Success is the key word for Drumhowan this year not only in the Senior ranks but in all age groups with Drumhowan winning a total of 6 finals overall- Senior Championship, Junior B league, Minor league, U16 league, U 14 league, U12 shield. It is safe to say that this has been a great year for the club, the highlight being obtaining the Packie Boylan cup on Sunday 30th September in Scotstown. It was, however, a year when we proved how difficult it is to win a double, with three of our teams narrowly failing in their attempts.
Seniors- Drumhowan won the Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship with a deserved one-point win over Emyvale in Sunday’s final at Scotstown. Colm Lambe scored 1-5 for Drumhowan, who overcame the concession of three goals, including two in the space of a minute, towards the end of the third quarter to secure a quick return to Intermediate football. It wasn’t a one-man show, however, as Kevin and Kieran Mooney, Kieran McElroy, John Paul O’Neill and David Millar also played central roles in a great team effort. Colm Lambe deservedly won the man of the match award for this game shortly before Kieran Mooney proudly lifted the cup for the club. This was not the only success for the Senior Team as they also claimed 3rd place in the League, guaranteeing a place in the League semi-final against Clones. Unfortunately a place in the final and the possibility of a double was not to be and they were defeated on the day by a fired-up Clones team.
Bs- The Junior B team added to the club’s success this year also by reaching both the Championship and League finals. Blayney proved to be the stronger team on Sunday 17th of June in Blackhill. Drumhowan put up a strong fight throughout but Blayney won the O Duffy cup with a score line of 16 points to Drumhowan’s 1-6. The League was a different story for the club as Drumhowan topped the table with a total of 23 points with Cremartin in second place on a total of 19 points. The boys overcame Ballybay in an intense and controversial semi-final game and won by 4 points after extra time. Drumhowan overcame Cremartin in an exciting final on Saturday 6th October, again in Blackhill. The boys dominated the game throughout and defeated Cremartin by 7 points; final score was 1-14 to 7 points.
Under-age teams – This has been a very successful year on the Minor and Juvenile front for the club. Our Minor team amalgamated with Ballybay and played under the St. Pat’s banner in Division 3. The team won the Div. 3 league title where they defeated Corduff in the final but, with their captain out injured, they went out of the championship at the semi final stage to the same opposition by a point after extra time. Our Under 16 side also played as St. Pat’s and they also took home silverware when defeating Cremartin in great style in the Division 3 league Final to claim the Curley Cup, (named in memory of two Drumhowan brothers killed in a car crash). They too exited the championship at the semi final stage when they went under to Aughnamullen –also by a point after extra time. Our Under 14 squad made it to the final of the Division 5 league which they won over Fergal O Hanlons. Our Under 12 team made it to the Spring League final where Maghercloone defeated us. Our youngsters, however, went on to win the Division 3 Shield final by defeating Clontibret in the final. Our under 8 and under 10 sides played in all Go Games Blitzes all season and we had two under 8 teams most days. Each Monday evening since February 6th there have been up to 70 children attending coaching sessions from age 5 to 14. Thanks to all our managers and coaches who give up so much time to look after our teams and our young players. The future looks bright.
Senior Club Official- Honours came our way off the field as well. Our Chairman Gerry Finnegan was named Club Official of the Year for 2011. Gerry has spent a lifetime in the service of the club, starting as a juvenile player, representing the county at Minor and Under 21 level and becoming a dedicated coach and administrator when he retired. Gerry’s award shows a commitment to doing things well which we hope is the hallmark of the club.
Scór na nÓg- Drumhowan were successful in Scór na nÓg this year also. The talent of many young people in the area was evident through many of the Scór na nÓg events that took place during the year. In the Scor na nÓg Ulster semi final Drumhowan GFC was represented in the Musical Group, Set Dancing and Question Time sections and did themselves proud. The Question Time team of Stephen & Colm Mc Mahon and Patrick Duffy emerged as winners and went forward to represent the Club in the Ulster Final in Galbally, Co Tyrone on Saturday, 14 January, 2012. It was a strange event where the team were mistakenly dropped two points and the winners’ prize given to Tyrone, but after much appealing and a rather over-the –top threat of legal action from the Tyrone club, some semblance of justice was done when Drumhowan were allowed to go forward as joint winners of Ulster to compete in the All-Ireland Finals where they finished third to an excellent Westmeath team.
Drumhowan were represented in the County Scór Sinsir also which place in Ardaghey on Saturday, 25 February at 7 p.m. The Club was represented in the Figure Dancing (Miriam Mc Mahon, Angela Duffy, Elaine Deery, Ashling Hughes, Pauline Grogan, Lorraine Maguire, Martina Walsh, Margaret Quinn), Solo Singing (Carmel Duffy), Recitation (Brendan Duffy) and Question Time (Anthony Brennan, Noel Duffy, Pat Bolger) Congratulations to Carmel Duffy who stood out and won the County Title in Scor Sinsir Solo Singing. Carmel then went forward to represent the Club and County in the Ulster Semi Final in Stradone, Co Cavan, but was just piped at the post, despite her fine performance. Carmel was a fine ambassador for the club throughout the year of Scor Sinsir and the club is very proud to have such a suberb representative.
Deaths
The club would like to express their sympathies to the Sullivan family, Latton on the death of their brother James who was laid to rest Newtowncunningham, Donegal. James wore the no. 2 jersey for Latton for many years. The club would like to wishes to express their deepest sympathies to the Murnaghan family on the death of Harry who passed away and to the Mc Ardle families, Castleblayney and Drumhowan on the death of Junior Mc Manus, Castleblayney. Junior was a stalwart for Castleblayney and corner back for Castleblayney in the late 60s and early 70s. Sympathies also to the Mc Bennett family, Carrickmacross and Duffy family, Drumhowan on the death of Mary Mc Bennett, nee Duffy, sister of Paddy and Jim Duffy who played with Drumhowan in the 60s. Mary was from Shean and married a local man Patsy mc Bennett and they lived in Carrickmacross. We also sympathise with the family of the late Vincent Tavey who passed away recently. The club would like to express our deepest sympathy to the family of the late Paddy Mc Vicar whom we met on the field on a number of occasions. Paddy was a gentleman on and off the field. And finally sympathies to Peter and Mary Duffy in the death of Mary’s brother Gene Traenor, Scotstown.
Marriages
Many congratulations to Catherine Mulligan, son of Joe and Dympna Mulligan, Cabra who married Colm Mulligan on Friday 5th October, with a wonderful reception in the Errigal Country House Hotel, Cootehill. We wish Colm and Catherine a lifetime of happiness together.
Drumhowan Olympics
Great fun and enjoyment was had on Sunday the 17th of June at the Drumhowan Olympics and the weather held out very well. Many thanks to all who attended and participated in the many games that was on offer on the day. There were many actvities at the Olympics, 8 pin bowling, relay races, duck races to name but a few. The highlight of the day was the half and half ladies v men game and the men learned a lot from the ladies!!
Club Maith
Last November Drumhowan received the Club Maith Gold Mark Award. We were the 1st Club in Monaghan to receive this and only the 6th in Ulster. Club Maith is an Ulster GAA derived initiative which aims to acknowledge the unrivalled commitment and time invested by GAA volunteers to their GAA club. The Club Maith is divided into 4 awards- bronze, silver, gold and platinum. We received a gold award which is presented to clubs which are fully-integrated, offering at least one male and one female Gaelic game as well as taking part in Scór. A Gold Award portrays an excellent GAA club, fully integrated with good facilities. The fact that Drumhowan obtained a Gold Mark Club Maith Award indicates the level of hard work that was put in by all members of the club. They went through a difficult process with endless hours of hard work and commitment to obtain this award. It marks the strenuous efforts that were put into making our club successful and highlights the dedication of all club members over the past number of years. This was a huge achievement for our club as we were the only club in the County to receive this award and it proves that in Drumhowan, teamwork is evident both on and off the pitch.
