Maximising potential
November 28, 2003
The future of any club depends on it's youth and the youth policies it has in force, and based on that principle the future in Killeevan looks bright as the under age players were the big achievers in 2003, writes John Graham.
Killeevan took one title at under age level, reached the semi-final off another and were beaten in a minor league final, all indicators that there are quality players being nurtured by the club despite the fact that they are working with limited numbers. Limited numbers however sometimes brings out the best in people and it is often the case that it is the clubs that are struggling in this numbers game that achieve beyond expectation because everyone raises their efforts to compensate.
It was something of a winter of discontent in certain ways for Killeevan Sarsfields following a fairly difficult Annual General Meeting but they emerged from that unsettling period to work their way to the verge of honours at senior level and to achieving success in the under age grades. Things didn't look all that promising at the start of the season as the senior team lost two of their opening league games and these were results that were to come back to haunt them before year's end.
Early defeats to Currin, a first defeat by that club for some considerable time, and Toome, were two results that ultimately cost Killeevan their place in the Dr. Ward cup semi-finals and it was all the more galling as one of these clubs did not complete their league programme. Currin in fact were to prove something of a bogey team this year as they also inflicted a first round championship defeat on Killeevan, but the Sarsfields re-grouped and won their way through to the semi-finals. The team management of Pat Larmer, John Quigley and Patrick Thompson worked hard on team spirit and were obviously disappointed that things didn't work out better.
"We did our best but it was just a couple of points that kept us out of contention for a shot at league honours as it was those couple of early season defeats that cost us a place in the semi-finals," Pat Larmer commented. "However everybody were extremely hard and the boys played some great football. In the championship we gave away a couple of easy goals in the first game against Currin and it was the goals that separated us at the end but after that we struck backed for victories over Blackhill, Clones and Killanny for a place in the semi-final against Monaghan Harps.
"The win against Blackhill was a vital one because we needed to get over the disappointment of losing to Currin and once we got back on track we produced two very good performances particularly against Clones. That was a great game of football and it could have gone either way with just a point separating us at the finish.
"We built on that against Killanny and won quite easily with eight points to spare but there was further disappointment in the semi-final. We didn't play at all in the first half against Monaghan Harps but when we got going in the second half we were more than a match for them. We were nine points down at half-time and could have been further behind but the boys put in a great effort in the second half and if we had taken a few more chances we could actually have turned it around."
Even when Killeevan went out of the championship they were still in contention for a place in the last four in the league but results conspired to deny them that and in missed out narrowly on the fourth semi-final spot. Overall however they can look back on a season when they made an impression in the two major competitions and as we go to press the reserves are figuring in the final stages of the reserve knockout competition for the Crawley Cup.
Killeevan fielded a total of eight teams in all competitions last year while their minors were involved in an amalgamation with Currin under the Patrick Sarsfields banner and they too came within an ace of taking honours when they reached the final of the minor football league Division 2 only to lose out to Magheracloone. Alot of the players though that were involved from Killeevan in that amalgamation will be eligible for minor next year and with the experience gained they can perhaps go all the way.
Club Youth Officer, Patricia Smyth, in looking back over the competitive season felt that Killeevan had a very successful year.
"From under 12 up to minor level we played over 30 matches and with a fair degree of success and the people who were in charge of the various teams put in alot of work this year."
We won one competition and we could have won at least another one, the minor league, but the fact that alot of our players from the under 16's were on the minor team should help us next year. There was a great spirit among these under age teams and even our under 12's despite losing quite a number of matches still stuck at it and were delighted to be out playing.
"Our under 14 and under 15 teams were managed by Dermot Lynch and Noel Smith and the under 14's did very well to reach the league semi-final. We recorded good victories over Latton, Toome, Aghabog and Currin and lost to Aughnamullen, Tyholland and Killanny with the latter proving a bit of a bogey team for us this year as they also beat us in the semi-final. We simply conceded too many goals that day and most of them in the first-half. We out-played Killanny in the second half but we just had too much to do and while we got the margin down to three points time ran out on what was a very committed performance. It finished Killeevan 3-9, Killanny 6-3.
"Dermot and Noel were delighted with how the team worked during the year and with alot of these lads eligible next year we could do well."
Team and scorers in the semi final: Stefan Burns, Ryan Corr, Darren McConnon, Kieran Rudden, Darren Quigley 0-1, Conor Mealiff, Kevin McGinn 1-1, James McDermott 1-6, Lisa McConnon 0-1, Joe Hunt 1-0, Paul Flynn.
"Killeevan fielded an under 16 team this year but with a number of the lads being as young as thirteen we were struggling against much stronger opposition, although we did win one game in five league outings but the team did not take part in the under 16 championship.
"It was another close call in minor competition when we reached the final of the minor football league Division 2. Given Magheracloone's record at under age level in recent years it was a bit surprising that they were competing in Division 2 but we acquitted ourselves very well and showed that there are a number of strong, talented, young players coming through.
"In this particular competition Killeevan joined with Currin under the Patrick Sarsfields banner but Killeevan were supplying 10 of the starting 13. Victories over Drumhowan, Aughnamullen and St. Enda's gave them a good run in the league but these victories were offset with defeats by Ballybay, Cremartin and Sean Dermotts while Magheracloone and Tyholland both conceded points but all that meant at the end of the day that they where through to the playoffs.
"In the final they were up against a team that had conceded to them in the earlier stages, Magheracloone, the game taking place in Tyholland on September 27th. It was a real nip and tuck affair all through with very little between the sides. The defence saw James Clerkin, Sean Clerkin, Philip Graham and current McRory Cup player Niall McCooey, all excel while the Callaghan brothers from Currin, Francis and Gerard kept the momentum going up front along with Richard Burns, Jason Quigley and David Flynn. In the end however it just simply was not to be and although the boys pushed it all the way they just could not get that vital breakthrough for the goal they so badly needed."
As so it was down to the under 13's to get Killeevan onto the winners rostrum and take the only silverware that came to the club in 2003.
It was really a little bit of a rags to riches story according to Dermot Lynch and Noel Smith with the season starting with defeats and ending with the presentation of the Cabra Castle Cup.
"We lost to Toome in our first match and only drew with Killanny in the second but that was a match that we probably should won," admitted Lynch. "We were missing a few of the regular team for those two matches but when we were able to field a full team and pick from a fall panel things started to improve. This whole squad worked well together, they were very keen and enjoyed the whole experience with everyone putting in good performances and all the panel got a run at some stage during the campaign.
"That probably wasn't a great start but then things started to happen for us and we had good wins over Doohamlet, Aghabog and Corduff which brought us to a second meeting with Killanny in the semi-final. This time there was no mistake although the game possibly ended on a slightly controversial note but the main thing was that Killeevan were through to the final and we had a chance to gain revenge on the team that defeated on the first day.
"In the final in Rockcorry everybody rose to the occasion and there was great support there from the club and from the families of the children involved. The game itself was an absolute cracker, Joe Hunt grabbed two goals and six points and caused Killanny all sorts of problems, Darren Quigley hit five points, Paul Flynn scored two points and captain Michael McCarville scored a point but everyone else from Noeleen McGuirk in goals through the defence of Brian Deery, Ryan Corr, Ciaran Rudden and Craig Mealiff through to Darren McConnon and Carmel Connolly in the attack all played their part and the look of sheer joy on everybody's face at the finished made it all worthwhile. On the day the result was never in doubt and we won by double scores, Killeevan 2-14, Toome 1-7."
Team and scorers in the final. Noeleen McGuirk, Brian Deery, Ryan Corr, Ciaran Rudden, Craig Mealiff, Darren Quigley 0-5, Michael McCarville 0-1, Darren McConnon, Carmel Connolly, Joe Hunt 2-6, Paul Flynn 0-2. Subs: Christopher Kilpatrick for P Flynn, Louise Corr, Mark McGinn, Carmel McGuirk, Stephen Hunt, Aaron McAdoo. Team managers: Dermot Lynch and Noel Smith.
Away from competition the club has been consolidating, according to the clubs highly rated secretary, Gerry Freeman.
"The new pitch is serving the needs of the club well but there is a need for a training pitch and this problem will have to be addressed. Our new covered stand is an excellent facility and is commented very favourably on by both our own people and in particular by our visitors.
"Our club Lotto continues to be our main source of revenue and just last week, (sic Sunday November 23rd), one of our biggest jackpots ever, just over 8,500 Euro was won by one of our own members, former treasurer Brendan Tynan. "Working at any level in a club now whether it's in administration or working with a team is very demanding but we were very fortunate this year that we had some very dedicated people and with the bit of success that we enjoyed its very encouraging for the future and if we keep up the efforts that we are putting in at the moment I think the future for Killeevan is very bright," said Freeman. "Our neighbours, Aghabog, showed this year just what can be achieved through hard work and dedication. Next year will be the 30th anniversary of the last time Killeevan won the intermediate championship back in 1974 and what better way to celebrate that 30th anniversary than by winning promotion at adult level and more importantly maybe seeing some more silverware at under age level, either way it would add to the bright future."
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