Denn through to the Ulster final with gutsy display

Ulster Club JFC semi-final

Denn 2-7

Desertmartin (Derry) 1-9

Denn are the pride of the county as they reached the Ulster Junior club final thanks to a gutsy and smart display against Desertmartin from Derry on Saturday in Clones. The Derrymen entered the semi-final with a super defensive record, having conceded only seven points against Donagh in the semi-final and an average of four points per game before that this season.

For Denn, facing a well drilled and packed defense was nothing new as they got the better of a hardworking Drung side in the county final and an all-out blanket from Antrim’s St Comhgall’s in the Ulster quarter-final. The key was taking the right shot at the right time and Denn simply did that better.

Desertmartin will look back on Saturday’s game and immediately point to their 14 wides and four dropped short as to why they lost but pressure had a big part to play in those missed chances. Denn being offered Tomas Corr as a sweeper worked in their favour as the former county senior intercepted a lot of ball and generally was a deterrent when Desertmartin looked to get into the scoring zone.

Man of the Match Cavell Keogan opened the scoring in the first minute was a simple gather, turn and kick over the bar with his left foot from 20 metres. When Sean Donohoe was brought down after a solo run, Thomas Edward Donohoe sent over the resulting free to double the Denn lead after seven minutes.

All-Ireland minor winner with Derry in 2020 Lachlan Murray got Desertmartin off the mark on the 10th minute with what was to be the final score until the water break. Both sides had set out their stall to defend in numbers but Desertmartin started a bit more trigger-happy as they racked up five wides in the opening quarter.

On the resumption of play, Caolain McCabe spotted a gap in the Desertmartin defense and with pure pace he burst into the scoring zone and tapped over comfortably. Paul McCrystal replied a minute later as the Desertmartin half-back line began to show their attacking talent.

Cavell Keogan tapped over a 13-metre free after a super solo run by Leon Cobey saw him draw in a foul from what looked like a nothing situation. After Gavin McGreevy sent over a free, Keogan kept the scoreboard ticking over for Denn with his third point of the game leaving Denn two to the good.

With two minutes to go to half-time, the Desertmartin half-back line struck again. Ryan Henry spotted Eunan McElhennon’s run in behind the Denn full-back line and perfectly weighted his kick pass to draw Mark Fegan off his line. As McElhennon gathered, he had a split second to react and he perfectly dinked the ball over Fegan’s head with the outside of his left boot to find the back of the net.

Holding a single point lead at the half-time break, Desertmartin soon doubled their advantage as once again McGreevy converted a free after a foul on Murray. Denn’s response was swift and lethal as they trailed for a total of just eight minutes either side of the break.

A foul on Brandon Keogan 35 metres out could have been left down and sent over the bar but Brandon’s quick thinking saw him deliver the ball to Mark McSherry in front of the Desertmartin goal. McSherry’s shot was well saved by the out-rushing Aidy McGuigan but the rebound fell to Ben Conaty who side-stepped and blasted to the back of the net.

A Lachlan Murray free leveled the sides with only five second-half minutes played. On the 13th minut,e a vital turn over by Conor O’Reilly resulted in Cavell Keogan’s fourth point as Denn edged ahead. The tit for tat nature of the game continued as Lachlan Murray sailed over a super long-range point from 46 metres to level the match at the second water break.

All scores are important but with the closeness of this contest, a goal in the final quarter proved crucial. With 11 minutes remaining in ordinary time, Cavell Keogan’s shot dropped short into the Desertmartin box where brother Brandon was lurking and he punched the ball to the back of the net, giving Denn a three-point lead.

Three minutes later after Conaty created an overlap, Cavell Keogan dropped his fifth point of the day over the bar. Now it was up to Desertmartin to go for the game as they abandoned Gregory McGovern as sweeper.

Denn, with big numbers back to protect their lead, forced Desertmartin to shot from outside the scoring zone which resulted in four final-quarter wides and two dropped short. One long range effort from outside the 45 by wing back Paul McCrystal went over the bar, leaving the score 2-7 to 1-7.

Substitute Oran Kelly sent over a point on his left foot to leave two between the sides heading into the four allotted minutes of injury time. Denn held the ball to frustrate their opponents, resulting in a black card for Paul McCrystal after a late tackle on Conaty.

With less than two injury-time minutes remaining, Desertmartin centre back Dermot Breen pointed to ensure a nailbiting finish. Possession was key from the next kick-out and Denn gathered the ball but referee Kevin Faloon continued play after Denn lost it, giving Desertmartin one last chance.

After a long range effort was dropped into the Denn square and gathered by a Denn defender the final whistle sounded much to the relief of the loyal large Denn crowd.

A brief altercation after the final whistle was quickly dispersed but Denn goalkeeper Mark Fegan was singled out and shown a red card which may see him miss next Sunday’s final. Denn’s opponents will be the Donegal champions Downings who bettered Sean McDermotts from Monaghan in the other semi-final in a score line 1-9 to 0-8.

Denn: Mark Fegan, Leon Cobey, Tomás Corr, Micheal Gaffney, Caolain McCabe (0-1), Oisin Kiernan, James Brady, Conor O’Reilly, Bernard Gaffney, Mark McSherry, Cavell Keogan (0-5,1f), Sean Donohoe, Thomas Edward Donohoe (0-1f), Ben Conaty (1-0), Brandon Keogan (1-0)

Subs: Colin Kiernan for B Keogan, Eoin Reilly for C O’Reilly.

Desertmartin: Aidy McGuigan, Conor Shiels, Conor Monaghan, Paul McGovern, Eunan McElhennon (1-0), Dermot Breen (0-1), Paul McCrystal (0-2), Ryan McGuckin, Gavin Donnelly, Aidy Trainor, Ryan Henry, Ryan McEldowney, Gavin McGreevy (0-2f), Lachlan Murray (0-3,1f), Gregory McGovern

Subs: Oran Kelly (0-1) for R Henry, Declan Murray for A Trainor.