Named after one of Ireland's most prominent political figures in Irish history, Daniel O'Connell. Drumlane Sons of O'Connell, followed in the great man's tradition and created their own piece of history in 2006. By Tony Dunne. This was to be a stellar year for the club with the opening of their magnificent new playing field, O'Connell Park and complex, and a crowning achievement, gaining promotion to the top flight of football in Division 1. This is an achievement that emphasises the pride and commitment that has enabled the club to survive through lean times and emerge as a vibrant force to be admired and copied as a blue print for clubs throughout the county. The success of 2006 was the result of many years' hard work, great insight and belief by those that had the vision and heart to plan ahead. The opening of the new grounds and promotion back to Division 1 was a fitting tribute to all who were involved from the inception of the embryonic idea to its final development. While progress was made by Drumlane they refused to off-load part of their history when moving from Staghall to their new home in the village of Milltown. The 'old' field at Staghall, home to Drumlane for many seasons, is being retained, and will be used extensively as the club has grown in strength and the use of a second field is of the greatest importance with the demands on playing areas nowadays and will provide a valuable asset. According to the club's hard-working PRO, Brian Seagrave: "We have invested over one million euro in the new development at Milltown. As was evident to all that attended the official opening, it is now probably the best playing surface and facilities in the county. With the population growth in the area, we envisage a greater number of available players over the coming years, and this in itself, will create a need for us to maintain Staghall as a second pitch". New development With the season barely in progress, Drumlane officially opened their new playing field and facilities on 20th May with an inter-county game between Cavan and Meath which ended on a scoreline of Cavan 2-9 Meath 0-15. Club chairman Ciaran O'Reilly was lavish in his praise for all those involved in the project and said: "I am proud to be involved with the club and especially during one of the most important times in its history since being formed in the late 1880s. When the idea of upgrading and providing new facilities and playing pitch, the enormity of the task was something that we had not considered. It is a credit to the tireless work carried out by successive committees and the club members that we now have this wonderful complex." A justifiably proud PRO Brian Seagrave pointed out that: "The entire day was the culmination and just reward for all those who contributed in many ways to this magnificent facility. We purchased an eleven acre green field site back in 2001 and now boast a Prunty playing field, surrounded by an all weather track, a clubhouse, and four state of the art dressing rooms, referee's facilities and a gymnasium. We also have a covered stand that can cater for up to seven hundred spectators with access for six wheelchairs and an electronic scoreboard, dugouts and car parking for 120 cars. All in all it is something that the club and community can feel rightly proud of. The opening day was one filled with action - with the inter county game between Cavan v Meath and we also had an U-8 and U-10 football blitz. "The official opening of O'Connell Park, Milltown was performed by well-known GAA commentator Micheál O Muircheartaigh. Other guests included Cavan Co Board officers, representatives of the various political parties as well as local government representatives. There was a joint blessing of the grounds by Bishop Leo O'Reilly and Archdeacon Derek Johnston." Souvenir Book To coincide with the official opening of the park, Drumlane club published a historic review of GAA activities within the parish over the last one hundred years. The launching of the book took place in the new Community Resource Centre on the Friday night before the opening of the grounds and was attended by well-known author and playwright Shane Connaughton. The book was edited by Patrick Joe Kennedy. Sponsorship for the book was provided by Frankie and Ursula Kennedy to whom a great debt of gratitude is extended stated PRO Breen Seagrave. Promotion to Division 1 Just three months after the official opening of their grounds, Drumlane crowned their 2006 season when they gained promotion to the top flight of football for the coming season. This achievement can be gauged against the backdrop that the club last played in the county senior league back in 1907. Having just survived the drop to Division 3 at the end of the 2005 season, when they won a relegation play-off against Cootehill, the task of gaining promotion to the Division 1 seemed a long way off. Acquiring the services of a new team manager, Drumlane brought in Phelim Plunkett in a hope to bond and solidify their players into a cohesive unit. Plunkett had the services of Paul Fitzpatrick and Sean O'Dowd as selectors, who had the belief that this group of players could achieve this lofty goal. From the start, Plunkett infused a sense of belief and pride in the players and the response was equally forthcoming from the entire squad. Backboned by a number of former county players, Barry Corrigan, Daryl McConnell, Barry Cunningham, and minor star, Dane O'Dowd, Drumlane had the nucleus of a strong team. Solid work and commitment from the players saw the team get off to a creditable start as they began to record early season victories. Buoyed with this confidence Drumlane had put themselves into a position that they were never to relinquish throughout the year. Promotion was finally achieved on the 19th August when they entertained neighbours, Swanlinbar, in an all West Cavan derby. This was always going to be tricky and difficult game for Drumlane. With one of the biggest crowds ever seen at a Drumlane club game the tension was obvious from the start. A determination and eagerness to succeed helped to add to the tension of the event and with the visitors equally fired up in an effort to spoil the party, the home crowd were treated to an hour of finger biting right up to the final whistle. Swanlinbar got the better start and had two points registered before Drumlane through Mark Cunningham got his side on the score sheet. The influential Barry Corrigan settled the Drumlane ship with two points. With the sides exchanging points, Swanlinbar held a slender one point half time lead, 0-5 to 0-4. Tension packed second-half Swanlinbar produced a storming opening to the second half and registered three unanswered points to go 0-8 to 0-4 in front. Drumlane, who looked in trouble at this stage, were hit with a further setback when their ace marksman, Barry Corrigan had to be carried off with a leg injury. Just when it seemed that the visitors might swamp the home side, the true character of the O'Connell's came shinning through. Up stepped Barry Corrigan to hit three points to ensure that this game was far from over. Corrigan and Prior exchanged points and with only six minutes remaining a single point separated the sides. Tension filled the grounds as the large home crowd sensed victory could be achieved. Their cries for success were answered when with just five minutes remaining, up stepped Liverpool based, Darryl McConnell and from all of thirty metres hit a rocket of a shot that exploded in the back of the Swanlinbar net. While the visitors had the final score, a point, the unbridled joy from spectators, management and players alike was infectious when the referee sounded the final whistle to ensure that Drumlane would now be playing in the premier division. Drumlane: Robert Smith, Neil McCann, John O'Dowd, Cormac Fitzpatrick, Dane O'Dowd, Barry Corrigan, John Fitzpatrick, John Duignan, Darren Kelly, Barry Cunningham, Darryl McDonnell, Shane Kelly. Subs: Nicholas Dolan for Barry Cunningham (inj.); Padraig Leddy for Darren Kelly. Expectations According to selector, Paul Fitzpatrick: "The task of playing in Division 1 is going to be tough assignment. For a team to come into this higher level of the game can be demanding. We know that we can cement our position in this division as we adapt to the game at this level. It will be important for us to get a good start. However, like everyone else at the club we are looking forward to coming year." Underage Football Work at underage is just as vibrant as the work done at senior level. On this subject the PRO points out that great work carried out by Vincent Connelly, Tony Lunny, Francis Tubman, Brian Seagrave, Malachy O'Reilly, Martin Brady, Marty McAnna, Martin Teevan, Pat Kelly and all those who serve on juvenile committees. "The club cater for teams from U-10 to minor. At U-10 a successful run saw them capture the Stakelum - Cunningham Cup, the Kildallan tournament and the Fr. McGrath cup. This was a heartening string of victorious for the youngest set of players at our club and augurs well for the future." U-10s: Conor McGovern, Killian McKiernan, Michael Reilly, Ryan Connelly, Ciara Reilly, Seamus King, James Dolan, Ciaran Seagrave, Jordan Miller, Jason Burns, Declan Lunny, Donal Monaghan, Conor Flynn, Phillip King, Finnan Janiewioz, Michael Lynch, Killian Hands, Declan Burns, Killian Tubman, Ciaran King, Shane Dolan, Conor Connelly. At U-12 Drumlane had a very good run in the league only to lose out to Shercock at the semi-final stage on a scoreline of 5-16 to 4-17, after extra time. This proved to be the best game of the competition with the final result in doubt right up to the final whistle. At U-16 level, Drumlane joined up with neighbouring club Belturbet to form Erne Gaels. Playing in Division 1, they made it to the semi-final stages before exiting. Playing in the top grade held little fear for the young Drumlane players as Darragh Brady, Darragh Seagrave, Donal O'Connor, Fergal Brady and Gearoid McGuire all turned in excellent performances. Drumlane exited from the minor league semi-final when they gave way to 'old rivals', Belturbet and it was the same opposition who overcame them in the championship after a replay. The club's young guns reached four semi-finals and had a number of the players called into the county development squad. At Gary Tubman and Conor Lunny (U14); Daragh Brady and Daragh Seagrave (U-15); Donal O'Connor (U-16) and Dane O'Dowd (county minors) were all seen in Breffni Blue in 2006. Scor na nOg Success was not just the preserve of the football fraternity at Drumlane as the club's representative at the Scor na nOg emerged winners of the Question Time event. The Drumlane team was: Darragh Seagrave, Donal O'Connor and Fergal. Ladies While the men at the club were forging ahead, the ladies took it to another level when two of their members, Laura Corrigan and Claire Kearns were selected as members of TG4's Underdogs team. Six months of gruelling work paid for the O'Connell ladies as both lined out for the televised match against All Ireland ladies champions, Cork at Pairc Ui Rinn. Drumlane, who have a vibrant ladies section of the club, amalgamate with neighbours, Belturbet to form Erne Gaels where they play in the senior division 1 league and championship. Chairman's 11th Consecutive Term At the recent AGM, Ciaran O'Reilly, was elected for his eleventh consecutive year as Chairman. Ciaran has been a driving force within the club for many years and was one of the leading figures behind the present new set-up at Milltown. His work and energy epitomizes what Drumlane are all about and with the opening of the splendid new complex and promotion to Division 1 is just reward for this dedicated O'Connell's man. No doubt, the tireless Ciaran, will be hoping to bring all his energies to bear on the club for 2007 when they commence their sojourn in Division 1. Hurling History for the year was completed when the club's U-12 team overcame Kingscourt Stars in the shield final at Kingspan Breffni Park. The aspiring young hurlers from the club had six points to spare at the end winning by 3-2 to 1-2. This was the first time in the history of the Drumlane club that a team won a hurling title. Drumlane: Jeffrey Burke, Francis Lunny, Seamus King, John Seagrave, Fergal Ftizpatrick, Ciaran Keaney, Jamie Donohoue, James Dolan, Ciaran Seagrave, Phillip King, Ryan Connelly, Padraig Dolan, Conor Connelly, Donal Reilly, Declan Lunny, Ciara Reilly, Conor McGovern, Shona Gaffney, F. Millar. Tweet

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