Glasdrumman reign over brave Ardglass

14 October 2015

CONNAIRE Harrison’s virtuoso display brought the Down Junior Football Championship title back to Glasdrumman for the first time since 1997.

The prolific marksman was unstoppable throughout this contest. He had done most of his damage in the first half with a haul of 1-5 while he added 1-1 in the second period.

Glasdrumman dominated this game for long periods and up until the 53rd minute they were 2-11 to 0-5 clear.

At this stage manager Emmett Devlin began to make a raft of substitutions and this upset his team’s balance. Ardglass plundered 2-2 without reply with their two majors arriving in injury time.

By the quarter hour mark Glasdrumman were 0-3 to 0-2 ahead. Both sides had hit the bar, with Niall McGovern spurning the South Down side’s chance and Owen Curran being unlucky for Ardglass at the other end.

Harrison scored two points with Raymond Clarke getting the other during the opening skirmishes.

Liam Mullan hit two converted frees in response for Ardglass.

A third Mullan set-piece momentarily levelled the match before Glasdrumman had themselves 1-5 to an Ardglass total of 0-1 in the run up to the break.

Harrison was to the fore with 1-3, his goal arriving after some fine build-up play by Raymond Magorrian. The goal provider also registered a point with Cormac Murphy converting with a free.

Christian O’Connor shot over a free for Ardglass , but five wides came their way as they looked nervous on the ball when in the final third.

The tempo of the contest dipped somewhat in the second half as Glasdrumman went 1-10 to 0-5 up after 38 minutes.

Harrison’s 47th minute goal was a thing of beauty as he soloed and dummied through the Ardglass full back line before unleashing an unstoppable top corner drive.

Niall McGovern’s minor after this seemed to wrap the game up. However, Ardglass deserve immense credit for not throwing in the towel.

With Glasdrumman struggling to adapt to a mass of personnel changes, the Ardtole men pounced.

Liam Mullan bagged a free, then pointed on the hour mark. This was the first time that Ardglass managed to score from play in the game.

Two minutes into injury time Mullan dispossessed Declan Grant to find the net before full forward David Armstrong ghosted in along the byline to slam home with what was the last action of the game.

Glasdrumman were deserved winners. Chris Cassidy and Frank O’Neill marshalled the defence with authority while Shane Harrison had some big moments at midfield.

Raymond Magorrian, Cormac Murphy and Connaire Harrison were the top exponents in an attack which was on fire throughout. Veteran Eamon McEvoy had a super game at centre half back with Stephen Rooney the best Ardglass player on the pitch at midfield.

Liam Mullan was the main threat for Ardglass up front with David Armstrong busy at full forward.

It wasn’t a classic final, but Glasdrumman lived up to their favourites tag to annex their second ever junior crown.

Ardglass were just unable to cope with the Quarter Road side on the day.

Glasdrumman: S Cunningham, C Carr, C Cassidy, F O’Neill, R Doran, A McCartan, C McDowell, C Rodgers, S Harrison, S McDowell, R Clarke (0-1), N McGovern (0-1), R Magorrian (0-1), C Murphy (0-2, 1F), C Harrison (2-6, 1F). Subs: R Clerkin, P Kelly, D McCartan, D Grant, D Joyce, S Brennan.

Ardglass: M Armstrong, SP Halpin, M Crangle, D Kearney, C O’Shea, E McEvoy, P Curran, S Rooney, C Armstrong, D Smyth, J Polley, C O’Connor (0-1, 1F), O Curran, D Armstrong (1-0), L Mullan (1-6, 5F). Subs: C Conlon, S Teggart, D Fleming.

Glasdrumman 2-11

Ardglass 2-7

DOWN JFC FINAL

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