2020 finally drew to a close for Dromintee u13s in Abbey Park on Sunday evening, when the lads got the opportunity to complete a perfect season. Having come through the South Armagh campaign unbeaten last summer, North Armagh kingpins Clann Eireann stood as the final hurdle. Ten months on from their opening league game, Dromintee emerged comfortable 4-22 to 1-05 victors to be crowned County Champions.
The game opened in nervous fashion and the Lurgan boys settled quickest to register a couple of impressive scores from distance before Dromintee started to get their hands on more possession. The South Armagh champions edged ahead through a Fionnán Ó Tuathail goal and the remaining nerves dissipated as the first water break approached with a 1-05 to 0-03 lead.
Despite being overmatched physically in most areas of the field, Dromintee controlled possession and the flow of the game completely over the final three quarters of the contest. Clann Eireann added only one more score in each period, including a consolation goal before the final whistle. The Lurgan team’s difficulties in front of goal were a testament to the tackling and work ethic of the Dromintee panel.
The eventual winners’ bench made a significant contribution to the performance with Ronan Martin, Odhran Carnegie, Odhran McCann, Neil Evans and Kurt Conlon each demonstrating their unluckiness not to start along with Scott Harris, Peter Rice, Conor Graham and Cathal Rice. The last four will backbone the defence of this title in 2021.
The game finished at the same pace it started, despite the scoreline, as the winners played right to the final whistle – which brought huge relief to the parish after such a long wait for the final to be played.
Dromintee: James McBennett, Conor Dunne (c), Gavin O’Rourke, Daithi McCreesh, Fergus Toale, Conor Laverty (0-01), Charlie Fox, Keane McArdle, Diarmaid O’Rourke (0-06), Michael Walker, Michael O’Neill (0-01), Tomás Fox, Oisin Byrne (1-06), Oisin Gallagher (1-00), Fionnán Ó Tuathail (2-04). Odhran Carnegie, Kurt Conlon, Neil Evans, Conor Graham, Scott Harris, Ronan Martin, Odhran McCann, Cathal Rice, Peter Rice.
