2010 Féile in Sean Dolans
Some of the images from the recent Féile in Dolans Park... July 2010
2009 AGM
The Annual General Meeting will take place at the clubrooms on Friday 11th Dec at 7.30. All nominations must be received by the Secretary on or before Friday 4th Dec at 6.00pm.
2009 Annual Presentation Winners
Players Player:
Sammy Robinson [Lapo]
Player of the year:
Ciaran Wilkinson
Young Player of the Year:
Connor Carlin
Most Improved Player of the Year:
Kevin Nixon [Queggy]
In the Photo from Left Damien McKane, Conor carlin, Kevin Nixon, Ciaran Wilkinson, Sammy Robinson, Hugh Brady
Merit Award:
Danny McGowan
Clubman of the year:
Marcus McCrystal
Presidents Award:
Mickey McLaughlin
In the Photo from Left Damien McKane, Danny McGowan, Marcus McChrystal, Mickey McLaughlin, Hugh Brady
Senior Members:
In the Photo from Left Danny McGowan, Damien McKane, Gary Cassidy, Hugh Wilkinson, Ciaran Wilkinson, Marcus McChrystal, Mickey McLaughlin, Hugh Brady
Players Player:
Alan Grant
Player of the year:
Ryan Moran
Young Player of the Year:
Mark O'Kane
Most Improved Player of the Year:
Patrick McChrystal
In the Photo from Left Mark Cooke, Alan Grant, Patrick McChrystal, Mark O'Kane ?
View Gallery to see more images of the Presentation Night: [Gallery]
Club Notes
Posted by D.McKane | Filed under Club Notes
"8th Oct 2009"
What can we say “it truly has been a historic year for the club”. All the hard work of the past year has paid off, when Dolan’s ran out 3.09 to 0.07 winners over ‘old rivals’ St Colm’s Drum.
The game was effectively over at half time with Dolans going in 1.07 to 0.00, with every player playing to their full potential. It would be difficult to pick a ‘man-of-the-match’ with a number of players vying for the title. At the end of the day it would have come down to anyone of three players, Paul Loughery, Kevin Nixon but carrying a ‘hand-injury’ Caolan Thompson was immense. The 18 year old looked confident and composed – a class performance. The final score 3.09 to 0.07.
Next up are the winners of the Armagh Championship with 1st November 2009 the all-important date.
The U12’s are scheduled to travel to St Theresa’s (Belfast) tomorrow Saturday for the Annual U12 Blitz. Players are asked to be at the clubhouse by 8.45 – please come appropriately dress and bring a packed lunch.
Please note the Senior Presentation is scheduled for Friday 6th Nov at the City Hotel. With the theme this year ‘Celebration’ we would advise all members to book their tickets ASAP, as capacity is limited.
Top of PageEnough Said
Posted by The Derry journal
SEAN DOLAN'S domination of Derry Junior football is complete after the Creggan club added the county's Junior Championship crown to the Division Five league title and Neal Carlin Cup at Celtic Park.
After a season few at Piggery Ridge could even have dreamt of back in January, Geoffrey McGonigle's charges now go in search of the Ulster club title and on Sunday's evidence, it would be difficult to back against them.
From the first whistle, the City men set about overwhelming a shell-shocked Drum 15 with a performance of pace, power and accuracy which Michael Burke's side simply had no answer to.
Superb in defence with the half-back trio of Ruairi McGurk, Joe Gallagher and Sammy Robinson instigating most attacks from deep inside their own half, Ciaran Wilkinson and Alan Grant easily won the midfield battle. In the forwards, Colm McConomy and free-taker Paul Loughery played supporting roles to the trickery of Kevin Nixon whose pace tore the Drum defence to shreds all afternoon.
In truth, there wasn't anything other than excellent performances in the red and white but you couldn't help feel for Drum who are a better side than Sunday suggested.
As the only team to defeat the champions all season, they had high hopes going into the game even without captain Donal Brolly and manager Burke will be hoping the nature of the defeat does not adversely effect his side ahead of next weekend's crucial promotion/relegation play-off with Limavady.
But Sunday was all about Dolan's and the end to a 67-year search for a Championship title.
When Dungiven legend McGonigle was surprisingly appointed two years ago, many scoffed at his suggestions concerning the huge pool of talent within the club. Those same sceptics are not scoffing now. From the moment Colm McConomy met Darren McCreadie's superb third minute centre to fist past stranded Drum keeper Cahair O'Kane, there was only ever going to be one winner.
Two Loughery frees and an excellent McCreadie point from a pinpoint Sammy Robinson pass had Dolan's six points up by the 10th minute. Another Loughery free was followed by a great turn and score from Gallagher as Drum continued to kick away possession and drop shots short into the gleeful arms of Dolan's keeper Conor Carlin, in for Mark 'Bam' McCleery.
McConomy added another point with a 22nd minute side-footed finish off the ground. Loughery completed the first half scoring with his fourth free of the half to leave it 1-7 to no score at the break.
Drum rallied after the break, two points from corner-forward Paddy Kelly and a Rory O'Reilly free reducing the deficit to seven. Any hopes of a dramatic fight back disappeared though with the 38th minute dismissal of substitute Stephen McLaughlin after he became involved in a fracas involving Wilkinson and Shane Burke.
The game was over as a contest with Dolan's second goal in the 45th minute. Nixon left a couple of Drum defenders trailing with another run down the left hand side before perfectly picking out substitute Mark Loughery who fisted into an unguarded net with his first touch. Nixon rubbed salt into the Drum wounds two minutes later when he followed up after his first effort had been superbly saved by O'Kane to roll into an empty net to leave it 3-7 to 0-3 and game over.
Further points from Nixon and Billy Dobbins came either side of points from O'Reilly (2) Conor O'Kane and Shane Burke but the battle was long since won.
The final whistle brought the predictable scenes of celebration with suspended Dolan's captain Gary Cassidy joining team mates and supporters to cap a great season for the Creggan men.
League Champions
8th August 2009 | Piggery Ridge
Sean Doalns GAC ...6-23
St. Aidan's, Magilligan ...0-02
Sean Dolan's GAC ended their 67-year wait for intermediate football in some style when they clinched the H&A Mechanical Football Junior League Title on Saturday 8th August 2009 with a 39-Point demolition of St Aidan's, Magilligan at Piggery Ridge. After fluffing againts Drum with a defeat of a single point, Dolans were in no mood to let a second shot at history slip through our fingers. In front of a sizeable crowd we had the game wrapped up in the opening half an hour.
The Final Whislte brought the expected scense of celebration as players, officials and supporters - including two of the founding members, John and Patsy McChrystal - took stock of a year which has already seen us lift the Neal carlin Cup in July. Promotion was the real goal, however and in truth, once Ruairi McGurk had fired over the first point after 15 seconds, the trophy was already in the bag.
Dolans Team & Scorers: Mark McCleery; Richie Sheerin (1-0), Caolan Thompson, Dermot McLaughlin; Ruairi McGurk (1-3), Sammy Robinson (1-1), Billy Dobbins; Ciaran Wilkinson (0-1), Joe Gallagher(1-1); Mickey McLaughlin, Gary Cassidy (0-3), Paul Loughrey (1-2); Oran Cassidy (0-4), Liam McGuiness (0-5), Colm McConomy. Subs: Mark Loughrey (0-1) for McConomy (19mins); Gary Ramsey for McCleery (35mins); John Canning (0-1) for Loughrey (36mins); Paul Melaugh (1-0) for McGuniness (36mins); Gavin Murray (0-1) for Gallagher (43mins)
This is an absolutely massive achievment for this club. They have been waiting 67 years for this and credit must go to the Players for it
- Geoffrey McGonigle
Geoffrey was full of praise for his players following the historic League title triumph. Geoffrey modestly played down his own role at our club, preferring to pay tribute to what he described as the 'Great Attitude' of the playing staff at Dolans after we ended a wait for promotion that stretches back to the clubs formation in 1942. Geoffrey went on to say that "It's very significant day for the City. Derry needs more city teams to be progressing up to the intermediate standard and building from there."
