There is an old saying that goes along the lines of 'long threatening comes at last' and so it was in 2003 from the Wolfe Tones footballers. The men from the parish of Oristown finally delivered having knocked on the door for about half a dozen years. They overcame the disappointment of losing the 2001 final to Curraha, after a replay, and there are many who will say that it was that defeat and their response to it, that shaped this year's success. Coach Tony Kearney stuck by the team and the players remained loyal despite the 2001 setback. In the aftermath of the shock defeat by Nobber in the 2002 quarter-final doubt was the dominant emotion. Was there a junior championship in the team? Was it possible that the team would go back instead of forward? Only the players could supply the answers and, happily, those answers were all in the affirmative. The draw for the championship placed the Tones in a group that also included neighbours Simonstown Gaels, as well as previous year's Junior 'B' champions Summerhill, Dunderry, Moynalty and Clann na Gael. It was immediately perceived as a favourable draw and it was a big help to the management team who had little difficulty convincing the players that a quarter-final place was well within their target. Their first three opponents were the second teams of senior clubs while a defeat by either of the latter pair would have constituted a major shock. The only negative aspect was that the team might go into the quarter-final without a real test. Martry was the venue for the first round clash with Simonstown and with Alan Fox and Rossa McDonnell causing havoc in the opposing defence, the Tones swept to an impressive 12 point victory, 2-12 to 0-6. Second-half goals from Stephen Corrigan and Barry McGinn eventually saw off what was a feeble enough Simonstown challenge ... but it's always good to get that first victory tucked into the belt. Summerhill provided a slightly sterner test in the second round but Wolfe Tones passed it with flying colours, chalking up an impressive tally of 2-19 but the concession of 2 goals was a slightly worrying. A fortnight later the men in purple and gold made the short trip to Bective where they had little difficulty in overcoming a disappointing Dunderry team. Rossa McDonnell set the winners on course for another win when he found the net within a minute of the throw-in. He went on to become top scorer with 1-3 as the Tones emerged with a 3-9 to 1-4 victory. Aidan McKeever and substitute Pat Fitzpatrick also got among the goals. With full points from their three games and an encouraging tally of 7 goals and 40 points scored it was little wonder that optimism was growing around the parish. The defence had conceded only 3-16, leaving the average winning margin at exactly 12 points. The management team were happy that the team was doing all that was required but they were also worried about the lack of a real test. That worry gained some momentum after the 4th round game against Moynalty when the 'Tones' had only four points to spare, 0-13 to 1-6. It was a poor display against the first 'first' team that they had come up against. On the positive side, a place in the quarter-finals was now assured and there was ample time to correct the weaknesses exposed by Moynalty. New club Clan na Gael, an amalgamation of Athboy and An Gaeltacht, were the fifth round opponents ... they had beaten Moynalty but were no match for Wolfe Tones who rediscovered their scoring touch and won easily on a 0-12 to 0-5 scoreline. It was the first weekend in July ... the 'Tones' had completed their league schedule in the championship and would now have to wait for five weeks for their quarter-final clash with neighbours St Michaels. This was a game fraught with danger. Many of the players had played together on underage teams and local derbies are notoriously unpredictable. Worse still for Wolfe Tones, they would have to face an extremely difficult assignment without one of their most influential players Alan Fox who was ruled out through injury. But St Michaels were in a similar position, having to field without their injured county star Daithi Regan. Aidan McKeever assumed the responsibility and it was his two first half goals that set the 'Tones' on the path to a place in the semi-finals. The Oristown men led by 2-2 to 0-5 at the break and with Stephen Corrigan, Niall McLoughlin and John Tiernan providing outstanding support for McKeever, the St Michaels challenge was seen off on a 2-10 to 1-7 scoreline. Trim was the venue for the semi-final clash with Dunsany who were beaten finalists in 2002. A big crowd turned up for this Friday evening fixture which provided exceptional entertainment as well as the proof that the 'Tones' had what it takes. Their character was tested to the limits by a battling Dunsany team and it was their gutsy second half performance that saw them through to their second final in three years. Wolfe Tones supporters who arrived late in Trim were somewhat shell shocked when they looked at the scoreboard. Dunsany had got away to a 'flyer' and the 'Tones' defence was at sixes and sevens. Dunsany scored two goals in the opening ten minutes and if Wolfe Tones had not been severely tested in their previous six games, they were really up against it now. They eventually settled and by half-time they were on level terms, 0-7 to 2-1. The game's decisive score came within three minutes of the re-start ... Alan Fox cut through the Dunsany defence before passing to John Tiernan. He spotted Aidan McKeever who buried the ball in the Dunsany net to give his team a huge boost. But Dunsany were not about to throw in the towel. Points were swapped and then at the three-quarter stage substitute Conor Power beat the Wolfe Tones defence for an equalising goal. It was exciting stuff but Wolfe Tones responded superbly and went on to dominate the final quarter to win by 1-13 to 3-5. Although the winning margin was only two points Wolfe Tones scored on fourteen occasions to Dunsany's eight which was a more accurate reflection of the exchanges. Cian Ward caused the Dunsany defence no end of problems while Darren McGrath, Stephen Corrigan, Alan Fox and John Tiernan also excelled. Ratoath had worked their way through to the final by beating Moynalvey and Navan O'Mahonys in the knock-out stages ... the 'Tones' would be favourities but memories of their 2001 final defeat by Curraha were still fresh enough in the memory to encourage caution. The purple and gold flags and bunting were on display in Kilberry, Gibbstown, Oristown and Wilkinstown as the club, founded in 1975, went in pursuit of it's first adult football championship. Having lost two intermediate finals, in 1979 and 1981 as well as the junior decider in 2001, another defeat would have posed serious questions. No need to worry. The final turned into a romp for the favourites who clearly benefited from their appearance on the big stage two years previous and also from their difficult semi-final test against Dunsany. And while Ratoath conjured up an encouraging start to lead by 0-2 to 0-0 after five minutes, it was all Wolfe Tones thereafter. Alan Fox pointed a free, Cian Ward scorched the Ratoath defence but his efforts were unrewarded and it was John Tiernan who eventually equalised. Ward then gave the 'Tones' the lead for the first time before displaying significant class when scoring the game's first goal. Tiernan centred, the youngster fielded superbly and scored one of the goals of the year. Ward's goal inspired his colleagues and deflated their opponents. The 'Tones' took control and the issue was no longer in doubt when Ward showed maturity beyond his years when calmly beating former Dublin goalie Davy Byrne with a penalty just before half-time after Alan Fox had been fouled. At the break it was 2-6 to 0-2 for Tony Kearney's men and there was no way back for Ratoath. They had their moments, particularly around the threequarter stage, but despite scoring only three points in the second half, 'Tones' were never in danger of losing their grip on this one. The final score was 2-9 to 0-5. The consistency of the panel throughout the campaign was a major factor ... fourteen of the fifteen players who lined out in the final had also lined out in the first round game against Simonstown. The defence tightened up considerably after conceding three goals to Dunsany and captain Ciaran McLoughlin had great support throughout from Darren McGrath and Richie Brady. Stephen Corrigan and John Tiernan came out on top against most of the opposing centre-field combinations while Alan Fox, Cian Ward and Aidan McKeever were the stars of an attack that outscored the opposition by 12-106 to 8-44 over the eight game campaign ... an average winning margin of more than nine points! Alan Fox was subsequently named as club player of the year ... it was a deserved award for a player who missed out on Meath's All-Ireland junior championship final victory over Galway because of injury. Ciaran McLoughlin was corner back on that occasion. And for veteran Terry McGarry a championship medal was a dream come through ... he has been a 'Tones' stalwart for the best part of two decades. The team, scorers and substitutes in the final, was a follows; Derek Meehan, Richard Brady, Ciaran McLoughlin, Eoin Harrington, Patrick Caffrey, Niall McLoughlin, Darren McGrath, Stephen Corrigan, John Tiernan (0-3), Terry McGarry, Alan Fox (0-2), Barry McGinn, Aidan McKeever, Robert O'Kelly-Lynch and Cian Ward (2-4). Subs: Rossa McDonnell, Pat Fitzpatrick, Sean Power, David Cassidy, Kevin McKeever, Daire Browne, Ciaran Shaw, Alan McKeever and Trevor McKeever. Management Team; Tony Kearney (Manager), Christy Shaw, Gerry Thompson and Philip O'Brien Tweet

Most Read Stories