Dolan's hammer Drum to complete historic 'Treble' season
SEAN DOLAN'S domination of Derry Junior football is complete after the Creggan club added the county's Junior Championship crown to the Division Five league title and Neal Carlin Cup at Celtic Park.
After a season few at Piggery Ridge could even have dreamt of back in January, Geoffrey McGonigle's charges now go in search of the Ulster club title and on Sunday's evidence, it would be difficult to back against them.
From the first whistle, the City men set about overwhelming a shell-shocked Drum 15 with a performance of pace, power and accuracy which Michael Burke's side simply had no answer to.
Superb in defence with the half-back trio of Ruairi McGurk, Joe Gallagher and Sammy Robinson instigating most attacks from deep inside their own half, Ciaran Wilkinson and Alan Grant easily won the midfield battle. In the forwards, Colm McConomy and free-taker Paul Loughery played supporting roles to the trickery of Kevin Nixon whose pace tore the Drum defence to shreds all afternoon.
In truth, there wasn't anything other than excellent performances in the red and white but you couldn't help feel for Drum who are a better side than Sunday suggested.
As the only team to defeat the champions all season, they had high hopes going into the game even without captain Donal Brolly and manager Burke will be hoping the nature of the defeat does not adversely effect his side ahead of next weekend's crucial promotion/relegation play-off with Limavady.
But Sunday was all about Dolan's and the end to a 67-year search for a Championship title.
When Dungiven legend McGonigle was surprisingly appointed two years ago, many scoffed at his suggestions concerning the huge pool of talent within the club. Those same sceptics are not scoffing now.
From the moment Colm McConomy met Darren McCreadie's superb third minute centre to fist past stranded Drum keeper Cahair O'Kane, there was only ever going to be one winner.
Two Loughery frees and an excellent McCreadie point from a pinpoint Sammy Robinson pass had Dolan's six points up by the 10th minute.
Another Loughery free was followed by a great turn and score from Gallagher as Drum continued to kick away possession and drop shots short into the gleeful arms of Dolan's keeper Conor Carlin, in for Mark 'Bam' McCleery.
McConomy added another point with a 22nd minute side-footed finish off the ground. Loughery completed the first half scoring with his fourth free of the half to leave it 1-7 to no score at the break.
Drum rallied after the break, two points from corner-forward Paddy Kelly and a Rory O'Reilly free reducing the deficit to seven. Any hopes of a dramatic fight back disappeared though with the 38th minute dismissal of substitute Stephen McLaughlin after he became involved in a fracas involving Wilkinson and Shane Burke.
The game was over as a contest with Dolan's second goal in the 45th minute. Nixon left a couple of Drum defenders trailing with another run down the left hand side before perfectly picking out substitute Mark Loughery who fisted into an unguarded net with his first touch.
Nixon rubbed salt into the Drum wounds two minutes later when he followed up after his first effort had been superbly saved by O'Kane to roll into an empty net to leave it 3-7 to 0-3 and game over.
Further points from Nixon and Billy Dobbins came either side of points from O'Reilly (2) Conor O'Kane and Shane Burke but the battle was long since won.
The final whistle brought the predictable scenes of celebration with suspended Dolan's captain Gary Cassidy joining team mates and supporters to cap a great season for the Creggan men.
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Weather for Derry
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 14 C to 24 C
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