What have the following teams got in common? Navan O'Mahonys, Ballivor, Blackhall Gaels and St Patricks? They have won the last four intermediate championships having been beaten in the previous year's final! And what about Dunderry? They were beaten in three successive finals before winning it at the fourth time of asking in 1990! Small consolation for Carnaross perhaps but nonetheless significant. Despite the disappointment of their trouncing by O'Mahony's in the intermediate final they have the potential to keep the modern trend going. It may not be widely known that Carnaross is one of the oldest clubs in the county. They won the junior championship as far back as 1912 and they were also junior champions in 1929, 1941, 1955 and 1991. They were also intermediate champions in 1957 and 1993. Their tradition is enviable ... their record of producing outstanding footballers is outstanding. Having lost their senior status a few years ago, many believed that the good days were over and that it would be some time before we would see the maroon and golds playing in the top grade again. Although they haven't made it back to the senior ranks, they are not to far away. In 2002 they were narrowly beaten in a play-off for a place in the intermediate semi-finals and this year they reached the final despite the fact that they were not among the pre-championship favourites. Their ambitions have often been thwarted by injuries to key player Ollie Murphy ... the task for the club is to cope in his absence and hope that his injuries clear up for the knock-out games. The group in which Carnaross found themselves for this year's championship was a tricky one ... they would face Slane. The team that knocked them out in 2002, in the first round. Then it would be St Ultan's, Oldcastle, just down from the senior ranks, the 2002 junior champions Nobber, Donaghmore/Ashbourne, St Colmcilles and group favourites Duleek. The campaign commenced against Slane in Castletown ... ironically the same venue and the same opposition as it was for Carnaross's exit from the championship in 2002. But what a turnaround! Carnaross simply demolished the Slanemen and cantered to a fifteen point victory 3-11 to 0-5. It was an outstanding display with Ollie Murphy accounting for 2-1 and John L Magee adding 1-4. The attack moved well throughout and with Conor Woods and Peter Nugent dominating at centre-field the Cavan road side had the game sewn up at half-time. Overall, it was a performance that augured well for their championship prospects. This description would certainly not apply to the second round game against St Ultan's at Carlanstown, St Ultan's had drawn their opener against Donaghmore/Ashbourne and such was the excellence of the Carnaross display against Slane that a second win was widely predicted. Carnaross failed to reach the same heights and had to settle for a draw as St Ultans provided stubborn opposition throughout. A goal from Ollie Murphy helped his team to lead by 1-3 to 0-1 at the interval and although the lead was stretched in the third quarter, St Ultan's stayed within striking distance and were eventually rewarded for their persistence with a late equaliser. The final score was 1-6 each. The third round game against Oldcastle was fixed for the first Sunday in May but had to be postponed because of a waterlogged pitch! On the following Saturday evening. It was always going to be a tricky assignment for Carnaross but they eventually passed the test and won by 1-11 to 0-9. It was an important win, one that probably defined the year for Brian Comaskey's team. And then ... disaster. The previous year's junior champions Nobber had lost their opening two games and drawn their third ... they appeared to have been distracted by their successful All-Ireland junior tournament campaign and with only one point of a possible six, it looked as if their main concern would now focus on avoiding a quick return to the junior ranks. The game was played at Rathkenny and even allowing for the absence of the injured Ollie Murphy, Carnaross were expected to win. However, it was Nobber who got their campaign back on track with a top class display and there could be few complaints in the losers' camp as they went under by a point, 2-10 to 3-6. John L Magee scored 2-5 and full-back Gavin Murphy netted a penalty but the defence had no answer to Brian Farrell who scored 2-4 for the winners. The defeat meant that Carnaross were now under a little pressure to qualify for the knock-out stages ... a target that appeared well within their reach after the first three rounds. There was understandable relief following the comprehensive victory over Donaghmore/Ashbourne at Simonstown ... Ollie Murphy was back but his total of 1-1 was only fourth on the list of Carnaross scorers ... even his brother Gavin at full back did better with 2-0 from penalties! John L Magee scored 0-8 and Daniel Reilly scored 1-2. Killian Porter was also in good form with 0-3. The final score was 4-15 to 1-4. Brian Comaskey was back from Australia and his return was a significant boost ahead of the game against St Colmcilles in Rathkenny. Victory would ensure a place in the quarter finals and after a tight and tense encounter Carnaross came out on top by a point, 1-5 to 0-7. It was not one of the team's better performances but they were happy enough to be through to the knock-outs. John L Magee accounted for 1-4 while Ollie Murphy scored the remaining point. The seventh round game against Duleek was not of great significance with both teams having already qualified. Motivation was in short supply as far as Carnaross were concerned and Duleek romped to a facile victory, 5-13 to 1-5. Even though there was little at stake the heavy defeat was generally seen as a blow to Carnaross's ambitions and few would have predicted that they would later turn the tables on Duleek and reach the final. The quarter-final opposition was provided by Castletown at Moynalty and with no more safety nets both teams had to give it their all. And it was Carnaross who came out on top in a dramatic finish on a 3-7 to 1-7 scoreline. It was dramatic and exciting because Castletown looked likely winners as the game entered the closing stages. Carnaross got away to a great start with a John L Magee goal providing the inspiration for their early well-being. They led by 1-3 to 0-4 early in the second quarter but the concession of a goal left them trailing by a point at the break. Carnaross failed to score in the third quarter as Castletown stretched their lead to three points and a championship exit loomed before they hit a purple patch in the nick of time. John L Magee and Daniel Reilly reduced the deficit to one point. Castletown grabbed a point but the momentum was now with Carnaross and with six minutes left Daniel Reilly ran on to a clever Ollie Murphy flick before burying the ball in the back of the net. Victory was sealed when John L Magee won a penalty which Gavin Murphy dispatched to the net. Points from Alan Smyth and McGee were the icing on the cake. Despite finishing in a blaze of glory there were many negative aspects to the winners' performance the most significant of which was an amazing 35 minute scoreless spell either side of half-time. There was also a semi-final date with Duleek, only four weeks after losing to them by twenty points! While Carnaross had been beaten twice and held to a draw on one occasion, Duleek had won all seven games in the same group and had made it eight wins in a bow by beating Na Fianna in the quarter-finals. But Carnaross had learned most in the four weeks and caused one of the upsets of the year with a six point victory, 1-10 to 0-7. Fresh from his starring role with the Meath juniors in their All-Ireland success Paddy Nugent was inspirational at centre-half back while in most areas of the field his colleagues were coming out on top against their immediate opponents. Carnaross led by 0-3 to 0-2 at half-time, Ollie Murphy with two and he then made an even greater impact on the game by scoring the only goal eight minutes into the second half when he collected a long delivery from John Brady and made no mistake when shooting low to the net. The goal gave his team a six point cushion 1-6 to 0-3 and with both teams adding four points Carnaross advanced to the final ... against the odds. Murphy finished with 1-4, his brother Bernard accounted for 0-2, John L Magee 0-3 and Daniel Reilly 0-1, Conor Woods and Brian Comaskey ruled the roost at centre-field while Gavin Murphy, Thomas Nugent and Dermot Magee gave Paddy Nugent great support in defence. It has to be said that Carnaross also enjoyed some good fortune as Duleek only scored a point from a penalty and also struck the bar at vital stages. The long-time championship favourites Navan O'Mahonys were waiting in the final and despite a sometimes stuttering campaign during which they lost to both Syddan and Rathkenny they recovered well and comfortably avenged the Syddan defeat in the semi-final. Carnaross supporters were hoping that their team could again upset the odds but, county final day turned out to be something of a disaster for the maroon and golds. They lost be seventeen points, 3-14 to 0-6 and the issue was decided long before the final whistle brought an element of relief. It really was too bad to be true as the form that saw them eliminate a number of fancied teams en route went missing and there was only a minute remaining in the first half when Daniel Reilly scored their first point and although John L Magee added another they trailed by 1-7 to 0-2 as they headed to the dressing rooms. It didn't get any better in the second half as O'Mahonys maintained their momentum and coasted back to the senior ranks. Gavin Murphy and Paddy Nugent tried hardest in defence, Conor Woods and Brian Comaskey kept battling at centre-field while the attack was well marshalled by the O'Mahonys defence. Ollie Murphy created a great goal opportunity for himself in the opening minutes but his shot was smothered ... a precursor for the afternoon. The Carnaross line out was: Shane Comaskey, Thomas Nugent, Gavin Murphy, Thomas Farrelly, Peter Nugent, Patrick Nugent, Dermot Magee, Conor Woods, Brian Comaskey, Daniel Reilly 0-1, Bernard Murphy 0-1, John Brady, Ollie Murphy 0-2, John L Magee 0-2 and Killian Porter. Subs: Alan Smyth and Patrick Smyth. The management team was: Brian Comaskey (Manager), John O'Reilly and Aidan Casserly. Tweet

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