Drumgath support for Mournemen
September 16, 2010Football fever has gripped Down ahead of the county's All-Ireland final showdown with Cork on September 19.
It has been an extraordinary journey for James McCartan's side who have improved incrementally with each game this year and are now just 70 minutes away from lifting the Sam Maguire for the first time since 1994 and the sixth time in all. While Down have been producing successful underage teams in recent years, no-one could have predicted them reaching the All-Ireland final at the start of the season. And as the record books show, they are very difficult to beat when they get into a final.
"We've won five All-Ireland finals out of five and hopefully it'll be six out of six after next Sunday," says Drumgath clubman Sean McAvoy, who heads up the Newry-based building firm Calmor Properties.
"Down's run to the final has been unexpected, even though they had the look of a team that could make an impact at the start of the year. What James McCartan has done since he became manager is gel the players from the successful minor and under 21 teams with the fellas who have been there for the past five or six years or more. He has got the maximum out of every player and has them playing with a swagger you'd associate with Down teams of old.
"This is a new team with a new manager and if they win this All-Ireland, they could go on to win a couple more. But we'd happily settle for one at the moment," he adds.
The Mournemen have lost just two games this year - to Armagh in the National League Division 2 final and Tyrone in the Ulster championship semi-final - and Sean feels such consistency makes them serious All-Ireland contenders.
"Getting consistent performances used to be a problem for Down, but not anymore," he enthuses.
"Usually the team that wins the All-Ireland might only lose one or two games in the whole year so Down are certainly on the right track. They announced their arrival on the big stage with that brilliant All-Ireland quarter-final performance against Kerry and proved that it was no fluke by beating Kildare to book their place in the final. They got the rub of the green against Kildare, especially when Kalum King deflected that last-minute shot for a goal onto the crossbar, but I think they played the better football overall and it would have been a travesty had they lost.
"There has been a great buzz in the county ever since and everyone is just looking forward to the final now and getting ready to travel down to Croke Park."
While he accepts that Cork are favourites to lift the Sam Maguire, Sean is convinced that Down can beat them.
"The underdogs' tag has served Down well all year and I'm expecting them to revel in the role once again on Sunday," he says.
"You have to give Cork credit, they are back in their third All-Ireland final in four years and have amassed a huge amount of experience in that time. But they haven't played that well so far this year and I think the old doubts will start to creep in if Down get on top of them early on.
"Down always seem to play with confidence and a swagger when they get into Croke Park and won't be fazed by the occasion. James McCartan won two All-Irelands as a player and will ensure that they are in the right frame of mind going out. As much as I respect Cork, I'd be more worried if it was Kildare we were facing in the final. There's a lot of pressure on Cork to perform and hopefully Down will be able to exploit any doubts or weaknesses they might have."
Sean wore the St. Patrick's, Drumgath colours for 20 years, but the only major honour he won in that time was a junior championship medal. The club was formed in 1966, with players in the parish having previously played under the Rathfriland's Erin's Own and Barnmeen banners. While success on the playing field hasn't been that plentiful, Drumgath have excelled in Scor down through the years. The club has also produced many outstanding administrators, most notably Gerry Fitzmaurice and the late Felix Darby. When Down last won the All-Ireland in '94, Drumgath was represented on the panel by Barry Hynes, while Jackie Lynch and Paudie Downey were members of last year's squad when Ross Carr was manager.
Drumgath are currently managed by the legendary Mickey Linden from neighbouring club Mayobridge. They compete in the Down intermediate championship and, at the time of writing, were in line for promotion to Division 2 of the All-County League. The club boasts vibrant underage and ladies football sections and is currently putting the finishing touches to its new state-of-the-art clubhouse.
Sean's company Calmor Properties are the proud sponsors of the St. Patrick's under 14 football team. His two sons Mitchell (10) and Glen (five) play for the under 11 and under 8s respectively. Calmor Properties also advertise in Mayobridge's match programme on account of their Owen Roe scheme, which is a development of luxury family homes, being located next door to the pitch.
Established by Sean in 2002, Calmor Properties Ltd has grown into one of Northern Ireland's leading property development companies. The company, which employs Down footballer Ronan Sexton, offers a range of services including housing and commercial developments, new builds, conversions, house alterations, refurbishments and flat renovation. All of Calmor's work is carried out by a team of qualified tradesmen to the highest specification using only the highest quality materials.
Sean is also co-owner of The Bridge Bar in Newry along with his brother Colum who is proprietor of The Whistledown Hotel in Warrenpoint. The Bridge Bar, which is managed by Sean's wife Mandy, was previously owned by the late Michael Toner and his wife Bernie and is a popular watering hole with Mourne County supporters. It also houses a large amount of Down GAA memorabilia dating back to the glory years of the 1960s.
SUPPORTED BY:
THE WHISTLEDOWN HOTEL
RAYMAC HARDWARE & HIRE LTD.
LEO CONNELL PAINTING
MOURNE WINDOWS
TURLEY BROS.
MACKINS ANIMAL FEEDS
BRIDGE BAR Tweet
