What a difference 12 months can make in the life of a football team. In 2005 Drumhowan's premier side was far from dynamic. But it was a case of double up for the team last year. In 2005, just one win in the junior championship epitomised an enigmatic year for Drumhowan. Over the course of the past year though, the Geraldines had the look of championship winners a long way from home. The league was another matter though. It was very much of the slow-burner type with the Geraldines taking their time before eventually catching fire and burning a path to the title in early December. It was back in mid-June though that Drumhowan kicked off what was to be a memorable season with an emphatic 5-9 to 2-8 win over Toome in their championship opener at Cremartin. Propelled forward by five-star displays by countymen James McElroy and Dermot McDermott, Drumhowan were into their stride in the first half in double-quick time with a goal coming after just one minute from the aforementioned McElroy. Drumhowan were given ample time thereafter to consolidate their early advantage but one goal apiece from Colm Lambe and Enda McElroy was their major return, leaving the would-be champions 3-3 to 0-5 in front at the interval. Toome were far more energised after the restart but the dismissal of their 'keeper just 12 minutes into the second half was a huge blow to their hopes of eating into Drumhowan's lead. Still it was still very much a case of game-on with about ten minutes to go but sensing Toome's breath on their necks, Drumhowan's finest upped the tempo and two goals and two points in the space of five minutes had the issue done and dusted. Colm Lambe banged home the first goal, after good work by James McElroy and Niall Mooney, and then McElroy weighed in with 1-1 to put the icing on the cake for Drumhowan. Just over a month later, Drumhowan added to their growing momentum with a handsome 1-15 to 0-9 win over Blackhill at the well-appointed Clontibret venue. All told, it was a pretty comfortable win for the James McElroy-captained side who led from pillar to post and weren't at any time threatened with being ousted. A goal from Captain McElroy in the 8th minute had Drumhowan on the frontfoot and that's where they remained 'till the long whistle. The lights were stuck on green for the most part in the opening moiety for Drumhowan and excellent points by such as Niall Mooney and Dermot McDermott had Blackhill back-peddling furiously. Blackhill circled the wagons in brave fashion and opened their account just before the end of the first quarter. Leading by eight points at the interval (1-8 to 0-3), Drumhowan showed little mercy to their embattled opponents; working hard to consolidate their early advantage and getting into fine tune for an anticipated long championship season. In fairness to Blackhill, they made a good fist of matching their opponents in the second half and, in fact, Drumhowan had to face down a decent challenge on the restart but still managed to show their class by out-scoring Blackhill by the odd point in seventeen to firmly book their place in the semi-finals. The semi-final underpinned Drumhowan's potential. Pitted against an ambitious Killeevan side, the champions-elect produced arguably their best display of the year to knock the Newbliss-based side out of the championship on foot of a 4-10 to 1-8 victory at Scotstown. Surprisingly the contest was rather one-sided with the physically stronger and more determined Drumhowan lads laying the foundations for their passage through to the decider by romping to a comprehensive 12 points lead at half-time. With Christopher McGinnity and Aidan Duffy lords of all they surveyed in midfield, the backline in no-nonsense mode and James McElroy pulling the Killeevan defence this way and that from, initially, his pivotal full-forward position, and then at midfield, there was scarcely any relief or joy for the Sarsfields during the hour-plus. The writing was written in large capital letters on the wall very early on with only two brillant saves by the Killeevan 'keeper denying McElroy goals on both occasions. Killeevan probably played their best stuff in the first quarter by which stage they trailed by just three points. However from there on, it was very much downhill for the chasing team. Drumhowan went onto record 2-3 without reply with Aidan Duffy's palmed major (18th) being added to by Kieran Mooney's well-taken goal in the 28th minute. Leading by a resounding 2-8 to 0-2 at half-time, Drumhowan looked poised, in total control, and increasingly confident as the second half gathered pace. Despite seeing their lead reduced to a mere nine points after ten minutes of the second half, Drumhowan fired home the killer blow at their ease just on the three-quarter hour mark, courtesy of a Christopher McGinnity strike. Killeevan showed they were still alive and kicking by nabbing a goal shortly afterwards but a goal and a point by Aidan Duffy inside 60 seconds had all belonging to Drumhowan thinking of final day. Buoyed up by the success of their under 21s in winning the Division Three title in August, Drumhowan's clamour for more silverware was all-consuming as the days to the county final meeting with Rockcorry were counted down with eager anticipation. Preparations for the county decider were honed in the aftermath of the semi-final and the return of former county star Stephen McGinnity certainly added to the feel-good factor in the Drumhowan camp. Both the Geraldines and Rock were a lot of pundits' pre-championship favourites and so it was no real surprise when both met up in the final. No great surprise either when they ended up drawing first time around either. It took a point from a free four minutes into injury time by the cool, calm and collected Gerard Duffy to secure a 1-9 to 0-12 draw for a thoroughly resolute Drumhowan XV. Drumhowan didn't look at the start of the game as if they were going to have to rely on a last-gasp equaliser to save the day. They held Rock scoreless for the first 20 minutes while posting two points themselves. However Drumhowan were shaded out of matters from there to the half-way mark and at the break, they trailed by the odd point in nine. Things got even worse for Drumhowan on the restart as they proceeded to concede four further points without being able to reply. However approaching the three-quarter hour mark, Drumhowan went for the jugular and duly hit the jackpot. The only goal of the game came when Stephen McGinnity's shot was blocked on the line but in the follow up, James McElroy was quickest to react and in an instant, Rockcorry's net was bulging. It was nip and tuck though for the rest of the game and when Rock took the lead yet again on the hour mark, it looked as if Drumhowan's goose was cooked. However in a late, late burst for freedom, Drumhowan got out of jail when James McElroy was fouled, thus giving match-saver Duffy the chance to ensure a replay, again at the Scotstown venue. Lessons learned? You betcha! Come the replay, there was simply nothing grey about the outcome, nothing left to chance by the Drumhowan players. The final scoreline of 1-10 to 1-4 fairly reflected the difference in quality between the combatants. It might have been the end of Autumn (October 22nd) but there was no doubting just who had the greatest spring in their step, especially in the final three-quarters of the match. Truth to tell, Drumhowan probably played second fiddle to a large degree in the opening ten minutes but Rockcorry's two points lead at that juncture was far from convincing or indeed secure. In the 11th minute, the tide changed irrevocably. James McElroy caused all sorts of panic buttons to be pressed in the Rockcorry defence when he floated the ball towards the loitering Stephen McGinnity. Just like his self of old, Drumhowan's seasoned campaigner failed to stand on any ceremony as he flashed the ball into the Rock net. Drumhowan were now in the lead; a lead they were never subsequently to relinquish. Racing up to the interval, Drumhowan went onto extend their lead to five points, 1-4 to 0-2, at the interval with two converted frees by Gerard Duffy. Any initial thoughts Drumhowan had of coasting to victory after the start of the second half were duly smothered within 45 seconds thanks to a shock Rockcorry goal. However, like a team born to be at its best in adversity, Drumhowan responded with true grit to Mark Daly's goal by nabbing two points, courtesy of Gerad Duffy's free-taking skills. With the final quarter looming large on the horizon, Drumhowan seemed well positioned to enter the winners' enclosure on the back of a four points lead. Both teams swapped points as each of them went for broke but with just eight minutes left to play, it was a five points game and looking increasingly like a Drumhowan cup of joy was in the making. And that's the way things panned out too with substitute Padraig Atkinson and Stephen McGinnity adding salt to Rock's now gaping wound with a point apiece. From there to the finish, Rock threw everything bar the kitchen sink at Drumhowan but the Geraldines weren't for turning. In the end, Drumhowan's six points winning margin wasn't in the least bit flattering. Stand up for the champions; Michael Mooney; Damien Mooney, Patrick Duffy, Niall Mooney; Dermot McDermott, Enda Mooney, Gavin Sheridan; Christopher McGinnity, Damien Duffy; James McElroy (0-1), Ciaran McElroy, Colm Lambe (0-1); Kieran Mooney, Stephen McGinnity (1-1), Gerard Duffy (0-6). Subs used; Patrick Mulligan; Padraig Atkinson (0-1); Enda McElroy A memorably brave but ultmately fruitless campaign in Ulster would follow. However the season finished on a high with success in the JFL final. Drumhowan's 2-12 to 2-8 win over Killevan in the league decider in Scotstown in the first week of December saw the winners' full-foward line of Stephen McGinnity (1-2), James McElroy (1-0) and Gerard Duffy (0-5) account for the major part of Drumhowan's final tally. But the win owed most to a great team display once again. A 16th minute goal by James McElroy put the Geraldines on their way and when Stephen McGinnity adding a second major to help give his side a 2-4 to 0-6 interval lead, the spectre of a magnificent double came all the more clearly into vision. In the second half, Drumhowan tagged on seven unanswered points to leave Killeevan grasping at straws. Even though the Sarsfields grabbed a late goal, there was to be no denying Drumhowan their destiny. Drumhowan's league final crew lined out as follows; Michael Mooney; Gavin Sheridan, Paddy Duffy, Niall Mooney; Enda Mooney, Dermot McDermott; Patrick Mulligan (0-1); Damien Duffy, Christopher McGinnity; Padraig Atkinson, Ciaran McElroy, Enda McElroy; Stephen McGinnity (1-2), James McElroy (1-0), Gerard Duffy (0-5). Subs used; Colm Lambe, Kieran Mooney (0-1), Dermot Mooney. What a way to end the season; what a year! Drumhowan - developing a pitch and a community The Drumhowan club is again moving forward and that the efforts of all the players are being matched equally by many others around the club and the community who are attempting to continue much of the positive work being performed in the area. The early decades of Drumhowan are best remembered for the junior double of 1960, the Hackett Cup victory of the 1969 and the Dr. Ward final of 1974. But they are also remembered by those who were involved at the time as the period in which the Geraldines club developed its own identity and pride, separate from neighbouring clubs like Ballybay or Doohamlet. The facilities were rudimentary but the spirit was strong and remained so even in the bad years. The 1980s saw a major transformation in the club. The stewardship of Gerry Duffy witnessed the purchase of Biddy's Meadow, the development of McKeown Park and the building of a new community centre. It incorporated dressing rooms with showers - a luxury at the time when only the top players actually took a shower- and a space which served as both a gym and a hall for other events. In due course the dressing rooms were expanded and added to, lighting for the pitch installed and the car park developed. In recent years we have built on additional dressing rooms. But while the development of a quality pitch and ground was a highly significant step, emigration robbed us of many key players and it was not the most successful period on the pitch. However this period also saw the development of a juvenile structure with the formation of the Tullycorbet Sons of Erin club. This broadened the player base, taught them the basic skills and saw serious attention being given to the development of players from U12 upwards. In due course, these activities moved to Drumhowan falling more directly under the Drumhowan umbrella but significantly many of the footballers and managers who started in Tullycorbet moved also. Their input and the work of people like Dan Connolly and Macarten Lambe at underage level gave a new impetus to the club and trophies started to accumulate. In many ways, the 1990s saw us reap the benefits of this work with the emergence of a whole new generation of talented footballers and the capture of one junior and two intermediate championships. This period saw the club compete at Senior and Intermediate level and acquit itself with some distinction. During this period, McKeown Park was recognised as one of the best pitches in the county and it facilitated some excellent football during this time. Above all, the players had the confidence that they were able to take on the best in the county without fear and it is abundantly clear that the current and upcoming generation of players share this same belief. In playing terms, time moved on and the early years of the current decade have seen declining fortunes on the pitch and with it relegation to junior ranks in 2004. Yet throughout this period, the effort in developing and improving both the pitch and the facilities has been maintained. A juvenile pitch has recently been purchased and developed with help from the National Lottery and Drumhowan now boasts facilities to rival most clubs in the county. It is always dangerous to single out individuals when so much of this work has been done on a voluntary basis but it would be unfair not to refer to Donal McAdam when we sketch out these achievements. His own role in pushing so much of this work forward is made more remarkable when we consider that he remained involved as a player throughout the 1990s - injuries apart - until his retirement last year. Recent years have seen the addition of further dressing rooms and the birth of Drumhowan Community Group which hopes to develop additional activities and to renovate and enhance the facilities in the community centre. It is a major project which will take some considerable effort. But when help has been required in the past, the people of the community have not been found wanting and we do not expect that things will be very different this time. So looking forward we have much to anticipate, both on and off the pitch. Marking Greatness A year can be a long time in football and this is certainly the case for Drumhowan It was nine years since the last championship win until this year and a period like this represents a whole generation of footballers. Most of those involved in this year's final were only children when Drumhowan were playing in the senior championship and defeat in last year's Dr. Ward cup final seemed to represent the final opportunity for many of the current players to actually win something. It seems a very short time ago that Drumhowan were at the centre of playing affairs at higher levels. But the fortunes of most clubs are cyclical and maybe it is important that it be like that so that we can learn to appreciate the good times. Gone today are some of the faces and families who represented the club throughout the last decade and in some cases prior to that. Many of those who nurtured the club in its different phases and who participated in their own victories are no longer with us and the team list from the county final reads very differently from some of the earlier team lists. There are no Quinn's, no Woods', no Brennan's or McElearney's. This is in essence the nature of life and football: Communities evolve, players move on. Of the players that won the junior title, only Stephen McGinnity remains from the last successful junior championship team and his presence demonstrates his own continued commitment to the club. Others like Pat Mooney are represented by their sons, providing a new element of continuity in the history of the club. Nevertheless these players have been replaced and Drumhowan remains a happening and vibrant club. New names and faces are emerging and the club looks forward to the next few years with some confidence. That has been the real story of Drumhowan's year - the emergence of a new guard to replace so many of those who served the club for so long. Drumhowan Managers 2006 Junior winning managers Hugh Markey and Gerry Quinn are both former players with the club and both come with well established pedigrees. In the course of the year, they have brought in a number of coaches but they have also drawn on their own experiences when training and managing the team. Hughie Markey was one of those who were ever present during the good years of the nineties, winning a junior and two intermediate championship medals. And it is certain that these achievements would have meant more to him than being awarded Intermediate Player of the year in 1997. Gerry Quinn's playing days were at full back in the more distant days of Biddy's Meadow when his kick out was legendary. But it was his never say die attitude which was his most prominent feature. The Quinn family formed the bedrock of the Drumhowan team for many years and we are starting to see the emergence of a new generation coming to prominence within the club. This is his second junior final in three years as a manager, having also managed Blackhill when they reached the final a couple of years ago. The managers have been lucky to have the assistance on the pitch by Mary Duffy and Betty Sheridan who perform their physio duties for most of the teams both at underage and senior level. Tweet

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