While Wolfe Tones enjoyed a wonderful 2004, adding the Meath Intermediate Football Championship to the county, provincial and national junior successes of the previous year, neighbours Castletown also had cause for celebrations, after a thrilling triumph in the Division 2 FL. Castletown ran the all conquering Tones closest, taking them to extra time before losing out by two points in a championship quarter-final clash at Nobber. But they gained sweet compensation for that narrow defeat when just outpointing the Oristown parish side by a similar margin on a 0-11 to 0-9 scoreline in the second of two thrilling final tussles at Rathkenny. That was the second time for Castletown to get the better of Wolfe Tones in the Division 2 FL, having also outscored them in a fourth round re-fixed tie which was played under lights at Nobber on a Tuesday evening back in March. Someone suggested that Castletown's name was on the Gaughan Cup and they won the title against all the odds. When Dunderry trounced them by 0-14 to 0-3 a final place looked highly unlikely for the men in green and gold with Dunderry looking very likely to reach the decider. But then the latter slipped up against both Cortown and Na Fianna and Castletown finished two points ahead of them. In the first of the two final encounters Alan Smyth put Castletown into a narrow 1-2 to 0-4 lead after 11 minutes when a free from around 40 metres out on the right deceived opposing 'keeper Derek Meehan and finished in the net. There was still the minimum margin between the sides at the break when the board read 1-5 to 0-7. Despite the closeness of the scoring, the first half was mundane enough but the tempo rose in the second period, especially when the winning post came into view. When Tones went four points clear in the closing stages, they looked set to collect more silverware. But Castletown did not throw in the towel and they saved the game in dramatic fashion with time running out. After Barry Smith reduced the deficit to a kick of a ball from a free, the same player earned a late late penalty which Alan Smyth finished to the right corner of the net to leave the scores 2-8 to 0-14 and send the tie to an additional 20 minutes. At the beginning of extra time Castletown led twice, through substitute Wayne Donegan and Francis Hoey, but were a point behind (2-10 to 0-17) at the next break. A goal from Kenny Smith two minutes after the restart gave them the lead back and Barry Smith left two points in it before a couple of converted frees by Cian Ward set up another clash at the same venue seven days later. There was no shortage of scores as the board read 3-11 to 0-20 at the end. The flags were not raised as frequently in the replay but again the attendance got good value for money. Castletown benefited from the numerical advantage after Kevin McKeever's dismissal and, more significantly, from Tones' loss of outstanding forward Cian Ward. But that should not take away from Castletown's 0-11 to 0-9 victory. After trailing by 0-4 to 0-6 at the break, points from Barry Smith and Francis Hoey had the sides level for the third time midway through the second half. Then James Finnerty earned a free which Alan Smyth slotted over to leave the scores 0-7 to 0-6. The sides were on equal terms two more times and substitutes played a vital part in Castletown's surge over the winning line. Aidan Young and Bernard Gargan both got on target as Tones' resistance was broken. Gargan made it ten to nine and then Liam Clarke sent over the last score of a memorable marathon. The Castletown team which lifted the 2004 Division 2 League title was: Jonathon Ginnity; Jonathon Metry, Conor Price, Francis Bellew; Aidan Carry, Mark Donegan, Keith Ginnity; Michael Hickey, Brendan Carry; Kenny Smith, Francis Hoey, Alan Smyth; Barry Smith, Liam Clarke, James Finnerty. Subs - Damien Ginnity for Metry, Aidan Young for B Carry, Wayne Donegan for K Smith, Bernard Gargan for Hoey. Former Cortown senior player Kit Henry played a big part in the success, guiding them to the title in his first year at the helm. "You need to be fit for senior football and I decided to pack it in last year and then I got the chance with Castletown and the first year worked out fairly well," he said. "The team has done very well, they're a hardy bunch of lads and they work hard for each other, from the youngest to the eldest. They have been there or thereabouts for a few years, knocking at the door. This is a big breakthrough for them, it's a great triumph for them," said Henry after the league victory. "They showed great heart, when they were behind they kept coming back and were rewarded at the end. There's a bright future for this club. It's just a matter of the lads getting their heads right and start focussing on football. They will have to start believing in themselves more," said the manager. Castletown will need to get more consistency into their game if they are to claim IFC honours in 2005. This year they dropped five points in Division B, losing to Syddan and Oldcastle and being held to a draw by Donaghmore/Ashbourne, who finished at the bottom of the section. The second round loss to Syddan was by the minimum margin. It finished 1-9 to 1-8 after three players were dismissed early in the second half. It was that bit more difficult for Castletown after Barry Smith and Francis Hoey saw red. That was followed by a double scores loss (0-8 to 1-13) to Oldcastle but they recovered from that setback for a significant 2-5 to 0-9 victory over Duleek. That game was at Rathkenny and a late penalty goal scored by Alan Smyth enabled Castletown snatch a dramatic win. A 1-6 to 0-7 win over St Colmcille's put Kit Henry's men into the last eight before the 1-6 each draw with Donaghmore/Ashbourne. Nobber was the venue for the September quarter-final clash between Wolfe Tones and Castletown which ended with the board reading 1-13 to 1-11. After trailing by 0-1 to 0-6 at the first break, Castletown enjoyed a bright spell early in the second period and a Francis Hoey goal helped them lead by 1-5 to 0-6. Then Castletown went out of the game for a while before a late rally which yielded points from James Finnerty and Barry Smith sent the title to an additional 20 minutes. With Finnerty (two) and Smith sending over further points, Kit Henry's charges were ahead by 1-10 to 0-10 at the halfway stage of extra time. But the men in green and gold did not keep up the momentum as their opponents finished strongly with a penalty goal and two points to keep their unbeaten run going. But that effort and the subsequent league success should give Castletown a lot of encouragement as they look ahead at the next attempt to return to the senior grade. Kit Henry feels that playing in Division 1 League football in 2005 should be a big help in the bid to gain a first intermediate title since 1976. "Playing in the top league group and performing against senior sides is bound to help and the team can look forward to another exciting year. If a little more can be got out of them they could be on the way back to being a senior club," he said. Aidan Young, who doubled as a player and selector in 2004, was delighted to gain a first ever county success after 19 years assisting the club's first team. "It was a very successful year and as well as the Division 2 A League, we also won the B League Division 4 and Parnells took a minor Division 2 title. Also we were a bit unlucky not to get further in the IFC," he said. "After peaking too early in other years we seemed to save our best form for the end of the year this time. We were probably a bit lucky to get into the A league final but we had upped our training and things went well for us in the two final outings against Wolfe Tones. We played them four times and beat them twice, so there is isn't much between the two teams and hopefully we can do as well as them next year" continued Young. "Kit Henry played a big part in the success. He was a young man coming in (he's younger than me) with different ideas and the lads got on very well with him. He had won an IFC medal himself and played senior football and he got a lot out of the team" concluded the long serving stalwart. Castletown also won the B FL Division 4 title, with a 0- 7 to 0-6 final victory over Ballinlough at Kells. After trailing by 0-2 to 0-4 at the break, scores from Paul Smith, Wayne Donegan and Francis Hoey proved crucial as they just edged out their opponents. Francis Bellew and Jonathon Metry impressed in defence and Tom McKeown captained that successful side. The winning team was : J Ginnity; J Carry, C Price, F Bellew; J Metry, T McKeown, D Metry; B Sheerin, B Carry; S Duffy, F Hoey, J Donegan; P Smith, W Donegan, D Clarke. Subs - B McKeown for Clarke, G Hickey for B McKeown, J McConnell for D Metry, N Farrelly for J Carry, P Duffy for J Metry. Tweet

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