Drinagh Rangers F.C. 2004/05

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DRINAGH DOUBLE CHAMPIONS AS THEY WIN PREMIER CUP
It was double the fun in Drinagh last Friday night as Drinagh added the Premier Cup to the Premier League Title for the season’s finale. Things could have been a lot worse for the home team as they only started the game with 9 players, Drinagh were waiting on some players to make the long journey home after the week. Pat White kept Drinagh in it with a timely tackle, but as more players filtered in and Drinagh managed to get to full strength it wasn’t long until they got a grip on the game.Eoin O’Donovan one of the finds of the season showed again tonight his power and class coming from midfield, latched onto a loose ball flicked it up with his right leg volleyed it with his left leg all in one movement and Drilled it all the way to the back of the net a truly remarkable goal from a player that looks to have a very bright future in the Drinagh Jersey. This is just what the doctor ordered as it forced Gunners to attack which left more and more gaps at the back and Drinagh capitalized when a combination between Gavin Daly and Eamonn Connolly set up Mike Doolan to pick his spot by the far post to ease Drinagh into a 2-0 lead. It was Doolan’s 30th goal of the season 4 of which came playing for the West Cork Team and at the end of a very entertaining game Doolan & Drinagh lifted their second cup in 5 days. On a season of Historic events and doubles it was for the first time in Drinagh’s History that 2 players shared the Player Of The Year Award they were JJ Hurley & Pat White, well done lads a well deserved award for 2 great players.

TEAM
JAMES O’REGAN,PAT-JOE O’DONOVAN,KARL McCARTHY,PAT WHITE,JJ HURLEY,DANIEL O’REGAN,GAVIN DALY,EOIN O’DONOVAN,MICHEAL O’DRISCOLL,EAMONN CONNOLLY,MIKE DOOLAN. SUBS USED
EAMONN CONNOLLY,ALAN SHORTEN,GAVIN BEAMISH.
TEAM MANAGEMENT DECLAN DEASY,DON HURLEY.

DRINAGH CROWNED KING’S OF WEST CORK WITH HISTORIC TREBLE.

Drinagh did today what was never done before in the West Cork League and that was to win the Premier League Three Years in a row.This display today from Drinagh was full of passion, flair but most of all hunger, hunger that usually lacks from Drinagh’s game on the bigger occasions. It was supposed to be Crossmahon’s day as they were the team being talked about how they went to Drinagh and beat them there and clawed themselves back in contention but it was evident from the start that Drinagh fancied the underdog tag and were desperate to write themselves into the History Books.Gavin Daly looked to have given Drinagh a dream start on the 11th minute as he slotted home from a Eamonn Connolly pass but Daly was adjudged to be offside.Daly was a tower of strength in midfield as he won the majority of the aerial battles and if he didn’t Daniel O’Regan was there to back him up fitting for O’Regan as he missed much of the start of the season as he was in America.Micheal O’Driscoll who normally plays center back was moved onto the wing today in a tactical change and he had a powerful display as he made many a good run down the flank and it was he who scored the only goal of the game on the 26th minute as Daly & Connolly battled for the ball in the area, but it spun out to O’Driscoll who drilled it with his left leg low past the keeper and into the bottom corner, this could be his most important goal he will ever score and it was his only goal he scored from open play this season im sure the bookmakers had big odds on him scoring. Daly nearly doubled the lead on half hour mark, his finish wasn’t inch perfect, he managed to send the keeper the wrong way but blazed past the post.O’Regan made a surging run from midfield but a he was just about to pull the trigger with the goal gaping a Crossmahon defender nicked in and averted the danger.It was a even game in the second half as both teams pressed for the next goal but with Pat White and Karl McCarthy outstanding at the back Crossmahon would have to come up with something special to breach the rock solid defense, and not to forget James O’Regan who’s concentration was impeccable throughout made some remarkable saves.In the end it was always going to be a game with very few goals as the pitch didn’t do justice to both teams who like to play open soccer on a bigger pitch but on the day Drinagh weren’t going to complain as the referee blew full time Drinagh had become History Makers, the fans, players, and coaches jumped, shouted and danced with joy as Drinagh were Crowned Premier League Champions 2004-2005, a Historic treble and a Historic achievement by all players who helped in the dream with the last 3 seasons. This result puts Drinagh down as one if not thee most consistent teams and clubs in the West Cork League.

TEAM
JAMES O’REGAN,PAT-JOE O’DONOVAN,KARL McCARTHY,PAT WHITE,JJ HURLEY,MICHEAL O’DRISCOLL,DANIEL O’REGAN,GAVIN DALY,EOIN O’DONOVAN,MIKE DOOLAN,EAMONN CONNOLLY. SUBS USED ADRIAN O’DRISCOLL - EAMONN CONNOLLY. TEAM MANAGEMENT DECLAN DEASY,DON HURLEY

DOUBLE DELIGHT SEE’S DRINAGH INTO FINAL.
Two goals from Mike Doolan sent Drinagh into the Premier Cup Final, but there were many incidents in this game before the final whistle blew. Drinagh dominated the most of the game but it didn’t take long before controversy struck Togher won a corner on the 10th minute and a scramble in the box led to a shot from the boot of a Togher player the ball bounced up and struck Mike Hurley on the hand who was guarding the back post, the referee blew the whistle and awarded a penalty to Togher and sent a bemused Hurley packing a very harsh decision but a decision that will cost Hurley dearly as he will have to sit out the playoff next Sunday through suspension. James O’Regan a utility player in many parts of the pitch this season was between the sticks again today a position he looks very comfortable in, he held his nerve for the penalty and held the ball from it as he guessed right and saved brilliantly. It was only on the 64th minute when the first goal of the game was scored when O’Regan took a free kick from the edge of the area and it soared to the edge of the box where Doolan hit it on the volley and it curled low into the bottom corner, which gave Drinagh a much deserved lead.Eamonn Connolly wasted a great chance to double the lead on the 71st minute as Daly put his clear on goal on Connolly went for power not placement and blasted his shot wide.Time was nearly up when Drinagh added a second O’Regan was in the thick of it again as he launched a Hugh kick out it bounced outside the Togher box and Doolan capitalized on poor defensive play as the keeper and the defender got muddled up he out jumped both and headed into the goal to put Drinagh into another final against the Carling Cup Champions Bantry Gunners.

DRINAGH GUN DOWN BANTRY IN THE LEAGUE.
Drinagh’s Karl McCarthy made his long awaited comeback from a broken ankle today and it didn’t take him long to get into the thick of the action, as he scored the opening goal of the game within 12 minutes of the start. Gunners were 2 down coming up to the half hour mark when one of their defenders handled the ball inside the box, Mike Hurley was spot on as he drove the ball into the bottom corner but nearing halftime Gunners managed to get one back which set up a very interesting second half. Drinagh pressed again from the restart and Mike Doolan got the Third when he latched onto a cross from Eamonn Connolly.Eoin O’Donovan came on as sub and showed the selectors why he is looking for a starting role each Sunday as he scored a great goal from the edge of the area with deadly accuracy, Gunners managed to double their lead and make the score line more respectable from their point of view, but it was a different Drinagh team that turned up today as to the previous Sunday this team showed the hunger and desire which is needed if they want to win the league this year, it finished Drinagh 4 Bantry Gunners 2.

YOUNGSTERS SHINE FOR DRINAGH
Drinagh has always had a very good underage policy and many players have come up from underage levels and played on the junior team and to much success aswell. It was in evidence again today when two young members of the squad got the vital goals to keep Drinagh’s assault on the title going, a goal in each half was enough to gather the points when on the 23rd minute of the game Pat-Joe O’Donovan cut in from the left wing and unleashed a thunderbolt into the top corner it curled and dipped in over the helpless keeper.On the 78th minute Mike Hurley curled in a corner and when the ball landed it fell to the feet of Eamonn Connolly who picked his spot and drilled home Drinagh’s second. It was comfortable for Drinagh after that, as they picked up another 3 points with 2 league games to go.

LOCAL DERBY END’S IN DRINAGH VICTORY.
Drinagh headed to Dunmanway to play Togher in the penultimate game of the season a victory here today would make things a lot easier for Drinagh in the last game of the season. Eamonn Connolly eased the nerves early on when he tapped in from close range from a Mike Hurley corner, Connolly got his second ten minutes later when he was put through with only the keeper to beat and dually did so slotting low past the keeper. The spot king Mike Hurley was at it again when he converted a penalty on the 68th minute, but there was time for one more when Gavin Daly controlled a Mike Doolan cross turned past his marker and fired home the fourth, it finished Drinagh 4 Togher 0.

ANOTHER DERBY END’S IN A DRINAGH VICTORY.
Skibbereen made the short journey up to Drinagh for the quarter final of the Premier Cup.It was always going to be a hard fought game as the visitors were desperate to all some silverware to the trophy cabinet in Skibbereen, but their hopes were dashed on the 23rd minute as Mike Doolan got back on the goal trail when he headed a Mike Hurley corner to the back of the Skibb net. Drinagh nearly got a second shortly after when Pat-Joe O’Donovan fizzed a cross into the box only to see Gavin Daly scoop his effort just wide of the post. At the start of the second half Skibb took the game to the home team and tried in vain to break down a solid Drinagh defense but as they piled on the pressure they were caught on a Drinagh counter attack as JJ Hurley passed to Daly in midfield who spotted the run of Eamonn Connolly in the area, Connolly who’s in great scoring form at the moment looked up as picked his spot and curled it around the advancing keeper. Drinagh sat back on their 2-0 lead a little and were caught minutes from the end as Skibbereen managed to claw themselves back into the game but for them it was too little too late and now Drinagh have a date in the semi’s with Togher.

NERVY DRINAGH THROW AWAY CHANCE TO CLINCH LEAGUE TITLE AT HOME

This was to be Drinagh’s last League game of the season, all they needed from this game was a single point to be crowned Premier League Champions, but alas they did what they did 3 seasons earlier they let a team come to their home ground in the last game of the league and let it slip away in a defeat. Drinagh had keeper Daniel O’Donovan to thank early on as he made a string of fine saves to keep his team in it but somehow he couldn’t prevent the ball from looping over his lanky frame and dipping into the goal to give Crossmahon a well-deserved lead on the 17th minute. It took this long before Drinagh got going and they started to string some good moves together Eamonn Connolly won his team a corner on the 33rd minute and a Mike Hurley corner was met at the edge of the area by the head of James O’Regan who headed it goal wards but Mike Doolan latched onto it and it flew past the Mahon keeper and put Drinagh back into the game as they were roared on by a huge home support. In the second half Crossmahon looked the more hungry for the victory as the needed to win to have any chance of winning the title, and it was nearly against the run of play that Eoin O’Donovan nearly became a instant hero as his darting run from the wing into forced an excellent one handed save off the Mahon keeper. Then disaster struck on the hour mark as the Drinagh defense lost concentration for a moment and Crossmahon worked a quick free kick to their advantage as they squeezed home what was to be the winner from an acute angle. This sparked Drinagh into action and Gavin Daly nearly scored at the far post with a header only for it to somehow go wide.Mike Doolan had two great chances towards the end as he out jumped the Crossmahon defense on both occasions only to see one effort fly past the post and the other at the death shave the crossbar, it was to be the last piece of action in a open game as Drinagh failed to win at home and send their supporters home with heads hung low but can look forward to a playoff with Crossmahon to decide the destination of the League Title.

TEAM DANIEL O’DONOVAN,MIKE HURLEY,KARL McCARTHY,PAT WHITE,JJ HURLEY,EOIN O’DONOVAN,JAMES O’REGAN,GAVIN DALY,PAT-JOE O’DONOVAN,EAMONN CONNOLLY,MIKE DOOLAN SUBS USED
DANIEL O’REGAN
TEAM MANAGEMENT DECLAN DEASY,DON HURLEY.

DRINAGH HEAD WEST AND TAKE THE 3 POINTS.

Drinagh’s next league game was away to Durrus, a hard physical game is normally what’s in store for any visiting team and today’s game was just that. Drinagh settled quickly and were spreading the ball easily around the park as for the first 45 minutes Pat White from the start was majestic in defence as he led by example from the back. Gavin Daly was making his usual runs up and down the pitch and it was he who nearly scored on the 5th minute as he glanced his header wide from a Eoin O’Donovan cross, O’Donovan who was making his first Junior debut acquitted himself well down the right wing. He was involved again on the 21st minute when he forced a corner off the Durrus defender and Karl McCarthy thumped it across the box to the inrushing Mike Doolan to head to the net. Drinagh were on the attack for the most of the half as Durrus found it hard to carve up any openings and James O’Regan foiled one of these attacks and spread the ball out wide to Eamonn Connolly, who looked up picked his spot and curled a stunning shot over the keeper from 30 yards out it could only be classed as Beckham style. On the 32nd minute Durrus won a corner but White easily cleared to Doolan in midfield who turned his marker and raced down the line, Doolan drilled the ball across the ball across the box to Gavin Daly who stepped over it when he heard the shout from young Pat-Joe O’Donovan who buried his shot into the bottom right hand corned a well worked goal as O’Donovan made up great ground to get up in attack as he was back defending the corner moments earlier. In the second half it was a different game for Drinagh as they seemed to take their foot off the pedal a bit and were happy to let Durrus attack more but Drinagh’s defence which was well marshalled, Connolly could have made it four on the 73rd minute when he went on another lazy run only to see his effort come crashing back off the crossbar. In the end it as a comfortable win for Drinagh with 3 goals but more importantly 3 points in the bag.

T EAM DANIEL O'DONOVAN, MIKE HURLEY, PAT WHITE, KARL McCARTHY, JJ HURLEY, EOIN O'DONOVAN, GAVIN DALY, JAMES O’REGAN, PAT-JOE’ O DONOVAN, MIKE DOOLAN (Capt.) EAMONN CONNOLLY. SUBS USED DONAL O’DRISCOLL – EOIN O’DONOVAN MICHEAL O’DRISCOLL – JAMES O’REGAN

TEAM MANAGEMENT DECLAN DEASY, DON HURLEY.

DRINAGH LADIES GET OFF TO A WINNING START.

This was yet another historic day for Drinagh Soccer Club as the ladies took to the field for their first league match all the hard training and organization was now put aside as they travelled to Crookstown and gave a very entertaining but hard working display. It looked bad for Drinagh in the opening five minutes as Crookstown scored but give credit to the girls straight from the tip off the conjured up a great move which saw Ashling Connolly shrug off her marker and coolly lob the keeper. Then on the 12th minute Crookstown were back in front when slack marking at the back let them in for a easy second. On the 16th minute Noreen McCarthy made a great run and sent Connolly free again who used her great pace to latch onto the ball and drive a low hard shot under the keeper. Drinagh were getting more and more into the game and on the 28th minute Bernadette O’Regan won a corner which was taken by Eileen Coughlan and Sinead McCarthy was fastest to react and tap the ball into the net from 3yards..Drinagh’s fourth goal was an excellent worked goal as Goalkeeper Eileen McCarthy rolled the ball to captain Jennifer Coughlan who fired it out the wing to Deirdre Doolan who crossed into the box for Ashling Connolly to grab her hat trick. In the second half Crookstown looked hungry for another goal and managed to score on the 69th minute as another defensive mistake let them in. Drinagh could have made it five or six but Connolly, Doolan and Noreen McCarthy couldn’t make the ball go in. It was nervous times at the back for Drinagh for the last 10 minutes as Crookstown were coming more and more forward and it looked like they had got a fourth in the dying minutes only for the referee to blow for offside and the Drinagh Ladies were left off the hook. On the 92nd minute the referee blew full time and Drinagh ladies had created history taking 3 points from their first match and it was nothing more than they deserved if today's game was anything to go by it going to be a very entertaining season.

TEAM EILEEN McCARTHY, ORLA JACOB, CAROLINE JENNINGS, JENNIFER COUGHLAN, RACHEL O’SULLIVAN, DEIRDRE DOOLAN, BER O’REGAN, NOREEN McCarthy, EILEEN COUGHLAN, AISHLING CONNOLLY, SINEAD McCARTHY. SUBS USED MARION YOUNG – RACHEL O’SULLIVAN TERESA O’DONOVAN – SINEAD McCARTHY EVA HURLEY – DEIRDRE DOOLAN TEAM MANAGEMENT MAG HURLEY, MIKE DOOLAN.

DRINAGH WIN TOP OF TABLE CLASH.

This was already a top of the table clash with Togher the visitors to Drinagh and it started all so well for Drinagh as they were one up after 8 minutes when Mike Hurley fired in a free kick from midfield and it fell to Mike Doolan who hit it first time on the volley and drilled it past the keeper. Drinagh were two up after 23 minutes when young Pat-Joe O’Donovan skipped past two tackles and floated in a ball to the head of Gavin Daly who never makes a mistake from 4 yards. Drinagh pressed the self destruct from the on as they gave away a penalty which saw the Togher keeper face the Drinagh keeper but Daniel O’Donovan in the Drinagh goal pulled off a great save to keep the game 2-0 at half time. In the second half Togher took the game to Drinagh and soon pulled a goal back when Drinagh conceded a own goal. This seemed to inspire Togher who kept the pressure up and were yet again awarded a penalty but the Togher keeper made no mistake this time to pull the game back to 2-2.It was up and down the field from that on but on the 83rd minute Drinagh on a free kick outside the box up stepped Karl McCarthy and powerfully curled the ball over the wall and into the net, Drinagh didn’t let the lead slip for a third time and managed to hang on for all three points.

DRINAGH BEAT THE OLD ENEMY 4 – 1

Down through the years Bunratty and Drinagh have had some ding dong battles and usually not many goals are scored in these fixtures but today for the first time in a long time Drinagh managed to score four. Drinagh were on the score sheet after 22 minutes when Pat-Joe O’Donovan turned his marker with ease and deliver a pinpoint cross to the boot of Mike Doolan who tapped in to put Drinagh in the lead. It was a lead Drinagh found hard to add to and had to wait until the hour mark when Darragh Connolly passes to brother Eamonn who cut into the box and let fly a bullet into the top corner. Drinagh won a penalty minutes later and Darragh Connolly stepped up and made no mistake sending the keeper the wrong way but the next goal was worth waiting for when super sub Daniel O’Regan won the ball just inside the halfway and unleashed a pile driver all the way to the back of the net a special goal for the man they call BASHER.

WINDY CONDITIONS COULDN’T BE BETTER.

This game was played in very windy conditions but it didn’t stop Drinagh hitting the back of the net on four different occasions. It was Drinagh’s first away game and it was against Ballydehob who were playing against the wind for the first forty five minutes, but with all their possession Drinagh could only score one before the interval and it all happened from great work by James O’Regan who spotted Mike Doolan free in the box who had time to pick his spot under the keeper and score the first. The Drinagh team talk worked wonders at half time as they looked a different team in the second half and had to play against the wind but this didn’t affect them as Doolan collected the ball on the wing raced towards goal on drilled it home into the roof of the net within four minutes of the restart. Doolan grabbed his hat trick three minutes later when headed home a Mike Hurley corner. Eamonn Connolly wasn’t having the best of days as the keeper denied him time after time but it was Connolly’s hard work that led to the fourth he pounced on a short back pass and rounded the defender and as he was about to shoot had his ankle clipped and down he went an won a penalty, where Mike Hurley stepped up and sent it high into the top corner a well taken penalty. Ballydehob scored late on but it was little to late for them and it finished 4-1 to Drinagh.

DRINAGH SHARE THE SPOILS WITH SKIBBEREEN.

A new look Skibbereen were next up for Drinagh and it was much the same as the previous Sunday another tight game. Drinagh were slack in numbers for this one and didn’t field a strong team it was more of a youthful one. It was the visitors who scored first but Darragh Connolly came to Drinagh’s rescue just before half time when he easily slotted home a Mike Doolan pass from 3yards.Both teams tried to break each other down in the second half but no team deserved to win and a draw was a very fair result for both teams.

DRINAGH GET DEFENCE OF TITLE OFF TO A GOOD START.

Drinagh played host to Dunmanway Town in the opening league game of the season, it brought together two teams who took the major silverware last season, with Drinagh winning the Premier league and Dunmanway winning the Beamish Cup. Typically this game was a tight affair and was settled with a single goal thanks to Daniel O’Regan. Micheal O’Driscoll won the ball on the left wing late in the game and fizzed the ball across the box to the inrushing O’Regan who headed past the keeper from 5 yards it was a welcome 3 points against a team who have a good record in Drinagh’s pitch.

DRINAGH F.C. THE SEASON SO FAR.

Drinagh resumed action after the summer break with the Michael Cronin Memorial Cup in Bantry against Dunmanway Town this brought together the Premier League Champions & the Beamish Cup Winners & Drinagh ran out easy winners with a 7-0 score. The goals corers on the day were Mike Doolan (2),Daniel O’Regan (2),Eamonn Connolly (2) and Pat-Joe O’Donovan.

DRINAGH REACH ¼ FINALS OF CARLING CUP Drinagh met Dromree in the first round of the Carling Cup and attained a 3-1 victory over them goals by Eamonn Connolly, Mike Doolan & Pat-Joe O’Donovan gave them a comfortable win in the end. The following Sunday Drinagh were drawn against Mizen in the next round and were 1-0 down at half-time but the second half was a different story as Mike Doolan scored a hat trick within 7 minutes of the restart. Mizen replied with a penalty to bring the game back to 3-2 but Doolan added 2 more to put the final score 5-2 to Drinagh, two of these goals were set up brilliantly by youth player Gavin Beamish who was making his junior debut.

KEVIN HURLEY MEMORIAL CUP Drinagh played Dunmanway Town in the Kevin Hurley Memorial Cup. This Cup is in memory of the Drinagh player who died last year. Drinagh started well in this game and led through Eamonn Connolly. Daniel O’Donovan scored a penalty for Town but two second half goals from Darragh Connolly & Mike Doolan ensured the Cup stayed in Drinagh. Brendan O’Neill one of Kevin's best friends was Captain for this game and received the Cup from Kevin's Father, Stephen Hurley.

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