Magherafelt survived a storming comeback from reigning champions Dromintee to claim the Paul McGirr u16 Ulster title. It was a historic occasion for the Derry club as they won their club’s first ever Ulster club title.

They were pushed to the pin of their collar in a pulsating second half by a Dromintee side who had trailed by 13 at one stage. Playing with the aid of the breeze in the opening half Magherafelt looked sensational.

They carved open the Dromintee rearguard time and again. Only some stoic defending from Tomas Fox and goalkeeper Patrick Rice prevented the game being over by half time. Dromintee opened the scoring with a Ronan Martin free, but this was the only lead they had.

Magherafelt overcame early nerves to storm into the game with a great effort from captain Kian Maynes. Shortly after, he earned a penalty, being taken down in the square, the resulting kick was brilliantly saved by Rice.

Tony O’Hagan and rampaging midfielder Ronan Conway put their side three ahead. Lorcan Higgins was having an excellent first half, causing all kinds of trouble with his direct running. One such run set up Daultagh Donnelly for Magherafelt’s first goal.

Dromintee comeback

Magherafelt added points from Conway, Maynes and Michael Lavery, who had stepped up from his sweeper role. One in reply from Dromintee’s Oisin Byrne left the half time score 2-06 to 0-2.

At this stage the game looked all but over, Dromintee were struggling to keep tabs on the Derry champions. A third goal, this time from Donnelly, on the restart emphasized that fact, Higgins once again instrumental in the buildup. 

However, things were to change in emphatic style with Fox, Aodhan and Jarlath O’Neill, Scott Harris and full forward Gavin O’Rourke in particular showing leadership beyond their years. They drove at the Magherafelt rearguard as the game turned dramatically.

Martin pointed before Dromintee got their first major. Jack Casey palmed to the net after great work from Oisin Byne and O’Rourke. This gave the Dromintee support a lift as the noise levels in the Canon Breen stand reached a crescendo.

Constant waves of attacks reigned in on the Magherafelt goal as the 2023 champions gave their all in. Martin lofted one over from distance and then Casey powered through several tackles before finding the top corner.

Final few minutes

The only saving grace for Magherafelt was their highly talented forward line who nicked the odd score at the other end. Points from Maynes and Tony O’Hagan provided temporary relief as the pressure never relented.

Martin and Byrne pointed for Dromintee, and then full back Fox lifted the crowd even further overturning an attack and storming the full length of the field before being upended for Bryne to convert another free.

The inspirational Jarlath O’Neill knocked a point from outside the 45 as the comeback of all comebacks looked on. With the lead reduced now to just three-points Magherafelt needed leaders to step up.

Leacock, Michal Higgins and Tobias Beattie all found the answers. A converted O’Hagan free from the wing relieved the pressure slightly before Conway notched another score for the Armagh champions.

Magherafelt looked set to put the final nail in the coffin with Leacock going through. But he was denied by a diving save from Rice, with Conway knocking the rebound over the bar. Now trailing by four, Dromintee needed a goal and came so close to getting it.

Full forward O’Rourke gathered the ball at the 45, turned and drove towards the goal. A dummy left two Magherafelt defenders reaching for thin air, but his rasping shot went just over the bar.

Maynes and Donnelly got the insurance points in the dying seconds before Sean Hurson’s final whistle signaled unadulterated joy as the red army invaded the field. It was a game that will be remembered for a long time.

Football played at its best with scores from the top drawer, there is doubt some of the talent on the field for both teams will go on to represent their counties soon. A historic occasion for the Magherafelt club and an elated Magherafelt manager Kevin Purvis was understandably proud of what it meant to his club.

“I have been involved with them since U12 and some of the management team has been taking them from they were 5 or 6 years old, to get to this stage as Ulster champions its just unbelievable, but it’s all down to the boys and everything they have put into it,” said Purvis.  

Winning boss

“The second half was tough, really tough, we got a bit of a scare. We had to work for it and show character, fair play to Dromintee they have some excellent players, and they really tested us to the limit.

“Our boys dug deep, and they deserve every last bit of this. It’s a special group of lads, they have won seven out of seven trophies these last two years, but this was the toughest of all. 

“We are gutted for Emmett Spiers who lost out on today through injury, he has had some rotten luck with injuries, but the other lads stepped up for Emmett.

“The club and the players will take a massive boost from this going forward, the first Magherafelt side to win an Ulster Club title, no one can ever take that away from them.”

Deserving winners of the Paul McGirr Ulster U16 Club Championship, they will now set their sights on the St. Paul’s U18 tournament in the coming weeks with six of this team featuring in the starting lineup.