Mention St. Oliver Plunketts and the development of young players springs to mind immediately. One of the first clubs to recognise the importance of working with children from a very young age have witnessed their investment in youth pay handsome dividends in recent times. By Gerry Kelly. The conveyor belt of emerging talent continues year on year and the past twelve months has been no exception with the club enjoying tremendous success in no less than four juvenile categories. There are many people involved in what is recognised as a shining light of an academy. These volunteers give of their time freely, however, in Michael Matthews Senior they possess a clubman in a million. A man who has dedicated his whole life to the club and especially the generations of youngsters he's mentored, is an inspiration to all. This past year Mick took charge of the under 16's and led them all the way to the final of the all county league where unfortunately they lost out to a very strong St. Josephs / St. Vincent's combination. This talented Plunketts side boasts a host of potential stars with David Lambe, Stephen Keely, Cillian Matthews and Colin Fitzpatrick among those tipped for future success. It was however the club's under 14's who took pride of place, sweeping all before them, completing a league and championship double. Under the guidance of former Senior County star John Moroney and Drogheda's new Garda Superintendent, Gerry Smith, this crop of young men proved virtually unbeatable. Players to catch the eye throughout both successful campaigns included; Colm Clinton, Ronan Mc Entaggart, Ben Rogan, Daragh Matthews and Seamus Quigley. The championship final in particular was a cracker with the Plunketts getting the better of St. Josephs by 5-10 to 3-10. There are great hopes that these lads can be nurtured as a unit over the coming years and ultimately moulded into minor championship winning material. Moving down the age categories saw the under 10's guided by Gerard Fanning and the under 9's under the stewardship of Dave Reilly take the honours in the Drogheda Leagues. Yet another batch of future stars taking their first steps on the road to representing the club at senior level and perhaps even one day wearing the red shirt of the county. It's not been the easiest of years for the Oliver Plunketts senior team on their return to the top grade following promotion through the league at the end of last term. The club entrusted the management of the team to a Meath native, Gerry Gough from Slane. His experience was viewed as vital with the bulk of the side backboned by their most recent successful minor team. The Mell outfit appeared short on experience and so it proved as the league progressed. A campaign, which began back in February and seemed to run forever, saw the maroons fighting for their top-flight status as the year drew to a close in December. The issue had yet to be resolved with one fixture outstanding at the time of going to press. The championship draw saw the seniors placed in Group A alongside St. Josephs, Kilkerley Emetts and Clan na Gael. Not exactly the toughest combination of the four groups but one which would test the mettle of the new boys. With little expectation they opened their campaign in Castlebellingham in late May having managed just two victories from their first six league matches. St. Josephs, a senior side in decline, provided the opposition and after a tight, exciting encounter the Plunketts prevailed by a single point giving them a perfect start in the round robin stage of the knockout competition. A month later Kilkerley, who they had already beaten in the league, provided the opposition in Ardee and on a beautiful summers evening, following an assured display, they made it two wins from two with five points to spare over their opponents. This victory saw the Drogheda side all but assure themselves of a place in the quarterfinals, no mean feat for a side experiencing the big time for the very first time in their recent history. Their final group game saw the youngsters take on one of the aristocrats of yesteryear Clan na Gael who simply had to win to keep their own championship season alive. This turned out to be a cracking encounter with the former senior kingpins edging it by a single point. This result saw both clubs qualify, with the Plunketts topping the group on score difference from their more illustrious opponents. Through the group stages David Boylan and Cian Matthews, two of a number of players who progressed through the clubs development programme, were outstanding. Martin Connor, a more recent recruit, proved to be a livewire forward grabbing a number of vital scores. John Kermath used his recently acquired county experience to good effect in defence and at centre field. While John Moroney proved the value of experience as he made significant contributions in every game along the way. Next up were Group B runners-up, Mattock Rangers, in a do or die last eight tie, virtually on home turf at the GAA grounds in Drogheda. This was where their progression in the knockout competition came to a shuddering halt at the first hurdle so to speak. On the night they were torn apart by a side who were simply on fire and ultimately went on to lift the title and distinguish themselves in the Leinster Club Championship. League form early on was mixed as victories over the O' Connells and Stabannon along with defeats to Mattock and the Dreadnots saw the Plunketts sit in mid-table of Division 1B. A loss followed to St. Brides before a narrow win over Kilkerley steadied the ship for a time. Yet another defeat, this time to promotion chasing Naomh Martin just ahead of the beginning of the championship, ensured a battle for survival would follow in the latter part of the campaign. In late August when league fare resumed Mattock had ten points to spare over the Drogheda men, as they completed a treble over a side now lacking in confidence. Defeats to fellow strugglers O'Connells and Dreadnots followed in early autumn which plunged the Saints into deep trouble at the foot of the table. An immediate return to intermediate ranks was almost now assured if results didn't improve immediately. Thankfully with disaster staring them in the face the men in maroon shirts rallied with successive wins in late October over already relegated Stabannon and Kilkerley. This handed them a lifeline with their two final games to come against St. Brides and Noamh Martin who were both battling it out for runners-up spot in the division and a place in the higher senior league. St. Oliver Plunketts can look ahead to 2006 and beyond with confidence, safe in the knowledge that a successful future beckons thanks to their first class in house development programme for youngsters. They're a club worthy of retaining senior status, which can only be strengthened by emerging talent in the years ahead. Tweet

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