Back with the big boys
November 28, 2003
Inniskeen Grattans were one of the outstanding intermediate teams in Monaghan in 2003 and were worthy of a return to senior ranks. Following their heartbreaking IFC semi-final second replay defeat to Aghabog, it looked as though the south county side might be denied their rightful prize but they bounced back in style to clinch promotion at the second time of asking via outright victory in the Vincent McAviney Cup.
Inniskeen just refused to take no for an answer. Their brave bid to land the 2003 Monaghan intermediate football championship was thwarted at the penultimate stage by eventual winners Aghabog in agonising fashion - after a second replay - and that was that. Or was it?
Rather than sit around licking their wounds and feeling sorry for themselves, the gallant Grattans opted to adopt a more positive reaction to the remainder of the '03 season. They kept plugging away and eventually gained their objective of promotion to the top table by virtue of victory in the intermediate football league. Not a bad year's work at all!
The final of the 2003 Monaghan intermediate (Division Two) football league took place on Sunday November 16th and Inniskeen captured the Vincent McAviney Cup with an impressive 1-13 to 2-7 defeat of Doohamlet. It was an excellent result for the Grattans, who had a few weeks earlier been pipped by Aghabog in an epic championship semi-final saga ... but spare a thought for Doohamlet who finished the season empty-handed after reached both league and championship deciders in the intermediate grade.
Alas, Doohamlet will NOT be playing senior football in 2004, but Inniskeen WILL rub shoulders with the big boys again - no more than they deserve for their tremendous efforts over the course of the '03 season.
Inniskeen got off to a dream start in the league final. With only two minutes on the clock, Ronan Meegan was brought to ground in the danger zone and a penalty was duly awarded. Up stepped club captain Martin 'Rocky' Dooley to dispatch his kick with the minimum of fuss and set his team on their way.
The O'Neills replied almost immediately with a Kevin McArdle point but wing back Dooley sent over an Inniskeen point before goalkeeper Gregory O'Rourke had to be at his brilliant best to preserve the winners' early three-point advantage.
In the 18th minute, Inniskeen extended their advantage when Paul Meegan floated over a beautiful free and at this stage it looked as though the Grattans might pull away for a comfortable victory.
However, nothing was easy in Monaghan in 2003 and 1-1 from Shane McManus saw Doohamlet level at 1-2 apiece by the 23rd minute.
Now that the challenge was thrown down to them, Inniskeen responded superbly with four unanswered points to take a useful 1-6 to 1-2 lead into the half-time break. Fergal McSkeane sent over the first of these points in the 25th minute and Michael Lennon, from a free, popped over the final score of the opening period. Between scores, Paul Meegan (free) and McSkeane ensured that the umpires were kept on their toes.
Two further Paul Meegan frees had Inniskeen six points to the good within five minutes of the restart. (That margin remained intact with only ten minutes remaining. But, to their credit, Doohamlet refused to gave up without a fight and - despite losing the midfield battle hands down all afternoon - they somehow managed to claw their way back to within a point.)
The gap had been reduced to four points by the 40th minute but Paul Meegan pointed a minute later and Ronan Meegan made it 1-10 to 1-4 with 50 minutes played.
Inniskeen had one hand on the McAviney Cup but the beaten IFC finalists would give them a real fright in the closing moments of this thrilling IFL decider.
Doohamlet registered two Ted Duffy points but Martin Callan replied for Inniskeen seven minutes from the end. Duffy landed another free and Paraic Murray delivered Doohamlet's second major in the 55th minute.
Suddenly, the cat was well and truly amongst the pigeons! With five minutes to play, there was just a point between the teams, Inniskeen hanging on to a precarious 1-11 to 2-7 lead.
Once again, when it was required most, Inniskeen rose to the challenge at hand. They simply refused to panic and saw out the game with two clinching points from the boots of Paul (in the 27th minute) and Ronan Meegan (in injury time).
On the basis of their composure alone, Inniskeen deserve their place in senior football. But they also played some stellar football not just in this match but over the course of the 2003 season in general. After the intermediate league final, John Connolly was on hand to present the Vincent McAviney Cup to Inniskeen Grattans captain Martin Dooley and the celebrations could at last begin.
The party may have been belated, but Inniskeen's prime objective for the season had been achieved and they celebrated accordingly.
The intermediate league final was a massive game for both clubs. En route to securing the first promotion spot, Aghabog had beaten both sides in the latter stages of the intermediate championship. The '03 IFC winners saw off Inniskeen after three thrilling semi-final encounters and went on to pip Doohamlet in the decider.
Therefore, both Inniskeen and Doohamlet had a point to prove (and everything to play for!) when they clashed in the November 16th Division Two final. They qualified for the league final with semi-final defeats of Tyholland and Drumhowan respectively, setting up an intriguing late-season clash - the IFC final that nearly was...
For their part, Inniskeen certainly had to do it the hard way. They qualified for the final with a gutsy 1-11 to 1-9 (a.e.t.) victory over rejuvenated Tyholland at Grattan Park on Sunday November 9th. At times in that game - especially early on - Inniskeen had looked dead and buried, but they battled away to secure a stunning victory after extra time.
Having trailed by 1-4 to 0-2 at the break, Inniskeen staged a dramatic second-half recovery (initiated by Ronan Meegan's goal) and it was Tyholland who had to land a late, late point to force additional time on a scoreline of 1-7 apiece.
After their three-game championship semi-final marathon, Inniskeen were no strangers to close games and the experience and tough match practice garnered over the course of those three hard meetings with Aghabog stood them in good stead in this game.
The Grattans qualified for the decider despite having both Pearce McSkeane (second half) and Fergal Duffy (extra time) sent off, with the lion's share of their scores on semi-final day coming from Paul Meegan (0-6) and Ronan Meegan (1-2).
Considering that they had been remarkably close to winning the IFC, promotion was no more than Inniskeen deserved. They kicked off their championship campaign with victory over Tyholland on May 24th and followed this up with defeats of Rockcorry and Drumhowan to advance to the semi-final stage unbeaten.
They took on Aghabog in the semi-final and a close affair always looked on the cards. In truth, however, few could have predicted just how difficult it would prove to separate these two teams.
The original encounter took place at Clontibret on Sunday October 5th and finished in stalemate: Inniskeen 1-9, Aghabog 0-12. Previously unbeaten Inniskeen got off to a flyer and led by a whopping nine points at the interval. But they were unable to sustain that momentum and a Mark McBride point a full eight minutes into stoppage time earned Aghabog an unlikely replay.
Fergal Duffy scored the goal that helped the Grattans to a 1-8 to 0-2 advantage at the short whistle. Though Inniskeen managed only a solitary point in the entire second half, they were extremely unfortunate as their opponents' final two points arrived deep into injury time.
The replay was again at Clontibret, six days later, and not even an additional twenty minutes of extra time could separate the teams! Aghabog appeared to have done enough with a run of five unanswered points in the second period of additional play, but this time it was Inniskeen who struck right at the death with a salvaging goal from Ronan Meegan.
The second replay was at Clontibret on Sunday October 19th and it was a day to forget for Inniskeen. They never recovered from the blow of having goalkeeper Peter McKenna dismissed in first-half injury time and fell to a disappointing 0-12 to 0-5 defeat.
But this particular team would be back for more before the 2003 season was over...
Inniskeen, 2003 Monaghan intermediate football league winners: Gregory O'Rourke; Alan Ryan, Trevor Meegan, Stephen Callan; Martin Callan (0-1), Michael Fitzpatrick, Martin Dooley (capt, 1-1); Gary Lynch, Pearse Og Casey; Paudge McKenna, Paul Meegan (0-6), Michael Lennon (0-1); Ronan Meegan (0-2), David McGahan, Fergal McSkeane (0-2). Subs: Jordan Meegan, Martin Dooley, Raymond Lennon
Inniskeen hurlers make history
Two-thousand-and-three was a landmark year for Inniskeen on the hurling front, as the club picked up its first ever adult hurling title ... an achievement that reflects the effort the south county club is investing into promoting the game as well as the remarkable progress the Grattans have made in the small ball code.
Inniskeen made the historic adult breakthrough in the ancient game when edging out a more experienced Clontibret side in a tight and enjoyable reserve league final played in Carrickmacross on Saturday September 13th.
The winners fielded a team that held all the aces in terms of youthful energy and enthusiasm and were full value for their two-point victory, 0-8 to 0-6, a success secured with two points picked off during a tense closing five minutes.
Clontibret - very much the dominant force in Monaghan hurling in recent times - were going for a senior/reserve championship double, but the underdogs were reading off a different script entirely! The O'Neills threatened to take over the game on a number of occasions, but each time they attempted to shift up through the gears Inniskeen simply refused to let them pull away.
Boasting a boundless reserve of commitment, hunger, determination and sheer grit, they not alone answered every question the more experienced Clontibret boys asked but were bold enough to pose a few teasers of their own! Having played with the aid of the stiff breeze in a low-scoring first half, the would-be winners led by double scores at the short whistle, 0-4 to 0-2.
Their lead could have been greater as Inniskeen carried the battle to their opponents during that opening half-hour but the conditions rendered shooting a lottery and they were guilty of nine pre-interval wides.
The writing appeared to be on the wall when Clontibret rallied back to level terms within eight minutes of the resumption, but a brace of Ronan Meegan minors restored Inniskeen's two-point advantage at 0-6 to 0-4.
With only five minutes remaining, the sides were level again and there was everything to play for. The closing stages were hectic as both sides gave it their all in a desperate sprint for the finishing line, but Inniskeen seized the day with two late points from centre forward Michael Lennon and midfielder Paul Meegan.
Inniskeen, 2003 Monaghan reserve hurling league winners: Niall Lennon; Patrick Dooley, Pauric Dowdall, Gerard Ruddy; Eugene McHugh, Seamus Loftus, Brian Quigley; Paul Meegan (0-2), David McGahon; Ronan Meegan (0-3), Michael Lennon (0-3), Alan Ryan; Andrew Meegan, Oisin Loftus, Francis Kindlon. Subs: PJ Boyle, Kevin Boylan, Sean Byrne.
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