Silverware back in Dunleer
December 30, 2009Although it didn't work out as planned, the Dunleer side have every reason to look back on the 2009 campaign with some satisfaction as their form on the field suggests that they have a bright future ahead.
Victory in the Kevin Mullen Shield saw them pick up their first piece of silverware in a number of years, and although the championship proved to be a big disappointment, it was the consistent league form that illustrated this squad has plenty to offer.
Some fine displays prove that not only can the Dunleer men compete with the best at Division 3 level, but with a number of talented players coming through the ranks, they are optimistic about competing at a higher level in the not too distant future.
One man who is in a good position to judge the merits of the team is Aidan King, who acted as selector alongside Fergal Dunne and Thomas Martin and he is very encouraged by what he has seen.
"Overall it has been a very mixed season for us, but we have to look at the many positives. Winning the Kevin Mullen Shield was great for us and the league form was good, but it was disappointing after last year that we didn't do better in the championship.
"After reaching the final in 2008 and coming so close to winning the Christy Bellew Cup, all the lads were determined to go all the way this year. However, sometimes when you reach a final it can be difficult to bounce back straight away and sometimes it takes two years to come back. There is no doubt that we were all disappointed with the way the championship went, but hopefully we can come back stronger in 2010 and give it a real go.
"I just can't put my finger on what went wrong in the championship, it was simply a case of us coming up short. It was disappointing for everyone because we had been going so well in the league and knew from the league and shield that we had the ability to beat anyone in our grade.
"It is true to say that we ended up in the toughest group with the two Intermediate teams, St Mochtas and Sean McDermotts, while Glen Emmets were also there. However, we just underachieved and didn't make it out of the group stages.
"The key game for us was against eventual winners, St Mochtas, in July and we needed to win that one to stay in contention, but it didn't work out for us," explained Aidan.
What made the championship so disappointing was the fact that Lannleire's league form had been so impressive, and their ability to take their scores was one of the most pleasing aspects of the year, as Aidan points out.
"After 2008 the expectations were high when we got back to training at the start of the year and that was reflected in our play from the word go.
"We really hit the ground running in the Kevin Mullen Shield and after nine games came through to win it in a replay against Naomh Fionnbarra in Stabannon on May 30th. We came out on top by 1-11 to 1-6 to win our first trophy in a few years and we were delighted to get our hands on it because any success is welcome."
Aidan points out that aside from the joy of winning the trophy, it was an emotional moment for the club when Carlos Lambe held the shield aloft, following the death of one of the club's best known members.
"Winning the winter league was important for the club as our long serving treasurer and committee member, Sean Hand, had died earlier that month. His death was a big loss to the club and everyone involved was determined to win the shield as a tribute to Sean, so that made victory just that little bit more special."
Apart from winning the shield final, Aidan points out that the league form was the highlight of the season with many positives to emerge from those performances.
"Over the season we played 12 games and won ten which is a very good return while we also had a massive points difference at the end of the league. We finished up with a total of 251 for and 106 against and that difference of 145 points was the best in the three divisions, so we were definitely doing something right.
"Unfortunately we just missed out on the title as we came up short against winners, Young Irelands, in the vital match at the beginning of October. However, we can definitely look back at the season with some satisfaction as things are going very well in the club at the moment. We used a total of 40 players over the 26 games so that shows that we have a strong enough squad to push forward while there are a number of good young players who have come through.
"The likes of Paul Callan, Ian Mulroy and Robert Moynagh have forced their way into the first team, while the form of the U-21 side under John O'Connor has also been very good and plenty of players with ability who will be in contention for the first team in 2010."
The selector also believes that the work off the field of play points to a successful future for Lannleire.
"There is an ongoing development at Pairc Uí Mhuirí and we have just put in a new juvenile training pitch which will be open next year and represents a great step forward for us all.
"There is a lot of great work being done at the field by the likes of Noel Callan, Bernard Dunne and Patsy Carroll and we are all seeing the benefit of that."
Aidan also believes that any success on the field would not happen without the efforts of the hard-working committee and he is quick to praise the team led by new chairman, Kenneth Dunne, and secretary, Declan Dowd, for the support they have given the management and players over the course of the season.
He is confident that if the effort from all sectors of the club continues, there is every reason for Lannleire to be confident about the future and he is hoping that success is not too far away.
Aidan, who knows what it takes to be successful at this level having captained Lannleire to the Junior Championship title in 1985, and he is hoping that the current can mark the 25th anniversary of that success by reclaiming the title in 2010. Tweet
