Winning at both ends of the spectrum
December 30, 2010also a hat-trick of underage titles to boot.
The adage that good habits beget good results seems to be woven into the fabric of the Sean McDermotts club.
For more years than the average gael in the Threemilehouse and Corcaghan areas can remember, Seans have been getting it right more often than not at most levels.
Those rooted to the coalface at Seans have busied themselves, year after year, in rolling out their athletic and skills programme for the benefit of underage and adult players alike.
With more than a keen eye on the future, the club's mentors have rejoiced in not honing the talents of Seans more senior players but also the droves of starlets under their watch.
In 2010, the club hit the jackpot at both ends of the production line with a hat-trick of cup successes at underage level and a JFL title triumph being added to their trophy cabinet.
With a place in intermediate ranks in 2011 up for grabs, no incentive was needed for the Saffrons to go the distance and claim the Dr. Ward Cup last October.
Seans faced a Cremartin side who impressed on their way to the final and were fancied by many to take the spoils at the first time of asking.
Indeed their earlier comprehensive victory over Corduff had helped catapult Cremartin onto the local turf accountants' list of 'naps' for the year.
In addition, by virtue of reaching the JFC decider and their success in lifting the Reserve Division Two (Hugh Brady Cup) title, it was safe to say the Shamrocks were firm favourites.
Gary Larkin and his management team of selector Colm McMahon and trainer Noel Melvin had their charges in fine fettle though and so it would prove as the final itself unfolded.
Played in ideal conditions at Pearse Park, Ballybay, the final was a rip-roaring affair with Seans securing an epochal title triumph on the back of a 1-12 to 0-14 scoreline.
Overcoming Cremartin represented Seans' seventh JFL success since its foundation in 1961 but was there one won in more dramatic, tense, nail-biting fashion?
In what was an archetypal nip and tuck encounter, Seans opened the scoring when James Treanor fisted the ball over the Cremartin bar inside the first 60 seconds.
However it needed another fisted point by Damien Larkin three minutes into first half injury time to give the would-be winners the most slender of leads, 0-6 to 0-5, at the interval.
Seans' captain Emmett McElvaney says that while the destination of the spoils hung tantalisingly in the air 'till the death, he had still a lot of faith in his team-mates at half-time:
"We put in a serious amount of hard work over the year and we were always confident that we'd be able to go right to the end; fitness wasn't going to let us down.
"We reminded ourselves of all the training we had done from the time of the snow in February and the different obstacles we overcome to get to the league final."
Certainly, the Seans' league triumph was undoubtedly born out of true grit, raw hunger and utter determination to be the best team in the final in Ballybay.
The Saffrons hit the ground running in the second half and went three points clear in as many minutes after the restart with a point apiece from Patrick Kieran and Damien Larkin.
But Cremartin held firm and came back to lead by a point approaching the three-quarter hour mark. It was clear that if Seans were to win the title, they were going to earn it.
"When they got three points in a row, we were all over the place at that stage," the aforementioned McElvaney testifies.
It was time for the Seans to dig deep and this they duly did and by the 57th minute they had drawn level with Damien Larkin rifling over the equaliser.
And then came the most crucial score of the game one minute later with Patrick Kieran's daisycutter evading a Cremartin defender before nestling in the back of the net.
Cremartin proceeded to throw everything but the kitchen sink at Sean McDermotts but the leaders weren't for turning. The cup would be festooned with saffron and white garlands.
"The important thing for us, apart from getting Patrick's goal, was that we didn't ship any goals," Seans' 27 year old team captain comments.
"On top of that, Mark Keogh, our goalkeeper, made a great save about ten minutes into the second half after Cremartin had gotten on top and that was a crucial incident in the game.
"I was lucky enough to get in the way of a couple of other blocks too so maybe the Gods were smiling down on us."
So the script held good then. Seans' table-topping achievement and their semi-final win over Clones and subsequent triumph over Cremartin in the decider underpinned the script.
The club's JFL heroics was just what the doctor ordered ahead of the commencement of the club's Jubilee celebrations!
For the record, the players who did duty for the JFL final was as follows: Mark Keogh (0-1); Philip Farrell, Paraic McGuirk, Damien Connolly; Nigel Lynch, Emmett McElvaney, Martin Kieran; Pat Kieran (1-1), Derek McMahon; David McEntee (0-1), Noel Rice, Sean McCrudden (0-1); Daire Freeman (0-1), Damien Larkin (0-5), James Treanor (0-2).
Subs used; Patrick Kieran snr; Shane Larkin.
Treble joy for starlets
Meanwhile some of the club's most promising underage players hit the high notes not just once in 2010 but three times in fact.
In what was another terrific year for the juveniles, the Saffrons' up-and-coming under 12 squads brought great pride and honour to their club in the Shield competitions while the club's under 13s did the business in the county-board organised blitz.
Great emphasis is placed on workrate at Seans and that is something that pertains at all levels of the club with the very young to the club's seasoned veterans all buying into the club's plan of campaign.
Club stalwarts like Enda Murphy are committed to keeping their shoulders to the wheel in the knowledge that hard work reaps due dividends.
"To us, winning trophies isn't the major goal," Seans' Youth Officer insists. "Trophies are nice to get your hands on but we'd look on them as a bonus.
"Winning things helps keep the enthusiasm levels up and is a good help in recruiting the smaller, younger ones into the club.
"Having said, for everyone involved in working with the juveniles at the club, the ultimate goal is to have three or four of our minors progressing each year up to the senior team.
"To us, having fellas progress up to the senior team is the key thing and the most desirable result from all the club's coaching.
"We try to help the lads improve their skills as footballers, from the start of the year 'till the end of the year, and as they go up the grades."
Seans' profile at underage level has been well refurbished this year with a hat-trick of trophies being garnered in 2010.
During the past year, Seans claimed victory in the U12 Division Two Shield and the U12 Division Five Shield while, in addition, they triumphed in the county board-sponsored U13 blitz in Cloghan.
Reflecting on the club's award-winning material, Enda says the under 12 and under 13 panels are a credit to the club and to their parents.
Of course, it goes without saying that both sets of players have been helped greatly on their way to the winner's enclosure by the support, advice and guidance of a raft of qualified coaches.
"The emphasis at training is on developing the youngsters' skills and we're happy with the level all the children showed this year.
"We try to get the players to use both their non-dominant hand and non-dominant feet in training; being able to use both hands and both feet left the under 13s in particular in good stead when it came around to competing in the blitzes in Cloghan."
It must be remembered though that the Seans Class of under 13s in 2010 brought with them a winning pedigree as they had won the U12 Division Two title in 2009.
Meanwhile, both sets of under 12 players, Enda informs us, deserved their successes over Inniskeen Grattans (Division Two) and Scotstown (Division Five).
Hard work and no stars embodied what they brought to the table plus a collective effort propelling them forward rather than individual stardust.
Tapping into the best of talent from St. Mary's National School (Threemilehouse) and St. Michael's N.S. (Corcaghan), Sean McDermott's faithful are all about maximising their resources in personnel; something they have been doing very well over the years.
Of course, at times the numbers of young parishioners keen on playing Gaelic can vary from one year to the next.
Over the last year, for instance, club mentors could call on ten players at under 13 level who were 'on the button' of 13.
However, it is anticipated that in 2011 only three of the players expected to be on the under 12 panel will be 12 years of age.
At under 14 level, 2011 looks particularly promising with a 24-strong panel anticipated, thus paving the way for the affiliation of two possible teams.
Positive news abounds at the club. But nobody loses sight of the goal of grooming youngsters for action at senior level way down the line.
Apart from a three week break straddling the Christmas holiday, training is organised on a year-round basis at the Seans complex in Threemilehouse.
To the club's credit and the willingness in particular of a hard-working group of people, there are five coaches watching over each underage team.
"We try to make sure that some of the senior players, some current and some just retired, help out with the juvenile coaching and with the new playing pitch, we can do a lot of our autumn and winter work outdoors.
"Each of our coaches have at least a foundation level coaching course and a child protection coaching course behind them."
Seems like Seans have a winning formula. And unfortunately for their rivals, they're intent on holding onto it! Tweet
