Donaghmoyne ladies are Ireland's best once more
December 31, 2009
The ladies of Donaghmoyne returned to the summit of club football when they were crowned All Ireland Senior champions for the second time in four years following their victory over Cork side Donoughmore in November writes Alan Gunn.
In 2006, the Fontenoy's collected their first All Ireland and at the beginning of this year team manager Francie Coleman believed now was the time the girls returned to the winner's enclosure. The management wanted the team to show they were a great side and get their hands on the title for a second time.
The journey began with a trip to Emyvale to face the then reigning All-Ireland Intermediate champions. It was a tough assignment to start but one that Donaghmoyne easily overcame and already thoughts were turning to a possible end of the year All Ireland title.
Catriona McConnell was outstanding but it was only the start of what she was to deliver as the months that followed passed by. On that Sunday afternoon in Emyvale, McConnell fired an impressive 2-8 out of her side's final tally of 2-15. The home side edged into the lead but by half time Donaghmoyne were already thinking of the county final as they led 1-9 to 0-1. Linda Martin also saved a penalty kick, the first of two she was to save in the championship campaign.
With an unassailable lead, the Fontenoy's continued to coast to victory in a game that saw four players in all sin binned, three of which were from the home the side. McConnell hit the second of her goals with a stunning finish to wrap up the win.
The county final was to be a repeat of the 2008 decider with Monaghan Harps again the opposition. The performance in their semi final may have been impressive but the display against the Harps was even better as they stormed to a 2-24 to 0-5 victory in Aughnamullen.
Yet again they turned in a stunning performance to blow away the opposition and had the contest wrapped up after a blistering opening 30 minutes. In all they hit 26 scores, each of them coming from play which is simply unbelievable. By the break, Donaghmoyne had 15 points on the board while Monaghan Harps were yet to register. Six of those opening half points came from Majella Woods who was in fine form. However, it was Amanda Casey that was really outstanding and hit three points herself and was involved in many of the other scores.
Casey struck for her side's opening goal in the third quarter and Catriona McConnell was on hand to hit their second major to round off a comfortable day in the sun for Donaghmoyne as they collected the title for the seventh year in succession.
Now, Donaghmoyne turned their attentions to the Ulster title with the campaign beginning with a trip to Down to face Bredagh in October. On paper this looked a tricky test for the Monaghan champions but at the end this was far from the case as Donaghmoyne blew away the Down girls in a one sided encounter 4-15 to 0-3.
It was another clinical team performance as they set down their intent for this competition. Catriona McConnell was in unstoppable form, from both the dead ball and from open play, finishing the game with 2-9. It took less than a minute for McConnell to stamp her mark on the game with the opening goal. By the break she had her second goal and Donaghmoyne went in with a 2-6 to 0-3 advantage.
After the resumption it was one way traffic as the Monaghan girls cruised to the finish and kept their opponents scoreless. With the first hurdle cleared Donaghmoyne then welcomed Armagh champions Clann Eireann to Fontenoy Park the following week. Previous encounters between the sides have always been close and keenly contested and this was not to disappoint.
Star of the day was that girls again Catriona McConnell who finished with a personal tally of 0-9 as the home side came out on top 0-13 to 0-8. Donaghmoyne opened brightly with the games first six points with Woods, McConnell (2), Casey, Eileen McElroy and Gina McGowan all on target.
The visitors cut the deficit in half by the break but with McConnell on song with some wonder points during the second period Donaghmoyne never looked like letting their lead slip. The side then made the journey to Truagh two weeks later aiming to make it back to back Ulster titles when they faced Tyrone side St Macartan's.
They duly collected the title with McConnell yet again the central figure finishing with 3-7 to her name. 1-4 of this total came in the opening half as they led 1-7 to 0-4 at the break. The 20 year old then added a further 2-3 during the second thirty and Donaghmoyne had their second title in the trophy cabinet.
The attentions now turned to that All Ireland title as the year moved into November. Standing in their way of a place in the decider was Leinster and Laois champions Timahoe with the semi-final clash taking place in Fontenoy Park.
The home side had to hold off a brave second half comeback from Timahoe to advance but it was mission accomplished with four points to spare. Donaghmoyne looked to be coasting to victory at the halfway stage as they led 1-8 to 0-1 after totally dominating the opening 30 minutes.
Amanda Casey and Cora Courrtney were dominating the centre of the park and the home side laid siege on the visitors goal. After just ten minutes they led by six with Woods (2), Casey, sisters Cora and Joanne Courtney and Catriona McConnell all raising the white flag. Casey extended the lead to seven before McConnell emphatically rifled home the games only goal from the penalty spot on 23 minutes following a foul on Lisa Kingham.
McConnell tagged on a point and the home side led 1-8 to 0-0 before the Laois girls finally raised a flag with a point on the stroke of half time. Although Timahoe hit the first score of the second half, points from Eileen McElroy and McConnell had re-opened the 11 point advantage for the home side. That though was to be Donaghmoyne's last contribution to the scoreboard and it was backs to the wall from there to the finish.
The visitors hit seven unanswered points to close to within four of the eventual winners. The home side also had their 'keeper Linda Martin to thank as she saved a penalty with four minutes remaining and just six between them at that stage. After surviving a scare Donaghmoyne were back in the All-Ireland decider.
Just 60 minutes separated the Fontenoys from success with Cork's Donoughmore between them and their second All Ireland. The game took place in Banagher on November 29 with both sides eager to come out on top.
The Cork girls had the aid of the wind in the opening 30 minutes but by the break Donaghmoyne led by two points. McConnell fired over the opening point from a free but 1-2 without replay soon had Donoughmore in front, that goal was to be the only one the Fontenoy's conceded in the championship campaign.
Donaghmoyne took control in the final ten minutes of the opening half as they twice found the net to edge in front. The first came from the spot when McConnell found the net following a foul on Cora Courtney. The second was also delivered from McConnell after Sharon Courtney created the opportunity with a blistering run.
Sharon Courtney got on the score sheet with a fine point after the resumption but despite now having the wind at their backs, Donaghmoyne were made fight to the final whistle. When Gina McGowan edged them four clear with eight minutes of normal time remaining it looked like the Ulster and Monaghan champions looked like they were close to title.
However, they were made work for it as the Cork side hit three unanswered points to cut the deficit to the minimum. Donaghmoyne, defended gallantly and McConnell wrapped the contest with the final kick of the game by splitting the posts from a free to not only end a wonderful year for her club but also for herself and finish the championship with a personal tally of 11 goals and 43 points.
So it was the year that Donaghmoyne joined the greats and got their hands on the All Ireland for a second time. With still a very young side, there may be more to follow from this very talented side.
Donaghmoyne (v Donoughmore): Linda Martin, Joanne Geoghegan, Michelle Grimes, Niamh Lynch, Hazel Kingham (0-1), Fiona Courtney, Joanne Courtney, Amanda Casey, Sharon Courtney, (0-1), Eileen McElroy, Majella Woods (0-1), Lisa Kingham, Gina McGowan (0-1), Catriona McConnell (2-3, 1-0p, 0-3f), Cora Courtney. Subs: Angela Lennon for L Kingham, Lorraine Daly for A Lennon.
Path to the Glory
County
Semi Final - Donaghmoyne 2-15 Emyvale 0-2
Final - Donaghmoyne 2-24 Monaghan Harps 0-5
Ulster
Quarter Final - Donaghmoyne 4-15 Bredagh (Down) 0-3
Semi Final - Donaghmoyne 0-13 Clann Eireann (Armagh) 0-8
Final - Donaghmoyne 3-10 St Macartan's (Tyrone) 0-7
All Ireland
Semi Final - Donaghmoyne 1-10 Timahoe (Laois) 0-9
Final - Donaghmoyne 2-7 Donoughmore (Cork) 1-8
Championship Scorers
Catriona McConnell 11-43
Majella Woods 0-15
Amanda Casey 1-7
Eileen McElroy 0-5
Hazel Kingham 0-4
Sharon Courtney 0-4
Lisa Kingham 0-4
Lorraine Daly 0-4
Cora Courtney 0-3
Gina McGowan 0-3
Annette O'Toole 1-0
Laura Burns 1-0
Joanne Courtney 0-1
Niamh Lynch 0-1
No harm done
Having lost the intermediate championship final to Ballybay the previous year, Donaghmoyne went into the 2009 season full of hope and confidence. However, their campaign gradually unravelled and they eventually found themselves staring down the barrel of a relegation shotgun. Victory over Corduff at the season's end meant they stayed up and live to fight another day. Club captain John Cumiskey is putting '09 down at a blip; he's determined to challenge for a place in senior football in 2010.
Sometimes it just doesn't happen. The spark doesn't quite ignite; things don't take off. Often, when a team gets on a luckless run, the losing streak is difficult to halt. It can end in embarrassment. That was almost the case for Donaghmoyne Fontenoys in 2009. They started the year as one of the favourites to gain promotion to senior football but at one stage found themselves just an hour away from junior fare. But they salvaged their season with a fine last-gasp defeat of Corduff, which means they go into the new year 'as you were'. Things almost went horribly wrong; in the end, there was no real harm done. Indeed, perhaps lessons can be learned and, ultimately, the events of 2009 could somehow prove beneficial.
"It was an up and down year," concedes John Cumiskey, who had the honour of captaining his club last year. "We started off with the same management as the previous year - Liam Finnegan and Tony Brady - and we opened our account with a draw in Tyholland. That was an encouraging start because there aren't too many teams get out of Tyholland with a result.
"We hoped to build on that, but things didn't work out that way. As the year went on, we had a series of injuries and losing the likes of Rory Woods to America and a few others to Australia hit us hard. We were feeling the pinch. The results just didn't happen and we ended up avoiding relegation on the last day against Corduff. So, after starting the year with fairly big ambitions, we were relieved at the end of the day that we didn't go any further down. It was certainly a big scare, so we'll have to go out next year and hopefully improve on that."
In the IFC, Donaghmoyne lost to then Monaghan and Ulster junior club champions Drumhowan in the first round on June 6, having staged a determined second-half fightback only to run out of time. Through the back door, their most impressive outing was against Aghabog, whom they eventually defeated in a thrilling replay after extra time, 0-16 to 0-12 at Clontibret. Considering that both Padraig Donaghy and Peter Finnegan had been sent off for Donaghmoyne, this was a truly remarkable victory - one of their best performances of the year.
The team that knocked Aghabog out of the IFC on Sunday August 9 was: Thomas Deery; Stephen Martin, Kieran Lynch, Seamus Meehan; Maurice Cumiskey, John Cumiskey, Bernard Kelly; John Kingham (0-2), Peter Finnegan; Gerry Lynch (0-2), Niall Kelly, Padraig Donaghy (0-3); Ciaran McConnell (0-7), Colm Connolly, Paul Kingham. Subs: John Farrell (0-1) for P Kingham, Christopher Deery for K Lynch. In extra time: Paul Kingham for B Kelly, Martin Hanley for N Kelly.
A fortnight later, Aughnamullen provided the opposition in Drumhowan and this time Donaghmoyne came up just short, losing by two points, 0-14 to 1-9. Team captain Cumiskey was forced out of that one with a knee injury halfway through the first half and Donaghmoyne never quite got into the game. From here on, it was a question of focusing on the league and securing intermediate survival…
"We had little bits of bad luck all year and that just about sums it up," John reflects. "Nonetheless, we're ready to knuckle down and go again next year. We went into the 2009 season confidently and we started the year well. Training was going well, but we let a good few points slip through our fingers. Too often, we conceded goals or points in the dying moments and those cost us. We must have had six or seven draws and in each of those games it was Donaghmoyne who were ahead only to see it snatched away. We couldn't quite close the games out and that's something we have to work on this coming year.
"Our former player Rambo Marron stepped in as manager during the year and we're very grateful to him for all the great work he did with the team. We could have been in big trouble only for him. We'll regroup next year, and we'll be aiming for a Top Four place at the very least. Last year may not have gone according to plan, but Donaghmoyne still have their sights set on a return to senior football and there's no better time that the present to move up."
Donaghmoyne certainly have what it takes to go back to the top table. They have a good recent record of rubbing shoulders with the best in the county and were decidedly unfortunate in '08 when losing the championship final to double-winning Ballybay. Everyone in the club knows that '09 was a bit of an aberration, but the damage has been kept to a minimum thanks to that eleventh-hour win over Corduff; one of the challenges now is to unearth a few new players and regain a degree of confidence. Morale may have taken a slight knock during the year, so psychologically there's some work to be done to get the players to believe in themselves once more.
For John Cumiskey, there is no such problem. John totally believes in what Donaghmoyne can do and he reckons there's some very good young talent ready to filter through into the first team. He's looking forward to 2010 and reckons the Fontenoys will bounce back with a good effort.
John made his championship debut with the local club in 2004 and is preparing to enter into his seventh campaign. He was part of the team that beat neighbours Inniskeen in the 2005 intermediate league final and has experienced senior football before. He's dead keen on getting back to that level again. Joined on the first team by his brother Maurice, John was with the county minors in 2002 and 2003 and lined out for the Monaghan U21s in 2006.
He was absolutely delighted to captain the club in 2009: "It was a pleasure and something I was extremely proud of. Donaghmoyne means everything to me, so it was a big honour to lead them out. Unfortunately, we didn't do as well as we'd hoped during the year but at least we managed to pull it out of the fire in the end. It wasn't our best year, but I'm counting 2009 as a blip and I'm sure the real Donaghmoyne will be back in 2010."
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