Dromintee booked their place in the championship semi-final for the first time since 2010 with a five-point win over Mullaghbawn on Saturday evening.

The St. Patrick’s men came into the game having had an extra week off compared to their opponents as a reward for topping their group in the round-robin stages.

It was Mullaghbawn, though, that started the better of the two sides. They looked sharper in the opening twenty minutes of play, and were the more direct in front of goal. Marty McKinley opened the scoring, before Joe McCann fired over another from a tight angle.

Dromintee Goalkeeper, Dylan McGahon-Malone, continued his impressive championship form. He was called into action several times between the sticks and denied several big Mullaghbawn goal scoring chances.

He wasn’t alone in his heroics. The full back line of Crilly, Martin and McGenity all had big blocks at crucial points throughout the game. McGahon-Malone was also a factor at the other end. He kicked two two-point frees in the first half as Dromintee kept pace on the scoreboard.

Mullaghbawn’s scoring came through a hattrick of frees from Fergal O’Brien. Cormac Smyth added on two of his own. Aaron McKay kicked a two-pointer towards the end of the first half. It came at the end of a lengthy spell of possession for Dromintee. The Armagh joint-captain found himself in a world of space and converted easily.

The big moment of the game came just moments before the half time whistle. Jack McArdle slotted home the opening goal of the game to kick Dromintee into the lead as the sides swapped ends. Dromintee led at the break 1-7 to 0-8.

Their good form continued through the opening ten minutes of the second half. Cathal McKenna capitalised on a mishandled ball from Mullaghbawn keeper Liam Kilkenny and slotted the ball into the net for Dromintee’s second goal.

From there, they took control of the game. While Mullaghbawn were able to keep bring it back level on several occasions. It always felt like they were chasing it. First half substitute for Mullaghbawn Gerard McCann was sent off for a second yellow card.

Dromintee pushed on, with Diarmuid O’Rourke and Jack McArdle carrying the scoring load. Again, defensively, they were throwing their bodies in the way of everything that Mullaghbawn had to offer.

Joe McCann was able to find a way through at one stage. The Mullaghbawn man travelled from midfield to the forward line in possession, and finished cooly passed Dylan McGahon-Malone.

Shea McArdle got the third goal for Dromintee and sealed the deal in ending their 16 year wait for a semi-final berth.