The New Year was barely up and running when Dundalk Gaels became Louth's first big winners of 2004 by capturing the inaugural Leinster intermediate club championship. League and championship double winners in the Wee County's intermediate grade in 2003, the Gaels brought a first ever provincial club title to Louth when defeating highly-rated Laois outfit Arles/Killeen by 2-5 to 0-7 at Pairc na nGaeil on Saturday January 10. Last year, we reported on an historic double-winning feat from Dundalk Gaels, who made light work of returning to the top flight by capturing both the county IFC and the Division Two league title. We thought that was as good as it could get … but then, just over a week into the new calendar year, it got even better for the men from the Ramparts. By ruling the roost in Louth, Gaels qualified for the new Leinster intermediate club championship. Incredibly, the Dundalk men maintained their momentum and went on to clinch provincial gold, in the process becoming the first Louth club ever to win a Leinster club competition. It was a landmark victory not just for the club but also for Louth football. It was thoroughly deserved too. As they had none other than Brian 'Beano' McDonald in their ranks, the Laois side were most people's favourites to win the inaugural provincial intermediate decider. The former O'Moore County child prodigy lined out on the forty but met a man in form in direct opponent and Gaels captain Peter McGinnity. McGinnity even stole upfield to score an important late point as the Louth club prevailed. Some say January 10 2004 was the biggest day in Dundalk Gaels' history. It was certainly their finest achievement since the county senior football championship was last scooped in 1952; possibly their best day ever … Gaels had the better of the play early on, even though their opponents were playing with the benefit of the strong wind that gusted across the Pairc na nGaeil pitch from the Avenue Road. Andrew Coleman and Ciaran Culligan were unlucky with early efforts before David Coleman opened the scoring after eight minutes. Arles-Killeen registered the next three points but Gaels grabbed a vital score in the shape of the first of two Andrew Coleman goals. The score arrived in the 26th minute, the corner forward making no mistake after being put through by an excellent Stephen Coleman pass. The three-pointer was a massive boost and the Dundalk side extended their lead when David Coleman converted a close-in free after he himself had been fouled. The last kick of the half resulted in an Arles/Killeen point, but the Gaels led by 1-2 to 0-4 at the interval. Close games were a prominent feature of Gaels' Leinster campaign, so they were well up for the fight! The sides were level within two minutes of the resumption but Gaels dominated the third quarter to surge five points clear, 2-4 to 0-5. Substitute Cormac McArdle (who joined the panel after returning home from the States on holidays) pointed a free seven minutes into the second period to give his team a lead they never relinquished. Andrew Coleman's second goal hit the net in the 39th minute, the goalpoacher supreme punching a high Ray Rooney delivery to the back of the net. Wing back Rooney followed up with a point of his own and the large Gaels support began to buzz as they sensed a famous victory for the Blue and Whites. When the Laois champions came at them in the closing quarter, Gaels defended heroically, with excellent blocks from Noel Mahon and McGinnity typifying the determination of their defence. Arles did manage two more points from soft frees but Gaels were still a goal to the good as the match ebbed into stoppage time. Fittingly, it was captain McGinnity who sent over the last score of the match in the 32nd minute of the second half. Soon after, Dundalk Gaels were crowned kings of Leinster. Coming hot on the heels of their 75th anniversary celebrations (which were marked in such fine style with an intermediate league and championship double success), club chairman Dick O'Callaghan went so far as to admit that the Leinster final was "probably the biggest ever day for the club". Having stormed to the 'domestic' intermediate double, Gaels qualified for the provincial decider with victories over St Maur's of Dublin and Offaly outfit Erin Rovers. Considering that the Gaels had never played in a Leinster competition before, winning it out was a remarkable achievement. Home advantage for the final was a welcome bonus and the Blue and Whites made the most of it with a rousing display. The finalists agreed to toss for home advantage in Mullingar's Greville Arms Hotel following Louth's O'Byrne Cup clash with Westmeath on Sunday January 4. Captain Peter McGinnity represented Dundalk Gaels and came up trumps! The Dundalk club had plenty of cause for optimism going into the final as they had proven their mettle with two hard-fought wins en route. The game against St Maur's went into extra time and the ensuing victory at Pullough (arrived at via Ardee, Kells, Mullingar, Kilbeggan, Clara and Ballycumber!) was nothing short of spectacular. (These games followed a walkover against Meath IFC Navan O'Mahonys in the first round.) In the rip-roaring semi-final contest, Offaly club Erin Rovers were beaten by 2-13 to 3-8. After conceding an early goal and point, Gaels got into the game with an Andrew Coleman goal in the tenth minute and a point from brother David. Rovers landed another point but Andrew McSorley booted to the net to give the Louth representatives a lead they would hold to the final whistle. Full forward David Coleman landed a total of nine points for the winners, who led by 2-2 to 1-4 at the interval. The Leinster quarter-final was played at Pairc na nGaeil on Sunday November 30 2003 and was one of the most exciting games of football witnessed on Wee County soil in recent years. The match - against Dublin junior champions St Maur's - had absolutely everything and went to extra time before Gaels prevailed by two points, 1-16 to 2-11. St Maur's led by 1-10 to -10 with three minutes of normal time remaining, but Martin Harvey levelled with a late goal before Gaels 'keeper Stephen Faulkner denied the visitors what seemed a certain winning goal at the other end. Gaels effectively won the match in the first period of extra time when they had five unanswered points from Martin Harvey, Paul Burke, Ray Rooney, Andrew Coleman and David Coleman as well as a morale-boosting penalty save from Stephen Faulkner. Amazingly, manager Paul Lynch had been able to field the same starting XV for the provincial quarter-final, semi-final and final … this continuity contributed in no small way to his team's landmark success. Dundalk Gaels, inaugural Leinster intermediate club football champions: Stephen Faulkner; Noel Mahon, Aidan Delaney, Paul Grier; Ray Rooney (0-1), Peter McGinnity (0-1), Conor Delaney; David McDonnell, Martin Harvey; Derek Crilly, Stephen Coleman, Ciaran Culligan; Anthony McSorley, David Coleman (0-2), Andrew Coleman (2-0). Subs: Cormac McArdle (0-1), Niall McCabe, Sean Fee. Tweet

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