It was a busy year for Denn, although the ultimate objectives of promotion to Division One and intermediate championship success eluded them completely. However, they did enjoy a degree of success at under 16 and reserve level and it's clear that if the maroon-and-whites can get back on track next year, they could emerge once more as a force to be reckoned with. Two-thousand-and-one was a most disappointing year for Denn. Having gone into the season high on confidence, the Crosskeys men ultimately had to settle for another year of under-achievement. They had expected to do a lot better. Denn lost their Division One status at the end of 2000 but were hopeful of making a major impact in Division Two (and indeed the intermediate championship) in '01. A swift return to the top division was the order of the day but, while the season got off to a pretty decent start, it ended somewhat ingloriously. However, it wasn't all doom and gloom as some silverware did wing its way into the cupboard in the form of a Reserve League Division Three title and an U16 Division Four Championship. Those successes provided a morsel of comfort in what was otherwise a season of discontent. Not that Denn didn't try hard. Sometimes, though, no matter how hard one tries, things just don't happen. And that was how it was for Denn in 2001. The ambition and intent was clearly signalled from the start of the year when Gerry Brady - who had navigated the semi-successful Denn sides of 1998 and '99 - was restored at the helm, where he was joined by Paddy Gaffney, Brian Coyle and Jim Keogan. A 'Dream Team' in many respects . . . and there was every reason to expect them to elicit a positive response from the players. Try as they may, the desired results were not forthcoming. Gerry, Brian, Paddy and Jim took charge of all three adult sides fielded by the club during the season - the intermediate team, the junior team and the reserves - which made for a total of over 60 competitive matches. A busy season, all told! Upon their demotion to Division Two after a successful spell in the top flight (Denn actually won the senior league Division One competition outright in 1998), hopes were high that a quick return to the upper echelons might ensue. An end-of-season positioning near the summit of the table was the least Denn expected. However, of the 13 league games played over the season, they managed to win only four, drawing five others and losing four also. It wasn't the kind of form that would strike fear into the hearts of anybody. There were too many draws. These were costly; the defeats even more so. Denn finished sixth in the table, much to the outgoing manager's obvious chagrin: "We had expected to get into the top two or three at least and to be pushing for promotion, so we were very disappointed. The year started well and things were looking alright early on. But things fell apart after we were knocked out of the championship and we never got back into our stride after that." Preparations were meticulous; the approach was cautious but confident; the attitude in the camp was good. A decent start in the league was complemented by a comfortable, no-nonsense defeat of Swanlinbar in their first outing of the intermediate championship. So far, so good. Dreams intact on both fronts and every reason to anticipate a big season. The first sign of wheels beginning to loosen was when Cootehill provided the opposition for the second group stage fixture of the IFC. The game finished in a draw. All was not yet lost: there was still a chance of redemption against Drumlane. But Drumlane prevailed by four points and Denn were out of the running. Now all was lost. From that point on, things became a bit wobbly, and Denn's form took a bit of a nosedive. Before they knew it, the entire season had passed them by. Meanwhile, the club's other two adult teams met with more joy. The junior Bs reached the semi-final stage of a competition predominated by the second strings of Division One teams, before losing to Mullahoran and the reserve league team fared even better, winning the Cathal Grady Reserve League, Division Three title outright. It was a remarkable campaign for the Denn 'thirds', who won nine of the twelve games played in the league phase of the competition before accounting for Crosserlough in the final on December 8th. The manager was thrilled with that victory. Reflecting on 2001, he is keen to emphasise the positive aspects of the season: "We fielded a very good side in the U21 championship as well," he notes. "They got to the quarter-finals but a last-minute goal from Lurgan in Mountnugent beat them. That was without doubt one of Denn's unluckiest results of the year and we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that it was a decent under 21 team." Gerry believes Denn have the potential to put 2001 behind them, pick up the pieces and return to greater heights: "There is potential there. Denn have some very good players and an intermediate championship isn't out of their reach. They have no reason to be afraid of anybody next year and there are only about three or four teams that you'd see as being major threats. Ballinagh won't be too far away and you'd also expect Laragh to be strong, coming down from senior. Drumgoon, who have just come up from junior, could keep the momentum going and challenge as well. However, with the right attitude and frame of mind, Denn would be a match for any of those. "Denn have bundles of good young players and the club has always been able to put out its own underage teams, without any need to amalgamate with anyone. Their success at U16 level last year proves what they can do. The players are there - it's just a matter of getting the right blend. "The objective in 2001 was to get back to Division One and I'd imagine that's what they'll be aiming towards again this year. Denn were in intermediate finals in 1998 and '99, so there's plenty of experience in the team and it's surely only a matter of time before things work out." Certainly, with players of the calibre of Brian Boylan, David McKiernan, Hubert Smith, Donal Keogan, Thomas Farrelly and the more experienced Pat Baker and Philip Galligan at their disposal, Denn shouldn't be too far off the mark during the months ahead, when team affairs will be looked after by Corkman Brendan Nelligan, the Cavan town based bank official who trained the Belturbet seniors in 2001. Golden Goals A hat-trick of beautifully crafted and expertly finished goals did the trick for Denn last month as Crosserlough were overcome in the Division 3A league decider at Kilnaleck in early December. Denn were well worth their 3-7 to 1-7 win but it took 30 minutes of extra-time to separate the sides after a thrilling contest in perfect conditions and played in a fine sporting manner. Denn proved a very resilient bunch on the day. The Crosskeys-based side were 0-2 to 0-4 adrift after 20 minutes but the homesters never managed to cut loose in the way they wanted as Denn dug in despite conceding a goal in the 25th minute which helped put Crosserlough 1-4 to 0-3 in front at the interval. Denn had the best of starts to the second half when Martin Cahill junior added to good work by substitute Martin Donohoe to bang the ball with precision to the back of the Crosserlough net. The aforementioned goalscorer was nearly in for another goal shortly afterwards but his effort was blocked. Denn still held the upper hand and when Martin Donohoe pointed a free, only a point separated the sides. The maroon and whites were now pouring forward and in a last gasp attack, Adrian Hyland broke through to notch the equalising point and so send the game into extra time. Denn enjoyed an explosive start as play resumed when Ciaran Boylan rifled the ball into the Crosserlough net in the opening minute. Denn continued to force the pace and a Martin Cahill free added to their momentum. Denn now led by 2-6 to 1-7. With five minutes of the second half of extra-time played, Denn finally wrapped up the spoils when Ciaran Boylan scored an opportunist goal to settle the issue in textbook style. The Denn team squad, scorers and subs, which featured in the Division 3A final was as follows: M. Cahill snr; M. Smith, P. Gaffney, F. McConnell; R. Smith, K. Keoghan, C. Kiernan; P. Galligan, D. Lawless; A. Hyland (0-1), M. Cahill (1-3), O. Brady; P. Donohoe (0-1), D. Hewitt (0-1), A. McKiernan. Subs used; C. Boylan (2-0), M. Donohoe (0-1), O. McPhillips, S. Treacy. P. Donohoe, G. Lawless, C. Kiernan. That bit better A powerful Denn side had much too much in hand over a gallant Redhills side in an exciting U. 16 Division Four championship decider at Breffni Park last October. Ironically it was Denn who started the game in the more impressive fashion and, facing a stiff breeze, the Crosskeys-based outfit fell 0-0 to 0-3 behind inside the opening three minutes. Denn soon found their feet though and were on level terms after fine points from Paul Donohoe (2) and Paul McSherry as the tempo of the game increased noticeably. Redhills were very much in the game and they nipped back into the lead only for Denn to come back with gusto with Paul Donohoe getting on target to leave the sides on level terms at 0-4 apiece at the break. With the wind at their backs on the restart, Denn set about forcing the pace and a converted free by Paul Donohoe secured a lead for the maroon and whites that they held briefly until Patrick McMahon got on the scoresheet for Redhills. However it wasn't long before Denn were eyeing up the winning post. A fine move in the ninth minute ended with Martin Kiernan scoring a fine goal which was quickly followed by points from Paul Donohoe (3), Sean McGivney and Raymond Smith which left the would-be winners 1-10 to 0-5 to the good with 12 minutes left in the tie. Redhills never looked like throwing in the towel and a brace of points for them kept them in the hunt. It was goals they needed though but Denn's waterproof defence was in fine form throughout with Mark Hewitt making a fine save in goals. The young Denn 'keeper was later beaten though by a penalty but, appropriately, Denn had the last word when Paul McSherry landed a fine point to secure a deserved 1-13 to 1-7 victory. The following is the victorious Denn team, scorers and subs, that fielded against Redhills: M. Hewitt, A. Smith, M. Callaghan, G. Hill, R. Lee, M. Enright, R. Smith (0-1), T. Farrelly, S. McGivney (0-2), P. McSherry (0-2), S. Smith, P. Donohoe (0-8), M. Kiernan (1-0). Subs used; S. Kelleher, I. Smith, D. McCann. Tweet

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