Shercock set their sights on the new season
December 31, 2010Terence Lynch, the PRO at Shercock, was more than forthcoming in his assessment of how things went at the club during the 2010 season. A teacher at the local national school, he is passionate about his club and speaks of the great work being done there.
The 2010 season saw a changing of the guard with the appointment of ex inter-county player and club stalwart, Jodie Clarke as the club's new team manager.He has had a long and illustious career with the club and is held in high esteem. Not only was he a popular choice for the position but one in which the club felt could benefit the players.
"Jodie's appointment brought an immediate new and fresh approach to the regime of training. He secured the assistance of well known athletic's coach, John McGeever, also a native of the area, to take charge of the physical training. As a former player, Jodie was in a position to understand the needs of players and especially those of his own club. While Jodie is recognised as a tactically astute manager, his task at Shercock was hampered with the shadow of emigration hanging over the club," said the club PRO.
"While we did not finish in the top section of the league we did perform well overall. We drew four games and this was to cost us dearly. Those dropped four points would have put us in a position to possibly contest the Division 2 league semi-finals. This is an area that the team management will assess for the incoming season and I have no doubt that the experienced gained in these tight games will be of benefit to us. We have some excellent players at the club who gave a great commitment throughout the entire season. Overall the entire panel were very committed and responded to the approach of the new team management. This effort was greatly appreciated by all at the club," said Terence.
In the championship Shercock romped out of the group beating Maghera by 4-19 to 0-5 and overcoming Templeport by 3-15 to 0-4. That left them a little unprepared for the tough quarter-final clash against Mountnugent. This was a game that they were emminently capable of winning but an underpar performance on the day saw them succumb to Mountnugent by 1-10 to 0-8.
"We were tagged as favourites going into this quarter-final but the loss of John McEnroe did not help our cause," explained Terence.
The game as a contest proved to be a real 'championship' tie with tough exchanges, good passages of fluent football and some superb individual performances. Sherock led by 0-3 to no score after ten minutes with all three points coming from Damien McIntyre. The first half saw both sides trade scores and as the half time score of 0-5 apiece suggests, it was all to play for.
Mountnugent did not repeat their poor start of the first half but rather came out of the blocks with 'all guns blazing'. A quick point followed three minutes later by a goal set the seal for their victory. Shercock fought back and had the deficit reduced to three points with ten minutes to play. Shercock went in search of goal and two good saves by the Mountnugent keeper kept his side in front. There was just three points separating the sides with five minutes remaining but Mountnugent were not to be denied their glory and finished the game with two further points.
"While we were disappointed to have exited the championship we feel that we will be in a better position next season to press on further in the competition," said the PRO.
"While we lost out at the quarter-final stage of the junior championship our second team flying the flag in the junior C championship proved to be the standard bearers for the club."
Shercock's Junior C team saw their hopes of glory dented when they lost out to a very strong Ballyhaise combination at Duke Park, Stradone by 0-15 to 1-4. Ballyhaise proved to be a stronger combination with a number of their senior side lining out on the day.
In front of a large attendance the winners got off to the perfect start as Shercock showed signs of nervousness and found themselves down 0-5 to 0-0 after fifteen minutes. They could have reduced the arrears but Michael McEneaney's shot was blocked by the Ballyhaise goalkeeper. This attack only spurred on the East Cavan side as they had the ball in the back of the winners' net through a superb strike from corner forward Shane McPhillips.
When Shercock managed to reduce Ballyhaise's lead to a single point the winners managed to tag on points in the final minutes of the half to give them a 0-8 to 1-2 interval lead. With thirteen minutes of the second half gone Ballyhaise had stretched their lead to six points but a dogged Shercock were not about to surrender. A determined effort by the East Cavan side was thwarted by some strong Ballyhaise defending.
Full forward, Daniel McElroy provided some hope of revival with a great point but it was not to be as Raymond Clarke's pointed free proved to be last score for Shercock. "It was a tremendous effort from these lads and everyone at the club is tremendously proud of their championship journey," said the PRO.
Shercock: Colin Courtney, Frances Byrne, Liam O'Reilly, Barry O'Reilly, Paul McIntyre, Edward McDermott, Michael McEneaney, Daniel Clarke, Raymond Clarke (0-1), Joseph O'Reilly, Sane McPhillips (1-1), Daniel McElroy (0-1), Declan McIntyre. Subs: Patrick McGee for Joseph O'Reilly Dean O'Reilly (0-1) for Edward McDermott.
Underage Football
When it comes to underage football at Shercock they have carved out their own small piece of history with the club winning an underage title every year since 2002. This has been achieved through the great work of the many people involved and one which the club would like to publically recognise.
"Last year, we amalgamated with neighbours Bailieboro Shamrocks to form Killann Gaels minor team. Under the stewardship of Paddy Donnery this side went on to capture the Cavan minor title. This year, Sherock were not as fortunate as they succumbed to power of another amalgamated side, St. Josephs," explained Terence.
Girls to the fore
With the club having won an underage title every since 2002 this year the hopes rest on the shoulders of the girls U14 team. Though only formed last year, this side has shown impressive form. Coached by Aisling McDermott, Darragh O'Reilly, Kay McEntee and John Coyle, they produced a string of excellent performances, beating Cuchullains, Cornafean and Gowna which brought them to the Division 3 Championship final. Shercock can also boast a number of players on the girl's U14 Cavan team, Katie Halpin, Laura Clarke and Breffini McEntee.
"We should recognise the great achievement by our U10 side who won the Go Games in Breffini Park during the summer," said Terry.
New Stand
Through a concerted fund-raising campaign run over the past number of years the club is now in a position to build its new stand. Work on the structure has commenced at O'Hagan Park and is expected to be completed in the not too distant future. When completed the new stand will be of tremendous benefit to the spectators and will enhance the appearance of the ground.
"In the weeks over the summer €15,000 was raised by members involved in a local 'slim-a-ton' which involved over a hundred sponsored members in teams headed by a senior player competing over seven weeks to lose as much weight collectively as possible," said Ternence.
This novel approach captured the imagination of the entire locality and brought about a grear air of community spirit. Teams organised events and training evenings which were very well organised and attended.
"The atmosphere for this novel fund-raising campaign was reflected in the final amount raised. The club would like to thank all those involved and to those who sponsored and took part," said the PRO.
"When we look back across the 2010 season with a calculating eye we at Shercock will see that we have progressed in many areas as a club and I have no doubt that we will continue to do so in the coming years." Tweet
