The paths of Doohamlet and Tyholland may not have crossed all that often in championship action much less in finals but an indication of how close this match could be may be drawn from a meeting between these sides some 36 years ago when they net in the final of the junior football championship in 1974.

Tyholland were rated as the top junior club in Monaghan at that stage and they vindicated that rating when they took control of the final from the early stages and looked as if they would just simply steam roll their way to victory. However they had reckoned without the fighting spirit of Doohamlet who staged a memorable resurgence in the second-half to wipe out a13 points
deficit to leave the sides level at the finish, Doohamlet 3-8, Tyholland 3-8.

A couple of weeks later the sides were back at the Clontibret venue and this time it was Doohamlet who proved the more adept and they made the most of a couple of chances right at the very death to secure the junior championship for that year.

Doohamlet's trump card in the replay was Liam Keenan who came to his side's rescue with just two minutes to go when he fired in an equalising goal. In an all action finish Doohamlet then grabbed a dramatic winner when Noel Marray floated a high ball in from the right wing, Tyholland's Paddy Donnelly rose to punch the ball away but the clearance only went as far as Pet King who took possession and quickly lashed over the bar. The drama didn't end there though as Tyholland driven on by Eamon Donnelly came looking for an equaliser, Donnelly himself was fouled and he took the free himself but the ball fell short and the final whistle went as he had been advised that he had to score direct and saw Doohamlet who had staged a brilliant resurgence the first day to earn a draw made Tyholland pay a heavy price for not putting them away on day one. It finished Doohamlet 2-8, Tyholland 2-7. The teams that did duty in the 1974 junior final: Doohamlet: P McGuinness, G Malone, H Malone, M Connolly, E Connolly, P McAleer, M Marray, N Marray, J Connolly, L Keenan, T Duffy, P King, D Connolly, GMalone, P Finnegan. Tyholland: P Brady, S O'Brien, J McQuillan, TL Mullen, S Rooney, J Donnelly, A Farnan, P Donnelly, H McCormick, M Donnelly, S Treanor, T McMahon, S Grew, F Treanor, G Rushe. Tweet

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