Having blazed a trail of winning throughout the league, Redhills will certainly feel hard done by as they lost in the semi-final stages to Kingscourt and thus an opportunity to secure a coveted senior league title.

Having played fifteen league games, losing only two and topping the table throughout the season, the border club can draw some satisfaction from their consistency and overall play. This good league run was down to hard-work and a talented squad who produced some of the best football played in Cavan this season.

The year started well with expectations of a major breakthrough a realistic prospect. With some of the best young talent in the county at its disposal it was not beyond belief that this side could capture a senior title.
The formation of a 'dream' management team of Fermanagh man Peter Leonard, as team manager and selectors, Ollie Brady (former Cavan stalwart) and Brendan Smith looked to be the ingredient needed to bring this squad to the next level. The senior squad had the perfect balance and having already proved themselves through the ranks now look set to become a major force in Cavan senior football. The blend was just right with senior players of the calibre of Colin Reilly, Brendan Leddy, Fintan Reilly, Adrian Fitzpatrick, Brian Reilly, Alan Brady, Paddy Gumley Alan Dunne, Pierce and Ciaran West combining with the youthful talent of Oisin Moynagh, Rory Dunne, Packie Leddy, Turloc Mooney and Mark and Gary Kelly. This side has all the necessary ingredients for making a serious challenge for senior honours.

Getting off to a flyer in the league Redhills acquired a winning habit which propelled them to the top of the senior league table a position they would hold for the entire league.
Playing a refreshing brand of open attacking football, the border club overcame the challenges of many of the more established clubs in the county with a notable victory over the much vaunted Cavan Gaels.
The club is expertly guided through the good offices of chairman Mickey Reilly who believes that all the right ingredients are present in the current playing set-up to make a major impact. Mickey who is a life-long club member has not only played all the grades for Redhills but has also played with Cavan at all levels.

He has held the position of chairman for the past six years and with his background is indeed in the right place to assess the club's future potential. Throughout his tenure as chairman, Mickey has seen the club rise through the junior and intermediate ranks into the premier division of Cavan football. Through their meteoric rise over the past six years many of the current crop of players have established a winning formula and know what it takes to win at the cutting edge of knockout football.

Having been part of the club through the good times and the bad, Mickey believes that this present crop of players is on the threshold of something great.
"I feel that we have the talent to make an impact but circumstances beyond our controls could have a major influence as to how this club progresses in the future. The economic downturn has adversely affected many clubs in the country and hopefully we can manage to come through this difficult period without the loss of any of our players. Currently we are lucky that many of our players are attending third level education and this gives us a stable base to work from. The litmus test will come when they qualify and look for employment. Hopefully, they will all find gainful employment," said the chairman.

"When we look back at the 2011 season we can derive great satisfaction from it as we topped the division one table from the outset. Throughout the league we showed some great qualities winning tough games against more experienced opposition. It was a season when some of our more established players like Adrian Fitzpatrick, Alan Brady, Pierce West and Paddy Gumley led by example.
"These four are part of a group of players who we would consider 'veterans' in our set-up and they are still just in their late twenties. The composition of the current squad has two thirds of them with an age profile of under 25.
"Indeed most of them are just around the 20-21 age group. Three of our panel, Oisin Moynagh, Turlouch Mooney and Packie Leddy all played with Cavan in the All Ireland U21 final at Croke Park.

"We also saw the return to football after a long lay-off through injury of county senior player, Rory Dunne. Rory's return is vital for us at Redhills as he is a big powerful mobile talented player that gives us that extra edge around the park."
Rory is just one member of a trio of talented brothers with older brother Alan a vital part of the senior squad while younger brother, seventeen year old Andrew is fast showing that he will be pushing for a permanent place on the senior set-up in the not too distant future.

The experienced gained by the side over the past year will stand to them as they re-assess their plans for the coming season. Players of the calibre of Joe Callan, the Kelly brothers, Mark and Gary, Brian Reilly, Fintan Reilly will have learned a great deal from their strong run in the senior league. Competing against teams of the calibre of Cavan Gaels, Kingscourt and Mullahoran has provided the club with valuable experience and a belief that they are good as any of the big name clubs.
"With a strong run in the league we certainly had high hopes of a good championship run. Our failure to lift ourselves to the pace of championship was a bitter disappointment to all the players. We failed to come anywhere near our potential and this is what was the most disappointing aspect of our championship campaign," reflected Mickey.

"I have no doubt that this group of players will be more keyed up for this competition next season and I would expect that the results for the 2012 championship will be vastly different."
While there was a degree of dissapointment with the championship run, Redhills produced a very consistent performance overall which was evident by their league results.
"In a fifteen game league campaign we only lost two games in total and when you consider that we lost our opening game it was a remarkable turn-around. It will be important to learn from our championship setbacks and build on our good league run.
"I have no doubt in my mind that if we can hold onto our players and have a relatively injury free season next year then I believe we can be a formidable force.

"I do not think it is beyond us to win a senior league and we certainly have the talent to give the championship a real shake. When you look at the spread of talent, the youthfulness of the side and the experienced gained over the past six years then it is well within our capabilities to push on and win a coveted senior title," said a very proud chairman.
Mickey, while passionate about Redhills, is also a pragmatist and knows that the club must continue to develop top class players.

"The playing end of the things went extremely well during 2011 and while the senior squad showed great form throughout the league their counterparts on the junior side were also producing some excellent displays. Playing their football in Division 3 Reserve league this team has also found itself in the top echelons of this league table. It is a great breeding ground to give young players a taste of senior football and helps bring them on for the more competitive arena of Division 1 league and championship football," said the Chairman.
Overall the club had a great 'feel good factor' to it all season. At juvenile level they have a very hard working bunch of coaches and parents who do trojan work in this area.

This section of the club is ably led by vice chairman, Francis Smith and the contribution from people like Pat Smith, Kevin Murphy, Sean Faulkner, Seamus McSherry along with all the parents is greatly appreciated by the club.
"I also feel a good sign of a club is the commitment from senior players working with the juveniles. In this regard we have players like Oisin Moynagh, Rory Dunne, Conor McMahon and Brian Reilly all taking up the mantle of juvenile coaching. It is a great boost for the young up-and-coming players to see their local heroes working with them at club level," commented Mickey.
At juvenile level over the past few years Redhills have been amalgamated with neighbours Butlersbridge and play under the banner of Redbridge. This arrangement suits both clubs who are in a similar predicament with small numbers of boys attending the national schools in both parishes. It enables players from either of the clubs to get the necessary football and helps bridge the gaps as they move through the ranks and onto to their respective senior sides.
"While we can feel happy with how things progressed on the playing side of the club we can be equally proud of the great work being carried out by our very industrious development committee."

The committee of Peter Sheridan, Ollie Leddy, Kevin Murphy, Sean McInerney and Philip Maguire are working on a five year development project. Work is now set to start on our second pitch which will be used as a training area. This is a major undertaking and will also provide a running track and floodlights.

"We hope that this track will be used by all the locals as it will provide a safe environment for people wishing to take in a healthy walk. Plans are also in place for work to commence on the existing playing area where it is hoped to extend the field and improve the playing surface.
"The club has an excellent gym in place and it is anticipated that the new gym room will be incorporated into a new clubhouse in this five year development plan," said the chairman. Tweet

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