2009 proved a testing ground for the famous 'Black and Amber'
March 01, 2010It took two nail-biting attempts at the 'apple' for this contest to be settled as the first relegation final saw both sides serve up some excellent football with the teams ending level at the final whistle. The replay was equally close, but the 'boys from the lough' left little doubt in anyone's mind that they were not for turning.
In a game which was evenly and eagerly contested, the Black and Amber always had the slight edge on their opponents on this occasion. This result was fully deserved as Crosserlough seemed to gather momentum and strength the greater the pressure they were put under.
Their struggle to survive in the senior league was also one of epic and heroic deeds. Sitting perilous close to the relegation zone with eleven games played and just two to play, Crosserlough were tied with fellow strugglers Cuchullains on six points with both Ballinagh and Lavey just two points ahead of them. With county finalists, Denn having only secured just two points in their league campaign after ten starts, the meeting between these two neighbours took on an added edge as both sides were looking for the points to help secure their senior status. Once again, it was the fighting qualities of the Kilnaleck side that emerged victorious. Displaying the qualities that helped make the club famous when they won seven senior football championship titles in row, Crosserlough were worthy of their victory over a spirited and determined Denn.
The loss of some key players through injuries saw Jonathan Crowe, Declan McCabe, Tom McEvoy and Mark Lynch all sidelined for the greater part of the season was an added factor in the club struggling. The towering influence of Declan Gaffney who transferred to Meath club, Duleek/Bellewstown also compounded the problems for the club. Credit must be afforded to those who stepped in to fill the breach and did so with a commitment and dedication that helped to secure the club's place in the top flight.
When you speak to club chairman, Peter Galligan you are left in doubt as to his joy at the outcome of the season.
"You can say without doubt, that I was entirely happy with the latter end of the season. We endured a rather fractured start and middle to our campaign but when called upon, a number of our own local lads answered the call and helped shape the focus of this relatively young side," said Peter.
"Their approach was indeed something worthy of the glory of yesteryear as they displayed a commitment and will to win that has, I think, been absent for many years."
The Chairman was honest in his assessment of what might have been and how events unfolded and eventually turned out. "We had high hopes going into the 2009 season as we had given a good account of ourselves during 2008. We felt that we could improve on that showing and had hoped to be able to make a stronger challenge in the championship. We put in place a dream management team of former Meath All Ireland winning star, Ollie Murphy and the Lacken's Brian Cumiskey. However the dynamic was not there to fuse the requirements to fulfil our potential. We found ourselves managerless as early as March having lost a number of our early league games. To be struggling so early on in the season and with some of our core players out with long term injuries, we were aware that this was going to be a season to determine our character.
"As the gloomy league campaign crossed over into a poor championship run, we found ourselves now facing the real prospect of losing our entire senior status both in league and championship football. With our backs to the wall the cry went out and a 'few good men' answered the call," stated the club chairman.
"Just when we needed help the most, former and present players came to the rescue. Benny Byrd, Charlie Galligan, Sean Lynch, Donal Smith and former team manager, Colm McEvoy all rolled up their sleeves to create a barrier to stop the flow of negative results. Their cry for commitment was admirably answered by all the players and despite their youth, proved to be just what I feel the club had been lacking for the past number of seasons. The determination of both management and players alike was the catalyst to ignite our spirit and cement our fortitude to shape victories in the cauldron of do or die football as we battled both for our senior league and championship survival.
"It would be remiss of me not to mention the effort put in by one of the club's great players, Philip Smith, who despite now playing is football at the lower level made a welcome return for those vital relegation battles and through his presence helped to shape the victories for the club. Philip's presence help to bring the best out of young players like Paul McEvoy, Padraig and Barry McKiernan, Enda Gaffney and Johnny Lynch.
"I suppose it was only a matter of time until the great spirit that is now being engendered at the club would show itself on the football field. We as a club have produced a dynamic through the efforts of all the hard working committees, coaching staff and dedicated supporters that is in my opinion a vibrant reason to aid success. I have no doubt that as we approach the 2010 season we will do so with 'wiser' heads on our young players' shoulders after the epic relegation battles of 2009.
"This can only be good for both the understanding of competitive football at the cutting edge and also a real character builder for those who have been involved. With the senior club now firmly secured in the top flight, the work and success now being achieved at juvenile level is a credit to all those involved. We have made great strides in this area and are beginning to reap the rewards of this juvenile plan. The club has been blessed with the success of both the camogie and ladies footballers. They too also help to generate a feel good factor which can only benefit the Crosserlough club. We can now be satisfied with our end of season form as we regained our senior status. The effort put in by management team deserves another crack and so it has been put in place for the 2010 season," stated Peter.
Underage football
Crosserlough will look back on 2009 with great satisfaction for the manner in which the young players of the club acquitted themselves. The 2009 season saw their underage footballers contest and win a number of titles. The club's u-14 side displayed an abundance of talent and drive in reaching both their league and championship finals. Indeed it was a rather fortuitous performance by Templeport in the final of the Roinn A championship final that denied them a league and championship double. In a cracking game that pulsated throughout Templeport registered 5-5 to the loser's 1-6 to deny the black and ambers their double. Templeport got off to the perfect start with a goal just after ninety seconds. In a first half where the sides were evenly matched in all sections, Templeport held a one goal lead 1-4 to 0-4 at the end of the first half. The winners were quick out of their blocks for the start of the second-half and registered two quick fire goals in the opening six minutes to stun the Kilnaleck side. Indeed the damage was not complete as by the ninth minute of the second half, a shot dipped under the Crosserlough bar to put further distance between the sides. Twelve points down, the 'Lough' were chasing the game. The winners registered the fifth goal as a clearly shell shocked Crosserlough side tried to stem the flow. With the game now seemingly out of reach, the young Crosserlough side refused to give in and displayed a commitment once associated with the winning sides of yesteryear. A goal from Cormac Galligan was all they had to show for their valiant attempt in trying to rescue this impossible task.
Crosserlough: Ian Telford, Ryan Galligan, Raymond Lynch, Ciaran Cooke, Kevin Smith, David Shalvey, Conor Smith, Shane McManus (0-3), John Gaffney, Mark Stuart, Pierce Smith (0-3), Darren Gaffney, John Reilly, Cormac Galligan (1-0), Darren Boylan. Subs used: Stephen Smith, Tommy Boylan, Derek McDonald, Darren Callery, Conor Rehill.
While their senior counterparts were enduring a torrid season, the young guns of the famous 'black and amber' club were setting out their ambitions with a statement of intent as they emerged winners of the U-16 Division 2 championship title after a polished display of powerful football which saw them overcome, rivals, Drumalee on a scoreline of 1-11 to 1-7.
The game which was played at Kingspan Breffni Park saw both sides serve up quality football. The young Crosserlough lads displayed the qualities needed to become champions. Right from the start the Kilnaleck side showed great determination and jumped into an early one point lead before Declan Gaffney settled his side's nerves with an excellently taken goal.
By the twelfth minute the 'Lough' had a 1-2 to no score lead. Drumalee responded in true championship fashion and registered two points to reduce the arrears. With exchanges registering on the higher end of the scale, Drumalee had a further two points to add to their tally but a spirited display from Patrick Reilly and Eoin Cusack ensured that their side would end the half with a five point margin. From the restart, Drumalee were first out of the blocks with a point but Christopher Tobin was on hand to slot over a point to keep his side five points in front. Drumalee made a valiant effort to close the gap and with some well taken points and tenacious defending they had reduced the 'black and ambers' margin to three.
A point from Reilly gave the boys from the Lough some breathing space which was short-lived as Drumalee tried to edge level. A well taken goal by the Cavan town side only seemed to bring out the best in the Kilnaleck side as they responded to their lead now being reduced to a single point. With just five minutes remaining Reilly and Adrian Smith showed leadership qualities as they edged their side into a three lead. Eoin Cusack tacked on the security point with a twenty metre free. In a final which saw the standard of football served up of the highest quality many old head in the parish believe that this side could be the beginning of a new era for the famous Cavan club.
Crosserlough: Raymond Lynch, Christopher Cahill, Shane McManus, Andrew Galligan, Shane Reilly, Ryan Conaty, David Shalvey, Eoin Cusack, Padraig McManus, Adrian Smith, Dara McVeety, Declan Gaffney, Gary Galligan, Patrick Reilly, Christopher Tobin.
U-14s set their own piece of history
Signs of progress and a bright future at Crosserlough was in further evidence when the club's U-14 side took the inaugural seven a side coaching games and development tournament. With all clubs participating, Crosserlough made it into the final groupings where six teams were divided into two groups. Both Crosserlough and Cootehill made it through their group stages and faced each other in the final for the right to win the inaugural county title. Crosserlough showed great skill and determination in overcoming a determined challenge from Cootehill on a scoreline of 2.14 to 4.1.
Camogie title secured with impressive performance
An impressive performance by the Crosserlough senior ladies side saw them secure the Cavan senior B championship crown when they overcame Laragh on a scoreline of 3-11 to 0-4. The final which was played in Virginia saw the girls from the 'Lough' set out their intentions right from the start. An inspired run from midfield saw by Orla Smith set the tone as she cut her way through the Laragh defence to register the game's first score, a goal for the would be winners. Laragh did try to muster their troops but out from a brief flurry of parity it was to be all Crosserlough on the day. With Aoishe Reilly dominating the exchanges for the winners, it did not take long for Lorraine Daly to register her side's second score a point. Laragh did not register their opening until half way through the first half but with Crosserlough creating the better chances and dominating the exchanges it was little wonder that they held a commanding half time lead of 1-3 to 0-3. The Crosserlough goal came after some superb team work and was brilliantly finished off by Catriona Byrd. Laragh were denied any chance of regaining any momentum in the second half as Crosserlough came storming out of the blocks. A quickly registered point from Eveleen O'Reilly set the tone for the girls from the "Lough". O'Reilly was to go on to register a further five points during the second half and when Lorraine Daly and Angela O'Reilly added two further goals, this game ended as a contest. To their credit the Laragh girls did put up a better performance than the scoreline suggested but great defending by Crosserlough ensured that scores were hard to come by.
Crosserlough: Claire O'Reilly, Aine O'Reilly, Denise Wilton, Brenda McEvoy, Breda Keany, Siobhan Reynolds, Sinead Coyle, Aoishe O'Reilly, Angela O'Reilly (0-1), Lorna Cahill (0-1) Emer McVeity, Eveleen O'Reilly (0-7), Orla Smith (1-1), Catriona Byrd (1-0), Lorraine Daly (1-1). Subs: Joanne Sheridan, Sinead McKenna, Claire Sheridan, Grace Kelly, Geraldine Fanner.
Crosserlough girls show great promise
Crosserlough's girls U-14 showed great promise and no small amount of skill as they overcome 'old' rivals, Killygarry in the U14A county final. This was set to be a 'grudge' encounter as Crosserlough had put the Cavan town side to the sword in the Feile final back in May emerging winners by 1-3 to 0-0. Killygarry were eager to redress this result but a resolute and talented Crosserlough had other ideas. The final scoreline of 3-13 to 1-7 is in itself evidence of the team's dominance on the final day. On the day the team as a unit played well with exceptional performances coming from team captain Una Galligan and Aoibhean Kiernan.
Club's great loss
Club chairman Peter Galligan said that the club suffered sad losses in 2009. "The death of former club stalwart, Tom Dowd was a felt not just in Crosserlough but throughout the entire county and province. Tom was so interwoven in the fabric of the club it is difficult to believe that he is gone. A former chairman, president, county rep at all levels, they are just a number of the positions he held throughout his long and distinguished career. The deaths of two former players of distinction, Frank Tully and Phil McMenamin were also a sad occasion for the Crosserlough club," said the club chairman.
Crosserlough Camogie
Under 14s and Under 16s
Our underage is actively progressing each year with teams at U14 and U16 levels. Our U14s reached the final and narrowly lost out to Laragh.
Our under 16s reached the quarter final stage of their competition losing out to Ballinagh in what was a hard fought game. The U16 competition was very tough and a very high standard of camogie was displayed in each game. Most games were either won or lost with just one score dividing the teams. We recognise the importance of camogie at underage level in our Club and a lot of the ground work is carried out within our National Schools e.g. Kilnaleck N.S., Crosserlough N.S. and Drumkilly N.S.
For the first time Crosserlough Club entered an U14 team in the Community Games under the Sheelin Area. Great experience was gained by this competition and the girls done themselves proud by reaching the finals in Athlone. This was a great achievement as they were the first camogie team from Cavan to have ever reached this far. Well done to all involved including their mentors.
Junior Competition
We also have a Junior team in place which contested the Junior League final against a strong Bailieboro side. The game was played at high pace with great skill displayed from both sides. However Crosserlough were not fortunate on this occasion to claim the title.
Our Junior side progressed in the Championship and reached the final against Castletara in Dr Plunkett Park, Kilnaleck which was played in bad weather conditions. Crosserlough under performed on the day and Castletara were the worthy winners.
Even though we were unsuccessful in claiming any major titles this year, in light of the success we had at all levels over the last number of years our Club still stands strong and this is a positive outlook for the future. Tweet
