A solid performance in the Cavan ACFL means that Killeshandra can be happy with their 2010 campaign. This young Leaguers side grew in stature as they progressed through their league campaign and gained valuable experience for the coming season.  

While they acquitted themselves well in the senior league they will be bitterly disappointed at having lost out in a replay of the Intermediate championship quarter-final. The replay played at Kingspan Breffni Park against local rivals Drumlane proved to be an exciting and evenly contested affair that kept the large crowd present in suspense right up to the final whistle. The final scoreline of 1-6 to 0-10 tells its own story as the Leaguers went under by the narrowest of margins. Just like their league campaign this young side will no doubt have learned valuable lessons during their championship run and will be a force to reckon with in next year's intermediate championship. The nomadic existence the club had to endure for the past number of seasons is now set to come to an end as the major development at the club's grounds nears completion. Having to play  home games away had to be a disadvantage so their ability to survive in the topflight speaks volumes of the effort put in by all at the club. 

When you speak to club PRO, Blaithin O'Reilly you certainly get the feel of how important the Killeshandra GFC is to the area.
"We progressed through the ranks from humble beginnings to make it into the top stratus of Cavan football and so far have shown that we are quite capable of holding our own," said Blaithin.
"We have survived in the top division having to travel around the county to play our home fixtures which thankfully will not be the case next season as we are set to officially open our new complex. We are a quite a young side with some excellent talent at our disposal. We are also fortunate enough to have a number of very good minors coming on stream and as a club we have worked very hard at our underage structure over the years."

The senior squad under the management Ciaran O'Reilly, Kieran Fitzpatrick and John Sweeney started the season on bright note. By early May the club had registered a sufficient number of points to take the pressure off having to battle to survive in the topflight. However, that league form did not carry through to the championship campaign.
They produced some great exciting encounters in their championship quest, the highlight being the thrilling comeback against Ballyhaise, before their hopes of an intermediate championship title came to an end after a replay against Drumlane at the quarter-final stages.

The first game was a 0-10 to 1-7 draw and the replay was equally tense, with a single point separating the sides, 0-10 to 1-6.
"This is still a very young team and with players like Darragh Tighe, Tomas O'Reilly and Declan McKiernan who all featured on the county U-21 side the future does indeed look promising," said Blaithin.

They may not have won any silverware in 2010 but there was a major achievement in the completion of the development word at their club grounds. "This was a major undertaking for us. The process of development commenced back in 2008.  It has been a long and tough challenge for all concerned. In order to undertake the development we had to play all our home games away from home. However, the effort was certainly worth it as the development has now come to completion and is set to be unveiled in early 2011," explained Blaithin.

"The state of the art field and complex are due to be officially opened before the commencement of the incoming season and will no doubt afford all our supporters and players the opportunity to once again play at home."
Blaithin is quick to point out that a major undertaking such as that carried out by the club and which is now completed was brought to fruition by the hard work and dedication of a great deal of committed people who worked tirelessly for the cause.
"There are many good people who have worked hard on this development but praise must go the dedicated field development committee of Donagh O'Reilly, Ciaran Burns, Peter Brady, Pat McGearty, Tom McKiernan, Junior McKiernan and the late Cathal O'Rourke, who invested numerous hours into this project. For this committee it became a 'labour of love' and through their dedication, hard-work and vision we now have a magnificent new stadium," said a proud Blaithin.

"Throughout the entire process of development we had to play all our home games away. To this end we were greatly facilitated by many of our neighbouring clubs. Killeshandra Leaguers would like to express publicly their sincere gratitude to Kildallan, Arva, Ballinagh, Drumlane and Cavan Co. Board GAA for the use of their facilities over the past two years," said Blaithin.
"The loss of a home venue over the past two years has put a strain on the development of juvenile teams. While we may not have won any silverware over that period we are nonetheless content with much of the progress on the field of play.  With the opening of our new facilities we will now be in a much better position to challenge for honours at underage level," said the club PRO.

Killeshandra joined forces with St. Patrick's Arva and Drumlane GAA to form the St. Joseph's minor team. They had an excellent year in this grade making it to the Division 1 league final and also taking the might of Cavan Gaels to a championship final replay which they eventually lost.

The club's U-6 side also made great progress and while they lost out in the semi-final of the Division 1 league campaign they can certainly feel proud of their wonderful achievement. Credit must also go to their team management of Tom McKiernan, Austin Fitzpatrick and Sean McKiernan (all Killeshandra).

The club's juvenile board under the direction of Chairman Seamus O'Reilly and coaches Declan O'Hanlon, Bernard Brady, Ciaran Dinnenny, Shane O'Reilly and the late Cathal O'Rourke worked wonders as they toiled without the use of a home ground.
Blaithin also paid tribute to the great work being carried out by the club's executive committee. "We have an excellent executive committee in Chairman, Pat McGearty and secretary Donagh O'Reilly. Both Pat and Donagh have proved to be very hard working and have helped guide the club throughout the entire development process."

The club felt honoured with the success of club member Sean Feeney. Sean, along with Aidan McGovern was an integral part of the Cavan ladies football management team that won the league title. Another former Leaguer great, Stephen King has also been propelled back into the limelight with his appointment as part of the new Cavan senior football management team of Val Andrews and Terry Hyland. 
 
Scor

The club was once again well represented at Scor county level in solo singing, ballad group and the novelty act. Matthew Keaney proved to be a winner with his renditions in the solo singing section thus helping to bring the Killeshandra group to the Ulster semi-final stages. Loretta Phair who organised and ran the Scor proved to be an inspirational leader. 

Ladies show how it is done

Killeshandra did secure silverware when they outclassed a fancied Ballyhaise side in the Junior B ladies championship by 3-5 to 2-7. This game proved to be a real cracker. The Leaguers showed great character coming back from a eight point deficit of 1-6 to 0-1. Ballyhaise enjoyed most of the possesion in the first half but a point from Aisling Carey helped give the Leaguers some form of hope. Indeed, Ballyhaise could have had their lead further reduced when a well taken spot kick by Niamh Mulligan was superbly saved by the Ballyhaise keeper. While Ballyhaise held sway for most of the first half and with the elements behind them they had just managed to amass a three point interval lead of 0-4 to 0-1.

With wind advantage in the second-half it was expected that the Ballyhaise lead of three points would be insufficient. This theory was quickly dispatched as within the first eight minutes of the restart, Ballyhaise had registered 1-2 to give them a 1-6 to 0-1 lead. While many other sides in a similar position would have thrown in the towel this setback only seemed to spur on the Killeshandra girls. The fightback began with an Annmarie Connolly goal which was quickly followed by another well taken goal from the impressive sub Niamh Feeney. Now on level terms 1-6 to 2-3 this game ignited and the large crowd was treated to spectacle of open exciting and pulsating football.

Ballyhaise restored their lead with a goal and looked like they might not fend of the challenge of the Leaguers. Nothing could be further from the truth as the Leaguers came in waves at the Ballyhaise defence. An intelligent pass from Niamh Mulligan found Bronagh Flemming who showed no hesitation in her intent as she cracked her shot to the back of the Ballyhaise net. With a two point advantage 3-5 to 2-6 Killeshandra now had the upperhand but Ballyhaise were determined to make a fight of it and registered a point to take the game to a one point tie. Killeshandra withstood the onslaught and saw out the challenge of the losers after seeing a cracker of shot from a Ballyhaise forward rattle off the crossbar. A solid Killeshandra defence and a determined spirit saw them ride out the last minutes in defiant mood to take the honours.

Killeshandra: Siobhan Sweeney, Sinead Kelly, Natasha Brady, Melissa King, Emma Mulligan, Sinead Duffy, Annmarie Connolly (1-2), Patricia Reilly (0-1), Niamh Mulligan (0-1), Corina Olwill, Selene Reilly, Bronagh Flemming (1-1), Sile Sweeney. Subs used: Meabh Duffy, Niamh Feeney (1-0). 

Sympathy extended

Blaithin said that the club would like to extend their sympathy to a number of families who suffered bereavement during 2010.
"It was a sad year for the club with the loss of two of our long standing members and club presidents, Padraig Smith and Jimmy Farrelly, both were great club men and will be sadly missed. 

"The club also mourned the loss of committee member, coach and friend with the untimely passing of Cathal O'Rourke. To all of the families and friends, all at the club would like to extend their deepest sympathy," said the club PRO.
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