Dromina’s interest ended by impressive Dillons

Brian Dillons 1-19 Dromina 0-9

DROMINA’S interest in this year’s County JAHC came to an end at Mallow on Friday evening when they were forced to give way to a far superior Brian Dillons outfit.

Over the hour the better balanced Brian Dillons side dictated matters with Philip O’Brien, Darragh Brosnan, Tomas Lawrence, Cian McCarthy, James Feehan, Colin Lynch, Darragh Rogers and John Horgan in superb form that ensured the outcome long before the final whistle.

The opening stages saw both teams quick into the action. Dromina got proceedings underway when the hard working Brian Buckley set up David Jones for a point in the third minute.

Brian Dillons response was immediate and two John Horgan points (one from a sideline) moved them ahead. Over the next few minutes both teams were denied goal scoring chances.

Dromina were denied when David Jones by a great save by the Brian Dillon keeper Tom Triggs at the expense of a ‘65 that Jones pointed.

At the other end a good pass by Ross Murphy set up in the inrushing Darragh Rogers in the 13th minute whose effort at goal was well saved by the Dromina netminder Kevin O’Callaghan at the expense of a ‘65 that John Horgan subsequently sent over.

At this stage Brian Dillons were creating far more of the scoring chances. In the 17th minute a Dromina clearance was picked up by Cian McCarthy with the latter scoring from long range to move his side double scores in front 0-4 to 0-2.

David Jones replied with a pointed free for Dromina. Brian Dillons struck for the games only goal in their next attack when Tomas Lawrence and Darragh Rogers were heavily involved when Colin Lynch breached the Dromina defence for a well taken goal.

In the closing moments the winners continued to pile on the pressure and outscored their opponents by three points to two before the short whistle that helped them hold a 1-7 to 0-5 lead at the break.

On the changeover despite Philip O’Brien and David Jones trading an early point it was the winners that slowly built up a sizeable lead. Darragh Rogers picked off a great point before John Noonan set up Cian McCarthy for a good solo point in the 35th minute 1-10 to 0-6.

Further pressure saw Colin Lynch (2) and Cian McCarthy with minors make it 1-13 to 0-6 by the 40th minute. Dromina who were reduced to 14 players at this stage battled away.

David Jones and Ger Hayes with a point each gave them a lifeline by the 50th minute but they badly needed a goal to set up an interesting finish. However, there was no denying the Seandun outfit for the rest of the game.

They reeled off some marvellous scores before the final whistle courtesy of Colin Lynch (4) Philip O’Brien and substitute Kevin Coughlan and ran out convincing victors.

BRIAN DILLONS: T Triggs, D McCormack, K Brosnan, P O’Brien 0-2, J Noonan, D Brosnan, M White, T Lawrence, C McCarthy 0-4, K McCormack, J Feehan, R Murphy, C Lynch 1-6 (0-4f), D Rogers 0-1, J Horgan 0-5 (1s/l, 1 ‘65’). Subs: K Coughlan 0-1, for R Murphy, J Varian for D McCormack, D Coughlan for K McCormack, D Murphy for Darragh Rogers, K Varian for J Horgan.

DROMINA: K O’Callaghan, M Finn, B Bowles, B Naughton, P Burke, G Hayes 0-1, J Jordan, K Hayes, B Buckley 0-1, D Buckley, D Jones 0-7 (4f, 1 ‘65’), P Hayes, M Naughton, D O’Shaughnessy, R Morrissey. Subs: J O’Connor for B Bowles, J Delee for D O’Shaughnessy, J Finn for P Hayes, R O’Keeffe for M Naughton, C Finn for K Hayes

REFEREE: Pat O’Driscoll (Bride Rovers)