Even their most staunch rivals concede that the Corduff club has a canny ability to make the very most of scarce resources. In winning the P.J. Flanagan under 21 league cup last October, the local Gaels re-emphasised the work ethic that's always been at the heart of the club. The Corduff club may be tucked away in an inauspicious corner of the county but there's nothing indifferent or stale about the ambition and passion that has been the hallmark of Gaels there over the years. Corduff is a fiercely proud gaeldom. The Gaels club is the very hub of the local community and its contribution to the health and well-being of the young people in the parish in particular cannot be over-estimated. Over the years, the generosity of spirit of so many people and the enthusiasm and gra boasted by legions of Gaels for our native games has served to fuel increasing levels of support among the people of the parish in general for everything that the Corduff club stands for. And this support for the cause hasn't just been manifest during the good times. Far from it. In the battle for the hearts and minds of the sporting youth, Corduff Gaels has been able to count on the support of locals through lean times as well as the trips on county finals day. Corduff have more often held their own despite the paucity in numbers that has for so long been the bane of the club's attempts at making it into senior ranks. However patience is a virtue and those who presided over the club's magnificent, morale-boosting under 21 league success last autumn can reasonably expect that more high-profile silverware will be garnered in the not too distant future. Corduff were always going to be there or thereabouts when the prize-giving ceremony for the P.J. Flanagan League Cup was down for decision. The strength of the club's panel almost ordained as much. And as things transpired, it was indeed the strength in depth and the experience sported by the Gaels which made all the difference in sorting out the destination of the spoils. For the final of the under 21 division three league, Corduff had the luxury of fielding twelve members of their Fr. Hackett Cup squad. It was obvious that whatever about the skill factor, Corduff would not be blowing their chance of winning the 13-aside competition on the alter of naievty or inexperience. Although the David Marron-captained squad made good their favourites tag with a 4-14 to 1-8 win over Blackhill, the scoreline, in fairness, doesn't really betray the spirit and closeness of the exchanges on the day. Indeed, some neutral observers of the tie went as far as to say that Corduff's superior experience was a crucial factor in swinging the pendulum their way - especially at crucial junctures of the match. In what was a thoroughly entertaining and sporting tussle between the aspiring sides, the tempo of the game was unremitting from pillar to post and some of the football played by the combatants was of a standard redolent of a much higher grade of football. That said, the destination of the spoils was never truly in doubt as Corduff secured a firm grip on proceedings from an early stage in the match before proceeding to show admirable determination and concentration to consolidate their advantage right to the death. Of course, as is the case in many a championship final, the ability of one team to bag all-important goals can often decide the issue. The meeting of Corduff and Blackhill was no exception with the former demonstrating an appropriate cutting edge to comfortably take the title. In assessing Corduff's path to victory over the hour, their success in bagging two majors in quick succession at a vital time in the first half went a long way to putting a nail in Blackhill's coffin. Those goals preceded Blackhill's opening point - a score that may have acted as a launching pad any other day. However, late October was to bring no such blessing for the match underdogs as the Gaels immediately replied to Blackhill's opener with a critical third goal. Corduff were well on their way to the winners' enclosure following their hat-trick of goals. In truth the Emeralds were facing defeat squarely in the face at that juncture but to their eternal credit they never gave up the ghost and, instead, fought tooth and nail to get back in the match from there to the end of the contest. Ironically Blackhill enjoyed the better of the very early stages of the match but the omens weren't good for them as they squandered two fairly decent scoring chances. The writing was actually on the wall shortly afterwards when Aidan Marron showed no such profligacy to put Corduff a point up after nearly four minutes of play. There was little to separate the sides in the possession stakes in the opening ten minutes of the game but Blackhill really conspired to shoot themselves in the foot with four poor wides. In contrast, Corduff were lethal in front of goals for Pauric Gollogly and Shane Malone's goals. Significantly, the aforementioned hitman were to prove veritable inspirations on the day as together they were responsible for 3-9 of Corduff's tally. Corduff visibly grew in confidence after netting the majors and when Shane Malone tacked on another point in the 17th minute to put the winners-elect 2-2 to 0-0 to the good, Corduff were already eyeing the winning post. Blackhill tried everything they could to nick a foothold and while Darren Woods managed to get them off the mark in the 20th minute with a neat point, they weren't allowed to consolidate their improved showing as Corduff hit back with interest. A point from the in-form Gollogly and a third goal from Shane Malone - after he got a fist to a teasing delivery - left Blackhill in severe trouble, ten points behind. Determined not to be completely overrun, Blackhill pressed forward but Darren Woods was unlucky to see his effort shave the crossbar and go over for a point. A minute later the same player experienced better fortune when he found the net. Blackhill's momentum carried them forward but the interval may have come too soon for them as they threatened to enjoy a purple spell. As it was Corduff were in pole position, deservedly leading by a none-too flattering 3-4 to 1-2 at the break. Like true champions, Corduff proved that they weren't in the mood to allow their opponents gain in confidence and self-belief and in the early minutes of the second half, they drove forward in numbers and points from Declan Larkin and David Marron ensured the status quo remained. Corduff were careful not to take their foot off the pedal and a great goal by Declan Larkin after a clever assist by Mark Gilsenan saw Corduff stretch their lead to 14 points with some 38 minutes played. Blackhill tried manfully to secure some consolation scores and a hat-trick of frees did serve to take the unpleasant look off the scoreboard somewhat. Corduff finished the game with aplomb though. Points were added by Pauric Gollogly, Shane Malone and Aidan Marron as Blackhill were forced on the backfoot once again. The margin played between the sides was extended to sixteen points with 52 minutes on the clock and from there to the finish it was simply a matter for Corduff of putting the icing on the cake. After the game a delighted Corduff captain David Marron accepted the P. J. Flanagan Cup from Paddy O'Rourke of the county board. For the record, the all-conquering Corduff team, and scorers, which impressed in winning the P.J. Flanagan Cup final last October, was as follows: Darren Byrne; Patrick Callan, Fran Monaghan; Barry Larkin, Gerry Mee, Louis King; Declan Larkin (1-1), Gareth King; Shane Malone (2-4), David Marron (0-1), Aidan Marron (0-3); Pauric Gollogly (1-5), Mark Gilsenan. Tweet

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