The Under 16.5 girls peaked at precisely the right time in their season to see off the Crossmaglen challenge and win the 2023 Division 2 championship title in Corrinshego on Saturday.

A blistering start from the girls saw them hit 4:07 in the first half when they dominated Cross and were largely clinical in their finishing.

Early goals from Lily McBennett (2) Alanna O’Neill from the penalty spot and Emma Toale laid the basis for the win as Dromintee pressed home their early advantage.

Aggressive in the tackle, decisive in their decision making and ruthless in front of goal the girls saved their best football of the year for the first half of the final.

Caoimhe Byrne, Sadbh McKeever and Caitlin Carnegie topped the intensity charts constantly chasing, tackling and covering while Maggie Boden and Alanna provided an endless supply of quality ball to the forward line.

The McKeever -Byrne axis played a leadership role throughout contributing multiple turnovers and blocks and repeatedly turned defence into attack.

The threat from Cross was contained to the industrious Jessica McCreesh who constantly probed the Dromintee defence and kept Cross in the game while marshalled by the Dromintee full back line. A goal for the Rangers on the stroke of half time gave them brief hope leaving the score at the break 4:07 to 1:05.

The second half wasn’t pretty at times with multiple injury breaks breaking up momentum for both sides. The free flowing football of the first half was absent but this allowed Dromintee choke off any return into the game for Cross.

Early scores from Alanna and Lily kept the scoreboard ticking over and Cross were unable to penetrate the Dromintee rearguard. Two long range frees from

Alanna, a point with her first touch from Caoimhe O’Rourke and a late goal from Emma Toale saw Dromintee comfortably over the line on a score line of 5:13 to 1:10 with all 19 panel members able to get game time.

A number of proud parents gathered pitchside to see Sadbh lift the trophy as the victorious captain while the girls returned victorious to the club where they were treated to food and drink and took their place alongside the Under 16 boys championship winning team.

The win was the third championship trophy in eight days for the club following the U13 girls victory over Clann Eireann and the 16 boys win over St Peter’s.

The team and management expressed their thanks to all involved in the provision of food to both teams after the game notably but not confined to Aidan, Siobhan & Maura.

Four families were able to put sibling rivalry aside as the brother and sister combinations in the O’Rourke, Toale, Carnegie and McBennett households played a part in both winning squads.

While the boys will now focus on school competitions many of the girls will be involved with the Dromintee minor squad which has a championship quarter final against Clann Eireann next weekend.

Three championship trophies represents a tremendous achievement for the club further building on the juvenile success of recent seasons and laying the foundations for increased player participation.

Scorers : Lily McBennett 2:07 , Alanna O’Neill 1:04, Emma Toale 2:00, Caoimhe Byrne 0:01, Caoimhe O’Rourke 0:01

Team : Emma Murtagh, Cara Harris, Sarah Murphy, Anna Bergin, Kacie O’Donoghue, Grace Gallagher, Pauline Toale, Sadbh McKeever, Alanna O’Neill, Lily McBennett, Caoimhe Byrne, Caitlin Carnegie, Grace Conlon, Emma Toale, Maggie Bowden, ….Subs Grainne McKeever , Caoimhe O’Rourke, Eimear Murphy, Katie McCoy.