Dromintee 1-21 Clann Eireann 1-8
Dromintee captured the Division One Minor Championship crown with a deserved 13-point victory over Clann Eireann. The St Patrick’s men built up a nine-point half time lead while both sides hit the net in the second period.
Sean Geoghegan’s major provided Clann Eireann, the defending champions, with a huge lifeline. But their revival was short lived as Fionn Toale smashed home a remarkable major to restore Dromintee’s dominant position.
Dromintee, led by 2002 All-Ireland winner Aidan O’Rourke, burst out of the traps early on in the game to charge ahead. They outscored their opponents 6-1 inside the opening 15 minutes of the encounter.
Fergus Toale expanded their advantage although his effort was cancelled out by a converted James McCooe free. Dromintee then kicked on with another scoring spree, claiming another five points on the bounce.
Fergus Toale expanded their advantage although his effort was cancelled out by a converted James McCooe free. Dromintee then kicked on with another scoring spree, claiming another five points on the bounce.
Oisin Byrne split the posts from the dead ball. Ronan Martin (one free) and Calvin Mooney stroked over two scores apiece. McCooe swapped scores with Michael O’Neill before Geoghegan pulled one back for Clann Eireann. They trailed 0-13 to 0-4 at the break.
Geoghegan bundled home a goal right after the turnaround but Dromintee hit back with three of the next four scores. Martin chipped over another placed ball while roaming wing back O’Neill raised a further two white flags.
McCooe, Ruairi and Finn Campbell did keep Clann Eireann’s end of the scoreboard ticking over to reduce the margin to six. But any hope of a comeback was shattered when Toale fired home a stunning goal for his side.
McCooe, Ruairi and Finn Campbell did keep Clann Eireann’s end of the scoreboard ticking over to reduce the margin to six. But any hope of a comeback was shattered when Toale fired home a stunning goal for his side.
Dromintee followed it up with another three scores on the bounce with Conor Laverty, Byrne (free) and Odhran Carnegie all hitting the target. Clann Eireann added to their tally through Daire Whitmarsh, who claimed their final score.
The last two scores of the evening fell the way of the champions however as they finished the game off in style. Fergus Toale slotted over a score while Byrne extended his haul with another point from a free.
