Reilly, Matthew McConville (0-1); Pearse McPolin, Colm Maginn; Cathal Tumilty (0-4), Darcy Burns, Keelan Toner (1-2); Ryan Hillen, Shea Byrne (0-6,3f), Paul Hillen

Subs: Aaron Monaghan for McConville (53’), Eoghan Travers (0-1) for Hillen (53’), Johnny McGivern for Downey (60’), Sean McCaul for Maginn (60+2’)

Clann na Banna: Michael McAlister; Dean Lennon, Barry Nelson, Odhran McMullan (0-1); Taylor Hill, Daniel Devlin, Liam Vaughan; Eoin Scullion, Malachy Magee (0-1); Niall Scullion (0-2,2f), Stephen McCavitt (0-1), Shane Haughey; Donal Scullion (0-7, 4f), Kieran Maguire, Connor Lenaghan.

Subs: Christopher Ryan for Nelson (28’), Liam Og Magennis for Hill (H-T), James McGrath for Maguire (40’), Oran Devlin for McMullan (45’), Shea Malone for Lennon (58’)

Referee: Conor Curran (RGU Downpatrick).