Drumhowan expecting tough Newtown test

By Colm Shalvey

Two years ago this weekend, Drumhowan had an Ulster Club JFC Final place very much within their sights, only to miss out in the most cruel fashion against Craigbane of Derry on penalties. They will have an opportunity to go a step further this Saturday when they take on Newtownbutler at Kingspan Breffni.

Some of Drumhowan’s young guns will have no memory of their club’s last Paul Kerr Cup win in 2008, but their experience of ’24 should stand them in good stead. They will also benefit from having their credentials tested more than their opponents so far this season, as even though they went through the Monaghan campaign unbeaten, they had to survive tests from teams like Currin, Blackhill and Aghabog, with the latter taking them to extra-time in the Monaghan JFC Final.

Drumhowan were dominant in their win over Rasharkin last time out, despite coughing up some soft scores towards the end that saw the Antrim side put a closer look on the scoreboard than there should have been.

Speaking after that game, Drumhowan manager Paddy Kelly admitted that the tough schedule over the previous few weeks had been challenging, saying: “The two weeks is massive for us. The last few weeks took its toll and we are just delighted to have two weeks to prepare for the next challenge [Newtownbutler]. Patrick Quinn picked up a niggle, his hip was a bit sore. Tom [Doherty] was tight, he had cramped up [Monaghan JFC decider against Aghabog], so it was good to get them out of there, they didn’t have to be out there any longer. Martin Quinn got a bang on the ribs and if it was tight in the last stretch, he probably could have come on, but we just decided not to push it.”

Kelly said his team were relishing the challenge of another provincial campaign: “The lads have spoken before about the feeling that they have unfinished business from a couple of years ago. They’re not fazed by what’s ahead of them, but there are good teams left at this stage, so we have our work to do. This is a good competition and we are going after it.”

Drumhowan will hope to have Martin Quinn back as their most likely candidate to mark Newtownbutler top scorer Dáire Chapman, who starred for Fermanagh’s U-20s early this year.

Diarmuid King, Ger O’Keefe and Kealan Fitzpatrick have also been regulars on the scoresheet for Colm Courtney’s side, who cruised through the Fermanagh JFC, racking up huge tallies in seeing off Brookeborough and Maguiresbridge.

The First Fermanaghs also had plenty to spare in their Ulster opener, where they added another double-digits victory against Kilclief from Down. Newtown will also be looking for big performances from midfielder Seán Conlon and wing-back Jason Flanagan, while Drumhowan will have been warned of the danger of conceding two-point frees by Lochlann King converting three of those last time out.

Drumhowan will expect a much tougher test than they got from Rasharkin, but if they get the best out of key men like Tom Doherty (who has hit 2-55 in their championship run), Caolán Reilly, Daragh McElearney and Martin Quinn, they can hold onto that winning feeling.