Dromtariffe and Lyre search for JAFC semi-final position

A LONE quarter-final to the E Tarrant & Sons Skoda Duhallow Junior A Football Championship brings togerther Dromtariffe and Lyre to Millstreet on this Friday evening.

Both sides parade quality in their respective line ups, gaining confidence from recent wins and who ever emerges may well have a say on the destination of the outright honour.

In the opening round, Lyre performed below par against Boherbue on struggling to make headway for much of the hour. Apart from brief spells, their play failed to create an impression against a disciplined Boberbue rearguard.

That outcome pushed Lyre into a must win against Kanturk, they did so where, there was never a doubt regarding the outcome with Lyre imposing their authority on the proceedings. Indeed a quick burst of pace yielded a trio of goals in as many minutes ensured a rampant Lyre carried too much class and scoring power.

Intent for making amends after a poor showing against Boherbue in the opening round, Lyre proved undisputed masters of this make or break tussle. The positive play of Colm Coughlan, Damien Kearney, James Twohig, Timmie Murphy and Kevin Tarrant confirmed a structure and method to the victors game with Denis Roche and David Murphy effective in attack.

Meanwhile Dromtariffe withstood a spirited Castlemagner revival in a keenly contested round 2 confrontation.

On doing so, Dromtariffe who had received a bye in the opening round, performed the business. At the end of the hour, Dromtariffe emerged deserving winners, no doubting a clear superiority in the midfield region yet Castlemagner kept the victors thinking right to the end.

The supremacy of Seamus O’Sullivan and Adam Buckley at midfield proved the difference between the sides, well supported by Conor O’Donoughue, Eanna Mernagh and Seán Howard in defence while Gearóid Murphy and Daniel O’Keeffe shone upfront.

With match winners on both sides, it makes for a fascinating contest between the neighbours on Friday. Howwever midfield may well decide the attacking platform, on the basis that Dromtariffe hold a strong input in this sector, they may better equipped to join Boherbue, Cullen and Knocknagree in the last four.