1960's - 80's

The club was revived in 1963 on the arrival of a Cavan man, Eamonn O'Grady who was the driving force of the club for many years.

In 1964 Drumkeerin were defeated by Annaduff in the County Junior Championship Final on a scoreline of 1-9 to 1-3. Two years later however, in 1966 the club's first Junior Championship was claimed by defeating Mohill.

The match unfolded as follows:

Drumkeerin had a dream start when Charlie Flynn goaled in the opening minutes. Further Drumkeerin points followed before Mick Keane opened the Mohill scoring with a point.

Michael McTiernan in the Drumkeerin goals made two wonderful saves before Mick Keane finally put the ball past him for a Mohill goal. Just before half time Charlie Flynn added his second goal to leave Drumkeerin ahead by 2-04 to 1-01 at the interval.

On the restart McTiernan was called on again and again. His brilliance steadied his colleagues and P.McArdle had four points from frees before the Mohill fight back materialsed in the last quarter.

The comeback was too late however and Anthony Canning's scrambled goal closed the scoring at 2-08 to 2-03 in favour of Drumkeerin.

The successful '66 team continued their progress by winning the Junior League for the first time in 1967 (when Fenagh did not play the final). In 1968, after making the step up to Senior's the club nearly reached the County Senior Championship Final.

Drumkeerin played Melvin Gaels in the first round of the championship and were beaten on a scoreline of 1-07 to 0-06. Drumkeerin then however progressed through the Losers Group, beating Aughavas in the final and qualified to meet Melvin Gaels again in the semi-final proper.

It took two contests to seperate the teams in the semi-final. The first game ended in a draw (Melvin Gaels 0-09 Drumkeerin 1-06). The 2nd game followed the pattern of the first game with the Gaels leading by seven points after seven minutes of the 2nd half.

Goals by Joe Leyden from a penalty and G.Hynes brought Drumkeerin back into the game, but the Gaels defence held out and the Kinlough side progressed into the County Final.

A feature of the game was the immaculate display of County Minor John Travers at corner back for Drumkeerin. His high fielding and lengthy clearances being a joy to watch.

In 1969 Drumkeerin had a very successful year at underage level winning both the U16 Football and Hurling Championship's. This was followed with success at Minor level winning the Minor Football League in 1970 and 1971. The Minor's also contested the Championship final's in '70 and '71 but were unfortunate to lose to Mohill and Annaduff.

The Junior's were also successful in 1971, winning the League for the club's second time on a scoreline of 5-07 to 0-01 v Sean O'Heslin's in the final.

In 1972, Frank Kielty a teacher at Drumkeerin VEC won Drumkeerin's first Scor title by claiming the County Leitrim Senior Scor "Motion Speaking" award.

Curiously enough the club lapsed in 1973 despite having won the above mentioned Minor League titles in 1970 and '71, and the Junior League in '71. The club was reorganised in October 1973 with Chairman Charlie Flynn, Secretary Andy Redican, and Treasurer Tony Forde.

In 1974 the County Board turned down the club's application for affiliation as a Junior Team. The then secretary Andy Redican (a native of Fenagh but now living in Drumkeerin), aided by Charlie Flynn and Fr. Ollie Kelly took an objection to this decision to the Connacht Council and won.

Drumkeerin contested the 1974 County Junior Championship Final but were defeated by Aughawillan on a scoreline of 2-10 to 0-7. In 1975 the team made up for the disappointment of the previous year by winning the Junior League and Championship double. Eslin were defeated in the Championship Final on a scoreline of 0-15 to 0-6 (Seamus Gallagher scoring 9 points in the final), and Bornacoola were defeated in the League Final.

The following photo show's the 1975 Junior Champions.

In 1975, Shamrock Gaels a minor amalgamation featuring players from Dromahair, Drumkeerin and Drumshanbo won the County Minor Championship Title. Leitrim also won the Fr Manning Cup U16 competition in '75 with Drumkeerin's Francis McPartland as full forward on the team.

The club continued to flourish and progress for the remainder of the '70's and into the 1980's. In 1977 a Senior Scor Ballad Group featuring Sean Rynn, Tina Clancy, Siobhan McKenna, Josie Clancy, and Mary Gilhooly won the County Title.

Also in 1977, Thomas McKenna who was an outstanding player for Drumkeerin club for many years, was a member of the Leitrim U21 panel which won the Connacht title and were later unfortunate to lose by 3-13 to 3-8 to a Kerry team that included greats such as Charlie Nelligan, Ogie Moran, Jack O’Shea and Eoin (The Bomber) Liston.

In 1978, it was a very special day for our club when our ladies played Fenagh in the Senior Ladies GAA League Final in Drumshanbo. We did not win the final, but our team did Drumkeerin proud with a great wholehearted sporting effort.

In 1979 the club won it's first U12 title the County U12 Rural Championship. Drumkeerin also won the Special 'Year of the Child' inaugural league. The County Scor Novelty Act was won featuring a performance group of Johnnie Gallagher, Tommy Forde, Mickey Harrison, Andy Redican, Jim Hazlette, and Ivan Doherty.

1981 brought further success winning the Junior League, However the Junior's were beaten in Championship final by Kiltubrid on a scoreline of 1-10 to 1-06. The Minors were also unfortunate to lose the League Final.

In 1983 the club completed the purchase of a new club grounds. The purchase, made from four local landowners was negotiated by Clare native Michael Hanly who was club Chairman at that time.

The Minor's of '83 amalgamated with Dromahair to form Belhavel Gaels and were unfortunate to go down to St. Manachan's in the Championship final.

Drumkeerin won the County Junior League and Championship double in 1985 and enjoyed a very successful 1980's at underage level. In 1984 the U16's lost the County final following a replay, however in 1987 and 1988 the U12 County Rural Championship was won with victories over Aughavas and Annaduff respectively. In 1989 the three in a row was denied by defeat to Aughavas in the final.

The following photo shows the victorious 1988 U12 Championship team.

In 1987 the club were amalgamated with Allen Gaels at Minor Level to form the Championship winning St Francis team.

The club were unlucky not to add further to this underage success, contesting three U12 Division 1 League Final's in a row from 1987 to '99. Sean O'Heslin's in '87 and St Mary's in '88 and '89 were the conqueror's of Drumkeerin. In 1989 the U14 Rural Championship Final was contested however Aughavas proved victorious on this occasion.

The 1980's were very notable for some important off the field activities as well. In 1985 the Ard Ri fundraising campaign was a highlight. The duel between Sean Flynn (who won the contest) and Eamonn O'Grady brought officers and supporters to many social events including London, Dublin and Sligo. £13,000 punts was raised that year for the club between the Ard Ri and the village festival.

In October 1986 Drumkeerin and Dromahair in a novel idea played an U14 Challenge game in Croke Park with Dublin County star Alan Arkin providing video commentary, and presenting medals to both teams in the Hogan Stand after the game.

In 1982 clubman Hugh McPartlin won the County Leitrim "Club Player Of The Year" award.

In 1988 clubman Andy Redican was rewarded for years of work in the club by winning the County Leitrim clubman of the year award.

In schools football Drumkeerin VEC won the 1979 and 1984 U15 Leitrim championship, and in 1987 Drumkeerin NS won the 3 teacher national schools competition.

In the late 1960's with Drumkeerin being so successful at adult level a strong Drumkeerin contingent was present on the Leitrim Senior County team.

Joe Leyden played against Roscommon in the Connacht Championship in '66. Michael McTiernan featured in the league that year. In 1967 Leitrim reached the Connacht Final. McTiernan, Leyden and Danny O'Grady featured in the loss to Mayo. The same players featured again in '68 v Sligo, with John Travers and Vinny McKeon joining in '69. A year which included Championship v Mayo and a famous trip to play the hosts in two games in New York.