When Drumhowan were relegated to Junior ranks at the end of the 2004 season there was no-one more disappointed than their outstanding defender and former county star, Dermot McDermott, as it meant that 2005 would be the first time ever for him to compete in junior ranks. He had high hopes that the sojourn in the lower grade would be of short duration but, unfortunately, this would not be the case as 'Lady Luck' would frown rather grimly on the Drumhowan squad's efforts during the past year, and they were most unlucky not to have taken at least one of the two Junior titles available. They were unfortunate to run up against a rising Corduff side that would prove something of a 'bogey team' for them during 2005. They never felt this more than in their very first Championship outing when they faced Corduff at O'Neill Park in Clontibret on Sunday evening 8th May. This would prove to be one of the most frustrating encounters of their entire history, as their tremendous closing rally would surely have taken the points on any other occasion, but the final whistle came that fraction too soon for them and they lost by the very narrowest of margins. Not alone did Drumhowan finish well on this occasion but they had also started remarkably well in the same game. A goal and a point in the opening three minutes should have been the necessary tonic to give any team in an important Championship game, and the great Drumhowan following certainly relished the two well taken scores by Christopher McGinnity and Paddy Mulligan. Unfortunately the opposition was allowed back into the game, but Drumhowan were still strong enough to lead at the half way stage by 1-3 to 0-5. The second half was something of an anti-climax as Drumhowan appeared to go to sleep for a long period and found themselves in arrears with time running out. It was then that they really woke up and, when Dermot McDermott netted a penalty, they really had their tails up and rocked the eventual winners to their very foundations with a tremendous closing rally. The final whistle sounded, however, before they could manage even an equalising score, and the final score-line read: Corduff 0-13, Drumhowan 2-6. Defeated but not bowed, Drumhowan had lined out for this one as follows: Michael Lambe, Damien Mooney, Gavin Sheridan, Martin McElroy, Rodney Mooney, Enda Mooney, Niall Mooney (0-1), James McElroy, Dermot McDermott (1-0), Christopher McGinnity (0-1), Kieran McElroy, Pauric Atkinson (0-1), Paddy Mulligan (1-1), Stephen McGinnity (0-1) and Paddy Duffy. Subs used: Damien Duffy and Kieran Deery (0-1). Despite defeat, there was still the 'back door' system available, and Drumhowan would certainly avail of it in no uncertain fashion. The first round of 'qualifiers' brought them up against Oram at Aughnamullen on Sunday 14th August. This one was a closer game than had been expected but Drumhowan were still strong enough to win through on a final score-line of 1-11 to 0-12. As the Drumhowan PRO wrote in his 'Club Notes' the following Thursday:- 'Drumhowan 1-11, Oram 0-12. Some formidable performances, most notably from goalkeeper Michael Mooney, enabled us to overcome the challenge of Oram in the Championship last weekend. It took some brave defending and two late scores to emerge with the spoils, but we have at least given ourselves another Championship outing'. Drumhowan got little time to rest on their laurels as they were in action again the very next Sunday, fielding against Killeevan in the quarter-final on 21st August, when frustration would again prove a major factor. A great goal from Stephen McGinnity in the seventeenth minute proved a great boost and they were ahead by 1-6 to 0-6 when the short whistle sounded. A good start to the second half too, but then they fell away badly and allowed Killeevan to take control for far too long. After ten minutes Killeevan had drawn level and were five points ahead entering the last quarter. Drumhowan, however, rallied strongly and again drew level with a great Colm Lambe goal to give the huge following from both sides a nail-biting finish. Unfortunately, the opposition had the deciding scores in the last couple of minutes and Drumhowan made their exit from the Championship on a final score-line of Killeevan 1-15, Drumhowan 2-9. It was the last championship encounter for 2005 and Drumhowan had lined out:- Michael Mooney, Gerry Woods, Gavin Sheridan, Damien Mooney, Rodney Mooney, Dermot McDermott, Kieran Deery, Damien Duffy, Christopher McGinnity (0-1), Niall Mooney, Stephen McGinnity (1-0), Stephen Connolly, Colm Lambe (1-4), James McElroy (0-1) and Pauric Atkinson (0-1). Subs used: Martin McElroy, Enda Mooney and Peadar McNally. The Championship had been let slip through their fingers but there was still a wonderful opportunity in the Junior League for the Dr. Ward Cup. As was the case in so many of their games during the championship series, Drumhowan also put in a tremendous rally at the final stages of this competition. They had begun rather badly when losing to Killeevan, 1-11 to 2-10, in their very first game at Drumhowan on Sunday 20th February. Memories of that defeat, however, were soon forgotten when they swamped Killanny in the second game of the series the following Sunday, and followed that up with a 3-9 to 1-4 victory over visiting Toome on 10th April. A good performance against Corduff was followed by a 1-13 to 2-7 victory over Blackhill and then a draw with Oram, 2-7 to 0-13. The first half of the League campaign was completed with a defeat by Monahan Harps, 0-6 to 1-9, and a good win over Aughnamullen by 1-8 to 0-5. The second half of the League was also something of a topsy turvey affair. They lost again to Killeevan on their visit to Newbliss, had a bloodless win over Killanny and then defeated Toome, 2-11 to 1-4. The 'heavyweights' had still to be encountered, however, with a visit from Corduff to be followed by a good win at Blackhill, 2-13 to 0-7. A disappointing performance against Oram was followed by defeat at the hands of the league leaders, Monaghan Harps. The final clash was with Aughnamullen, and Drumhowan had qualified for a fourth place play-off with Oram. Semi-final qualification was at stake here and Drumhowan duly rose to the occasion with one of their finest performances of the year, winning by 2-11 to 2-6. Things looked ominous, however, when they found themselves facing the might of the newly crowned Junior Football Champions form the county capital, but what a surprise they had in store for the mighty Harps. It was probably the greatest shock of the entire Junior Football season when Drumhowan emerged victorious in this one on a final score-line of Drumhowan 0-10, Monaghan Harps 0-8. What encouragement it was for Drumhowan later on, too, when Monaghan Harps went on to win the Ulster Junior Football Championship title. It certainly said quite a lot for Drumhowan's potential. That victory did a power of good to for Drumhowan football and they travelled to Aughnamulen in complete confidence on the last Sunday of November for the Junior Football League (Dr. Ward Cup) Final. Corduff would again provide the opposition and Drumhowan knew what to expect, remembering full well their unlucky ending against the same opponents in the opening round of the Championship. The final turned out to be one of the best Junior games of the entire year with the closeness of the scoring keeping the crowd on tenterhooks right through. The first half was a very low scoring affair with Corduff leading at half-time by four points to three - the three Drumhowan scores coming from James McElroy, Rodney Mooney and Stephen McGinnity. Drumhowan got the second half off to a great start when James McElroy scored a magnificent goal to take the lead for the first time in the game, and it was score for score from there to the end. Stephen McGinnity had a second goal and Drumhowan's hopes were high, but the final whistle sounded with the team three points in arrears, Corduff 1-12, Drumhowan 2-6. Drumhowan may have been defeated by their 'bogey team' in this one but they had given a great account of themselves, and the team which did duty on that occasion deserves to be remembered. It read: Michael Mooney, Gavin Sheridan, Damien Duffy, Damien Mooney, Stephen Connolly, Dermot McDermott, Enda Mooney, Christopher McGinnity, Enda McElroy, Rodney Mooney (0-3), Ciaran McElroy, Padraig Atkinson, Stephen McGinnity (1-1), James McElroy (1-2) and Niall Mooney. Subs used:- Darren Duffy and Paddy Mulligan. Thus ended a year that had promised great things at one stage but which ended in some disappointment, and a particular disappointment for their evergreen Dermot McDermott. However, with county star James McElroy to lead them, this Drumhowan squad is far from beaten or being down-hearted. They have the talent and the ability, so that their sojourn in the junior football area cannot last any longer and expect them to follow in the footsteps of Monaghan Harps and Corduff by the end of next season. They were a great team to compete when in the intermediate grade in 2004 and were unfortunate to have made the drop. We all want to see them back in a higher grade as quickly as possible and, with the experience gained over the past twelve months, that wait will certainly not be a long one. Tweet

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