Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship

Clones 2-15 Aghabog 1-12                                        14/7/12

Clones got their JFC campaign back on track with a deserved six-point win over Aghabog in Scotstown on Sunday. Clones had been on the wrong end of a shock result against Oram in their last championship outing, but they were determined to avoid the same fate here and a dominant first-half performance set the foundation for a comfortable progression to the quarter-final stage. David Freeman was the star of the show, scoring 1-7, while Fintan Kelly, Darragh Holland, Paul Shiels and Darragh Graham also played key roles, in spite of the best efforts of Seán O’Brien, Gary McBride and Pauric McPhillips for Aghabog.

Clones quickly took charge with an early goal and a point by David Freeman and even though Seán O’Brien got Aghabog off the mark, points by Freeman and Darragh Holland opened up a five-point gap. Packie McCarville fired to the net to move Clones eight clear, before points by Gary McBride (free) and John McCrohan for Aghabog were cancelled out by efforts from play by McCarville and Sarto Quigley and a well-struck ’45 by Freeman. A somewhat fortunate goal for Ciarán Logue and a brace of frees by Gary McBride kept Aghabog in contention, but points by Holland and Ciarán and Fintan Kelly had Clones ahead by 2-9 to 1-5 at half-time.

Aghabog showed some spirit at the start of the second half with four points in the first seven minutes. Damien Smyth and Gregory Treanor kicked a point from play each, while Seán O’Brien and McBride converted frees for fouls on Seán and Paddy O’Brien. A foul on Fintan Kelly allowed David Freeman to lift the pressure by sending a free over at the other end, before Darragh Holland linked up with Quigley to kick the score of the match. Points by Darragh Graham and Freeman firmly regained control for Clones, although Seán O’Brien replied with a well-taken score. A Fintan Kelly point was soon followed by a 30-metre free by Freeman, after a foul on Paul Shiels and despite Clones not scoring in the final ten minutes, there was never going to be a comeback from Aghabog by that stage. The losers did manage a couple of late scores, when a long-range free from Damian Smyth evaded everyone and bounced over the bar, before substitute Paddy O’Flanagan saw his quickly-taken shot tipped over the bar by Damien McGorman in the Clones goals. Clones now join Killeevan, Éire Óg and Blackhill in the draw for the next round of losers’ group games.

Clones: D McGorman; E Holland, P Shiels, P Connolly; D Graham (0-1), M Treanor, C Kelly; F Kelly (0-2), D Rooney; P McCarville (1-1), A Alford (Capt.), S Quigley (0-1); David Freeman (1-7, 0-3f, 0-1 ‘45), E McEntee, D Holland (0-3).

Subs: E Audley for McEntee (44 mins), G Foy for McCarville (48), F Cunningham for Quigley (50), J Gibson for Connolly (58).

Aghabog: S McBride; S Greenan, P McPhillips, S Brady (Capt.); P McCabe, Damian Smyth (0-2, 1f), M Fox; A Brady, G McBride (0-4f); C Logue (1-0), Seán O’Brien (0-3, 1f), J McCrohan (0-1); Dermot Smyth, P O’Brien, G Treanor (0-1).

Subs: J Mullen for Greenan (21), F Dolan for Logue (51), D Kelly for Fox (53), P O’Flanagan (0-1f) for P O’Brien, L Kelly for Treanor (59).

Temporary sub: L Kelly for A Brady (47-49).

Referee: M Conlon (Castleblayney).