Second half proves the difference for Dromara

7 September 2022

DROMARA arrived at the Bright venue on Saturday as the favourites for this opening round fixture of the Junior Football Championship, particularly when only a couple of weeks ago they concluded their league campaign with a victory.

However, Kilclief’s confidence was also high as they had a strong finish to their league season in Division 4, finishing in third place.

The test would come in the second half for both teams as to who had the stamina to see out the game.

Dromara started the contest strongly with a mark point from Luke Savage in the first minute which was quickly followed up with a successful point from play by Paul Flynn.

Kilclief’s Fionn McFall got his team on the scoreboard through a free close to the Dromara nets which he opted to kick over the bar.

McFall converted a similar effort two minutes later after a foul on Eoin King to draw level. Dromara nodded ahead again courtesy of a Colm Kelly free but a rapid response from Kilclief resulted in King bursting the net for the opening goal, leaving goalkeeper O’Hare no chance.

Dromara kept their heads and easily got back into the game when Paul Kelly benefitted through a short pass from a free and scored his point.

He was followed up by Kieran Kelly who scored a point through good workmanship.

Kilclief’s Fionn McFall was in fine scoring style getting his third point of the game soon after but Dromara got revenge in the 18th minute, when Pat Joe Drake took his chance and fired past Kilclief’s Daniel Sharvin to score a goal.

Dromara’s Drake nearly got his team’s second goal of the game in the 24th minute, but his attempt went straight at ‘keeper Sharvin, who saved.

Kilclief’s King kicked over a free before Colm Kelly split the posts for Dromara for what was the last score before the interval. Half time: Dromara 1-7 Kilclief 1-4.

There was a similar approach by both teams in the early stages of the second half, with both giving their all.

Dromara were the first to recommence the scoring through Colm Kelly’s point, although it looked more as if he could have opted to take the chance at goal.

Soon after, a mistake from a Kilclief kick out rewarded Dromara’s Conor Burns his first point of the game.

Kilclief pulled two points back in as many minutes, with McFall getting his fourth score before Michael Shields tagged on another.

The team’s then exchanged a brace of points each with the Dromara scores coming from a Kieran Kelly free and a well taken Paul Flynn effort.

Both of Kilclief’s points came from Conall Magee frees.

Kilclief attempted to remain in touch but a silly tackle on Dromara’s Paul Kelly saw him convert his point and a second major score would follow.

A free kick close to Kilclief’s nets came in the 51st minute, with the ball skimming across the air to Dromara’s Luke Savage, who punched in to the back of the net.

Kilclief made a number of player changes, but Dromara finished off strong with a further three points to their tally.

The first half was a close encounter, but Dromara got a foothold of the game in the second and deservedly won the game.

Kilclief: D Sharvin; L Gordon, T Fitzsimons, J Shields; D Shields, S Cultra, S McGrattan; L McMullan, D Merron; F McFall, E King, C Savage; M Shields, C Shields, E Breen

Dromara: S O’Hare; S McNally, R McArdle, D McNeill; E McEvoy, B McNeill, K Martin; B McKey, P Kelly; PJ Drake, C Burns, P Flynn; K Kelly, L Savage, C Kelly.

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