ROBBIE McQueen hopes it will be third time lucky in his quest to win the Beamish Cup.

The Drinagh Rangers captain has finished on the losing side in his previous two Beamish Cup finals – against Togher Celtic in 2019 and Clonakilty Soccer Club in ’24 – and wants his luck to turn in Sunday’s decider against Ardfield at Turner’s Cross.

Having already led Drinagh to the Premier Division title and the Parkway Hotel-Maybury Coaches Cup, McQueen would love to complete a domestic treble.

‘It’s been a long time since Drinagh lifted the Beamish Cup, so we’ll do our best to bring it back,’ he says. McQueen arrived on the scene the season after Rangers last won the competition in 2018.

‘Especially when this is the last game of the season – you want to win every game, but when it’s the last one it’s that bit more special, especially up in Turner’s Cross.’

Determined to finish the season on a high, McQueen (23) can appreciate the upturn in fortunes after Drinagh’s struggles over the previous two seasons.

Drinagh had been the dominant force in the West Cork League, winning five out of six Premier Division titles before Clonakilty Soccer Club took over in 2024 and ’25, winning back-to-back leagues and Beamish Cups.

Robbie McQueen and his younger brother Tom celebrate Drinagh's league win. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

The hunted became the hunters, as Drinagh had to learn how to chase again.

That shift in mindset has helped Rangers regain top spot, winning the Premier Division title by beating Clonakilty in a final-day decider, and then defeating Clon again to land the Parkway Hotel-Maybury Coaches Cup.

‘We were on top for a few years, but you could see Clon getting better and better. They’ve a great team and a very committed group, so they were always going to be successful,’ McQueen says.

‘But it was nearly easier this year. Not that we were underdogs, but you have that extra bite when you’re chasing it. When you’re on top, it’s harder to stay there.

‘We found that in the last couple of years. It’s easier to be hungry when you haven’t won it in a while.’

That desire to get back on top fuelled Drinagh’s drive this season. In his acceptance speech after they won the Parkway Hotel-Maybury Coaches Cup final, McQueen said: ‘We had a poor year last year, but everything went up ten times this season.’

Manager Robert O’Regan dampened expectations at the start of the campaign, highlighting a team in transition – he was right.

Stalwarts like Barry O’Driscoll (T), Brian Hodnett and Keith Jagoe had all retired, while Gearoid White was semi-retired, still ready to play if needed. Jagoe even made a brief appearance this season, coming on late in a 6-0 win against Lyre and making an impact, as he scored one goal and set up another.

Drinagh looked within, promoting players from their B team – Stephen Crowley, Paddy McCarthy, Cillian Fitzpatrick and Padraig Cronin have all added energy on and off the pitch. The addition of Morgan Sloggett, who joined mid-season, brought quality and experience, while the return of Denzil Fernandes, who has played with Cork City and Shelbourne, added an X-factor.

‘At the start of the season there was a lot of change in the squad. We lost a few of the more experienced fellas and we had a lot of lads come in. We’ve had a few come up from the B teams and that,’ McQueen explains.

‘It’s just a fresh injection of players and the drive they brought into the team really pushed us on. It was fresh blood and they really wanted it, they were fighting for their places, and that drove us on. Maybe it was something we didn’t have last year, so that probably helped us a lot this year.’

Then there are the Drinagh stalwarts, like Barry O’Driscoll (H) and JJ Collins, who have won a combined 18 Premier Division titles and eight Beamish Cups since 2007, shared equally.

Robbie McQueen lifts the trophy after Drinagh won the Premier Division. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

‘It makes it easier for us when you have the two of them still performing at their age. Their experience is massive in the dressing room,’ McQueen adds.

‘They’ve seen it all and won everything multiple times, so they’re a big help for the lads that haven’t won too much. I’m sure they’ll be a big help on Sunday as well.’

O’Driscoll and Collins link Drinagh’s past to the present, ensuring the club’s high standards remain constant. So too does former Drinagh striker Mike Doolan, now manager of the club’s women’s A team that recently won a league and cup double. After that success, he said: ‘Finishing second isn’t in Drinagh Rangers’ nature. We are a winning club for men and women. Runners-up isn’t in our dictionary.’ It’s up to McQueen and his generation to carry that on.

‘We know all about those standards, and they’re important to the club,’ adds McQueen, now in his sixth season of adult soccer. Having served as vice-captain to JJ Collins, he has stepped into the captaincy role for these past two season.

‘From JJ and Barry to Mike Doolan’s era, those high standards have always been there. With some of the older lads stepping back, I’m probably one of the more experienced now.

‘We’re very lucky that there’s a great community there, with people putting in a huge amount of time and effort. The facilities, like the new astro, are unbelievable – that didn’t just happen.’

Drinagh’s run to the Beamish Cup final didn’t just happen either. This new-look team rolled up their sleeves, got to work and is now reaping the rewards. McQueen is confident they’re not finished yet.

‘It’s very hard to get to a Beamish Cup final, and when it’s on in Turner’s Cross it just adds that bit more. It makes the day better again,’ he says, hoping this is the day it finally falls his way.