Ballyconnell First Ulsters invariably get their hands on silverware at underage level and in 2011 that was again the case. The club's premier team though weren't so lucky as selector Dale Bannon acknowledges.

If, from a distance, you get the impression that things have stagnated somewhat in football circles down Ballyconnell way then a bout of scratching underneath the surface will enlighten you as to the hive of activity going on there.
Okay the seniors didn't have the best of innings over the past year but don't let that fool you into thinking that the white and reds have lost their way.

A huge amount of effort is being put in at all levels of the club and despite certain circumstances, e.g the economic downturn, conspiring against the First Ulsters, Gaelic football is still very much alive and kicking in that part of west Cavan.
Senior player turned selector Dale Bannon doesn't begin to try and mask the fact though that Ballyconnell First Ulsters are fighting an uphill battle these days to uphold the proud tradition of the club. 2011 tested the patience of a lot of the die-hards in the club.
"The results in division three and in the junior championship weren't great but there wasn't an awful lot more anyone could have done.

"We lost upwards of 10 of the seniors from last year's championship side that lost to Munterconnacht in the quarter-final.
"Losing so many has a demoralising effect but there's a lot of work being done with the underage fellas to try and find new blood for the seniors."
As we go to print, the spectre of a couple of more players heading abroad in search of work is a real life possibility and so the drain continues.
Unlike 2010, Ballyconnell First Ulsters didn't manage to field a second adult team in 2011 due to the dilution in their numbers. Changed times.
The hope among Bannon and co. is that "three or four of this year's minors" will develop and progress to senior level in the coming year.

Certainly eye-witnesses to the club's heart breaking 2-10 to 2-11 MFC Division Three final defeat last August to Laragh can testify to the fact that a number of the 2011 club minors have the potential to make quite an impact for Ballyconnell in the coming year(s).
Players like Fergal Donohoe, Peadar Reilly, Cathal Sheridan and Conor Crowe all impressed in their team's narrow defeat at Breffni Park.
Ballyconnell's under 18s had much better luck earlier in May when they triumphed by 2-9 to 1-6 over Cuchulainns in the MFL Division Three final.

The west Cavan lads hit the ground running in the final with a point from Cian Crowe and a goal by Cathal Sheridan giving them a 1-1 to 0-1 lead after just five minutes.
The first half was an archetypal see-saw affair with Cian Crowe chipping over a neat point to cut Cuchulainns' lead to 1-4 to 1-3 at half-time.
Ballyconnell were again out of the traps in speedy fashion on the restart and a great score from Cian Crowe left just the minimum between the sides.
The sides were then level in the 36th minute after good work from Fergal Donohoe and Peadar Reilly set up Cathal Sheridan for a point.

A brillant point from Conor Crowe was matched by a superb '45 by Neasan Neary in the ensuing minues as Ballyconnell eased into a 1-6 to 1-4 lead.
That lead was extended to five points when an storming run from Glen Rogers allowed Alonso Houlihan to get through for a well-taken goal.
Points thereafter from Peadar Reilly and Rogers added further pressure on Cuchullains as the chequered flag came into view on the horizon.
Cuchullains pressed hard 'till the end but Conor Crowe's 45 metre free was all that was needed for Ballyconnell to secure the title.
Ballyconnell First Ulsters (v Cuchulainns MFL Division Three final); Mateuz Kraskiki; Laurence Corcoran, Neason Neary, Padraig Reilly; Fergal Donohoe, Owen Partland, Peadar Reilly, Cathal Sheridan, Conor Crowe, Cian Crowe, Alonso Houlihan, Daryl Johnston, Glen Rogers.
Subs used; Sean McGoldrick; Ciaran Donohoe; Shane McGovern.

Reacting to the capture by the club of yet another piece of silverware at underage level, seasoned clubman Bannon believes that regular spots in the winner's enclosure has instilled a lot of confidence and self-belief in the young and up-and-coming players in the club.
"The more silverware we win at underage the more talent that'll be coming up through to senior level and there's some good potential there."
For his own part, Bannon explains that, extraordinarily, his days at underage level were barren - just like his days with Ballyconnell's premier team.
He recalls being part of teams beaten in two under 14 finals, an under 16 semi-final and a minor semi-final in the company of West Cavan.
"The teams that came after me though won under 14 and under 16 finals. Fellas like Stephen O'Neill, Trent Fitzpatrick and Daithi Reilly were on those teams."

In addition to his litany of disappointments at underage level, the now 33 year old suffered the disappointment of losing two JFC finals in 2001 and 2003 to Drumgoon and Butlersbridge respectively.
So what were the missing pieces in those embryonic years of the noughties?
"I don't think there was a lot missing, maybe, if anything, a bit of luck that all champions need and we just didn't get that bit of luck.

"That was when the team was at its strongest - at least during my time - and we really should have won the championship in one year or the other.
"In fairness, the Drumgoon team that beat us went on win the county and Ulster intermediate titles the following year so we they weren't a bad team.
"Butlersbridge got the better of us on the day but they have the hex on us as regards the championship over a number of years."
From 1995 to 2010, the approachable Bannon played his heart out at senior level for Ballyconnell but was unlucky to end up empty handy.

He reckons the economic situation, locally and nationally, could have a big say in how many senior players at the club will go empty handied in the short term.
With the damage wreaked by the collapse of the Sean Quinn empire yet to be fully realised, the spectre of major loss in personnel again looms large over the Ballyconnell First Ulsters.
"If we have another few fellas who have to head away to look for work, things will get even more difficult in terms of trying to win something.

"The lack of competition for places this year was one of the reasons why things didn't go well for us in the league or the championship."
Alongside team-manager John Joe Stewart (Belcoo) and fellow selector Keith Prior, Dale is in philosophical mood as he reflects on Ballyconnell's championship campaign.
He says the concession of a couple of goals undermined their bold bid to beat Shercock while victory over Mountnugent boosted hopes and even though defeat was Ballyconnell's lot against Shannon Gaels, victory over Maghera in a play-off booked the team a place in the quarter-finals.

"We were confident enough going into the quarter final against Arva but we started slowly and when we finally started to play to our potential, it was too late.
"In fairness to the team, the fact that we had to go through the year without the likes of Stephen Wynne, Daithi Reilly and Barry Reilly for a lot of the time didn't help, especially when the strength in depth of the squad wasn't that good."
So what's around the corner for the seniors?

"I think the team showed a good bit of potential in drawing at home to Munterconnacht earlier in the year and if the more senior lads can get work and stay around long enough for the current minors to come through, the future mightn't be that bad at all." Tweet

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