Our Senior men played Crossmaglen on Sunday afternoon in perfect conditions. This was a must win game for the Dromintee lads to ensure they stayed in contention for league success knowing that a number of teams before Sunday’s game were well placed to take the league title including Crossmaglen who had an outside chance.

There was an air of excitement and anticipation present around the club from early morning as we hosted the Mickey O'Grady Blitz. With the overlap of the blitz and the Dromintee lads arriving for their prematch warm up, there was a sense of real club spirit starting to build a head of steam and a belief that the lads would do themselves justice.

From the throw in, both teams played with passion and commitment with Dromintee doing most of the attacking in the first 5 minutes.

However it would be Cross to register the first score from a free kicked by Rian ONeill. Dromintee had a few missed chances early on but it was a well worked score from the boot of Cathal ONeill which steadied the ship for the Dromintee lads and sent them in 0-01 to Crossmaglen 0-03 at the 1st water break.

Dromintee resumed play after the 1st water break with a sence of purpose and registered 1-03 to Crossmaglens 1-02 with 1-02 coming from the left boot of Oran Loughran and 0-01 coming from Garath Kilgallon before being replaced following a heavy knock. On the stroke of half time all that seperated the teams was a single point.

Both teams started the 2nd half with a cautious approach with both teams exchanging scores during this period.

Dromintee scores coming from the boots of Shae McArdle who registered 0-02 in quick succession and Aaron Boyle 0-01 leveling the game at 1-07 a piece with only minutes on the clock before the 2nd water break, however it would be Cross who would register the last two scores of this period leaving the score line reading Dromintee 1-07, Crossmaglen 1-09.

It was the final 15 minutes which produced the most exciting football with Dromintee introducing a number of subs.

These substitutes would play a crucial role in scores secured in the dying moments of the game. During this period Cross went into a 6 point lead but the Dromintee lads dug deep and produced some fine points from the boots of Cathal O’Neill, Niall Courtney, Oran Loughran and with Ronan Quinns effort from 30 yards to the top corner of the net forcing an exceptional save from the Cross goal keeper who got his finger tip to push the ball across the bar.

With the clock running down, Dromintee won the next ball from the Cross kickout which was delivered into Ryan Hughes on the forty. From there, Ryan delivered a high ball onto the edge of the square and in the confusion of the Cross defence Darren Mc Kenna pushed the ball to the back of the Cross net.

With the game all square, Cross won the next kick out and moved up the field to secure what the visitors thought would be the winning score.

On the restart Dromintee worked the ball down the field with composure and purpose for the ball to be dropped into Niall Courtney who drove it to the back of the Cross net at which point the crowd erupted.

Before the home support could compose their emotions, the referee blew up the final whistle with Dromintee coming out winners on a score line of 3-11 to 2-12.

The lads have to do it all again this Sunday against Ballymacnab.

We would like to wish the whole team and management best wishes for the game ahead.