Doo we like that!
December 30, 2010In the dregs of 2010, the talk around Doohamlet was of Ulster club titles. How times have changed for the O'Neills.
Just 15 years ago, the club was as low as you could get in Monaghan football circles. Division Four was their habitat back then.
The buzz of winning the intermediate football championship is still ringing in the ears of the Doohamlet faithful.
In securing their first IFC since the conception of the club in 1969, the Class of 2010 showed their class and their potential.
Going on thereafter to very nearly capture the provincial title demonstrated passion, pride and panache in equal measure.
Relegation from senior ranks in 2009 was not what Doohamlet gaels wanted to happen four decades on from the club's foundation.
If 2009 proved to be a real let-down, then 2010 uplifted an entire club in one fell swoop and let members in expectant mode once again.
Doohamlet brought with them the armoured confidence of the hardened survivor in 2010 and reaped an appropriate reward.
From their own patch in the middle of the county, the common consensus among their peers during the past year was that the Great O'Neills not alone reached the county IFC decider in predictable fashion but also on merit too.
Dynamic Doohamlet proved themselves to be the best of the rest in 2010 in what was a real 'survival of the fittest' campaign.
That they were the best team at intermediate ranks in Monaghan in 2010 simply brooks no debate, especially among those they put to the sword en route to reaching the Elysian Fields.
A rod of steel ran through the Doohamlet line-out, manifest in the fact that while they would bend during some of their championship encounters but, crucially, never break.
There were other fine teams in the 2010 IFC in 2010 but the O'Neills were the irresistable force, the immoveable object with their progression to the top table sign-posted from early on in the year.
On June 13th, they handed out a 1-17 to 0-8 hammering to Aghabog in their opening IFC salvo.
On August 13th, the O'Neills were held to a 1-8 to 1-8 draw by Rockcorry before winning the replay (0-7 to 0-5) six days later.
A 1-8 to 0-5 win over Eire Og followed ten days later as the team's form visibly improved.
Then on September 12th, the team booked its place in the IFC final with a 2-15 to 2-6 win over Aughnamullen.
In the run-in to the county final, mature, composed murmurings were afoot rather than bullish noises. It was 'steady as she goes' type stuff.
That said, Fergal Reel's charges approached the county decider with Tyholland with predictable zeal and relish.
There would be no bold predictions or bombastic appraisals to be heard from either camp though. They had too much for respect for each other.
The feeling in Doohamlet was that they would have to put together their best performance of the championship to beat their north county opponents.
The stats people worked it out that Doohamlet averaged 1-14 in their game before the clash with Tyholland but the question was whether such a tally, if repeated, would be sufficient to terrorise Tyholland.
Some inside the Doohamlet camp suggested that their favourites had shown blue riband title-winning form in their semi-final duel with Aughnamullen.
Ironically, the would-be championship winners got a hiding in their league clash with the Sarsfields just prior to the championship decider.
However it must be said that that was a meaningless match as the O'Neills had already booked a place in the league decider by that stage.
Doohamlet supporters travelled to the county final pregnant with expectation and ambition, believing that their charges' collective strength and spirit of endeavour would be the team's aces in the pack.
Indeed, it was those traits and Doohamlet's almost noble belief in their own ability that helped most of all to work the oracle against Tyholland.
Playing with conviction, composure and confidence, Doohamlet delivered what the Silverbridge native and his think-tank ordered.
Sunday, October 3rd proved to be a historic day for Doohamlet as they beat Tyholland by 3-9 to 1-6 to lift the IFC title at O'Neill Park, Clontibret.
The O'Neills were the hungrier, sharper side on the day and were inspired by a five minute spell at the end of the first half when they blitzed Tyholland with a 2-2 unanswered tally.
Man of the Match Niall Johnny Connolly was Doohamlet's double goal scoring hero in the space of 60 seconds after Ciaran McManus had earlier netted from the penalty spot to help his side steer its way into a 3-5 to 1-3 interval lead.
Doohamlet stood as tall as buildings and as immoveable as a mountain in the second half to take Tyholland's best shots and remain upright.
In truth, the O'Neills never looked like offering their opponents a way back after the half-time break.
Seldom has the Doohamlet roar been heard so loud as that which greeted the acceptance by team-captain Glen Cumiskey of the Paddy O'Rourke Cup after the final whistle.
Doohamlet (v Tyholland) IFC final:
James Casey; Gabie Casey, Martin Hughes, Shane Johnny Connolly; Kevin McArdle, Colin Walshe, Darren Connolly; Glen Cumiskey (0-1), Ciaran McManus (1-0); Ollie Hughes, Ted Duffy (0-3), Niall Jim Connolly (0-1); Mark Murphy, Shane McManus (0-3), Niall Johnny Connolly (2-1).
Subs used; Johnny Duffy.
Doohamlet underlined the view by dint of their county final display that they had the meanest defence in intermediate football in 2010.
Now could they show the potency in the final two thirds of the pitch to go on and deliver provincial glory?
Not content with having chivvied out a blue riband county title, Doohamlet proceeded to go on a joyous safari around the province.
Instead of pulling the curtains down on 2010 after making Monaghan's top table, Doohamlet were determined to mave little of winter's vast grey curtains of rain and to terrorise opponents in Ulster.
Beating Donegal champions Bundoran (1-12 to 1-10) and then Armagh aces Sarsfields by 1-10 to 0-8 at Crossmaglen signalled Doohamlet's intention to be kings of Ulster.
Thereafter at Brewster Park, Enniskillen, Doohamlet reached the Ulster club IFC final by dint of an emphatic 2-12 to 1-5 win over Tyrone kingpins Derrylaughan, conquerors (2-15 to 0-16) over Cavan champions Drumalee in the previous round.
In a slow-to-the-boil Ulster IFC final at Kingspan/Breffni Park in mid-December, Lisnaskea Emmetts left their best wine 'till last to leave brave Doohamlet beyond consolation on foot of a 1-7 to 0-13 scoreline.
The Monaghan champions gave it their all and were sitting pretty on the back of a 1-6 to 0-5 lead entering the final quarter.
However the Ernesiders succeeded in hitting eight of the last nine points of the game to seal an epochal first provincial club success for Fermanagh.
Doohamlet emerged from tentative beginnings to get on top in the middle third of the game before fatally losing their way in the final third.
Doohamlet weren't at their best in the early stages and the would-be winners really ought to have been more than a single point, 0-3 to 0-2, ahead by the end of the opening quarter.
There was never very little to separate the sides at the business end of the pitch and a superb opening point by Doohamlet's Mark Murphy (8th min) added a measure of high quality marksmanship to the high tempo of the opening exchanges.
Doohamlet were their usual eager-beaver selves and while all six starting forwards got on the ball a lot, they too often found themselves having to rush their shots due to the dervish-like tackling of the Lisnaskea defenders.
Surprisingly, only three decent goal chances were carved out altogether with two of those coming in the dregs of the first half.
In the 27th minute, man of the match John Woods (Lisnaskea) meandered his way into the right corner forward position but his rasping chest-high shot was beaten out for a '45 by Doohamlet 'keeper James Casey.
Two minutes later, the Monaghan champions had no such ill-luck with Shane McManus's daisycutter of a shot 'cum cross being side-footed home by from close range by the alert Niall Jim Connolly.
Thereafter Doohamlet showed courage and conviction in equal measure as they went about embellishing their 1-3 to 0-4 half-time lead.
A hat-trick of unanswered points by the sleeves-rolled up O'Neills between the 40th and 43rd minutes left the Emmetts trailing by four points.
That deficit was very nearly converted into a seven point one in the 45th minute but the retreating Pearse Collins hacked Niall Jim Connolly's fisted effort off the Lisnakea goal-line.
From there to the finish only Doohamlet captain Glen Comiskey managed to add (50th) to his side's tally.
In contrast, six Lisnaskea players got on the scoresheet in the final quarter as they levelled matters at 0-10 to 1-7.
The final five minutes saw Lisnaskea outslug what were visibly tiring opponents with three unanswered points rubbing salt into Doohamlet's gaping wound.
Doohamlet were left mortally wounded in fact. Heavy-legged and hearts broken in two with eight huge matches on successive Sundays having taken their toll.
Beaten but unbowed. Pride intact and the tag of history-makers on their shirt collars.
Roll on 2011.
Doohamlet (v Lisnaskea Emmetts) 2010 Ulster IFC final:
J Casey; G Casey, M Hughes, S J Connolly; K McArdle, C Walshe, D Connolly; G Comiskey (0-1), C McManus (0-1); G Duffy, S McManus (0-2), O Hughes; N J Connolly (1-0), M Murphy (0-1), T Duffy (0-2, one free).
Sub used; J Duffy.
Under 14's continue historic trail
Doohamlet's under 14's championship and league double was the latest in a sequence of highly merited achievements by the clubs current crop of talented juveniles. Previous triumphs at the under 12 and under 13 grades together with school successes have instilled a confidence that has enabled the boys to scale the heights at division 2 level during 2010. The double was Doohamlet's first success in division 2 football since the Lee Brothers Cup was won by the under 15s back in 1995.
The tragic death of PJ Marray (RIP) just four days after the league final win had a profound effect on all concerned with the team. The style and character displayed in the winning of the championship subsequent to his death was surely a fitting memorial to PJ. In restropect, with his son Conor as captain, the boys were fully focussed on successfully completing a mission no matter what obstacles were to be overcome.
The league campaign began in April with a 4-16 to 4-10 victory over Toome. Three further wins were added including a 10-14 to 7-9 success at Clontibret. With midfield star Barry McGinn absent for the next four games the team were forced into something of a baptism of fire. Heavy defeats were suffered against Toome and Magheraclone. However, a reshuffled side actually clinched the final quarter in the Magheracloone game. This new found team shape proved to have a telling effect. The boys then embarked on a seven match victory trail that culiminated in the victory over Truagh in the league final. Undaunted by a five point deficit and the loss through a season ending injury to key player Jamie Walshe the boys recovered to win on a score of 1-7 to 1-5.
Remarkably the team produced further improvement to clinch the double with memorable championship triumph. Carrick and Truagh were defeated at their own venues on the respective score lines of 3-14 to 3-11 and 4-15 to 4-9 in the final played under lights at Inniskeen.
The Lee Cup winning team of fifteen years ago has provided the backbone of Doohamlet's senior team of recent years. As many as eleven of that team featured on the panel that secured Doohamlet's long awaited Intermediate championship triumph this season. Hopefully, the juvenile stars of today will progress to represent Doohamlet with distinction at adult level in the years ahead. Tweet
