Wolfe Tones Hurling Club enjoyed something of a revival at juvenile level in 2004. This was the good news in a year where the senior team failed to make a major impact, despite reaching the all-county league final. Due to the ongoing hard work of a few footsoldiers, the Tones continue to fly the flag for the small ball code in Drogheda. They're determined not just to survive but to rediscover the glory days, beginning with a more concerted drive to unearth, nurture and unleash underage talent. In '04, the battle commenced… It was a start, and a marked improvement, but we know we've still an awful long way to go." So says juvenile coach Niall McEneaney in relation to the inroads Wolfe Tones HC made at underage level in 2004. Niall is under no illusions as to the enormity of the task at hand: while 2004 saw the Red & Whites show a much stronger hand at juvenile level than they have done in many years, it was only the merest beginnings of a revival. A gargantuan effort will be required over the coming years if the Tones are to return to the top of the Wee County's hurling pile … and the club will need to find more underage coaches as a matter of priority. The workload is huge; too much for one or two men to bear. In general, 2004 can be remembered as a good improvement at underage level. In previous years, underage structures were practically non-existent, but the situation was discussed in detail at the AGM and it was decided that a greater effort would be invested, albeit by the same 'old reliables'. Niall takes the story up: "We decided to leave minor and U16 out altogether and to start at the very bottom, with U14 and U12 teams. Aidan Carter took charge of the U12s and I was over the U14s. We held regular training sessions and also fielded competitively … we were delighted to record a victory over St Vincents in the U14 championship." When did the season start for the young lads? "We had to catch them while they were still at school [mostly St Oliver's, but also St Paul's NS in Rathmullen], so you're talking about March/April. Our first game was against Pearse Og in the Feile and they beat us by three goals. However, when we played them in the championship later in the year, it was a lot closer, so we definitely made progress as the year went on and we're delighted with that." Altogether, a group of up to 40 lads was enlisted. The U12s trained on Saturday mornings; the U14s on Saturday afternoons. Crucially, there was no shortage of match action for the players, either. The first competitive game of the season was played on May 6 and the programme of fixtures carried right through the summer into late August, including some challenge matches. Niall enthuses: "The response we got was excellent. Some of the young lads were great and you couldn't get them away from hurling. It was uplifting to see such a positive response and the challenge facing us now is to maintain that level of interest. "There's a core group of players here and I'm confident that if we look after them they will always be here. Of the U14 team, at least six or seven of them will play with the Tones for the rest of their lives if they get the games." The club had two players - Brian Carter and Christopher Carr - at the 2004 DJ Carey School of Excellence in Kilkenny, where they received coaching tips from none other than DJ himself as well as Cats boss Brian Cody and the brilliant Martin Comerford. This was the first time Wolfe Tones have had players invited to attend the prestigious School of Excellence and the two lads had a great weekend. "There's a massive challenge for the club to look after these lads," Niall notes. "We have to pool our resources and take care of these lads. If we don't look after them, I can see a stage in the future where there will be no hurling in the town, which doesn't bear thinking about. "I wouldn't like to think about that ever happening. The juveniles have been neglected by the club for a long time. We haven't won anything at underage level since an U16 championship in the 1990s and there has been nothing coming through. The first team has a core of lads in the 20-24 category and a good few lads over 30, but hardly anybody in between. We need an injection of youth into the team." The target for next year? "The main thing is to get more people involved at underage level and to get more games for the young lads. But we only have about 20 adult members in the club and most of them have other responsibilities to consider. "I would love to have the resources to bring these lads to other counties for matches. When I played underage myself, we went to Kilkenny, Tipperary and Wexford and it was a worthwhile experience. It's something I'd love to be able to do for these lads. "If we look after them properly, we could have a strong U16 team next year and an even stronger U16 side in two years' time. We're hoping to eventually build up the four teams again, so that the Tones are competing at minor, U16, U14 and U12 levels once more. "There's a lot of hard work involved but the signs are promising. If you put the work in, you will get your reward. The fact that the lads improved so much over the year gave me a great deal of satisfaction. We're going to do our best to keep it going." It was a disappointing year at adult level, not least for Tones hurler Ivor Somerville, who doubles up as club PRO. Ivor tore his cruciate ligament in May - for the second time in two years - and was ruled out for the rest of the season. He reflects: "It was a disappointing year for the senior team. We got to the league final, but were beaten. At this stage, I've lost count of the number of finals we've lost since winning the 1996 championship. I think it's about eight now. It's hard to take…" In the SHL, the 2003 county championship finalists started impressively with a draw away to Knockbridge, following up with victory over Pearse Og on the back of a strong second-half performance. Despite losing their third game to Naomh Moninne, the Tones had done enough to earn passage to the league decider. They went into the game full of confidence, but didn't perform on the day and were beaten by Knockbridge, 3-14 to 1-10 at Drogheda on Sunday June 20. In the championship, which was played on an initial round-robin basis for the first time, Wolfe Tones failed to get off the mark. They prepared well but numbers at training had dropped, with the same core of six or seven players turning out every night alongside an assortment of others. "A lot of the lads have young families and careers now and it's hard for them," Ivor notes. "With little proper collective training it was difficult to prepare for games. We lost our first two games in the championship to Pearse Og and Naomh Moninne and the third game against Knockbridge was never played as it was of no significance. "The round-robin system means more games for everybody, which can only be good. Traditionally, we had always managed to raise our game for the semi-final and maybe that affected us a little in 2004, as the round-robin games didn't have the same championship atmosphere. So, while it didn't work for us this year, it might suit us next year. The more hurling that's played in Louth, the better it is for everybody." Wolfe Tones HC benefited enormously from playing in the Dublin league in 2003. However, due to the league being incorporated in the championship in the capital, Tones' participation in Dublin in '04 was limited to a subsidiary cup competition, which was unreliable and didn't guarantee regular games. It was still a worthwhile experience, however. Ivor remains optimistic about the future, though he accepts that a great deal of work needs to be done: "We really need to help Niall McEneaney with the juveniles. He was virtually on his own for a lot of the year and we have to rally around him. They did quite well and those players have to be one of our main focuses. This same thing comes up every year but this time I think everyone realises how vital it is that we back up the words with actions. "The players on the senior team can't go on forever and we're expecting a lot of retirements in the foreseeable future, so we have to bring fresh blood through. Our numbers are very small and we have to attract more players into the club. "Niall McEneaney (secretary/juvenile coach), Dee McCarthy (chairman) and John Sweeney (manager) do savage work in the club, but they need more support. Any year when you don't win a championship is disappointing, so 2004 was another poor enough year. "Having said that, Patrick and Finbar Coyle are two young players who came through with Louth and the Tones this year, while Brian Carter and Chris Carr are also great prospects. So we are making progress. If we can keep these lads hurling and unearth a few more, I've no doubt we can turn the corner." Wolfe Tones HC have won a total of eight senior hurling championships, the most recent of which was in 1996. In 2004, the club also competed in the Kilmacud Crokes All-Ireland Sevens, winning one game and narrowly losing their other two. This meant elimination at the group stage. However, the Tones played some good hurling and will travel again next year. Wolfe Tones also held the fourth annual Oliver Kelly Perpetual Cup, which was another great success. However, they failed to hold on to the cup. Their first team was knocked out at the semi-final stage, while the second team reached the final. Club secretary and hurler Ivor Somerville is 22 years old. He made his senior club debut in 1997, aged 15 and his senior county debut in 1999, shortly after his 17th birthday. He has come up through the ranks of Lough hurling, representing both club and county at all age levels from U12 up. Tweet

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