UNIVERSAL GRAPHICS JUNIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP.

Sean McDermotts 1-14, Oram 0-10.

Sean McDermotts booked their place in the semi-final of the Universal Graphics Junior football championship but they were pushed all the way by a tenacious Oram in Clontibret on Friday evening last. Sean McDermotts though were never headed in the entire contest but up until the final minutes the biggest margin they enjoyed was 4 points although it has to be said that any time that Oram threatened to close the gap Sean McDermotts were always able to respond and but for a number of point-blank saves by Oram keeper Berraat Turker the margin could have been greater. That said though Oram were in this contest right up until Sean McDermotts substitute Damien Larkin found the back of the Oram net with 3 minutes of normal time remaining and Oram themselves had squandered a number of chances that could have made it a close contest. The standard of the football on offer was never top drawer but what it lacked in that regard was more than made up for by the levels of endeavour on both sides as Oram’s defensive strategy frustrated Sean McDermotts for long periods and they were forced to recycle the ball repeatedly as they probed for openings. Sean McDermotts led by 4 points at half-time with Oram getting the margin down to 2 at the end of the 3^rd quarter. 2 points separated the sides entering the final 10 minutes of normal time but Sean McDermotts were always able to keep their noses in front until veteran substitute Damien Larkin poached a brilliant goal with 3 minutes of normal time remaining to clinch the issue.

Teams and Scorers: Sean McDermotts: Ryan Connolly, Colin McElvaney, Brian McQuaid 0-1, Ryan McGuinness, Ashley Maguire, Rian McEntee, Aaron McNally, Pauric McGuirk 0-2, Niall Kearns 0-3 (2f), Mark Murphy, David McEntee 0-3, Mark McGuigan 0-1, Eamon McQuillan, Patrick Kieran 0-2, Adam O’Driscoll 0-1. Subs: Danny McNally for M Murphy, Damien Larkin 1-1 for E McQuillan, Noel Rice for A McNally.

Oram: Berraat Turker 0-2 (2f), Mattie Leonard, Niall Bishop 0-1, Gerard Keenan, Christopher McGeough, Lorcan Keenan, Darren Kavanagh, Rory Murphy, Pauric Graham 0-4 (4f), Stephen McBride, Ryan McGuinness 0-2 (1f), Danny Lynch, Mickey Mone, Daniel Forde, Stephen Irwin 0-1. Subs: Christopher McGuinness for M Leonard, John Mone for R Murphy, Sean Graham for D Kavanagh, Rory Murphy for C McGeough. Referee: Martin McGinn (Aughnamullen).