A coming force
November 30, 2009club has the potential to reap rich rewards at adult level in the future. By Paul Clarke.
Former Meath defender Kevin Foley, the man who scored one of the most famous goals in GAA history near the end of the fourth instalment of that incredible Leinster Championship marathon against Dublin in 1991, and the holder of two All-Ireland Senior Championship medals, is central to the efforts being made to promote the game among the club's young players.
Joe Gannon is also a significant contributor to this work, while his wife Mary is also very much involved and looks after the secretarial end of things.
And former Trim player Foley must have been delighted with the successes enjoyed this year which included two final victories over Drumconrath/Meath Hill in the Under-16 FC Division 3A and the Under-15 FL Division 4, as well as a win over neighbours Ballinabrackey in the Minor Division 4 decider.
The Clonard youngsters experienced the thrill of lining out at Pairc Tailteann in the under-16 decider and a brilliant start proved invaluable as they found the net three times in the opening five minutes on the way to a seven point (3-14 to 3-7) victory over the north Meath combination.
Foley's team scored in their first attack when Jason Maguire raised a green flag and two more goals from Adrian Boland helped them open up a commanding 3-9 to 0-1 advantage at the interval. To their great credit, Drumconrath/Meath Hill came storming back in the second period and registered three goals of their own through Dara McGrath, Tommie Rooney, from a penalty, and David O'Halloran.
However, they had left themselves with far too much to do after the opposition had inflicted so much damage on the scoreboard in the first half and Clonard were comfortably ahead at the final whistle. It was a proud moment for team captain Adam Flanagan when he accepted the cup on behalf of his colleagues.
The Clonard panel was: Cormac Fitzsimons, Jason Dowdall, Adrian Boland, Darren McNevin, Aaron Geagan, Aaron Maguire, Adam Flanagan (captain), Ryan Raleigh, Jason Maguire, Ger Foley, Stephen Coleman, Ciaran O'Donoghue, Alan O'Donoghue, Jason Daly, Martin Daly, Dylan Hoey, Brendan Roe, Adam Dowdall and Blaine Maloney.
Drumconrath/Meath Hill also suffered at the hands of Clonard in the under-15 final when superior physical strength was a key ingredient in a very convincing 4-16 to 1-8 victory at Ballinlough.
Clonard played some superb football in this match and among their star performers were county players Jason Dowdall, Adam Flanagan and Darren McNevin, as well as the very talented Jason Maguire. McNevin had the added honour of captaining this team.
The Clonard panel was: Conor Glynn, Jason Dowdall, Aaron Geagan, Aaron Maguire, Brendan Roe, Ryan Raleigh, Alan O'Donoghue, Adam Flanagan, Darren McNevin (captain), Adam Dowdall, Jason Maguire, Dylan Hoey, Stephen Coleman, Martin Daly, Michael Losty, Cathal Fitzsimons, Dylan Flanagan, Stephen O'Reilly, Shane Darby and Jason Daly.
Things got even better for Clonard on the second Friday of October when they secured another under-age title with a 3-8 to 1-9 victory over neighbours Ballinabrackey in a very entertaining Minor Division 4 final at Longwood.
This was a superb victory for Clonard who had to field without the work-tied Gary Raleigh who had made all the difference in the semi-final against Nobber when he contributed a hugely impressive tally of 2-5.
Ballinabrackey were marginally in front at the interval, leading by the minimum at 1-6 to 2-2, but the introduction of substitutes Darren McNevin and Jason Maguire gave Clonard a big lift and they limited their neighbours to just three second half points, while adding 1-6 themselves. That left them five points to the good at the end.
Adrian Boland took the scoring honours for Clonard with 2-4, Barry Connolly also found the net, Ciaran McKenna notched two points and David Doyle and Stephen Connolly got one each. The team captain was McKenna who received the cup from Longwood club chairman PJ Stenson and the victorious team featured twins in Peter and John McNevin.
The Clonard team was: Paul Sheridan; Ciaran O'Donoghue, Conor Foley; David Doyle, Jason Dowdall, Ger Foley; Adam Flanagan, Ciaran McKenna (captain); Peter McNevin, John McNevin, Stephen Connolly; Barry Connolly, Adrian Boland. Subs - Darren McNevin for John McNevin, Jason Maguire for Barry Connolly, Alan Roe, Cormac Fitzsimons, Aaron Geagan and Stephen Coleman.
The talent in the Clonard under-age ranks was recognised by the Meath under-15 management when Jason Dowdall, Adam Flanagan and Darren McNevin were chosen for that particular panel and these players are clearly also very talented in the small ball code because they also gained selection on the Royal County under-15 hurling squad. They certainly had a busy year on both fronts - football with Clonard and hurling with Killyon.
Ryan Raleigh was a member of the Meath under-14 football team and the selection of these players to wear the county colours is further recognition of the trojan work being done with the young players in Clonard.
FURTHER FRUSTRATION IN JUNIOR B RACE
The first Sunday of November last year was crisp and bright, similar to the sort of football Clonard played to secure their first piece of adult silverware in 37 years. The Junior B Championship had again brought disappointment and frustration, but when long-serving captain Niall Walsh later got his hands on the A League Division 5 cup the world seemed like a far better place.
Championship football hasn't brought the hoped for breakthrough since Clonard just missed out in 2006 when they lost the Junior B final to St Brigid's on a dreadfully wet day at Pairc Tailteann. Once the pain of that loss eased, hopes were high that they could go all the way in '07, but the quarter-final hurdle proved beyond them when Trim's second string eliminated them from the title race after a thrilling encounter which went to extra time at Longwood.
It was a similar story in 2008. They once again made it through to the business end of the championship, but Donaghmore/Ashbourne defeated them by 1-14 to 0-13 at Trim as they took a big step on their way to securing the Larry Kearns Cup. It must have felt like the same old story for the Clonard players, mentors and supporters as they headed home that evening - promise and hope unfulfilled.
But just as autumn was turning to winter there was a ray of light on the horizon. Clonard, who were managed by former Na Fianna player Tony Walsh, had been rewarded for their consistency in the league by earning a place in the Division. 5 final where they were outsiders against Junior Championship side Dunsany who had reached the semi-finals where they lost to Ratoath.
Clonard produced a fine performance to earn a deserved victory on a 1-10 to 2-5 score line, with their goal coming from David Rowley in the first half, and it was a very proud moment for that outstanding servant of the club in a playing and administrative capacity, Niall Walsh, when he accepted the cup from TJ Reilly.
Of course, Clonard had already been promoted to Division 4 of the league, but the main focus after that morale-boosting success had to be on the 2009 Junior B Championship and one massive assault on a competition they last won in 1971.
Ahead of the start of the championship Clonard had mixed fortunes in the league. They opened up with a one point defeat away to Kilmainham, then drew with last year's beaten Junior B finalists St. Vincent's in Ardcath and went under by the minimum margin to St. Brigid's after making the long trek to Ballinacree.
But they then gave themselves a significant boost when recording a 2-8 to 1-9 home victory over the previous year's relegated intermediate side Ballivor, thanks largely to goals from Cyril Treacy in the first half and substitute Padraig O'Donovan in the second period. It was just the sort of result they would have wanted ahead of the championship opener against Dunshaughlin's second string.
Walsh once again filled the role of manager and the other three teams in group C were also second combinations, namely Blackhall Gaels, Cortown and St. Patrick's, but Clonard's qualification bid got under way in early May when they played Dunshaughlin at Dunganny in a rearranged fixture. However, the outcome certainly wasn't what they would have wanted or expected.
Dunshaughlin fielded a strong team and rocked Clonard with an early goal from a penalty by Meath minor panelist Conor Devereux as they took a decisive grip on proceedings. Clonard needed to respond positively as the game slipped away from them and they finished the opening period well with three points.
They were still five points adrift at the change of ends (0-6 to 1-8), but gave themselves every chance of making a winning start to the championship when they reduced the deficit to two early in the second half. Matters improved even further when Kevin Darby found the net and with nine minutes remaining the teams were on level terms.
But that was as good as it got for Clonard and the concession of a second goal proved a real killer. David Rowley top scored with seven points and Darby notched 1-2, but those contributions counted for little as Dunshaughlin inflicted a 2-11 to 1-10 defeat.
Things improved slightly in the second round, but only just. Blackhall Gaels provided the opposition at Summerhill and Clonard were looking good at the interval when they led by 1-6 to 1-2. However, Blackhall scored the only goal of the second period and that helped them to battle back and earn a draw (2-7 to 1-10).
With only one point gained from two outings a victory was essential when Clonard played Cortown at Boardsmill and they achieved it comfortably. The fourth round game against St Patrick's at Dunboyne proved to be a cracking contest, but that was of little consolation to Clonard who lost by 0-11 to 2-10. The Stamullen men led by 1-7 to 0-3 at the break, but Clonard battled back well, before the concession of a second goal put paid to their prospects.
It was a disappointing way to end the championship, but with their under-age teams performing so well, Clonard can look forward to the future with optimism.
B FL Div. 7 final: Clonard pip Kilmainham
Clonard 2-8
Kilmainham 0-13 (aet)
A Clonard team that combined youth and experience put in a powerful performance to claim victory in the Prunty Contractors Division 7 FL Final played in Athboy.
The first half was keen and competitive while Clonard's first point came on the 20th minute from David Rowley it was closely followed when Rowley's penalty kick was saved but it resulted in a point from P O Donovan to leave Clonard trailing 0-5 to 0-6 at half time.
A second half penalty saved by the Kilmainham keeper Declan Nelson was connected to and finished to the net by Ciaran McKenna. Enda Darby, Joey Darby and Frank Hevey were impressive, and with Patrick Daly putting in a big contribution from general play, the sides were level on the final whistle of Michael McDonagh.
Extra time saw Kilmainham surge ahead with three points to Clonard's one. However in the second period of extra time Eamon Campbell lobbed in a goal to equal the score 2-7 to 0-13 and just as the seconds were ticking away Damien Flynn proved a Clonard hero when he popped over the match winning point from play to clinch victory and give a big boost to the club much to the joy of their supporters, mentors and players.
The captain Eamon Campbell received the trophy from Jimmy Henry to the delight of all the supporters and families.
Clonard - P Sheridan, E Darby, J Darby, D Doyle, F Hoey, B O Reilly, P Daly, K Darby, F Hevey, R Hoey, D Rowley (0-5), C McKenna (1-0), P O Donovan (0-1), E Campbell (1-0), S McNevin (0-1). Subs - C Treacy for R Hoey, D Flynn (0-1) for McKenna. W Darby, E O Rafferty, J Kelly, G Boland, J Fitzsimons.
Playing on the Croke Park sod
Clonard under 8's travelled to Croke Park on 2nd July 2009 to take part in the Play and Stay celebrations.
Unfortunately it was not possible to bring the entire panel as we were only allowed to bring 10 players. All the players in blue and yellow gave a very good display much to the delight of their supporters in the Hogan Stand. The fact that this young team played at GAA headquarters is something they can remember and be proud of in the coming years. Thanks to the Coaches, parents and extended families who travelled to Croke Park to support the under 8's. Tweet
