Crosserlough have the will to bounce back
December 31, 2010The proud Black and Amber faced fellow strugglers, Killygarry in a final throw of the dice in a relegation play-off for retention of senior championship football status. It was however, the Cavan town side that edged the result and closed the book on the final chapter of Crosserlough's struggle for survival in the top flight.
This result was the final blow in a year when they also lost out in their struggle for survival in the senior league where they finished bottom of the table. To examine this downturn in fortunes it is necessary to take a more detailed look at what has happened at the famous Kilnaleck side. While no-one would expect that a club with such a proud tradition could continuously hold sway throughout its entire history, the fall from grace has been evident over the past few seasons.
Probably more than any other club in the county, Crosserlough has been badly scarred through emigration.
Crosserlough's tradition comes from its people and there is little doubt that the famous Black and Amber will regroup and once again challenge for honours. While the drop down to Division 2 was expected it was nevertheless a shock to such a proud club.
However, club chairman, Peter Galligan is quite philosophical in outlook on the club's downturn in fortunes.
"It was probably inevitable that we were set to go down. Our results over the past few seasons would have suggested that we were destined for relegation at some stage," said Peter. "The constant battle with relegation survival finally caught up with us. I suppose there are a number of reasons for us to be in this position but the reality is that we are now set to play our football in Division 2."
In taking an in depth look at the year gone by Breffni Blue spoke with one of its most famous footballing sons, Phillip Smith. While Phillip was too young to be associated with the famous seven in a row he was nevertheless a 'permanent fixture' in the Black and Amber jersey for many years. Philip came onto the senior stage at Crosserlough as far back as 1984 and up until this year has been a vital part of the club's playing structure. Philip was also a renowned inter-county player having donned the Breffni Blue for over fourteen seasons.
A prominent inter-county player and a Crosserlough stalwart, Philip is in an ideal position to assess the club's fortunes.
"With relegation finally decided we can look back across the past number of seasons and draw our own conclusion as to why we were in the position of having been demoted," said Philip.
"There is a reality in our situation that we are now in Division 2 and it is something that we can face up to and address. We are a proud club and while we may have struggled over the past few seasons there has been a real and genuine reason for it. With the economic situation as it is now and while I know that all clubs are affected by emigration of young talent, we at Crosserlough have seen a serious drain of players from our senior team.
"We have lost ten of our senior panel and no matter what club you are this drain is excessive and cannot be corrected in the short term. We believe that there is little chance of any of these players coming back in the immediate future so it is up to us as a club to try and bring on players quicker than we would normally like to," said the experienced Crosserlough player.
"On that point we had to introduce one of our most talented young players in Paul McEvoy into senior competition at the end of 2009. Paul was only seventeen then and he helped us to stave off the relegation threat that season. He is still a minor and as a club we would much rather be in a position to enable our younger players time to mature. It would always have been the belief at Crosserlough that we would 'blood' our younger players to a point where they were physically and mentally ready for senior competition. Now with so many of the senior squad having emigrated that choice is no longer afforded to us," said Philip.
"We are a very pragmatic people here in Crosserlough and have seen the relegation spectre loom over us for the past few seasons. A gigantic effort was made to survive over the past three seasons but the lack of senior players through emigration was eventually going to take its toll. While we could see where we were heading and try as we may we were eventually relegated this season. The pall of disappointment felt not just by our loyal supporters but by the club's committee and players was difficult to experience.
"We were bitterly disappointed to lose not only our senior league status but also our championship status."
When you view the league table and see that that the club were firmly based at the bottom it does not provide a complete picture of their effort. Crosserlough lost nine of their league games by one point and in many of those encounters they should have shaded the result. While they lost out in both league and championship they were never too far away from clubs that finished up in the top section of the league table.
"Our task over the coming season will be a tough one. We will be focusing on trying to bounce back but know that many of the clubs in Division 2 will be hoping to take the scalp of Crosserlough. It will now be up to the club's panel of players to stay focused and set as their target promotion out of Division 2," explained Philip.
"When you look back over the past few seasons you see that the teams demoted from senior status did reverse the trend. Killygarry showed that when they were relegated they bounced back the following year. However I think they were the only club to do so in one year. Kingscourt took a few years but look at them now, they won the senior championship beating the Gaels. So it is not an impossible task.
"It will take a committed effort from all at the club which I no doubt will be there. The current structure at the club both at administrative and player level is excellent. We will not be short in determination. What we need is a little bit of luck, that vital ingredient that you cannot factor into your preparations.
"I have total belief that the squad will be focused and committed to the job of reversing their relegation setback. The sojourn in Division 2 may allow us to mature more as a team and make us stronger," said the Crosserlough stalwart.
"To draw a line under the relegation struggle is important for us at Crosserlough and we must see it as for what it really was. The loss of so many of our senior squad was probably the catalyst that led to our downward spiral. Credit must be given to the players who fought off the inevitable for the past three years. Credit must also be given to our team management of Sean Lynch, Benny Byrd, Donal Smith and Charlie Galligan. As a management team they had an unenviable task.
"Their efforts and that of our executive committtee of chairman, Peter Galligan, secretary Michael Galligan and treasurer Martin Lovett need to be acknowledged as they all put in a huge effort with their support and belief in the players. I have been working alongside the juvenile coaches and have been involved with the club's under 12s and 13s and that is an area I will continue with," said Philip.
When asked if he himself would be lining out in the coming season, Philip responded that he felt that he had played his part and that now it was up to the current crop of players who he felt were up to the challenge.
Underage
A lot of excellent work is being put in at the club with their underage players. The underage structure at Crosserlough caters for age groups from U-8 right through to minor. While they had to amalgamate with Denn at minor level they have put in trojan work with the other younger age groups.
"We have a very dedicated group of coaches working with the underage players who have given freely of their time and experience. This is an area I feel that is vitally important if we are to emerge as a force in Cavan football in the future," explained Philip.
"We have a tremendous history and tradition here at Crosserlough. If this is handled and fostered correctly into the coaching efforts of our future players it could hopefully help us find another set of players to maybe go one better than our illustrious former greats of 'seven-in-a-row'.
"While we are recognised as a football club we also have a very vibrant camogie club here. The ladies camogie club kept the club colours flying with some great displays during the season and were very unlucky to lose out to Lacken in the senior camogie championship final," said Philip.
Camogie
Crosserlough camogie can feel bitterly disappointed at having lost out in the senior camogie championship final when they went under to Lacken by 2-7 to 0-10. Lacken were strong favourites to take the title but had to call on their vast experience to snatch the title from the grasp of a determined and focused Crosserlough side. Crosserlough began the game in whirlwind fashion and for the first twenty minutes looked like they might overwhelm the Lacken side. A shock second minute Lacken goal only seemed to inspire the Kilnaleck side as they took control and ran into an 0-8 to 1-2 lead. With Lorraine Day, Lorna Cahill and Sinead McKenna in fine scoring form it looked as if the honours would certainly be heading Crosserlough's way. With the rain coming down in torrents, Lacken through their experience at this level and slowly began to wrestle control of the game and managed to finish the half 1-6 to 0-8 in front.
In a tense second half both sides looked to take control but it was a rather fortunate Lacken goal in the dying minutes that was set to seal the fate of the Crosserlough side. Now leading by four points 2-6 to 0-8 the 'Lough responded well with a point through Erica Joyce which left her side needing to find that elusive goal to tie the game. The experience of the Lacken side rode out the challenge as a game and never say die attitude of the Kilnaleck side just fell short on the day. Crosserlough certainly played their part in what was one of the most exciting camogie finals in many years. Played in poor conditions both sides displayed some exciting and skillful play.
Crosserlough: F. Lynch, D. Wilton, S. Reynolds, M. Lovett, L. Cahill (0-1), S. Coyle, Aine O'Reilly, Angela O'Reilly, Aoishe O'Reilly, C. Byrd, L. Day (0-1), E. McVeety, S. McKenna (0-2), B. Keaney, B. Lynch (0-4). Subs: E. Joyce (0-1), O. Smith.a Tweet
