Match report
The Dromintee minor boys class of 2025 finally achieved their holy grail last night winning a first minor championship in the clubs 138 year history.
The manner in which they did so in such a controlled, calculated and superbly coached display meant they were rarely troubled in their win at the Athletic Grounds.
Dromintee entered the game without three of their spine players Gavin O’Rourke, Michael Walker & Diarmaid O’Rourke all of whom have long term injuries but the strength in depth of the squad was such that there was seamless integration with the three replacements.
The template for the game was set in the first eight minutes whereby Dromintee raced into a five point lead with four different scorers Michael O’Neill, Calvin Mooney (2) Fionn Toale and Oisin Byrne. Their pattern of controlled possession meant Clann Eireann could not get a foothold in any sector of the pitch and the subsequent points from Ronan Martin and Fergus Toale epitomised both the coaching style and the footballing superiority of the South Armagh lads with runs timed to perfection and defenders left trailing blue and white jerseys cutting at will from the right flank and supplied by the industrious driving runs of Keane McArdle and Scott Harris.
While Clann Eireann were unable to break the Dromintee rearguard marshalled by Jarlath O’Neill Conor Dunne Tomàs Fox and Charlie Fox they were forced to rely on frees to raise a white flag while Dromintee tagged on further scores from Oisin Byrne (2) Calvin Mooney (2) and Ronan Martin.
The frustration for the Lurgan boys only grew when a long range effort dipping over the crossbar was clawed back into play by James McBennett in the Dromintee goals. The final score of the first half from a Dromintee perspective came from the boot of Michael O’Neill who was simply superb across the hour, conducting the orchestra up front , probing the defensive structure and finding pockets of space in a commanding performance. At the half time whistle Dromintee held a 13-4 lead.
To their credit Clann Eireann showed some resolve at the start of the second half helped by a temporary dip in the Dromintee standards when a poor turnover allowed the Lurgan side counterattack and ended with the ball poked into the Dromintee net to reduce the gap six points. An Oisin Byrne free was cancelled out by a Clann Eireann point which was again the result of a basic error on the part of Dromintee but two quick fire scores from Michael O’Neill settled the side and left the score at 16-8 twelve minutes into the second period.
Any chance of a Clann Eireann comeback disappeared in a three minute spell as McBennett pulled off an excellent close range save low to his left and a Dylan McCoo effort from distance cannoned off the crossbar.
A Finn Campbell free reduced the deficit to six but the defining score of the second half came nineteen minutes in when Fionn Toale ghosted into space inside the D and his deft chip dipped viciously and nestled neatly in the back of the Clann Eireann net to put Dromintee nine clear with eleven minutes left on the clock.
As Clann Eireann heads and hearts dipped and their workrate drained Dromintee went for glory and killed the game off with scores from captain Conor Laverty, Oisin Byrne and Fergus Toale.
Oisin Gallagher, Daithi McCreesh and Diarmaid O’Rourke entered the fray as the clock ticked towards full time and there was a just enough time for another exchange of points which Oisin Byrne hitting his sixth score of the night.
The final whistle was met with a mixture of celebration, satisfaction and a sense of relief that a group that had promised so much and delivered so often had finally realised their potential in bringing a minor championship back to the Adavoyle Road.
Defensively secure, controlled in transition and patient in attack the Dromintee side had eight different scorers on the night ( Oisin 0:06, Calvin 0:04, Michael 0:04 Fionn 1:01, Ronan 0:02 Fergus 0:02, Conor Laverty 0:01 Odhran 0:01).
The team, management and indeed the club would like to offer their thanks to Malachy and Sinead Byrne and Tievecrom Fuels for their unfailing support of these boys.
Conor Laverty goes down in the record books as the first minor captain to lift the blue ribbon trophy for the club which owes an enormous debt of gratitude to the coaching team of Aidan, Kevin and Steven.
The Dromintee minor boys class of 2025 finally achieved their holy grail last night winning a first minor championship in the clubs 138 year history.
The manner in which they did so in such a controlled, calculated and superbly coached display meant they were rarely troubled in their win at the Athletic Grounds.
Dromintee entered the game without three of their spine players Gavin O’Rourke, Michael Walker & Diarmaid O’Rourke all of whom have long term injuries but the strength in depth of the squad was such that there was seamless integration with the three replacements.
The template for the game was set in the first eight minutes whereby Dromintee raced into a five point lead with four different scorers Michael O’Neill, Calvin Mooney (2) Fionn Toale and Oisin Byrne. Their pattern of controlled possession meant Clann Eireann could not get a foothold in any sector of the pitch and the subsequent points from Ronan Martin and Fergus Toale epitomised both the coaching style and the footballing superiority of the South Armagh lads with runs timed to perfection and defenders left trailing blue and white jerseys cutting at will from the right flank and supplied by the industrious driving runs of Keane McArdle and Scott Harris.
While Clann Eireann were unable to break the Dromintee rearguard marshalled by Jarlath O’Neill Conor Dunne Tomàs Fox and Charlie Fox they were forced to rely on frees to raise a white flag while Dromintee tagged on further scores from Oisin Byrne (2) Calvin Mooney (2) and Ronan Martin.
The frustration for the Lurgan boys only grew when a long range effort dipping over the crossbar was clawed back into play by James McBennett in the Dromintee goals. The final score of the first half from a Dromintee perspective came from the boot of Michael O’Neill who was simply superb across the hour, conducting the orchestra up front , probing the defensive structure and finding pockets of space in a commanding performance. At the half time whistle Dromintee held a 13-4 lead.
To their credit Clann Eireann showed some resolve at the start of the second half helped by a temporary dip in the Dromintee standards when a poor turnover allowed the Lurgan side counterattack and ended with the ball poked into the Dromintee net to reduce the gap six points. An Oisin Byrne free was cancelled out by a Clann Eireann point which was again the result of a basic error on the part of Dromintee but two quick fire scores from Michael O’Neill settled the side and left the score at 16-8 twelve minutes into the second period.
Any chance of a Clann Eireann comeback disappeared in a three minute spell as McBennett pulled off an excellent close range save low to his left and a Dylan McCoo effort from distance cannoned off the crossbar.
A Finn Campbell free reduced the deficit to six but the defining score of the second half came nineteen minutes in when Fionn Toale ghosted into space inside the D and his deft chip dipped viciously and nestled neatly in the back of the Clann Eireann net to put Dromintee nine clear with eleven minutes left on the clock.
As Clann Eireann heads and hearts dipped and their workrate drained Dromintee went for glory and killed the game off with scores from captain Conor Laverty, Oisin Byrne and Fergus Toale.
Oisin Gallagher, Daithi McCreesh and Diarmaid O’Rourke entered the fray as the clock ticked towards full time and there was a just enough time for another exchange of points which Oisin Byrne hitting his sixth score of the night.
The final whistle was met with a mixture of celebration, satisfaction and a sense of relief that a group that had promised so much and delivered so often had finally realised their potential in bringing a minor championship back to the Adavoyle Road.
Defensively secure, controlled in transition and patient in attack the Dromintee side had eight different scorers on the night ( Oisin 0:06, Calvin 0:04, Michael 0:04 Fionn 1:01, Ronan 0:02 Fergus 0:02, Conor Laverty 0:01 Odhran 0:01).
The team, management and indeed the club would like to offer their thanks to Malachy and Sinead Byrne and Tievecrom Fuels for their unfailing support of these boys.
Conor Laverty goes down in the record books as the first minor captain to lift the blue ribbon trophy for the club which owes an enormous debt of gratitude to the coaching team of Aidan, Kevin and Steven.
