Doohamlet were always liable to figure in the shake-up for the Junior Football Championship. Indeed, in actually going the distance and winning the Packie Boylan Cup the O'Neills didn't surprise anyone in the county, especially themselves. Words: Kevin Carney While the debate on the merits or otherwise of the novel back-door system in Monaghan continues unabated, the gaels of Doohamlet have more pressing things on this season. Doohamlet GAA folk aren't noted for their myopia and despite the fact the club experienced somewhat of a false dawn after winning the blue riband junior title in 1999, there appears to be a greater focus now within the club on the long-term objective of consolidating their place in intermediate ranks. The fact also that the bulk of the team which enjoyed championship success two years ago found itself back in the winners' enclosure again in 2001 suggests that there is a winning mentality inherent among the cream of the crop down Doohamlet way. They like winning. And yet there was no sense of taking anything for granted as the 2001 championship season approached. Public expressions concerning a possible victory of the kind that was secured over Clones in the final of '99 were frowned upon by all and sundry closest to the coalface. The smart money may have been on Ballybay to come good in the intermediate championship and the book closed on 'Blayney's chances at senior level but, sandwiched in between, Doohamlet couldn't afford to take anything for granted, especially with their counterparts from clubs such as Eire Og, Aughnamullen and Killeevan rolling up their sleeves with intent. Having been relegated from the intermediate ranks at the end of 2000. Doohamlet realised the need to regroup pretty quickly. It was vital that their young team got back into a winning groove. All involved though with the club were sure that the team's experience of intermediate football would hold them in good stead when attempting to beat the best of the rest at junior level in 2001. In assessing the team's chances of regaining the junior championship trophy for the first time since 1999, connoisseurs of the Gaelic game in Monaghan were of the belief that the Doohamlet team boasted enough talent to mark an emphatic mark not alone at intermediate level but also at senior level in the near future. Nonetheless, it was felt also that Doohamlet were on a learning curve and the jump from operating in division four football some couple of years ago to competing at intermediate level was a mighty one, one which was always going to be difficult to overcome. As the 2001 championship season got underway, it was clear that the young but talented Doohamlet players were still very much engaged in a learning process. By the end of their campaign though, it was left to their opponents to mull over and look enviously at Doohamlet's record of having recorded the huge total of 12 goals and 61 points over the course of their all-conquering five game campaign. But back to that business of the learning curve. The would-be champions learned a fairly harsh lesson in their opening forway when Aughnamullen proved the better team in the opening round. In truth, Doohamlet's display against the Sarsfields was poor and they couldn't have had any complaints in going down by two points. Like true champions though, the O'Neills rallied and seemed to be more focussed as they prepared for their second round tie. Rebounding in fine fashion against Currin, the champions-elect used the back-door system to optimum effect to get back on the winning trail. Further relatively comfortable victories were secured against Blackhill and Killanny which then set up a semi-final clash with league leaders Eire Og. In what was arguably their best performance of the campaign at that juncture, Doohamlet swept past the challenge of the Smithboro-based crew. Latton was the venue for the semi-final clash. There was never much between the sides with the action typical of the see-saw variety that is so common come the latter stages of championship fare. The play swung from end to end in the first half but with neither side being able to secure a definite foothold in the match, it was no surprise that the teams went in at the interval on level terms, at seven points apiece. Doohamlet clicked in to a higher gear on the resumption though but a series of attacks wielded no reward until half-back Niall Connolly pointed from close range. And then five minutes later came Doohamlet's only goal. A Ciaran McManus free dropped short of the goal only for Ted Duffy to latch onto it and feed the inrushing Shane Connolly who promptly blasted the ball into the Eire Og net. Despite conceding a goal just three minutes from time - which left them just the minimum ahead - Doohamlet finished strongly and a brace of points from Ted Duffy in the dying minutes did the needful as Eire Og were dispatched from the competition on foot of a 1-13 to 1-10 scoreline. Back in the final for the second time in three years, Doohamlet now needed to overcome the challenge of a Killeevan team which had snatched a late victory over Cremartin in their semi-final clash. Like Doohamlet, the Sarsfields had made the very most of the new championship system having lost their opening round game to Eire Og in Scotstown. Killeevan went on to impress though in careering to the final, recording a total of seven goals and 44 points en route to the decider. The large crowd in attendance at the final on September 30th last at Pearse Park, Ballybay saw what was probably Doohamlet's finest hour in any championship decider and even the most partisan Killeevan fan could scarcely say the O'Neill's 1-18 to 0-8 win was in anyway flattering to the winners. Doohamlet looked the most likely to lift the Packie Boylan Cup from the opening minutes as they appeared sharper, more focussed and fitter all-round. Doohamlet's young guns launched wave after wave of attack against the shell-shocked Sarsfields contingent. Ironically it was Killeevan who opened the scoring and while the first quarter was an even affair, the major threat carried by Doohamlet was always there barely hidden under the surface. With the likes of Trevor Duffy and Glen Cumiskey in inspirational form in the backline and Ciaran McManus at midfield a veritable launching pad for attacks, Doohamlet gradually began to turn the screw on their opponents. With the team's half-forward line showing to increasing effect (the trio were to go on and score 1-8 between them), Killeevan were on the backfoot almost continuously and when Ollie Hughes edged Doohamlet into the lead in the 16th minute, a feeling of inevitability crept over the ground even at that early juncture. A minute later Ted Duffy added to Doohamlet's momentum just a minute later with a point. Killeevan buckled down to the task at hand though but after a couple of Killeevan points Ted Duffy was on target once again to extend his side's lead to three points for the second time. Entering injury time in the first half, the sides exchanged points with Trevor Duffy putting Doohamlet four in front just on the half-hour only for Casement Lynch to narrow the gap for Killeevan. At the interval, the O'Neills were well positioned, holding a none-too flattering 0-9 to 0-6 lead. But what a second half for Doohamlet! Kick-started by a fine point after just two minutes by a Shane McManus point, the O'Neills second half display was a joy to behold for their large and vocal following. A Ted Duffy point in the 35th minute left Killeevan trailing by five points and already searching out the panic button. It was to get even better though for the blue and whites though as Killeevan weren't afforded any time on the ball as the Doohamlet men hunted for possession in packs and charged forward in numbers at every opportunity. And when Declan O'Neill started a move back in the Doohamlet defence before finding Shane McManus who in turn set up Martin Hughes for a point, it was suddenly double scores at 0-12 to 0-6 for the would-be champions with only 39 minutes of play elapsed. Even with a number of positional switches, Killeevan found themselves unable to stem the Doohamlet tidal wave of attacks. Doohamlet proceeded to rattle over a procession of points as Killeevan heads understandably went down a bit. Eventually the goal that Doohamlet always threatened to bag duly arrived. It was the icing on the cake for the O'Neills and came just two minutes from the end when Ted Duffy slotted a fine pass into the path of Shane McManus whose low and hard shot fairly flew past the Killeevan 'keeper for a wonder goal. Killeevan's misery was later complete when they squandered a penalty chance. It was to be Doohamlet's day, pure and simple. A last second point by Greg Duffy made it a 13 point game - unlucky 13 for the Sarsfields but a figure which is already etched in the annals of Doohamlet O'Neills. Final Score: Doohamlet 1-18 Killeevan 0-8 The all-conquering Doohamlet team, scorers and subs, which secured the Packie Boylan Cup for the second time in three years was as follows: James Casey; Gabie Casey, Paraic Marray, Declan O'Neill; Niall Connolly, Trevor Duffy (0-1), Glen Cummiskey (0-1); Greg Duffy (0-2), Kieran McManus (0-3); Ted Duffy (0-3), Shane McManus (1-2), Martin Hughes (0-3); Gavin Duffy, Ollie Hughes (0-3), Shane Connolly. Subs used; Enda Connolly and Enda O'Neill. Doohamlet minors double up 2001 will go down in the history of Doohamlet GFC as a year of near unprecedented glory for the O'Neills. Not alone is the club's premier footballers back in the business of winning championship titles but further down the line the club's minors had a terrific year in scooping both league and championship honours. With the championship final very much in their sights, the young O'Neills approached their league final meeting with Blackhill in early October determined to complete the first part of a tremendous double. And despite falling three points behind in the opening ten minutes, Doohamlet raised their game in champions-like fashion to turn things and inspired by senior players Niall Connolly, Glen Cumiskey and Ted Duffy eventually ran out comfortable 3-6 to 0-3 victors. The following week the same squad faced Cremartin in the minor championship final at Ballybay and, once again, proved a class apart as they romped to a 4-11 to 1-6 victory. Dominating the game throughout, the O'Neills got off to a great start when Glen Cumiskey raced all of 30 yards before blasting the ball to the Cremartin net for a great goal. Cumiskey's goal after five minutes catapulted his side into a five point lead, a lead they never looked like relinquishing thereafter. Refusing to let their grip on the match go, Doohamlet got through for their second goal in the 24th minute when Ted Duffy punished some slack marking with an opportunistic goal. By half-time, the O'Neills were 2-5 to 0-1 in front and coasting and although Cremartin did enjoy some respite in the final quarter, two late goals by Damien King and Niall Connolly served to put the icing on the cake for the great O'Neills. The championship-winning Doohamlet team was as follows: Colin Connolly; Glen Cumiskey (1-1), Shane Connolly, Eamon Hughes, Emmet McManus (0-1), Ted Duffy (1-2), Kevin McArdle (0-1), Pauric O'Neill (0-2), Damien King (1-0), Niall Connolly (1-1), Mark Murphy (0-3). Sub used; Stephen McGinnity. Tweet

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