Over the past number of years, Tyholland have become well used to being in the shake-up when it comes to the business end of the season but they haven't always enjoyed the best of fortune when it came to competing in major finals. 

Despite this, the club showed the character and talent to make it from Junior football to play in the senior ranks and having had a taste of the action in the top flight, Tyholland began the 2010 campaign determined to get back to senior football.
Tyholland were ranked among the favourites for honours in league and championship and that was reflected in some good performances, but unfortunately for the club the season turned out to be a case of so near and yet so far once again.
For much of the season, Tyholland were in a strong position in both the league and championship but they ended the year without the reward many felt they deserved as defeat in the Intermediate Championship Final to Doohamlet was followed soon after when the same side came out on top in the league semi-final.
According to player, Ronan McNally, it was a very disappointing way to end a season that held so much hope for so long. The most bitter pill to swallow for the club was their failure to do themselves justice in the Intermediate Final and they lost out after an extremely below par performance.
"At the beginning of the year our aim was quite simple and that was to win the Intermediate title. Michael Morgan and Colin McAree came in to manage the team this year and we were confident that we could go all the way. We went very well in the league and won a lot of games, so when the championship came around we had a lot of belief in ourselves," explained Ronan.
When the championship action got underway it soon became obvious that Tyholland's optimism was not unfounded. The opening round in June saw them come up against an Emyvale side who were not enjoying the best of seasons, but they were expected to put up a tough challenge against their neighbours.
Despite the best efforts of Emyvale, it was Tyholland who were the better side on the day and a good team performance saw them comfortably through on a 1-16 to 2-6 scoreline.
It was August before Tyholland were back in action in the championship, but they showed no signs of losing their focus on the big prize when they came out on top against the league leaders, Donaghmoyne. In what proved to be a very tight contest, a first half goal from Dermot Coyle proved decisive in a 1-8 to 0-10 victory.
That set up a meeting with Rockcorry in the semi-final and with little between the teams in the league, this was expected to be a very tight battle. However, Tyholland displayed their title credentials once again as they brushed aside the challenge with another impressive team display to win by 1-12 to 0-8.
On the back of those eye-catching displays there was a great sense of anticipation around Tyholland that they could deliver a second Intermediate title for the club despite the fact that they were coming up against a very strong Doohamlet side in the decider.
"It was great to go through the 'front door' and have the confidence of winning games so when it came to the final, we were confident that we could complete the job. A lot of people had us as favourites but unfortunately it just didn't work out for us on the day," continued Ronan.
For a club who have been used to the heartbreak of losing championship finals by a single point, the margin of the defeat to Doohamlet was particularly hard to take in a game where they lost out by 3-9 to 1-6 on the first Sunday in October.
"It is really difficult to know what went wrong on the day but we simply didn't click as a team and never got going or managed to get into any rhythm. It was very disappointing, especially when we lost by such a big margin.
"Maybe they were hungrier than us from the start and it was obvious that they had prepared very well and just took the game to us. Looking back, I don't think we were prepared for the physical challenge they posed as it turned out to be a very physical contest.
"It was a very disappointing way to finish a campaign that had gone so well for us and there is no doubt that we should have played better. People were expecting a lot more from us in the final and the truth is that we were expecting more from ourselves.
"There wasn't a lot between the teams throughout the season and in fact we drew at home in the league earlier in the season. We also played a week before the championship final but Doohamlet put out a weak team and we won that game comfortably.
"It is never easy to lose a final but it makes it even harder to take when you know you didn't play to your ability. If you go out and give everything you have but lose the game, then it is never as bad and you have to accept it, but it is very disappointing when you know you could have done so much better," added Ronan.
To make matters even worse for Tyholland there was to be no consolation in the league. When the teams renewed rivalries in the semi-final in November it was Doohamlet who once again prevailed, this time by the narrowest of margins, 0-9 to 0-8. Yet again, there were regrets as Ronan points out that his side wasted chances to win the game.
"Looking back on that game we really feel that we beat ourselves on the day. We had a penalty saved and hit the post in the closing stages. The in the final minute we were awarded a 13m free only to see referee throw the ball up after dissent, and overall we feel we should have won the game.
"It is very disappointing to look back on a year where we had gone so far and yet ended up with nothing to show for the effort."
However, Tyholland have bounced back from disappointment before and Ronan is optimistic that they can do so again, and as a result he is looking forward to the new season with confidence.
"We know it will be difficult in 2011 but it would be nice to land some silverware. We still have a relatively experienced team with a good few lads from the championship winning team of three years ago, while there are a number of young players breaking through to the first team.
"We have gained a lot of confidence from winning games this year and hopefully that will stand to us next season and we can make up for this year's disappointment by going all the way," added Ronan. Tweet

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