“We take pride in season despite Ulster Club loss” – Colm McCullagh

By Alan Rodgers

DROMORE manager, Colm McCullagh, has said the club can take pride in the fact that they are O’Neill Cup champions after their season ended with defeat in the Ulster Club.

The St Dympna’s lost out to Derrygonnelly by 1-16 to 0-13 in the quarter final of the competition, marking the latest defeat for the Tyrone champions on the provincial stages.

A point from Andrew McGrath had put them a point up deep in added time at the end of normal time. But victory was snatched from them with a Derrygonnelly equaliser with the very last kick and the Fermanagh champions pushed on in extra time.

It was a disappointing finale for Dromore, who had fought back valiantly from a 0-7 to 0-4 interval deficit. They were also hit by an injury to top scorer, Emmett McNabb, just before half-time.

But their manager, Colm McCullagh, still retains a lot of pride in their efforts which saw them defy the odds to take the O’Neill Cup for a fourth time.

““The injury to Emmett McNabb had a massive bearing on the game because he has been massive for us throughout this year. He had a quad injury, and has been stop-start in terms of the training he has been able to do.

“Getting beat in championship football is gut-wrenching and that’s how it should feel. But when we look back on the year very few people would have said that we’d be Tyrone champions this year and a lot of people wouldn’t have given us a chance.

“We’ll take pride in the fact that come Christmas, it’s ourselves who will have the O’Neill Cup in our hands.”