St Pauls, FonaCAB Ulster Minor Tournament semi-final
Dromintee 1-13-1-10 St Canices, Dungiven
Kevin Herron reports from Pairc Naomh Pol
DROMINTEE booked their place in the final of the FonaCAB Ulster Minor Tournament at St Paul’s with a 1-13-1-10 comeback win over 2022 winners St Canice’s Dungiven on the Shaws Road on St Stephen’s Day.
Paddy Higgins 23rd minute goal had helped the Derry side to a 1-6-0-5 lead at the break, but after extending their half time advantage within the first ten minutes of the second half, they then went 22-minutes without a score.
In the intervening period Dromintee hit 1-5 without reply, Michael O’Neill’s scuffed shot finding the net in the 48th minute to draw his side level for the first time since the 12th minute.
The Armagh natives three-point lead was whittled down to a point after back-to-back Padraig Hagan frees in added time, but late points from Oisin Byrne and Calvin Mooney booked their sides place in the final next Thursday when they will take on Clontibret.
Dromintee were first off the mark after seven minutes in the St Stephens Day clash with Diarmaid O’Rourke clipping a shot over following a patient move from his team-mates in the build-up.
Parity was restored three minutes later, a quickly taken Kevin Barry Mullan free found Paddy Higgins to swing over.
The Derry natives hit the front for the first time through a two-pointed Michael McVeigh score after Peader Pio Peoples shot came off the large post and play was recycled.
Midway through the half they extended their lead through a Sean O’Kane point, but Dromintee replied through an angled Jarleth O’Neill score.
Further points were traded through Higgins (free) and Diarmaid O’Rourke before the games opening goal arrived in the 23rd minute.
Daithi McCloskey played a neat pass into the path of Paddy Higgins and he was able to squeeze a low shot past James McBennet at the near post to move his side 1-5-0-3 in front.
In response, Fergus Toale’s high shot dropped over and Toale then turned provider for Ronan Martin to finish his sides scoring for the half- though at the other end Darragh O’Neill shot over to give his side a 1-6-0-5 lead at the interval.
Dromintee reduced arrears through a Ronan Martin point five minutes after the restart, but Kevin Barry Mullan shot over and 60-seconds later he saw a low goal bound shot blocked by the foot of James McBennett in the Dromintee goal.
A converted Padraig Haran free moved his side 1-8-0-6 ahead by the 40th minute though it would be St Canice’s last score for 22-minutes.
Dromintee’s fightback began when Calvin Mooney dropped an impressive angled shot over and Diarmaid O’Rouke did likewise from the other side, either side of the midway point in the half.
In the 48th minute parity was restored on the Shaws Road when Michael O’Neill’s attempt to shoot on the turn was scrappily deflected into the net to make it 1-8 apiece.
Trailing since the 12th minute, Dromintee took the lead for the second time after 53-minutes when Fionn Toale popped the ball over.
Toale’s score separated the sides until the hour-mark when he let fly with a two-pointed effort that dropped over the bar ahead of five additional minutes.
The 2022 winners St Canice’s ended their scoreless period through a close-range Haran free and he added another within 60-seconds to leave the bare minimum separating the sides with two minutes remaining.
Any hopes of forcing extra time were extinguished as Dromintee finished strongly with Oisin Byrne and Mooney added points in the last minute to ensure their side ran out 1-13-1-10 winners at the conclusion and booked their place in the New Year’s Day decider.
DROMINTEE: J McBennett, J O’Neill (0-1), C Dunne, D O’Rourke (0-3), Fergus Toale (0-1), T Fox, M O’Neill (1-0), C Laverty, K McArdle, C Mooney (0-2), Fionn Toale (0-3, 1×0-2pt), M Walker, R Martin (0-2), O Carnegie, O Byrne (0-1). SUBS: S Harris for K McArdle (39),
ST CANICE’S: T McCloskey, C McKenna, P O’Kane, E Og McKeever, D O’Neill (0-1), R McGilligan, D Colgan, D McCloskey, KB Mullan (0-1), M McVeigh (0-2, 1×0-2pt), P Haran (0-3f), PP Peoples, M Harkin, P Higgins (1-2, 0-1f), S O’Kane (0-1). SUBS: U McCloskey for C McKenna (HT), D McKenna for PP Peoples (HT).
REFEREE: Colm McDonald (ST GALLS)
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