Unlike the reserve game, this turned out to be a very difficult match for the seniors with Dungannon putting the home side under serious pressure throughout the first half.
The Plunkett’s started brightly kicking into the Parkview end with John Loughran registering almost immediately from the throw-in after a long break from midfield. Dungannon hit 2 on the bounce and Hugh McNamee levelled with 5 minutes played.
In the 10th minute Dungannon pointed from a free before a lapse in defence saw the visitor’s power through to find the net past the dive of Anthony McKenna low to his left. Stevie McKenna stroked over from play in the 15th minute but that was immediately cancelled out by the Clarkes on the counter.
Some way ward shooting from Pomeroy and some woeful passing from Dungannon provided spectators with a dire end to the first period and there were no scores until the 28th minute when Dungannon converted a close range point from play. It looked ominous for the Plunkett’s at this stage with Dungannon bearing down on goal but Anthony McKenna pulled off a miraculous save diving to his right to tip a fierce drive off the cross bar – unbelievable!
Half time score Pomeroy 0-3 Dungannon 1-5
Dungannon started as they left off in the first period with a point on 32 mins from a soft free. The Plunkett’s got a life line though as Ollie McCreesh was pulled down just inside the square at the Pavilion end. The Edendoit man stepped up to take the spot kick only to see in fly wide past the keeper’s right hand post. This was not looking like our day at all!
Paddy rang the changes however and the introductions of Brendy Conway and Emmet Campbell seemed to provide some fresh impetus. Brendan Cunningham moved out to centre field and Brendy Burns moved to full back. Hugh McNamee put one over with 42 mins on the clock and Dungannon immediately replied with one from play.
Then, when all looked lost, up popped McNamee to blast home a tremendous goal on the run, linking with Campbell and Loughran. It was 1-5 to 1-7 at this stage and the final 10 minutes seen the lads finally turn on the style with 5 unanswered points. Olli McCreesh was first followed by a Hugh McNamee free to bring his tally for the day to 1-3. Hugh Pat McGeary stroked over a fine point on the run from the right hand side. Finally, Stevie McKenna and Kieran McGeary wrapped up the victory with 2 late scores from play.
A hard day at the office that’s for sure but 2 points on the board is the most important thing.
Final score Pomeroy 1-9 Dungannon 1-7
Team & Scorers: Anthony McKenna, Aidan Cunningham, Brendan Cunningham, Brendan Burns, Ronan Quinn, Denver Nugent, Martin McKeever, Jarleth Quinn & John Loughran (0-1), Kevin Armstrong, Hugh McNamee (1-3), Kieran McGeary (0-1), Hugh Pat McGeary (0-1), Stevie McKenna (0-2), Ollie McCreesh (0-1). Subs: Emmet Campbell for Armstrong, Brendan Conway for Quinn.
