Aghadrumsee 2-12 Brookeborough 2-07

Aghadrumsee enjoyed the better of the exchanges in the second half as they saw off Brookeborough to set up a semi-final encounter with Newtownbutler in the Junior Championship.

A tight first half had the sides level at 2-06 apiece but the Magpies took control in the second half against a Heber McMahons side who finished with 13 players to come away with a five point victory.

Aghadrumsee forward Eddie Courtney expected a tough game against Brookeborough but he acknowledges that they will have to show an improvement if they are to get past Newtown.

“It was nothing less than we expected going into the game, we knew exactly what Brookeborough were going to bring so we would be happy enough just to get over that hurdle. We just stuck with it and started to tag on a few scores in the second half.

“I suppose they lost two men late on as well which probably left us a bit more comfortable in the last 10 minutes.

“All that mattered was getting a result and getting over the line.

“But I think we are under no illusions that it’ll take a lot more from ourselves to overcome Newtown,” said Courtney.

Brookeborough manager Barry McKenna was happy enough with his side’s display and felt that Aghadrumsee’s greater experience told.

“It was a good performance,” said McKenna. “Probably what swung it in Aghadrumsee’s favour was the black card for Dylan Bogue just before half-time but we definitely stepped up and showed we could compete. Aghadrumsee’s experience probably got them over the line.

“The boys battled hard and I could not have asked for any more of them,” he added.

Aghadrumsee started brightly with scores coming from Courtney and John Joe Strain but Brookeborough then enjoyed a good spell with Aidan Boyle landing two points and Patrick Boyle also on target to put them into a 0-03 to 0-02 lead.

Indeed, it got even better for them in the tenth minute when Oisin Howell played in Damien Curran and he slotted to the net to put them four up, 1-03 to 0-02.

Aghadrumsee responded well though with Dale Crudden pointing before Courtney sent Strain through on goal and he fired to the net to level up matters.

It remained well contested as Courtney and Tommy O’Hara registered points for Aghadrumsee while Joe Corcoran drilled over a ‘45 for Brookeborough to leave one in it.

Brookeborough edged back ahead when Aidan Boyle accounted for their second goal although Aghadrumsee hit straight back through Dale Crudden who netted to make it 2-05 to 2-04.

It remained close over the remainder of the half as points from goalkeeper Cocoran and Dylan Bogue were answered by a Courtney point to leave it 2-06 apiece at the interval.

The Heber McMahons started the second half with 14 men after Bogue was black carded late in the half and Aghadrumsee took full advantage to open up a gap between the sides. Courtney, Strain and Enda McCabe tagged on points to make it 2-10 to 2-06.

Aidan Boyle did pull a point back for Brookeborough but this was their only score of the second half and as they game moved into the final quarter they lost Corcoran to a red card.

Darren Kearns and Aidan Bannon then knocked over scores for Aghadrumsee to put the game to bed with Brookeborough finishing with 13 men after Oisin Howell received a late second yellow card.