A 1-12 to 0-7 defeat against St. Josephs on Sunday 23rd October sealed Clans senior teams fate for the 2006 season writes Peter Brannigan. Struggling to find a degree of good form all season the club went into the final three rounds of the league needing three wins to avoid the drop to Division 1B. However an unexpected loss to bottom club Roche Emmetts in their third last outing coupled with Glyde Rangers success left Clans with a huge effort to retain their status. The task proved beyond them as they lost to St. Josephs, and Glyde beat Roche to leave Clans last outing against Glyde, of little bearing to the final table. Clans lack of success this season was apparent from early on in the league. Losing their opening four games to St. Patricks, St. Marys, Cooley Kickhams and Newtown Blues, they gained their only success in the opening half of the campaign when defeating Roche Emmets. Losses would follow against St. Josephs and Glyde Rangers. The opening of the second half of the league looked more promising with successes over St. Patricks and St. Marys, giving hope that maintenance of the club's status could be achieved. However defeats in all the remaining five matches ensured the club would make the drop. The championship saw Clans exit at the quarter final stage. The draw placed them in a group with Oliver Plunketts, St. Josephs, and Kilkerley Emmets. They struggled to emerge from the group especially after a shock loss to Kilkerley in the opening game of the section, however they managed victories over St. Josephs and a hard earned success against Oliver Plunketts gave them a place in the quarter final line up, where they would face Newtown Blues. The first half of this tie was fairly even but after the interval a rampant Blues turned on the style to canter home in polished fashion. Clans did reach the final of the ACC cup for the second year running but here again they found their conquerers of 2004, Cooley Kickhams, in formidable form. Clans of the present era are certainly in a mode of transition with many young players in the side. However their form in 2004 when they reached the final of the ACC cup, third spot in the senior league, where they only missed a place in the final when losing their final game to Glyde Rangers and losing out narrowly to eventual winners St Patricks at the semi final stage in the championship, all gave the prospect that 2005 would see the club again vying for honours. Injuries at an early stage of the season to some key players and loss of form by others proved too great a handicap in the finish. Despite the efforts of team manager Peter Fitzpatrick and later, after Peter's departure, Niall O'Donnell, Gerry Curran and Brian Duffy, the losing habit could not be broken. The hope within the club is that 2006 will see a revival in the side's fortunes and no doubt every effort will be made to make their stay in the lower division as short as possible. Juniors show some pride In a season where the club is going through very much a transition period, and a winning habit seems hard to come by at senior level, the winning of the Junior 2 A championship on Sunday 2nd October has come as a great fillip to the club. Back in the early and mid nineties Clans had always been in contention to lift this trophy, however, the last success at this level came in 1995, when Cooley Kickhams were overcome on a scoreline of 1-12 to 2-7. Victory in this year's contest was achieved at the expense of Newtown Blues on a 2-9 to 0-12 scoreline. Clan's path to the final consisted of victories over Clogherhead Dreadnoughts in the opening round, Mattock Rangers in the quarter finals and Ardee St. Marys in the semi final. This success was Clan's third in the competition since it became the Junior 2 A championship in 1994, winning again in 1995 and it should also be noted that the club were the last winners of the older styled championship in 1993 when there was just one Junior 2 championship, contested by most clubs second team. In 1994 there became two junior 2 championships: the 2A being confined to senior club's second team and junior 2B to intermediate and junior club's second team. This latest victory for Clans was achieved by a combination of experience and youth. The game itself could be said to be a game of two halves with the wind being of the strong variety, however it did not deter either side. Clans with the aid of the elements in the opening 30 minutes managed to garner a six point interval lead, the highlights being two goals. The first coming as early as the second minute when a Gerry Curran pass was gathered by Andrew Duffy who promptly dispatched the ball to the net. Clan's second goal was registered in the 14th minute, a penalty awarded against Blues for a foul on Ciaran Sheridan, was cleanly struck past Ogie Harmon by Clan's left full back Gerard Smith. This score placed Clans in a five point lead and although Blues came more into the game, Clans kept plugging away to lead 2-5 to 0-5 at the half way mark. Blues however made a very spirited effort after the restart and after 18 minutes had whittled the lead down to a single point but they were guilty during this period of supremacy of missing two goal chances, the second in particular seemed a gilt edged opportunity but was blazed wide. Clans, having survived the onslaught, came storming back in the closing minutes with points from Declan Moran in 48 minutes, Billy Smith and Keith Cunningham giving them a four point cushion. With only 6 minutes remaining, Blues came back and managed points from Donal Nugent and Mickey Harte, but they also had a number of wides on the debit side. The final action of the match came from the man who started with the game's first point in the opening minute, now into injury time Andrew Duffy repeated the feat to leave Clans winners by 2-9 to 0-12. Clans - Kevin Brannigan; Gareth Kelly; Daragh Kirk; Gerard Smith; Robert McArdle; Brian Duffy; Keith Cunningham; Gerry Curran; Eamonn Roe; Billy Smith; Ciaran Campbell (capt) Derek English; Andrew Duffy; Ciaran Sheridan; Declan Moran. Subs; Mark Noonan for Gareth Kelly; Andrew O'Carroll for Derek English. Scorers; Andrew Duffy 1-2; Gerard Smith 1-0; Declan Moran 0-2; Keith Cunningham, Gerry Curran, Billy Smith, Derek English and Ciaran Campbell 0-1 each. Gerry Curran was Clan's man of the match, the former inter-county midfield star providing inspiration to many of the younger players on view. The holder of five senior championship medals, Gerry is also the holder of a Junior A championship medal gained 21 years earlier in 1984. For full forward Ciaran Sheridan it will be his fifth medal in this grade, Alan McKenna, a member of the panel will receive his fourth medal, Brian Duffy and Gerard Smith will have three each, all in addition to being holders of senior championship and league medals. This success meant a great deal to team manager, Fergus Byrne, who has three championship medals in 1993, 1994 as captain and 1995, but also for the fact that this his co team manager Gary Gray had passed away so tragically earlier in the year. Gary himself was holder of three junior championship medals, 1990, 1993 and 1994, and his death was a great loss to the club. The winning of this championship was dedicated to Gary's memory. JIM (SOGER) QUIGLEY The death of Jim Quigley in early October, saw the passing of one of the greatest footballers to ever grace the game of gaelic football. Jim's achievements were outstanding for Young Irelands, Louth and Leinster, and his input as coach to Louth's All Ireland success in 1957 has been well chronicled and rightly so. His services to the county especially at under age level in the years prior to his illness were recognised by the Minor Board of which he was Chairman and Vice-chairman. However Jim also made outstanding contributions to the Clan na Gael club. We did not have the benefit of Jim as a player, but for almost 50 years from his arrival in the club in 1959, when the then Clans chairman the late great Tom McArdle coaxed Jim to give a hand with the senior football team he helped in no small way to the club's first senior championship success since 1924. In the years that followed Jim became very much involved in all aspects of activities in the club serving as Vice Chairman, County Board delegate, Minor Board delegate and involved in the Bar, Bingo and any other activity within the club. He served as trainer, coach and selector to various senior and minor sides and with his great knowledge of the game was always on hand to pass on this knowledge and advice, especially to those younger members. For his outstanding service to the county Jim was elected an Honorary President in 1991. For his equally outstanding contribution he was elected an Honorary President of Clan na Gael in 1999. Added to all those achievements, Jim Quigley was a gentleman. A Ard dheis deo go raibh a ainm dilis. Tweet

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