Drumkeerin shock Gortletteragh to claim Division 3 title

After years of heartbreak in finals, Drumkeerin finally got across the line and against the odds too as they beat Senior championship side Gortletteragh to claim the Masonite Division 3 crown in Shane McGettigan Park last Saturday evening.

A goal in either half were the key scores as Drumkeerin also lost Tommy Rogan to a serious injury towards the end of the game, an injury that held up the conclusion of the contest for over 30 minutes before they could celebrate a famous win. What makes their victory all the more remarkable is that it came just six days after Drumkeerin defeated Cloone by a point thanks to an injury time goal so they now go up into Division 2 for 2024 as champions.

Gortletteragh started brightest with Jack Heslin opening the scoring in the fifth minute with a point from play from a very acute angle. Brendan Naughton doubled the lead moments later with a fine effort from distance. 

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Drumkeerin's first meaningful attack forced a save from Gortletteragh keeper Niall Tiernan but they got the first score 12 minutes in when Seamus McNama intercepted a short kickout and fed David Feeney for the score from close range.

Gortletteragh replied instantly at the other end with a  Francie Flynn free but a second Feeney score was followed by a Cathal McCauley point thanks to Francie Davitt's long delivery to tie the scores after 20 minutes.

Drumkeerin struck their first goal on 23 minutes, with a move that started in their own backline, that was finished to the net by Ryan McVeigh who had cut in along the endline and finished low past Niall Tiernan. 

That brought an urgency to Gortletteragh's play and they hit the next two scores  from Heslin and  Keoghan McGovern who fended off three Drumkeerin defenders to finish from close range.

Drumkeerin finished the half on the attack but couldn't extend the lead, Christopher McPartland's attempt on goal being saved and McCauley dragging a subsequent free well wide to leave them 1-3 to 0-5 ahead at the break.

A powerful overlapping run from Tommy Rogan saw him extend Drumkeerin's right after the break but Gortletteragh were back on level terms by the 36th minute courtesy of a brace or frees from Flynn. 

Both teams went in search of a lead score and it was a McCawley free nine minutes later that broke the deadlock. It was closely followed by their second goal two minutes later as they forced a turnover in their own half and a long ball to McPartland saw him turn his man and fire towards the bottom corner. 

The initial shot was well saved by Tiernan but the rebound fell kindly to McCawley who finished high to the net despite pressure from Evan Ward to put Drumkeerin  four points up. 

Another McCauley free pushed the gap out to five points with 13 minutes remaining. Gortletteragh were finding the Drumkeerin defence tough to breach and had to settle for a point from distance from sub Cathal Quinn, who swung over from wide on the clubhouse side of the field. 

Drumkeerin served up an instant response via Francie Davitt who landed a monster effort from wide on the same side minutes later to push the lead back out to five. Gortletteragh had the chance to set up a grandstand finish with four minutes left when Jack Heslin was taken down in the penalty area as he attempted to claim a delivery from Flynn but the Leitrim star fired the subsequent penalty over the bar as he looked for the top corner. 

Gortletteragh peppered the Drumkeerin goalmouth with direct ball as they looked for the goals with the clock running down. Play was stopped for over half an hour due an injury to Drumkeerin's Tommy Rogan. Referee Gareth Foley resumed play with three minutes remaining but the north Leitrim men's defence held out to claim the honours.

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DRUMKEERIN

Scorers: Cathal McCauley 1-3, 2f; Ryan McVeigh 1-0; David Feeney 0-2; Tommy Rogan & Francie Davitt 0-1

Team: Kevie Forde; Ryan Mc Veigh; Tommy Rogan; Ryan Gallagher; Luke Fee; Callum McTeigue; Ross Harrison; Francie Davitt; Declan Daly; Seamus McNama; David Feeney; Darragh Fallon; Christopher McPartland; Cathal McCawley; Darragh Flynn. Subs: Liam McManus for McPartland (54)

GORTLETTERAGH

Scorers: Jack Heslin (0-1 pen) & Francie Flynn (3f) 0-3 each;  Cathal Quinn, Brendan Naughton & Keoghan McGovern 0-1 each

Team: Niall Tiernan, Colm Duffy, Niall Woods, Oisin Niblock, Cian Mulvey, Gerard Campbell, Evan Ward, David Mulvey, Brendan Davis, John Reynolds, Francie Flynn, Brendan Naughton, Nathan Ward, Jack Heslin, Keoghan McGovern. Subs: Ryan Cunningham for D Mulvey (HT), Cathal Quinn for Ward (44), Eamonn Reynolds for C Mulvey (48)

Referee: Gareth Foley