Drumquin dented our promotion hopes with a 2-08 to 0-08 defeat. In the final game of the first phase of league fixtures the side recorded a facile 3-14 to 1-07 victory over Aghaloo on Sunday 11th June. So at the mid way point the team had 14 points out of a possible 22 and were in joint third place in the league table after recording seven wins and four defeats.
In Round 12 we made the short trip to Gortin and recorded a 0-15 to 1-14 victory. This was followed up with a 2-13 to 0-16 win over Trillick in a very tense and exciting game and one, which firmly established our promotion credentials. But then followed two defeats first at home on Sunday 23rd July to Pomeroy 0-13 to 1-11 and then away to Galbally in Round 15 0-12 to 1-07. But we got back to winning ways away to Moortown 1-6 to 0-11 an recorded a further victory in Round 17 on Sunday 20th August at home to Edendork 2-09 to 3-05. Unfortunately this proved to be the teams final win of the season as we slumped to five straight league defeats to end our promotion hopes and indeed plunge us very close to the relegation play - offs. Our bad run started at home to Drumquin on 3rd September with a 0-10 to 1-10 reversal.
Following this we made the trip to O Connell Park Aughabrack and came away empty handed as a result of a 1-14 to 0-11 defeat. Our losing streak continued in Round 20 away to Moy losing 2-14 to 4-05. In Round 21 on Sunday 15th October Aghaloo were the visitors and managed to record a 2-10 to 0-09 victory over the home team. In our final league game on Sunday 22nd October the side fell to the challenge of Killeeshil on a score line of 1-9 to 0-9 despite an improved performance.
This ended the Senior sides competitive football for 2006. A season that started with much promise ended with the team finishing, as one of the two teams who were not involved in any end of season play-offs.
I would like to extend the thanks of the club to John, Barry, Sean Pol and the players for their effort and commitment shown over the course of the year. Physio Brigid Keenan also deserves recognition for her hard work during the season.
The Reserve team with Malachy Coyle and Sean Donaghy at the helm competed in the 1B Reserve league and finished the season with 20 points having won nine games, lost eleven and drawn two. The team reached the quarter final of the Knock-Out competition having defeated Donaghmore 0-11 to 1-9 in an entertaining game played on Friday 25th August in the preliminary Round. In the first Round proper they overcame the challenge of Moy 0-10 to 0-07 but succumb to Errigal Ciarán in the Quarter Final 0-03 to 0-13.
The management team of Malachy and Sean together with the players are to be commended on their efforts during the year. I think as a club we need to take our Reserve team more seriously as this is a stepping-stone to the Senior side.
