New blood is the key for Drumconrath
November 27, 2010It's extraordinary how the fortunes of a club can change so dramatically in a short space of time. After all, it's only four years ago that Drumconrath contested the intermediate final where they lost to Rathkenny, but just three seasons later they were heading for the junior ranks after losing to Castletown in the relegation shootout.
They fielded a much changed team containing a lot of young players last year and going into this year's campaign they also had to come to terms with the loss of players like Stephen Crosbie and Jamie Myles to emigration. In the circumstances it was hardly a surprise that a generally inexperienced team endured a very difficult time in both championship and league.
Their coach for 2010 was Ronan McGahan, with Thomas Dardis and Steve Elebert acting as selectors, and they were drawn in group B for their first year back in the junior championship, a section which also included three of the more fancied teams for the title in Drumbaragh, Ballinabrackey and Ratoath.
Also in the mix were Curraha and Wolfe Tones' second string and it was against the Curraha men that they opened their campaign at Simonstown where they lost by 1-8 to 1-13 on a day when three players were sent off by referee Tom Lorton. Drumconrath's Ollie McMahon departed a minute before half-time, Curraha's Phelim Dowling followed him seven minutes into the second period and McGahan's men were down to 13 when Alan Byrne saw red near the end.
Drumconrath goalkeeper Sean Kane made a fine save from a Neil Shortall penalty in the first half, but Curraha still led by 1-6 to 0-4 at the interval, by which stage Chris Tighe, Terry Skelly, Leighton Irwin and Byrne had been on target with points for the losers.
Curraha were in front by 1-8 to 0-7 at the three-quarter stage, but the influential Derek Duff gave Drumconrath renewed hope when he found the net seven minutes from the end. However, with the dismissal of Byrne Curraha pushed away and were five points to the good at the final whistle.
Right corner forward Duff was Drumconrath's leading scorer with a goal and two points, Irwin was on target with three frees and Skelly, Tighe and Byrne contributed a point each to complete their tally, but they just weren't sufficient and it certainly hadn't been the start to the championship that Drumconrath wanted.
Carlanstown was the venue for a second round meeting with Wolfe Tones' second team and it was all to play for when Tones led by just two points at the interval. The key score in this match came in the second half when a defensive error enabled Ciaran McLoughlin to goal and despite the best efforts of Skelly Drumconrath couldn't recover.
Former Meath senior panelist Skelly contributed four points and Irwin did even better with five, but the 0-10 to 1-13 defeat meant Drumconrath were struggling to avoid falling into the relegation mire with extremely challenging fixtures still to come in the group against ever-improving Ballinabrackey, Drumbaragh and Ratoath.
When a third successive defeat came at Athboy against high flying Ballinabrackey who won by seven points (1-12 to 1-5) the alarm bells were really sounding and it got a great deal more serious in the fourth round when Drumbaragh inflicted a severe beating on a 3-16 to 0-4 score line at Carnaross.
Drumconrath granted a walk over to Ratoath in the last round of group fixtures at a time when Ratoath were out of contention for a quarter-final place and McGahan's team was certain to finish at the foot of the section.
When all was said and done in group B Ballinabrackey and Drumbaragh filled the top two positions on nine points from a possible 10 and advanced to the last eight. Ratoath finished third on five points, Curraha were on four, Wolfe Tones were on three and Drumconrath were tailed off with nothing to show for their efforts.
Gaeil Colmcille, Slane and Boardsmill were the other teams to fill basement positions in the groups and in normal circumstances would have gone into the relegation equation. Drumconrath were due to meet Slane and Boardsmill were scheduled to play the Kells men, but the decision of the 'Mill to seek regarding down to the Junior B ranks meant that no survival action was required.
Drumconrath were enduring such a difficult time that it was probably just as well, but the hope has to be that this campaign, troubled as it proved to be, will help to bring on the younger players who they will depend on to inspire more productive campaigns in the near future.
Steve Elebert is originally from Dublin, but he has been living in Drumconrath for a number of years. He was a junior selector with the club this year and firmly believes that patience is the key to the future of the team.
"We have been badly hit by emigration and we have a lot of kids coming through," he said as he reflected on the campaign. "We could be fine in three or four years time, but you just have to be patient in situations like this. These things go in cycles. The reality is that a club could have a great team now and be weak in nine or 10 years time. We have small numbers here, a small population.
"There have also been a lot of young lads away at college. It means you have small numbers at training and you really need them all there. But I have to say that the attitude among the players has been really good. We have been unlucky in games as well. We tended to fall away in the last 10 or 15 minutes.
"We are also lacking a bit of strength, but that's always going to happen when you are fielding so many young lads. They have to build up their strength and that takes time. It doesn't just happen overnight. They can't compete against seasoned players."
Curraha were one of the other teams in the group not to make it through to the knockout stages of the championship and before the commencement of the competition Drumconrath's opening round game against Pat Coyle's side might well have been one that they were tempted to think could bring a winning start.
However, that wasn't the case and when they lost by five points at Simonstown it set in motion a campaign which got more difficult as it progressed.
"We were on the slippery slope after losing the first championship game against Curraha," Steve added. "The two lads who were sent off were key players. We gave away a soft goal in the second half when we were beaten by Wolfe Tones."
With no points in the bag from their opening two group matches the signs were looking ominous for Drumconrath and looming large on the horizon was a Ballinabrackey team which was shaping extremely well. This match brought a third successive group defeat and at that time must have left the club dreading to even think about the possibility that they might have to endure a second successive championship relegation.
"I thought Ballinabrackey looked like a very good team when they beat us," Steve said. "We just weren't good enough against them. We suffered a few hammerings after that, including against Drumbaragh in the championship. There was no need to play the last game against Ratoath. It just petered out after that."
It represented a disappointing campaign, but it has to be appreciated that Drumconrath are planning very much with the future in mind. With so many talented young players in their ranks there appears to be every possibility that they will have good years in the not too distant future, but the reality is that it will take time.
"We were in the intermediate championship final only four years ago, but half of that team were over 30," Steve added. "They have retired. Four or five others have gone to Australia. They must have some team over there! A lot of good players went away when they were in their prime and they are difficult to replace.
"We are playing 17 and 18 year-olds. I would be hopeful for the future, but it will take time. Patience is the key."
Drumconrath last won the junior championship title in 1996 with a memorable final victory over neighbours and great rivals Meath Hill, making up for the awful disappointment of losing the final the previous year to Duleek. Their aim over the next few years will be to continue to develop a young team which is capable of challenging for the title again. Their progress will be monitored with interest.
Dardis remaining optimistic
Thomas Dardis has been a Drumconrath selector for the last three years and while it upsets him to see the team struggle like they are at the moment, he remains optimistic about the future.
"I love my club," he said. "It kills me when things aren't going well."
With the Celtic Tiger a thing of the past many clubs are struggling with numbers and Drumconrath have been particularly badly hit in that regard.
"Emigration has been a big factor," he added. "Larry Fay, Jamie Myles, Stephen Crosbie and Kevin Dardis all went away. We have a huge amount of young lads who had to make the step up this year.
"They tried their very best, but they are green and it takes time for them to strengthen up.
They had big boots to fill so early in their playing careers. A lot of them are only 17 and 18 years of age. When you meet experienced teams and you are fielding a lot of young players you will struggle against more mature lads. The young players are respectful of the older lads."
The Junior Championship and Division 3 of the A League brought no joy for Drumconrath in 2010 as they suffered a succession of defeats.
"We lost a lot of games and that's damaging," Thomas said. "Success breeds success. It was a big job to try to lift heads this year. That happens when you are getting beaten so often. But I believe that we are not as bad as our results might suggest. For instance, against Nobber in the league they only pulled away from us late in the game and they went on and won the intermediate championship.
"It was similar against Ballinabrackey in the championship. They later won it out. The loss of so many lads had a big impact. They were leaders on the field and if they were there now they would lift the younger players.
"But we have to look forward. I would always be optimistic. We want to see an improvement next year. I want to see us winning a few games. I believe we could reach the knockout stages. We need to convince the younger lads that they are better than they think they are.
"I have been watching them playing football since they were kids. I know how good they are. If the lads we have stay at it I believe we could challenge for honours in three years time."
MFC Shield: Drumconrath/Meath Hill take Div 3 spoils
The minor footballers' from Drumconrath and Meath Hill showed their Adult counterparts on the way to go with this Final victory in Trim, as they saw off Walterstown by 1-12 to 0-11.
This display gave both clubs great hope for the future and this underage success is the first Minor Competition win in many a long year and all the sweeter as Niall Martin, Daniel Myles and Shane McCabe where unavailable for this game as efforts to move the game back 24 hours where unsuccessful.
The Red and Blue were first out of the blocks with a Jack Corscadden point and where unlucky in their very first attack when a slick move seen Brendan Lyons through on goal but a last ditch tackle seen the ball go wide and calls for a penalty where waved away by referee Brendan Darby who had a good game.
Walterstown took over in the middle third of the field and the North Meath defence was under serious pressure as Robbie McDonnell and Cormac Madden where given an endless supply of good ball as Walterstown reeled off five points in a row a number of them well struck frees from Madden as the North Meath lads backs creaked under pressure indeed Darby again waved away penalty appeals this time from Walterstown during this time of onslaught.
David O'Halloran was called ashore after 10 minutes as the hamstring injury he picked up in the semi Final just six days earlier reoccurred but his replacement Eoin Martin went on to play a starring role in an unfamiliar position of right half back.
A couple of missed frees from Drumconrath/Meath led to concern but Dara McGrath and Jamie Byrne pointed and with Tommie Rooney taking over in the middle of the park the Red and Blue came more into the game. Walterstown still proving a threat pointed twice but a well worked goal when Conor Martin cleverly found Corscadden on the edge of the box and he flicked the ball to the net beating both his marker and the goalie to the punch.
Walterstown responded well with a neat point but Drumconrath/Meath Hill finished well with their outstanding player Brendan Lyons and Tommie Rooney pointing just before the break to see the team retire level 1-5 to 0-8.
Walterstown came out all guns blazing and pointed within a minute of the restart but with the Drumconrath/Meath Hill defence tightening up Patrick Dunne and Keith McConnon in particular and Pierce McGrath really coming into his own and giving Rooney good support at midfield the North Meath lads went about winning the game.
Three Pierce McGrath points (two frees) pushed them ahead and when Lyons and Dara McGrath pointed there was four points in it at the three quarter stage as Drumconrath/Meath Hill where down to 12 players for the last 12 minutes.
Lyons worked tirelessly along with McGrath and Rooney and Dara McGrath pointed twice in quick succession but Walterstown came more into the game and two points from the Blacks narrowed the gap to a goal as it looked like the extra man might tell. Fresh legs in Ian Malone and Niall Yorke where introduced and Malone in his first touch showed a clean pair of heels and notched a rallying point. After that Drumconrath/Meath Hill closed up shop and defended well to see the game out.
Drumconrath/Meath Hill - Conor O'Halloran; Patrick Dunne, David O'Halloran; David Hickey, Keith McConnon, Alan McEvoy; Tommie Rooney (0-1), Pierse McGrath (0-3); Jamie Byrne (0-1), Jack Corscadden (1-1), Brendan Lyons (0-2); Dara McGrath (0-3), Conor Martin. Subs Eoin Martin for D O'Halloran, Ian Malone (0-1) for D McGrath and Niall Yorke for Hickey.
U16 final: Division 5 title for North Meath Gaels
After a close first half North Meath Gaels pulled away to dispose of a stubborn Moynalty challenge in the U16 Division 5 FL final, 4-17 to 2-6.
North Meath started in whirlwind fashion and had three points in the first three minutes from Daniel Myles and Shane McCabe (2) but Moynalty responded well and where awarded a penalty on 7 minutes which was expertly converted by Kevin Maguire. Moynalty went on to dominate the next 15 minutes and had a five point advantage when a loose ball was pulled on and ended up in the North Meath net.
Indeed two good saves by Conor O'Halloran ensured that the Moynalty lead was only five points as the half came to a close 2-5 to 0-6 with Myles and Tomas Conlon (2) pointed for North Meath on break away attacks.
Patrick Farrelly narrowed the gap to four points and when Ian Malone netted on the second attempt after the Moynalty keeper Jonathon Lynch parried his first shot the gap was down to a single point. North Meath won the kick out and Conlon pointed from 35 meters to leave the sides level at the break 1-8 to 2-5.
Again North Meath started the second half as they did the first with Myles and Malone pointing and when Malone finished a good move when powering to the net on 38 minutes things looked good for North Meath. Soon after Patrick Farrelly also goaled and further points from Myles (3), Malone (2), Conlon and Farrelly put the game well beyond Moynalty's reach as a cheeky 13 meter McCabe free caught them off guard and ended nestling in the corner of the net. Moynalty did manage a pointed free but had no answer to North Meath's second half onslaught.
Thomas McGrath, Padraig Carolan, Adam Farrelly, Jonathon Finnegan along with the scorers played really well for North Meath as co captains Daniel Myles, Thomas McGrath and Niall Yorke received the Trophy from Coiste Fe 18 PRO Ultan Fitzpatrick.
North Meath Gaels - Conor O'Halloran; Edward Cassidy, Padraig Carolan; Niall Yorke, Thomas McGrath, Adam Farrelly; Jonathon Finnegan, Daniel Myles (0-6); Ian Malone (2-3), Michael Finnegan, Shane McCabe (1-2); Patrick Farrelly (1-2), Tomas Conlon (0-4). Subs; Colm McEvoy for Cassidy, Luke Doran For M Finnegan, Aaron Farrelly for Conlon, Dylan Boyle for McCabe and Conor Kieran for P Farrelly
U14: North Meath Gaels land
Div 6KO trophy
The Drumconrath/Meath Hill Kilmainhamwood combination gained their first piece of silverware when deservedly beating neighbours Syddan, 5-6 to 2-12, in a thrilling encounter at Castletown watched by a good crowd of passionate GAA people from all four clubs.
Syddan started well and led 0-4 to 0-1 after 10 minutes with Dara Rowe scoring all Syddan points and indeed he went on to score 1-11 of the 2-12 of the Syddan boys total. Colm McEvoy pointed the North Meath Gaels point from a free.
The Gaels came more into the game with points from Kevin Carolan, Conor Kieran and livewire Paul Carolan but still trailed 0-6 to 0-4 after 20 minutes with Rowe looking like he would win the game on his own for Syddan.
Conor Kieran put North Meath ahead with a good goal and from that on they were never headed as soon after Ryan Owens hit 1-1 the goal after a great run through the Syddan defence. A third goal from Paul Carolan left the score at 3-5 to 0-8 at the break.
Owens continued where he left off and pointed early in the second half and although North Meath had the majority of the possession lots of wides and balls dropped short into the Syddan 'Keeper hands gave Syddan hope and two points from Rowe plus a good individual goal from him narrowed the gap to 3-6 to 1-10 at the three quarter stage. Paul Carolan belittled his stature and reacted quickest and fisted the ball to the Syddan net almost immediately to cancel out that goal and lift the combination teams spirits to give them confidence to push for victory.
North Meath continued to waste possession but Stephan Shields was keeping better tabs on Rowe and while Syddan did get a second goal James Mooney eventually put an end to the Gaels wastefulness by finding the net on 55 minutes. Two late Rowe points from frees narrowed the gap to a single score but North Meath held on and have Captain Dominic Yorke to thank as he made three superb saves to deny Syddan further goals in that second half.
Yorke was well supported by Brendan Crosbie, Stephan Shields, Ryan Owens, Colm McEvoy, James Mooney and Paul Carolan while Conor Marry, Kevin Carolan, Conor Kieran and subs John Duff and Robert McEntaggert also had their moments as on the night the better all round team won out as Sean Clare gave best support to Rowe for Syddan.
Youth Officer Peter O'Halloran on behalf of the Juvenile Board presented the Cup to a proud captain Dominic Yorke.
North Meath Gaels - Dominic Yorke; Conor Marry, Brendan Crosbie; Matthew Carolan, Stephan Shields, Martin Shields; Ryan Owens (1-2), Colm McEvoy (0-1); Conor Kieran (1-1), James Mooney (1-0), Kevin Carolan (0-1); Sean Gargan, Paul Carolan (2-1). Subs; John Duff for Gargan and Robert McEntaggert for Kevin Carolan
U17: Drum/Meath Hill take silverware
Great spirit and determination was shown by both these neighbours as some excellent passages of play where on view for the good sighted in foggy Castletown at the tail end of 2009, as Drumconrath Meath Hill defeated Nobber by 1-8 to 0-6.
Nobber open well with two points, the second of which crashed off the crossbar before going over.
Drumconrath/Meath Hills Dara McGrath also had a fisted effort hit the crossbar before he level the game with two frees after fouls on Conor Martin and Daniel Myles. Indeed the switch of McGrath's trusted left foot from goals to Full Forward worked well as he was a constant threat and hid deputy Meath U-14 goalie Conor O'Halloran kept a clean sheet in his first U17 game.
Drum/M Hill took the lead with a point from McGrath's brother Pierce and while Johnny Donoghue levelled for Nobber, McGrath the elder (Pierce) netted with a fierce shot after some great interplay by the combination side.
Conor Martin pointed on 26 minutes to give the Drumconrath Parish side a four point interval lead, 1-4 to 0-3.
A bright start to the second half with Brendan Lyons who played in a roving role throughout excelling and a clever ball from him resulted in centre forward Niall Martin pointing. As expected Nobber came more into the game through the Mist and Fog and points from Declan Shields and Fiachra McEntee both from play narrowed the gap to just the super McGrath goal.
With the game in the balance and as it all derby's, no quarter asked or given, the man in the middle showed top class refereeing abilities and kept a firm rein on proceedings. This three point gap lasted until the 50th minute and driven on by Keith McConnon, Alan McEvoy and David Hickey, the Red and Blue notched three quick points to go 6 points ahead with McEvoy, Daniel Myles and Lyons all pointing leaving the game fairly safe with 5 minutes to go.
Nobber too their credit launched a number of promising attacks but where repelled with the O'Halloran brothers Conor and David along with Patrick Dunne proving a steady back three. A late McEntee pointed free was all Nobber could muster as Drumconrath/Meath Hill clever use of possession in the last few minutes and in injury time kept the safe 5 point advantage until the end.
Drumconrath/Meath Hill - Conor O'Halloran; Patrick Dunne, David O'Halloran; Alan McEvoy (0-1), Keith McConnon, David Hickey; Tommie Rooney, Pierce McGrath (1-1); Daniel Myles (0-1), Niall Martin (0-1), Conor Martin (0-1); Dara McGrath (0-2), Brendan Lyons (0-1). Subs; Patrick Farrelly for Myles, Jonathon Finnegan for Hickey, Shane McCabe for C. Martin, Stephan Marry for D. McGrath and Niall Yorke for McEvoy. Tweet
