Drom progress to Munster semi-final

GAA: AIB Munster Club Intermediate Football Championship Quarter-Final

Drom & Inch 1-8

Portlaw 0-6

Report: Michael Dundon in Templetuohy

A five-point win did not flatter Drom & Inch who comfortably saw off the challenge of Waterford champions Portlaw in the quarter-final of the Munster Club Intermediate Football Championship on Saturday.

The reward for this victory is a clash with Kerry champions Na Gaeil in the semi-final on Saturday week. No doubt a much more daunting task faces the Mid lads there, but they will take great heart from this performance and if their injuries are cleared up, they will give a good account of themselves.

Drom & Inch lost influential midfielder Jamie Moloney after only two minutes with a damaged hamstring, and at the start of the third quarter county man Emmett Moloney limped off with what appeared to be a damaged ankle. Both are vital to the Drom cause and will be needed in Kerry.

Portlaw went into the quarter-final minus three regulars, all out sick, and they were on the backfoot from the time David Butler got the Drom goal after sixteen minutes, finishing a slick four-man move with aplomb. That score came after the sides had finished on level terms, 0-2 each, after a lively opening quarter in which scores were at a premium.

Having the fresh breeze behind them, Drom need to get scores on the board, and Butler’s goal (he saw an earlier effort come off the woodwork) gave them the momentum they needed. They finished the half strongly with points from Jimmy Mullen (2) and John Ryan for an interval advantage of 1-5 to 0-4. It was not a big lead, but in the conditions, and with both sides opting for a possession game, it was encouraging.

Things started to go haywire for Portlaw on resuming. First their free-taker John Power had to retire injured, having scored all their first half points from frees, and generally looking a serious threat. After 37 minutes Jack Boylan got his marching orders following a second yellow card; the numerical advantage crucial to Drom as the heavy going began to take its toll on the players.

Portlaw had the elements in their favour at this stage, but they made no inroads into the Drom lead, the sides sharing two points in a poor third quarter. The Waterford side needed to raise their game in the last quarter if they were to save their Munster campaign. A double substitution energised them to a degree, but the Drom rear-guard was tight and uncompromising, and instigated attacks which saw Jimmy Mullen and Robbie Long add to their tally while conceding just a single point at the death.

Portlaw finished with thirteen players as they had Michael Donnelly sent off for a second yellow card in injury time. By then the game was beyond them, and Drom & Inch were looking forward to jousting with the Kerry champions the week-end after this.

Drom & Inch will be outsiders in the semi-final, but they will draw great encouragement from this showing. They are comfortable on the ball, energetic in their support for the player in possession, and if they can add a bit more incisiveness in front of goal, they could give the Na Gaeil lots of problems.

In this victory for hard work and doing the basics right, Drom had key figures in the Purcell’s’, Michael, the team captain, & Fintan in defence where Robbie Long’s surges forward caused Portlaw problems in the second half. John Ryan worked extremely hard at midfield, linking attack and defence, while David Butler’s quality in attack, allied to the good work of Michael Campion and Jimmy Mullen, also contributed handsomely to the win.

Scoring only one point from play, at the very end, Portlaw cannot dispute the result. They were outgunned by a better side despite the best efforts of Jack Boylan, Michael Donnelly, John Power, Jordan O’Sullivan, and James Rooney.

Player of the Match: David Butler (Drom & Inch)

Drom & Inch: Shane Hassett (6); Michael Purcell (7), Fintan Purcell (7), Colm Kinane (6); Kevin Hassett (6), Emmett Moloney (6), Robbie Long (0-1, 7); John Ryan (0-1, 7), Jamie Moloney (NR); Michael Campion (7), Seamus Callanan (6), John Campion (6); Jimmy Mullen (0-4, 3f) 6), David Butler (1-1, 8), Podge Campion (6).

Subs: Stevie Nolan (0-1, 6) for J Moloney (2 inj); Jack Lillis (6) for E Moloney (48 inj); Darragh Kennedy (NR) for Mullen (58); Eoin Collins for P Campion (58 blood).

Portlaw: Christopher Mackey (6); Jack O’Connell (6), Peter Boylan (6), Jack Behan (6); James Rooney (7), Jamie Murphy (6), Jack Boylan (7); Shane Foran (6), DJ Foran (0-1, 7); Jordan O’Sullivan (7), Michael Donnelly (0-1f, 7), John Dee (6); Peter Woods (6) Daryl Walsh (6), John Power (0-4f, 6).

Subs: Trevor Kiely (6) for Power (34); Richie Fitzpatrick (6) for S Foran (48); Eoin Galvin (6) for Walsh (48).

Referee: Donnacha O’Callaghan (Limerick)