After the dizzy successes of 2006, the football season of 2007 was always going to be a trial for the Cavan town based club Drumalee, fresh from their victory in the Intermediate championship, were embarking on a new crusade as they took on the cream of the county in the senior football championship. The new championship format introduced for the 2007 season meant that teams like Drumalee were always going to be severely tested. Last season's Intermediate champions were forced into a play-off when they lost their opening game against a very focused Ramor Utd in a well contested championship game by just two points on a scoreline of 1-8 to 0-9. This pitted Drumalee into a survival dogfight with games against Knockbride, Lacken and Denn all three of which they lost and ensured that they would now be back playing in the Intermediate football championship for 2008 While the drop back down to Intermediate championship football was a disappointment for the Drumalee players and fans alike, they did manage to successfully hold on to their Division 1 status and will have the added edge of playing in a higher grade of football when they embark on their championship quest in 2008. The disappointment of failing to hold onto their senior football championship status was evident when talking to the club Chairman, Adrian Dempsey who said: "After all the success over the past twelve months, this setback was to me indeed a great blow. On a personal level I was gutted for the players and management of Cyril O'Keeffe and Tommy Costello who had given a great deal of commitment and time. Having lost the opening game to Ramor Utd., it was always going to be difficult. We are a very young side, and with the loss of a number of key players, Enda McCormack, Sean Lee, Kevin Donohoe and Brendan Smith, who had travelled to America, we knew that we would have difficulty. We are now back down to play in Intermediate championship again next year and with us having displayed great character in maintaining our Senior Division 1 status, it should benefit us for that campaign." Adrian who has been chairman since 2004 is stepping down at the end of the 2007 season. "I feel that we have achieved a great deal over that period and a new and fresh approach is called for. Throughout my period as chairman, we have managed to see many great achievements at Drumalee, the opening of a new and magnificent playing field and again this year we are in the process of further development of its facilities at Saint Felim's Park. To date redevelopment has seen the provision of a magnificent 'Prunty' playing surface and both perimeter security and pitch enclosure fencing at the Cavan town venue. Plans are now in place for further works to include floodlighting and the replacement of existing clubrooms with a new facility to cater for the increasing numbers of boys and girls playing Gaelic games. This new clubhouse will include four dressing rooms, referees room, meeting rooms and store as well as providing a large open second floor area which it is hoped in future will be kitted out as a gym. Work on the provision of floodlighting is planned for later in the summer. We held a very successful fundraising campaign where we netted over ?80,000. We also have received grant aid which along with fund-raising money will help offset a major cost in this new project," stated Adrian. When asked what he sees as his lasting memory and biggest achievement during his term of office, Adrian stated: "To choose any one project would be I feel be wrong. Throughout that four year period my work was always made that much easier with the calibre of people with whom I worked. The excellent assistance I had with great workers and officials like, John Denning, Carmel O'Neill, Tommy Sheridan, Damien Brady and Tommy Lyons to mention but a few made many of the projects that much easier to approach. The enthusiasm of all those involved with the redevelopment process at the club have done so with great enthusiasm and commitment which makes those tasks that much easier to approach. There will always be one abiding memory for me, that being the contentious issue of appointing Mickey Graham, from 'old enemy', Cavan Gaels as team manager for 2006. While I accept that for some at the club it was a difficult move to accept, it did turn out to be a very successful appointment, as under his guidance, the club captured the Intermediate championship title after a lapse of thirty seven years. It was unfortunate that Mickey decided to step down, as he wanted to concentrate on playing football again. He will long be remembered at Drumalee." Adrian who now runs one of Cavan's most famous Pub landmarks "Linus" at Thomas Ashe Street is quick to point out that while the development at the club is important it is not as important as the enormous and highly important contribution made by those involved at the juvenile level. "This is the life blood of any club and at Drumalee we are very fortunate to have had and still have some excellent people who have contributed so much of their own personal time to the cause of advancing the growth and expansion of Drumalee as a Gaelic football club. While there have been many people involved working at this level, the present Juvenile chairman, Sean Smith along with Michael Lyons have been stalwarts for this section of the club. The re-investment from senior players, like Damien Donohoe, Gary Ferncombe and Bernard Young is also a welcome factor. Their work has produced a winning formula for the past number of years with at least one juvenile side winning silverware. The success of the U-21 side last year in 2006 was a direct result of the work of the juvenile section over the past number of years. "I feel too that it should be recorded that the club lost two great members in 2007 with the deaths of Denis O'Keeffe senior and Phelim Costello. Denis was a former founder member and President and whose entire family has been associated with Drumalee throughout the entire existence of the club. Indeed his son, Cyril was acting team manager for the 2007 season. The death of Phelim Costello at such a young age was also a great loss to the club. Phelim was a former player with the club and county team. Phelim's, brothers, John, Fergus and Tommy all played leading roles with the club, while Tommy is presently acting as selector alongside Cyril O'Keeffe this year." Juveniles reward club's underage approach A brilliant display by the Drumalee U-14 squad paid rich dividends to the hard work and commitment put in by the juvenile committee and coaches when they captured the Under 14 Roinn B title in dramatic fashion overcoming a very strong challenge from a talented Denn side at a floodlight Kingspan Breifni Park on a scoreline of Drumalee 4-6 Denn 2-11. The first half of the final promised to produce some scintillating football but failed to ingnite. However, it was the second half performance from both teams that really captured the mood of this much anticipated final when Drumalee and Denn produced a display that had the large crowd in the stand on the edge of their seats. Drumalee were trailing by five points at half time 2-3 to 2-8. In a power packed second half performance, Drumalee pilled on the pressure to reduce the arrears but a resolute Denn rearguard action was proving to be major osbstacle. Drumalee's midfield axis of Cian Byrne and Andrew Fallon were pivotal to their ultimate victory as they exerted a stranglehold on exchanges in the vital sector where they dominated for long periods and gave their side the basis for their ultimate victory. While Denn had produced their most potent form in the first half, it was left up to the dangerous three goal hero Conor Fagan who set the revival in motion with a goal in the third minute of the second half. While the sides exchanged scores it looked as if Denn might hold on for victory until once again, Fagan was on hand to crack home his third goal of the game with a superbly well taken major in the fifty fifth minute to put the sides on level terms. However it was just reward for Drumalee to see their impressive midfielder, Andrew Fallon, slot home the winning score with a brilliantly well taken point just on the stroke of full-time. Drumalee- T. McCabe; C. J. McCabe, Finnan Lee, Kevin O'Hanlon; Oisin Costello, Declan Harrison, Darren Sheridan; Cian Byrne (0-2), Andrew Fallon (0-2); Tommy Walsh (0-1), Conor Fagan (3-0), Sean O'Kane (0-1); Packie Sheridan (1-0), James Donohue, Lee Dunne. Subs used: David O'Keeffe, Thomas McMahon, Ciaran Brady, Stephen O'Connor. U-13's Gallant Attempt While their counterparts at U-14 managed to win silverware, it was not be the case for the youthful players from Drumalee's U-13 team who lost out to Shercock in the Bord Peil nOg Roinn B final played at Kingspan Breffni Park on a scoreline of Shercock 3-10 Drumalee 2-5. This final produced football of the very highest standard from both teams and while Drumalee dominated the first half they were rocked back on their heels in the second half when Shercock bagged two goals in the space of ninety seconds. This proved to be turning point in the game as it fuelled a confidence in the winners that had not been apparent before this. Drumalee looked set for victory when they held a half time lead of 2-2 to 0-4 with Sean O'Kane getting his side's first goal in the eighth minute. Drumalee looked to be in the driving seat when Tommy Walsh bagged his side's second goal in the nineteenth minute with a pile driver of a shot. At this stage the powerful combination of Sean Fallon and Sean O'Kane were driving Drumalee forward and but for the woodwork this game would probably have been out of sight. Drumalee looked like they were going to overwhelm their rivals when they netted two points in the opening three minutes of the second half. This was not be the case as the east Cavan side clawed their way back into contention and with two goals in the space of ninety seconds took the wind out of the Drumalee sail and ran out winners. Drumalee while disappointed will look on this side as one that will be a serious threat as they move up through the age groups and no doubt will reverse this final defeat. Drumalee: Conor Carmichael, C. T. McCabe, Ryan Smith, Kevin O'Hanlon, Nadine Coyle, Darren Sheridan, Oisin Costello, Andrew Fallon (0-5), Sean Kane (1-0), Naomh O'Keeffe, Ciaran Brady, Ryan O'Rourke, Tommy Walsh (1-0) James Donohoe, Steven O'Connor. Knight of the whistle retires Club chairman, Adrian Dempsey said that he felt that the contribution that Tommy Lyons has made to the club at Drumalee has been immense and while his work at the club is legend, he will be remembered throughout the county as one of its top referees. "Tommy took up refereeing back in 1981 and throughout his period as a 'knight of the whistle' he officiated at all levels from juvenile to senior in the Breffni County. His crowning glory at county level was when he refereed the senior football championship final back in 1991 between Crosserlough and Kingscourt Stars. In 1992 he refereed the All Ireland Third Level colleges final between UCG and Queens University Belfast. Tommy who has held every office at his club was also actively involved with many committees at county board level. He served with Cavan Bord Peil na nOg, Cavan Minor Board, Vice-Chairman and Senior Board Secretary of the G.A.C. (Fixtures committee) - serving three years in each. No doubt Tommy who has a great love for Drumalee and for football in general will back at some level in 2008." Tweet

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