On Tuesday 16th March, the Douglas senior footballers shrugged aside the adverse weather conditions in Cloughduv to beat Bishopstown in the final of the Tadhg Crowley Plate. This was a great boost as the countdown to championship begins. Meanwhile, on St. Patrick's Day Whitescross provided the opposition for the Junior “B” footballers in the Seandun Cup final played at Rathpeacon, but again Douglas secured the silverware. The dominance of full back Mark Kennedy masked the absence of Cormac Cahill and in the reshuffle to compensate for Cahill’s withdrawal, Kennedy was flanked by youngsters Thomas Noonan and Denis Collins.


Aided by the breeze, Douglas began impressively with Brian T. O’Callaghan and Odhrán Mulrooney dominating the midfield exchanges and Cormac Collins kicking a series of brilliant points. However, Whitescross were offered a penalty kick in the eighteenth minute and the raising of the green flag signalled their intention to battle on. Douglas began the second period five points ahead and when Ronan McCarthy kicked over another point the victory appeared sealed. However, in fairness to Whitescross they snatched a goal midway through the second half and the cup was up for grabs again.


Thankfully, when the need was greatest, Douglas came good. Philip O’Doherty cracked a penalty kick to the net and Robbie O’Connell capped a man-of-the-match performance with another goal. At the final whistle, team captain Roy Corbett accepted the cup and kicked off the celebrations. Others to shine for Douglas included Stephen Hanrahan, Eanna Mulrooney and Mark Lucey.