Consolidation was the aim of the game for Aughnamullen this year. Taken in that context; their season must be considered a success. That is not to say the club will be satisfied with their final position of third from bottom in this year's Harte Peat Intermediate League. By David Keelaghan. The Sarsfields have high hopes for this panel, and have every intention of climbing to the other side of the table in 2009. So, in a campaign were injuries and suspensions were a matter of fact round Sarsfield Park, the be all and end all had to be maintaining the club's Intermediate status. It was mission accomplished as far as that target was concerned, but now attentions are turning to next year and significantly loftier ambitions. Manager John Joe Gorman reflects over a difficult first season back in Intermediate football. " Out target at the start of the year was simply to maintain our place in the Division. We had only just come up from Junior level for the first time in eight years, so staying at Intermediate was essential. We suffered from injuries and a loss of form from some of the players at the start of the year, and that left us bottom of the table after the first three games." It was a nightmare start to the league for the Sarsfields: three loses in a row was not the warm welcome supporters hoped for from the Intermediate ranks. Captain Aidan Duffy has his own theory as to Aughnamullen's poor start to the campaign. " We had a great season last year, but also a very long one. Our last game was in the middle of December against Eire-Og in the League semi-final. Just before that was the Ulster league final, where we lost to Rock by two points, so we had played a lot of games. I think that showed with the start we made in this year's league. It wasn't much of a break we had from football, and then when we came back I think a lot of the lads were still carrying injuries. That led to us losing our first three games and left us bottom of the table." The Sarsfields were in a precarious position heading into their fourth game of the league, away to Donaghmoyne - not exactly the first place you would pick when searching for a first win. Also looming large on the horizon was the opening game of the Championship against Cremartin. John Joe Gorman looks back on that pivotal match back in late April. " That was a big game for us. Having lost our first three matches, going to Donaghmoyne was a tough task for the players, but I think they showed what they're made of in that game. That was our first win of the year, and coming just before the Championship match with Cremartin, it was a hugely important victory for us." Soon after was a trip to Pearse Brothers' Park and the beginning of the Championship - another milestone match in Aughnamullen's season. "I was a good start to the Championship for us and a sign that when we got everyone right, we were a match for anyone in the division. Cremartin had beaten us earlier in the year in the league, so it was a good turnaround from us and I thought the lads put in a great performance," said the Sarsfield's manager. Aughnamullen's inconsistency continued right throughout the summer, with impressive wins over Truagh and Eire-Og contradicted by defeats to Corduff and Rockcorry. Such Jekyll & Hyde performances left John Joe Gorman's side dangling perilously close to the relegation places, but solace could come with the return of the Championship. To achieve that, Aughnamullen had to first overcome the challenge of Corduff, and alongside that, a particularly brutal run of fixtures. John Joe Gorman gives his thoughts on a huge eight-day period for the club. "That was a tough week for us. First we had the Corduff Championship game on the Friday evening. That match ended in a low scoring draw and was a really tough game for us. Then we had the replay three days later on the Monday evening. We won that after another hard fought match, and had our next round tie that Saturday against Emyvale. Having three, tough Championship matches in such a short space of time certainly didn't help our cause, and we eventually ended up losing to Emyvale by a point. It was too much for the players, and really a bit ridiculous how congested the fixtures got during that period. He continued. " Our final Championship game came against Truagh, who we had already beaten earlier in the year, but were much too strong for us that day. I think a little bit of inexperience showed on our part, and in the end that proved decisive. We then had our second last league game at home to Emyvale. We had 13 points heading into that game, and were playing against a side that needed the win to prevent relegation, so it was a real four pointer for both teams. Again I thought we played well in the game, picked up the win, and showed a lot of the qualities necessary to play at this level." Captain Aidan Duffy also believes his side showed plenty of mettle in the latter half of the campaign, which will hopefully be buttressed by more consistency next year. "The treatment table started to clear up a bit round mid-season and our results improved. Intermediate football is very tough and most games you can expect a real battle. That took some getting used to from us, particularly the younger players who wouldn't have played at this level before. I think we saved our best football for the Championship this year, and were unlucky to meet Truagh when we did." As for the Sarsfields aims for 2009? " I think there's definitely room for improvement from us. Next year the target has to be for one of the top places in the league, and also hopefully have some success in the Championship. There's not a lot between the sides at this level, bar maybe one or two sides that were a bit ahead of the rest this year. Eire-Og have shown its possible to get promoted and then adapt and flourish at the new level. That's our aim for next season. If we can stay injury free, and the young players like Sam and Pete Dooney continue to improve the way they've been doing, then Aughamullen have as good a chance as anybody to claim one of the top spots next year," said the Aughnamullen captain. Not surprisingly, John Joe Gorman agrees with his captain's sentiments. "We have had some good young players come through in the past while. Pete Dooney has been a great addition for us this year; he can score, is a good free taker, and I would expect him to improve even more as he gets more experience. Sam Dooney as well; he came into the team last year and has done well, and we have about four or five of the minor team that should be fighting for a place in the senior side next year. We also have the likes of Damien McConnell to come back from injury, so I'm optimistic about our chances next year." He concluded: "We didn't have the best record in the league, and ended up losing more games than we won. That being said, I've seen enough to suggest we have a strong foundation here and next year will be a different story. The players believe they are capable of competing with anyone at Intermediate, and I'm confident they'll show that next season. We will have to improve our finishing. I think we have been off target on too many occasions this year, missing easy frees and things like that. Having Pete Dooney in the side will help us in that respect, but we'll need the entire team to step up a gear if we want to make Aughnamullen a Senior level club. That's the target for us next year - promotion. We will need the rub of the green to achieve that of course, but I do think we have the panel to do it. Eire-Og done very well this year, and I would like to think we can have similar success when we get the full panel back fit and free from injury." Tweet

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