In November last, Doohamlet O'Neills celebrated their centenary with promotion to senior ranks for the very first time. Here's how they did it. They might be sandwiched in between 'Blayney, Drumhowan, Cremartin and Blackhill but have the gaels of Doohamlet seen their growth stunted of late? Not a bit of it. In fact, making the seismic leap into senior ranks for 2007 just about sums up the brillant progress that the O'Neills have made in recent times. Now, hands up among you who can remember the last time Doohamlet plied their skills in the premier league? Exactly! Just about sums up the achievement notched by Doohamlet's finest in 2006, doesn't it. In hindsight though, did anyone reallly believe, come high-summer, that the mid-Monaghan men weren't going to achieve promotion, whatever the avenue? It's not as if they didn't post notice of their intentions from right back to the embryonic stage of the season. In simple terms, Doohamlet got off on the frontfoot and barely took a backward step all year. The opening round of the league saw the would-be intermediate league finalists chalking up a handsome 1-9 to 0-6 victory away to Emyvale. The O'Neills produced a real tour de force which their hosts had no answer to. The visitors laid the foundation for their opening success with an excellent first half display. Some fine long range points from Shane McManus, Paul McArdle, Ollie Hughes and Glen Comiskey had the north Monaghan men on the retreat before a goal midway through the half from Niall Johnny Connolly sent Doohamlet in at half-time leading by double scores and with almost both feet inside the winner's enclosure. In the second half, Doohamlet's lead never came under any real threat. It was a much more closely-fought encounter next time out when Doohamlet hosted a fired-up Clones side. After a gruelling hour's football, the O'Neill's doubled their points tally for the new season by striding home, 1-7 to 0-8 winners. Doohhamlet had things much easier in the third round of the league with a highly impressive 1-13 to 3-0 win over hosts Sean McDermotts keeping them at the top of the league. The winners' triumph owed much to a purple patch which produced eight unanswered first half points. In-form full-forward Ted Duffy was Doohamlet's star man with a noteworthy 1-7 personal tally. The destination of the spoils was pretty obvious from the half-way stage by which time Gerry Fitzpatrick's side sported a 1-8 to 1-0 lead. By mid-May, the spectre of a Doohamlet/Carrick league decider was already looming large with the would-be winners just ahead in pole position by a single point from Doohamlet although the Emmets (5) had a game more played. Doohamlet proceeded to keep up the pressure on the league leaders by handing out a 1-9 to 0-9 defeat to Eire Og the following week. The re-arranged fixture went ahead in tortuous conditions but as things panned out, a converted penalty kick on the stroke of half-time by Ted Duffy made the difference. Another highlight of the hour's football for Doohamlet was the fact that Colin Connolly made his first senior start of the season and acquited himself well, as did Mark Murphy who was promoted up from the Junior B ranks. The following week brought some equally good tidings, but this time on the intermediate championship front with a date with Sean McDermotts. The final scoreline of 2-17 to 0-10 was very easy on the eye for the Doohamlet camp. Paul McArdle, Ted Duffy and Niall Johnny Connolly were the team's scorers-in-chief with a splendid 1-13 between them. Elsewhere Ciaran McManus was an inspiration in midfield and his goal put the tin hat on a fine overall team display. With the erection of the club's new electronic scoreboard (sponsored by Gerry and Agnes Duffy) the same week, the tail end of May was a joyous period all-round for the O'Neills. The championship win hardly deflected thoughts though from the intermediate league. The advent of June heralded the opening of a two points gap between second placed Doohamlet and championship finalists-elect Monaghan Harps with Carrick a further point in front with all three teams having played seven matches. A fast-approaching Cremartin side lay ahead though and it took all of Doohamlet's doubty resolve and ambition to grab a two points victory (1-12 to 1-10) at the former's venue. It took similar characteristics to get the better of hosts Aghabog (1-11 to 0-12) in the next round as the league really kicked into its stride. It wasn't all plain sailing during the season of course and an eight points defeat away to Corduff at the tail end of June gave everyone a timely reminder of the hurdles yet to be crossed. In truth, Doohamlet had no real excuses as they slumped to a 0-8 to 0-16 defeat. However the following Wednesday, the team showed what it was about by rebounding to secure a comprehensive 1-11 to 0-5 win over Emyvale with the return of long-term injury victim Martin Hughes an added bonus on the day. Mid-July saw Doohamlet consolidate their burgeoning form with a hard-fought but deserved triumph (2-10 to 3-6) over Sean McDermotts despite having to field a very much under-strength team. Goals from Rory McManus and Lorcan Duffy helped put the homesters on their way. The beginning of July reflected the unpredictability of league fare. In the wide open spaces of St. Tighernach's Park, Doohamlet weren't at their best against their hosts as they looked a gift horse in the mouth before losing out to the border county club by 2-7 to 2-8. Doohamlet did all their good work in the first half and only scored a single point after the restart. Clones were more hungry for the spoils and scored 2-3 in the second half to the O'Neills' solitary strike. Goals from Niall Johnny Connolly and Paul McArdle put Doohamlet 2-4 to 0-4 in front at the interval but that was as good as it got for the would-be league finalists. August delivered yet another reminder of just how finely balanced matters are at the peleton in all grades in Monaghan football circles. Just two points separated Doohamlet (0-5 to 0-7) from league leaders Carrickmacross when the sides met at O'Neill Park in the middle of August. Shorn of the services of Ciaran McManus, Niall Johnny Connolly and Niall Jim Connolly, Doohamlet trailed by 0-3 to 0-4 at the interval and while second half points from Glen Comiskey and Shane McManus did put the Emmets under pressure 'till the close of play, it wasn't enough to topple the long-time league leaders. So with 14 games played in the intermediate league, Doohamlet found themselves in third place on 19 points, one adrift of second placed side Corduff and seven in arrears of table-toppers Carrick. The end of the month signalled the return of championship fare and it took a magnificent second half recovery to earn a 0-11 to 1-8 draw with champions-elect Monaghan Harps in Clones. The draw was all the more praiseworthy as Fitzpatrick's charges had to play from the 20th minute onwards with only 14 men following the dismissal of Paul McArdle. Doohamlet went onto pull out all the stops in the second half, working tremendously hard to gain parity after being 0-4 to 1-6 behind at half-time. Sadly Doohamlet were outgunned by 0-14 to 2-9 in the replay at Scotstown with two points in injury time, including one from the penalty spot, catapulting the county town side home. As was their wont all year, Doohamlet's ever-improving intermediate lads rebounded with gusto to defeat Aghabog by 1-12 to 1-9 in Scotstown to keep their IFC hopes alive. Mid-September saw Doohamlet produce arguably their best display of the year when they trounced Monaghan Harps by 0-17 to 0-5 in the league. Paul McArdle gave a man of the match display on the 'forty with six points from play while Ollie Hughes was no less inspirational. The result was just the tonic the side needed in the run-up to their IFC semi-final date with Carrick in Clontibret. Unfortunately the following week saw Doohamlet exit the championship race when they went under by 0-10 to 0-12 to Carrick. The O'Neills were put to the sword mainly as a result of a brillant third-quarter by the Emmets which saw them hit seven unanswered points. Early the following month, consolation arrived on cue in the form of a league semi-final berth and, more importantly, a place in senior ranks for 2007 cemented, courtesy of a 1-11 to 1-10 win over Monaghan Harps in the first week of November. A point by Gavin Duffy in the dying seconds proved pivotal as Doohamlet did the business. Played at a high tempo from first whistle to last, the game had a real do-or-die feel for both camps and the enthusiasm, determination and never-say-die attitude of both teams did the occasion proud. Doohamlet got off to the perfect start with a goal from Shane McManus in the opening minute, a score which, augmented by some terrific free-taking by Paul McArdle, helped Doohamlet secure a 1-6 to 0-4 interval lead. However the O'Neills had to show a lot of character thereafter to come back from a one point deficit midway through the second half after the Harps nicked a goal in the 43rd minute. But with the introduction of the Duffy brothers, Ted and Lorcan, came a renewed effort from Doohamlet and a Paul McArdle free approaching full-time deservedly gained parity for Doohamlet. The game wasn't over yet though and a magnificent point by Gavin Duffy sealed victory and, ultimately, promotion to the delight of the Doohamlet throngs. The Doohamlet team, and subs, that did duty in that momentous game against the Harps was as follows; James Casey; Gabie Casey, Ciaran McManus, Emmet McManus; Shane Johnny Connolly, Glen Comiskey, Niall Jim Connolly; Shane McManus (1-2), Kevin McArdle; Darren Connolly, Martin Hughes, Gavin Duffy (0-1); Mark Murphy, Ollie Hughes, Paul McArdle (0-6). Subs used; Ted Duffy (0-1); Lorcan Duffy (0-1); Pauric Marry. And while the McAviney Cup was to elude them in the final (1-6 to 1-8) against Carrickmacross two weeks later in dreadful weather conditions in Corduff, the disappointment couldn't remove the grins on the faces of all belonging to the O'Neills by season's end. A tremendous effort was put in over the hour-plus but it wasn't to be even with a timely goal from Ollie Hughes just after the interval. The team did get its due reward though and that was in qualifying for the right to play senior football in 2007. What more can be said! Tweet

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