Last Thursday evening saw our U16 Boy's take on league champions Cullyhanna in what was a eagerly awaited Division 1 Championship Final encounter in the Athletic Grounds.
Both team’s met at the same stage of their U13 competition back in 2021 with the Dromintee lads running out winners on that occasion.
Conditions last Thursday evening in the Athletic Grounds were perfect with a large Dromintee crowd present, with most in attendance agreeing it was a game of two halves.
For the Dromintee lads the game in the first half was very frustrating with the opposition committing 11-12 men behind the ball which proved hard to break down.
The early exchanges saw Cullyhanna take control of the game with their midfielder Tiarnan ONeill opening the Cullyhanna encounter. Dromintee's opener came off the left boot of Charlie Fox who broke down the left flank and drove the ball between the posts from a very acute angle. Both teams exchanged scores in the first half with the Dromintee lads going in at half time 2 points down with Ronan Martin 1-01 keeping the Dromintee lads within touching distance leaving the Half time score Dromintee 1-02 to Cullyhanna's 1-04.
The first half stats might suggest that Dromintee had their fair share of opportunities for the game to be closer given that Cullyhanna registered 3 wides to Dromintee's 8 which were a combination of wides and balls dropping short.
The 2nd half saw the Dromintee lads take more control of the game by being more patient on the ball and ensuring that the ball was moved at pace through the hands. This composure paid off as it lead to the first score of the 2nd half, where a Ronan Martin left foot delivery in to the square was met by Peter Rice's aerial charge and ended up in the back of the Cullyhanna net putting the Dromintee lads in to a one point lead which they wouldn't surrender for the remainder of the game.
Defensively our full back line of Oisin McCrink, Reece Kelly and Aodhan ONeill used their pace to cut out ball, time and time again and they used Tomas Fox to drive out of our defence to set up the composed attacking football that Jarlath ONeill, Peter Rice, Emmett Mullen, Ollie Rice and Charlie Fox showed in the middle third. Inside Jack Casey with Gavin ORourke in the early exchanges worked hard to win ball.
The 2nd half positional changes and the introduction of Jake Mooney for Emmett Mullen and Ben McCoy for Ollie Rice provided fresh legs to help close out what was a very tight encounter. Both players substituted had put in a solid shift.
Following score exchanges and normal time pretty much up on the clock, the game hung in the balance on a score line of Dromintee 2-04 to Cullyhanna's 1-06. Ferocious defending saw Dromintee conceed a free with time nearly up which Cullyhanna took and luckily for the Dromintee men went wide off the post.
The resulting kick out was won in the middle of the field by Scott Harris who took the mark and moved the ball at pace into Oisin Byrne who drove towards goal before off loading to Peter Rice who was fouled on the Cullyhanna 21. Oisin Byrne sloted what was his 3rd of 4 points on the evening across the bar to open up a slender lead.
Subsequent injury time score's came off the boots of Peter Rice and Oisin Byrne which allowed the Dromintee lads to secure back to back U16 Championship titles on a score line of 2-07 to 1-06.
Management would like to thank the large Dromintee crowd for their support on the evening and to the parents for the on going support they provide our players.
Thanks to team physio Colm ONeill who supported the team on the evening.
We would also like to acknowledge and thank our sponsors of Tievecrum Fuels and Casey Argi.
Both team’s met at the same stage of their U13 competition back in 2021 with the Dromintee lads running out winners on that occasion.
Conditions last Thursday evening in the Athletic Grounds were perfect with a large Dromintee crowd present, with most in attendance agreeing it was a game of two halves.
For the Dromintee lads the game in the first half was very frustrating with the opposition committing 11-12 men behind the ball which proved hard to break down.
The early exchanges saw Cullyhanna take control of the game with their midfielder Tiarnan ONeill opening the Cullyhanna encounter. Dromintee's opener came off the left boot of Charlie Fox who broke down the left flank and drove the ball between the posts from a very acute angle. Both teams exchanged scores in the first half with the Dromintee lads going in at half time 2 points down with Ronan Martin 1-01 keeping the Dromintee lads within touching distance leaving the Half time score Dromintee 1-02 to Cullyhanna's 1-04.
The first half stats might suggest that Dromintee had their fair share of opportunities for the game to be closer given that Cullyhanna registered 3 wides to Dromintee's 8 which were a combination of wides and balls dropping short.
The 2nd half saw the Dromintee lads take more control of the game by being more patient on the ball and ensuring that the ball was moved at pace through the hands. This composure paid off as it lead to the first score of the 2nd half, where a Ronan Martin left foot delivery in to the square was met by Peter Rice's aerial charge and ended up in the back of the Cullyhanna net putting the Dromintee lads in to a one point lead which they wouldn't surrender for the remainder of the game.
Defensively our full back line of Oisin McCrink, Reece Kelly and Aodhan ONeill used their pace to cut out ball, time and time again and they used Tomas Fox to drive out of our defence to set up the composed attacking football that Jarlath ONeill, Peter Rice, Emmett Mullen, Ollie Rice and Charlie Fox showed in the middle third. Inside Jack Casey with Gavin ORourke in the early exchanges worked hard to win ball.
The 2nd half positional changes and the introduction of Jake Mooney for Emmett Mullen and Ben McCoy for Ollie Rice provided fresh legs to help close out what was a very tight encounter. Both players substituted had put in a solid shift.
Following score exchanges and normal time pretty much up on the clock, the game hung in the balance on a score line of Dromintee 2-04 to Cullyhanna's 1-06. Ferocious defending saw Dromintee conceed a free with time nearly up which Cullyhanna took and luckily for the Dromintee men went wide off the post.
The resulting kick out was won in the middle of the field by Scott Harris who took the mark and moved the ball at pace into Oisin Byrne who drove towards goal before off loading to Peter Rice who was fouled on the Cullyhanna 21. Oisin Byrne sloted what was his 3rd of 4 points on the evening across the bar to open up a slender lead.
Subsequent injury time score's came off the boots of Peter Rice and Oisin Byrne which allowed the Dromintee lads to secure back to back U16 Championship titles on a score line of 2-07 to 1-06.
Management would like to thank the large Dromintee crowd for their support on the evening and to the parents for the on going support they provide our players.
Thanks to team physio Colm ONeill who supported the team on the evening.
We would also like to acknowledge and thank our sponsors of Tievecrum Fuels and Casey Argi.
