DOGGED DRUMHOWAN REGAIN CROWN

5 October 2012 No Comments by The Northern Standard

DRUMHOWAN 1-11
EMYVALE 3-04

By JOHN GRAHAM

ULSTER and Monaghan club junior football club champions 2008, Drumhowan are back on the provincial scene again after they held out for the narrowest of victories over Emyvale in this pulsating junior football championship final that built to a nerve tingling finish in Scotstown on Sunday last.
Overall Drumhowan were worthy winners as they battled for everything and showed the greater degree of hunger at vital times. Those qualities were seen to best effect in the final quarter after they had been rocked by two Emyvale goals within a minute midway through the second-half but they recovered to hold Emyvale scoreless for the remainder of the game while picking off three points, all from frees by man of the match Colm Lambe, to record the narrowest of victories.
For Emyvale it was a day when things just didn’t gel but their decision making at times was flawed, their handling looked nervous and their shot options not what was required.
They got off to a dream start with a goal and a point in the opening six minutes but from there to the halfway stage they found themselves on the back foot as Drumhowan dug in, defending in numbers when necessary, winning the vital break ball in midfield and then driving forward in numbers when the occasion arose with a goal by Colm Lambe helping them to a three points lead at half-time.
They went through a difficult patch after conceding the goals but recovered and then went on to hold out for victory in a nail biting finish although they did enjoy a modicum of good fortune as Emyvale squandered at least four good chances that could have at least put the issue to a replay.
Ground conditions were greasy and there was quite a strong breeze which favoured Drumhowan in the first half, but it was Emyvale who made most of the early running and opened the scoring with a point by Martin McAree in the fourth minute following good work by Darren McKernan and Robbie McHugh.
Two minutes later things looked to be going according to plan and predictions when Daniel McMahon and John Thomas Treanor came on the attack with Gavin McKernan getting a deft flick to Treanor’s centre but to put the ball into the path of Martin McAree and he gave Enda Duffy in the Drumhowan goal no chance to put Emyvale four points in front.
Darren McKernan had a chance from a free to extend their lead two minutes later but was off target with …

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