Dromara leave it late

Dromara leave it late

16 October 2013

DROMARA have Conor Burns to thank for earning them a second bite of the cherry as his 59th minute point denied Teconnaught a historic first ever JFC title.

The replay will be held at Pairc Tomas Ruiseil in Downpatrick at 4.30pm on Saturday.

Burns' score was Dromara's only effort in the second half that sailed over the bar. They amassed nine wides in this period adding to their three in the first half.

It was Gary Farrell's team who started the game with real gusto and purpose. Patrick Doyle opened his account with a free before Kieran Kelly popped over a cracker.

Teconnaught settled on eight minutes when Conan Russell put over what was arguably the best score of the game. A minute later Dromara extended their lead to two when Paul Kelly slotted a free from wide on the right.

Teconnaught were starting to gain more momentum at this stage and Russell's second from play plus a Conor Heath strike levelled the game on fourteen minutes.

Russell was in the thick of the action once again, but his shot rebounded off the post when he was clean through on goal. Shortly after this Daryl Walker cleared the ball off the Dromara line from a Shane Brennan effort.

The second quarter belonged to Dromara. Conor Burns edged his team one ahead in the 20th minute with a well taken point from play.

The darting Gavin McElroy then advanced forward and sliced over with an outside of the boot effort. Frees from Aaron Strain and Patrick Doyle rounded off the scoring as Dromara put themselves four ahead at the break.

The second half turned out to be a disappointment. Its opening sequence saw Conor Heath denied a goal after Shaun O'Hare in the Dromara goal pulled off a superb save.

Conan Russell then single-handedly dragged Teconnaught back into the game. His first four scores drew the game level while his 52nd minute free put his team ahead for the first time in the game.

However, it was Conor Burns who showed fine composure to kick the equalising point to force the replay. Best for Dromara were Fintan Kelly at full back, Vinny Lavery and Gavin McElroy in the half back line, Colm Kelly at midfield and Conor Burns in the attack.

Teconnaught had solid performers in goalkeeper John Young, Jack Bell, Darren McClements and David Kelly in defence and Conor Heath and Conan Russell in the forwards.

Dromara: S. O'Hare, D. Walker, F. Kelly, C. Malone, B. McNeill, V. Lavery, G. McElroy (0-1), E. Kelly, R. Gilmore, P. Doyle (0-2, 2F), K. Kelly (0-1), P. Kelly (0-1, 1F), C. Burns (0-2), A. Strain (0-1, 1F), C. Kelly. Subs: G. Burns, J. Fegan.

Teconnaught: J. Young, J. O'Hare, J. Larkin, J. Bell, D. Kelly, M. Hamill, D. McClements, P. Flanagan, S. Brennan, C. Carville, D. Morgan, C. Heath (0-1), C. Russell (0-7, 4F), T. Davis, C. Flanagan. Subs: P. Grant, C. Clarke.

Dromara 0-8

Teconnaught 0-8

Down JFC final