Following the disappointment and surprise of losing the 2003 Intermediate hurling final, Clann na nGael made no mistake in returning to the senior ranks for next year with a well earned win over Gaeil Colmcille in this year's decider. As was the case 12 months ago, the Athboy-Rathcairn combination were favourites for the intermediate title, but unlike last year, the club refused to let complacency get in the way of their goal and manager Eddie Priest explains that a huge effort was put in by the squad throughout the years. "It was a great achievement, especially for the lads who were involved last year. They picked themselves up and were determined not to lose this year," said Eddie. "There was a down beat mood following last year's defeat but thankfully that was soon forgotten about." Without doubt Clann na nGael have some of the most talented players in the county with the likes of Eamon Clancy, Matthew Mullen, Daithi Geraghty, David Wright, Barry Higgins and Gary Mangan worthy of a place on any senior club within the Royal County. Indeed it was a great testament to the club to have four players on the Meath junior hurling panel that won the All-Ireland title at that grade. Former Dublin hurler Clancy lined out at full back, while Geraghty was in midfield with Barry Higgins and Barry Doherty also on the panel that defeated Down in the final. "It was a great honour for the club to have four lads involved in the All-Ireland winning junior team and it showed that we have the calibre of hurlers that are worthy of senior status. Our training was geared towards playing hurling at the same level as senior and we felt that we achieved this with a number of challenges against tough opposition." At the start of the year, Eddie along with Padraig Reilly and Robbie Woods were appointed as the management team for 2004. Response to training was impressive as large numbers turned out right from the start. The club's priority for the year was to regain their senior status where many feel they rightfully belong. Eddie was keen to point out the part played by the other members of the management team, who worked tirelessly throughout the year for the good of the club. "The players rightfully so receive the majority of the praise after winning a championship but Padraig and Robbie must take their share of the accolades also. Without them it would have been impossible to get through the year. They made a tremendous contribution throughout the campaign," added Eddie. The early stages of the championship went according to plan as wins over a strong Navan O'Mahony's side, Blackhall Gaels, Kilskyre, Na Fianna and Gaeil Colmcille were recorded with relative ease, although it must be noted that the Kells side were without three of their main players on the day in question. Donaghmore/Ashbourne were the next opponents and Priest's side were expected to make it the six wins out of six against the Dublin border club. Even though Clann na nGael were minus the services of captain Barry Higgins (broken arm), regular goalkeeper Kit Leavy (broken ribs) and county player Matthew Mullen, they still entered the match as favourites. The early exchanges saw the green, white and golds come out on top in all areas of the pitch and they looked to be heading for another victory when leading by 1-8 to 0-3 with ten minutes remaining. But whether it be that age old problem of complacency that reared its ugly head once again or some dubious decisions that allowed Donaghmore back into the match, the underdogs clawed their way back into the game. Three 20 metre frees awarded to Donaghmore/Ashbourne were dispatched to the net to leave them one point ahead as the match entered injury time. Clann na nGael looked to be heading for their first defeat of the year in the championship until they were awarded a line ball 30 metres out from the end line at the dressingroom end of the Trim pitch. Daithi Geraghty showed great composure and skill to cut the sliothar over the bar to leave the sides level. And no sooner had the Clann na nGael midfielder scored the equaliser when the referee blew for full time. It was a close escape for a side that had dominated the intermediate championship so far but maybe it was the wake up call that they needed, although they were in for a bigger surprise in their next outing. 2002 champions Wolfe Tones were the team rated most likely to challenge Clann na nGael for intermediate honours. As expected when the sides met, it was a close contest with only a point or two separating the sides during the match. The final few minutes were very tense as a Wolfe Tones goal late on gave them the lead in injury time and despite numerous attempts to equalise, it was the Tones who held on for a well merited win. A major talking point of this matches was the fact that the referee played an amazing 13 minutes injury time! Ironically, the group standings at the end of the first series of matches meant that Clann na nGael would meet Wolfe Tones in the semi-final just a fortnight after their first encounter. "The defeat to Wolfe Tones in the final group game was a wake up call to us all. Although we already knew that we were through to the semi -finals and were more than likely going to face the Tones once again and so it proved," added Eddie, who was a selector on the Meath hurling team in 2003. Preparations for the semi-final were planned in advance of the last group game against Wolfe Tones with a challenge against Trim seniors organised for two nights after the defeat to the Kilberry outfit. Clann na nGael were a side on a mission in the semi-final. Played in blustery conditions, the sides were evenly matches as wind assisted Wolfe Tones held a five point lead at the interval. A goal just before half time for Tones wasn't a fair reflection of the effort put in by Priest's side. Midway through the second half a goal by Daithi Geraghty brought Clann na nGael right back in to contention and with the momentum on their side they pulled away for a merited win. The side the had three weeks to prepare for the final and Eddie revealed that everything went according to plan in the build up to the game against Gaeil Colmcille. "We played a good challenge against Westmeath side St Oliver Plunkett's, while we trained very hard with 30 and more lads in the park every night. The fact that our junior team did so well in the championship also helped. The commitment of the squad really stood out when we organised training for 9.30 on a Sunday morning, the day of the All-Ireland hurling final in fact. 24 lads turned up that morning and it was a real boost for the management team to see that," revealed Eddie. The final was fixed for Kilskyre where the pitch was in excellent order even if the weather conditions were not the most favourable. A near gale force wind made conditions difficult for both sets of players. Gael Colmcille had caused a surprise by defeating a fancied Na Fianna side in the semi-final. The Kells side commanded respect despite Clann na nGael coming out on top in the group encounter. "We did beat Kells handy enough in our group match. But there was very little between the sides until midway through the second half. Kells had a player sent off and we pulled away then. It also has to be said that they were missing a number of key players that day and we knew that they would be a tougher side in the final." Gaeil Colmcille had the wind advantage in the first half but it was Clann na nGael who had the better of the opening exchanges with centre back Matthew Mullen being particularly impressive. The O'Growney club raced into a 3-1 lead after five minutes with the pick of the scores coming from full forward Trevor Matthews. The opening quarter of the match passed without a free being awarded by the referee as both sides played some free flowing hurling. Geraghty and Mangan added to Clann na nGael's tally but Kells came back into the match with a brace of points to leave the half time score 0-5 to 0-6 in favour of Athboy-Rathcairn. In the second half, it was Gaeil Colmcille who made the brighter start and levelled matters at 0-7 a piece. Clann na nGael stepped up the tempo and seven unanswered points in a 14 minute spell midway through the second half put some daylight between themselves and their opponents. Geraghty (three), Mangan (two), Brian McGovern and substitute David Wright all raised white flags for the favourites during that spell. Kells did rally in the dying minutes but despite scoring a goal and a point, Priest's side added three more points during seven minutes of injury time to ease home comfortable winners. "Our fitness levels showed at the end and we were able to pull away comfortably at the finish, but it was by no means an easy match. Credit must go to the lads, they showed a hunger and desire to win. Not only the 20 players that were used on the day, but the five other subs who played their part throughout the course of the year. "The main thing now is to stay up senior and I feel that we are more than capable of holding our own against the majority of teams at senior level. We have some of the best young hurlers in the county," pointed out Eddie. The former Meath hurler revealed that there was a terrific atmosphere in the community following the win with the intermediate Cup doing the rounds of the local schools following the victory. "There was a real feel good factor in the community after winning. Some of the lads brought the Cup out to Rathcairn school on the Monday after the match, while there they were asked for their autographs by some of the kids. Playing senior hurling can only help promote the game in the area. Players like Matthew Mullen, Barry Higgins, Kit McGovern and Anthony Sheridan have given great time and dedication to the club at underage level. Their work must be commended, especially because of the amount of time that they have given to the club." For the record the Clann na nGael side that annexed the 2004 intermediate title was: Marcus Quinn, Bernard Heaney, Eamon Clancy, Martin Kelly, Mark Geraghty, Matthew Mullen, Brian McGovern, Liam Leavy, Darren Heaney, Daithi Geraghty, Gary Mangan, Barry Higgins, Barry Doherty, Trevor Matthews, Robbie Mullen. Subs used: David Wright for D Heaney (inj), David McKenna for R Mullen, Wilson Bryan for Leavy, Darren Shaw for Wright, Owen McKenna for B Heaney (inj). Rest of panel: Kit Leavy, Niall Bird, Padraig McDonagh, Padraig McElhiney and Kit McGovern. As mentioned, great work has been done at underage level in recent years and the club are beginning to bear fruit from their efforts. Although no silverware was obtained by any of the underage teams in 2004, Clann na nGael did manage to make it to the Under-14 final, while they also contested the under-13 and under-11 semi-finals. Competing in the 13-a-side category, the under-14's were unfortunate to lose by four points to Dunboyne in the final that was a very well contested game. With such a dedicated management team in place, the youngsters of Clann na nGael are being well looked after and that has helped build the interest levels of hurling in the parish. Clann na nGael Under-14 finalists: Craig Doherty, Darren Kelly, Michael Sullivan, Michael McDonagh, Padraig Garry, Alan Kelly, Shane Ennis, Marcus Cogan, Conor Smith, Anthony Cully, Cian Griffin, Robert Farrell, Darren Griffin. Subs used: Johnny Sullivan, Aaron Ennis, Gary Ennis. A learning curve Clann na nGael preserved their Junior 'A' football status with a heart-stopping victory over Moynalty in a relegation play-off at the back end of the year. Assistant secretary and team selector Cathal Seoighe reviewed the year with John Loughran. At a cursory glance Clann na nGael's 2004 championship statistics don't make appetising reading. They managed to win just two of their 10 championship outings, but who was it that said: There are lies, damn lies and statistics? Those statistics mask the fact that the club only came into existence in 2003 following the amalgamation of Athboy and An Gaeltacht. Perhaps expectations for the new formed club were too much, too soon! "You have to remember An Gaeltacht were a Junior B' team, while Athboy who were a Junior 'A' team who had lost two or their better players in Jamie Shaw and Shane McInerney who were playing in New York," Cathal commented. Having survived a relegation play-off last year, Clann na nGael had hoped to put some daylight between themselves and the relegation zone in 2004 as part of an ongoing restructuring process within the club. Despite the fact they had to survive a similar nerve wracking ordeal, significant progress was made on the playing front during the year, with what was predominantly a very young team, Cathal contends. 2004 saw the club revamp its training programme to bring it into line with other Junior 'A' aspirants. It was based on the simple premise: If you don't train, you can't play. Under this new regime, a number of players who couldn't give the required commitment, drifted out of the picture. Cathal who was a selector on the Junior 'A' team explained that coach Martin McCormack, and his fellow selectors Brian Connor, Donie McLoughlin and Daithi O'Siordain realised that the players needed to raise the bar in terms of applying themselves to training, if they were to make a mark on the championship. "Players who didn't train for one reason or another weren't considered for selection. There was a revamp regarding what was required of the players at Junior 'A' level. That meant an lot of young players, who were prepared to give the commitment, came into the reckoning," Cathal elaborated. He added: "Nobody has fallen out over it, but you have to be fair with everybody and you also have to bring on the young talent as quickly as possible." In their final game of the year, that relegation play-off against Moynalty, three under 17 players featured in the forwards. "Seosamh Mac Donncha, John Sheehan and Anthony Farrell were all under 17," Cathal confirmed. "Our two midfielders, Eamonn O'Conghaile and Mick Priest were under 21. At corner back we had Sean Mac Donnacha, who is only 18, while the other corner back, Anthony Farrell is only 21. Again the wing halfbacks were two young lads. Tomas Carrigy and Brian McGovern were both under 21, so there is lots of youth in the team," he affirmed. "Then you have the likes of Paul Flood, Matthew Mullin, Tommy Hanley, Barry Ferguson and Fergal McDonagh who represented the more experienced players on the team," he added. Clann na nGael's championship got off to an unfortunate start when they were narrowly beaten by Skryne, 1-10 to 2-6 in their opening group game. "We only lost that game by a point. We probably deserved at least a draw if not a victory. We followed that up by beating Dunshaughlin in the second round. We beat them comfortably 2-9 to 0-6," he recalled. In Round 3 Clann na nGael went under 2-4 to 0-5 to Simonstown. "We lead Simonstown for 52 minutes of that game. We only lost it in the final moments. If we had beaten them, we would have four points from our first three games and that would have put a different complexion on our year," he added. The club's tendency to concede goals cost them dearly in the matches against Bective 3-10 to 1-9 and Dunderry 4-5 to 2-7 when they were beaten without having played badly. They also lost to St. Ultan's 4-10 to 1-5 and Gael Colmcille 2-14 to 1-8, to finish the group level on two points with Dunshaughlin and Bective. "St. Ultan's outplayed us entirely. For one reason or another, we were missing six of our better players, but we can have no excuses on the day." By virtue of a complicated relegation play-off system Clann na nGael were afforded three bites of the cherry in their attempts to stave of relegation. They squandered two of those opportunities within the group when both Bective and Dunshaughlin beat them. Cathal recalled: "We finished level on points with Bective and Dunshaughlin. Bective beat us in a thrilling play-off 2-12 to 2-9. We then had to play Dunshaughlin. It was our worst performance of the year." "It then went down to the wire against Moynalty where we prevailed 1-10 to 1-8 in a breath taking finish. I felt sorry for them, but as they say: there but for the grace of God," he commented. At the time of writing Clann na nGael had just beaten Blackhall Gaels 4-11 to 2-13 in an under 17 Div 1 quarter-final. "The previous week we beat Trim in the same competition. We you see a team beating the likes of Trim and Blackhall Gaels, that has to bode well for the future." One of the cornerstones behind the Athboy / An Gaeltacht amalgamation in 2002 was their strong collaboration at underage level. "Those under 17s represent the oldest crop of players from the Athboy / An Gaeltacht days. Those players will come through and bolster the existing talent that is already there," Cathal opined. At under 15 level there is another crop of talented youngsters. "They were eventually beaten by Round Towers having beaten them earlier in the year. They would have also beaten Trim earlier in the year," he affirmed. The depth of underage talent within the club can be gauged by the fact that upwards on 200 youngsters attended a Presentation Night in the Old Darnley on Sunday November 14. "Between 200 and 300 children attended. That would cover everything from under 10 football and hurling right up to under 17 football and hurling. The various medals that they won and the "Player of the Year Awards in each category were presented," he remarked. Off the field Clann na nGael continues to make good progress with a view to developing its facilities. "We intend to floodlight the pitch, build a new clubhouse with state-of-the-art facilities and build a juvenile pitch. Plans are well advanced as to what we need to be doing," he confirmed. Looking to the future Cathal believes Clann na nGael have the potential to quickly rise through the ranks, but concedes it may take another year or two to get the ball rolling. In 2005 he expects the Junior 'A' team to make it to the knock-out stages of the championship. Anything after that would be a bonus. "We expect to take it a step further next year and make the quarter-finals," he predicted. If the club could back its exiles and those who missed out in 2004, return to the fold to complement the wealth of young talent that is already on the ground, Clann na nGael could be there or thereabout at the business end of the season. As Cathal succinctly put it: "We are going to do a Wolfe Tones in the near future." Tweet

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