A Monaghan county senior football championship without Inniskeen could well be described as "Hamlet without the prince' as the Grattans from this south county stronghold have ever been one of the most influential and consistent championship contenders right down through the years, from their first ever victory in 1888, when they also became Ulster champions. By Seamus McCluskey. Unfortunately, such has been the case on a couple of occasions during the past decade, when they were missed in the premier title race, but not any more, as Inniskeen have taken the 2005 Monaghan Intermediate crown and are back where they belong ... in the Co Senior football championship of 2006, and every year thereafter. With five county titles already in their pocket ... 1888, 1905, 1938,m 1947 and 1948 ... who is to say that number six is not so far off? "The Prince" has returned to 'Hamlet' and could well be the star of any show next year, as this Inniskeen team is well capable of holding its own against any senior opposition in the county at the moment. What's more ... what Magheracloone and Latton could accomplish in the past couple of years is well within Inniskeen's scope at the moment. Their path through the 2005 Intermediate Championship was both clearcut and ruthless. This was a year in which they were not going to take any prisoners, and the championship would be their goal - a straightforward goal and not through any 'back doors' or any other side entrances. And so it proved - they came through the series with four straight-forward victories that surely must serve as a warning to the premier clubs and make them realise that this is no ordinary up and coming intermediate squad that can be tamed in the first few outings and told to go back where they came from. If any of the current senior clubs in the county are thinking in that line, then they are in for a very rude awakening. When the draws for the 2005 championship were made at the beginning of the year, Inniskeen escaped the preliminary round and were drawn to meet Currin in the first round proper. That particular game eventually took place at Clontibret on the evening of Saturday 21st May. As things turned out it proved to be an easy hurdle for the Grattans and they stormed to a 2-18 to 0-9 victory over the west county club. Currin were probably unlucky in having to take on such a formidable outfit as Inniskeen in their Intermediate Championship debut (they had come up from junior ranks the previous season). Inniskeen were simply in no mood for exchanging pleasantries or giving their opponents an easy ride. It was business from the word go and there was to be no letting up the very last kick of the game. The attack worked in clockwork fashion and all six forwards found their names on the score-sheet before the game was even twenty minutes old. The Meegans, a great name around Inniskeen, were in rip-roaring form, and Jordan, Paul and Ronan of that clan all fired over a range of excellent points, with Paul Rice chipping in to add to their total. Gary Lynch and Michael Lennon were doing the spade-work at midfield and the forwards were repeating the benefit. When danger threatened the defence, Michael Fitzpatrick was there to marshal the troops and block out any potential scores. Currin led only once during the hour and that was in the very first moments when they had two early points, but Inniskeen quickly got the measure of the situation and found the target more or less as they pleased. By the half-way stage they had forged a ten points lead and went in at half-time, comfortably in front by 1-11 to 0-4. The second half more or less followed the same pattern as the first with Currin getting off with an early score but Inniskeen soon settling down again and taking control of affairs in practically ever part of the park. Their second goal came from Ronan Meegan and they ended the contest on a final scoreline of Inniskeen 2-18, Currin 0-9. Inniskeen had lined out for that one as follows: Gregory O'Rourke, Andrew Meegan, Michael Fitzpatrick, Alan Ryan, Martin Callan, Oisin Loftus, Stephen Callan, Gary Lynch, Michael Lennon, Paul Rice, Jordan Meegan, Paul Meegan, Niall Lennon, Ronan Meegan and Tommy Mulholland. Subs used: JJ Smith, David McGahan, Pearse McSkane, Paul Dooley and Damien Crawley. Their scores came from: Ronan Meegan 1-3, Martin Callan 1-1, Paul Meegan 0-4, Michael Lennon 0-3, Paul Rice 0-2, Jordan Meegan 0-2, Niall Lennon 0-2 and Tommy Mulholland 0-1. Inniskeen were well aware of the fact that things might not be so easy again, but it did not turn out as they had expected and they were again very much the superior team in the quarter-final, showing their class with a comprehensive and very decisive 1-14 to 0-2 win over Eire Og of Smithboro. Clontibret was again the venue and the evening was Sunday 21st August. Oisin Loftus took over the full-back responsibilities on this occasion and blotted out Eire Og's main danger man from the word go, so much so that the opposition were never allowed to threaten any real danger. Matters were even enough in the early stages but again the superior class of the Inniskeen squad began to show through. They finished the first half on a real high, sending over a series of fine scores in the concluding minutes before going to the dressing rooms. At half time it was: Inniskeen 1-7, Eire Og 0-1. The second half was a basically a continuation of the first with the Grattans picking off some excellent points and never letting the opposition come anywhere close to them on the score-sheet. They ended up clear cut winners by 1-14 to 0-2, a clear indication that their defence had the opposing attack in their pockets and confined them to a single point in each half. This time Inniskeen lined out - Gregory O'Rourke, Andrew Meegan, Oisin Loftus, Stephen Callan, Martin Dooley, Trevor Meegan, Michael Fitzpatrick 0-1, Gary Lynch, Michael Lennon 0-2, Paul Rice 0-1, Martin Callan 0-1, Fergal Duffy 1-0, Niall Lennon, Paul Meegan 0-7, Ronan Meegan 0-1. Subs used: Raymond Lennon, Pat Meegan 0-1, Kevin Boylan, Pearse McSkane and JJ Smith. Two easy victories 'in the bag' but now Inniskeen were pitted against their age old rivals from Donaghmoyne and this time they were under no illusions - this was not going to be an easy one and certainly nothing in the same category as the two preceding games. Inniskeen-Donaghmoyne rivalry goes back a long way and 2005 would not be any different. What's more, this was the semi-final and a place in the intermediate final would await their victors, and Inniskeen were determined that that particular role would be theirs. Aughnamullen was the venue and Saturday 1st October was the day. This was Inniskeens third championship outing and the third time for them to have a change of fullback. This time it was Raymond Lennon who donned the number three jersey but as in previous games, it seemed to make not the slightest difference. The defence was still as tight as ever, so much so that they confined the scoring of the opposition to one single player, and that was really saying something. It turned out to be a low key affair with Inniskeen being the dominant team throughout. Martin Dooley, Raymond Lennon and Jordan Meegan were the stars of the defence, Gary Lynch and Michael Lennon had the edge at midfield, while Paul Meegan and Fergal Duffy starred in the attack. Inniskeen led at half time by 0-7 to 0-3 and went on to win, somewhat easier than expected, by 0-13 to 0-8. This time they lined out: - Gregory O'Rourke, Andrew Meegan, Raymond Lennon, Stephen Callan, Martin Dooley, Jordan Meegan, Michael Fitzpatrick, Gary Lynch, Michael Lennon, Paul Rice, Fergal Duffy, Martin Callan, Niall Lennon, Paul Meegan and Ronan Meegan. Subs used Pat Meegan, Trevor Meegan and Matthew McKenna. And the points came from: Paul Meegan 0-7, Michael Lennon 0-2, Stephen Callan, Fergal Duffy, Martin Callan and Paul Rice (one each). The scene was not set for the Intermediate Championship Final and this time the opposition would be provided by Doohamlet. Clontibret was the venue - the third championship game out of four at O'Neill Park in 2005 for Inniskeen, and as they made their way northwards on Sunday 9th October, mentors and followers were mindful of the fact that Doohamlet had given them something of a football lesson when the sides met at Doohamlet on 3rd July, as Inniskeen suffered a 2-12 to 1-7 defeat. Passage through the championship so far had been reasonably comfortable, but now things could be much different, and so it proved. In one of the closest finals in years Inniskeen eventually proved supreme but only by the minimum margin, 1-13 to 2-9. In the opening quarter matters were tame enough but this developed into one of the finest games of the entire series and culminated in a nail-biting finish. Inniskeen finished the first half the stronger and went to the dressing rooms three points in front 0-9 to 0-6. They were very much in dominant mood in the third quarter and looked to be coasting entering the final ten with an eight points lead, but Doohamlet put in a storming finish that narrowed the gap to the minimum and made many Inniskeen hearts quiver in those dying seconds. However, they held out for victory and so qualified for a return to senior grade football - a situation from which they never should have been absent and one where they are likely to remain for a long, long period to come. The side that did duly that day and brought the Intermediate Championship title back to Inniskeen is recorded here for posterity: Gregory O'Rourke, Trevor Meegan, Raymond Lennon, Andrew Meegan, Martin Dooley, Jordan Meegan, Michael Fitzpatrick, Gary Lynch, Michael Lennon 0-2, Martin Callan, Fergal Duffy, Stephen Callan 0-1, Niall Lennon, Paul Meegan 1-7, Ronan Meegan 0-3. Sub used: Pat Meegan Champions of Ulster Inniskeen staged a dramatic finish that saw them snatch the Ulster intermediate football club championship title right from under the noses of Glenswilly in Brewster Park, Enniskillen. Glenswilly looked to be on their way to victory, leading by two points going into stoppage time but Inniskeen struck for a goal from substitute Pearse McSkeane, a minute into stoppage time to make for a dramatic ending to what had been a totally absorbing contest throughout. Glenswilly had been the more dominant team for most of the but they were a totally devastated side at the finish although when they look back on this game it will be at a number of individual errors at vital times that gifted goals to Inniskeen. The first came a minute into stoppage time at the end of the first half when a defensive error saw Inniskeen poach goal that brought them back from the brink after having been outplayed for most of the first half. Later a similar type error happened a minute into stoppage time at the end of the game with substitute Pearse McSkane on hand to get the vital touch that gently steered the ball into the corner of the Glenswilly net to leave them literally reeling and shell-shocked. Glenswilly got off to much the better start with four unanswered points in the opening quarter and three points still separated the sides going in to stoppage time. Inniskeen had now come more into the game and they laid siege to the Glenswilly goal with Paul Meegan getting a touch to steer a loose ball over the line and send the sides in level at the break, Inniskeen 1-2, Glenswilly 0-5. Within two minutes of the restart Glenswilly had regained the lead with a point from a free by Gerard McCrenra but Inniskeen had drawn level by the 10th minute when Michael Lennon converted a free. As before though, when danger threatened Glenswilly responded, with midfielder Kieran Bonner breaking through for a great point in the 11th minute to restore his side to the lead. Three minutes later Inniskeen were level again with Paul Meegan firing over a good point from out on the wing and it looked like an issue that was going down to the wire. Entering the final quarter Gleswilly again took control with a brace of points inside a minute from Gerard McGrenra and Colin Kelly putting them two in front after 17 minutes. Inniskeen to their credit continued to battle away but Darren McGinley, who had been re-introduced as a substitute, gave the Donegal champions a three points lead with less than 90 seconds left of normal time. At that stage it looked as if Glenswilly would hold out for victory and no one could have argued that it would have been a deserved victory. Inniskeen however had no such ideas and driven on by Michael Lennon who took off a couple of brilliant catches around midfield they fashioned a fighting finish that saw Paul Meegan reduce the deficit to two points when he converted a free just on the half-hour and then the most dramatic of finishes as Glenswilly saw the title snatched from under their very noses. Inniskeen drove forward in numbers, the ball was played into the Glenswilly area and again they looked to have it sorted but Glenswilly lost possession and substitute Pearse McSkane got the vital touch in a goalmouth scramble with Glenswilly running out of time before the could fashion a response to salvage the situation. Inniskeen: Gregory O'Rourke, Trevor Meegan, Raymond Lennon, Andrew Meegan, Martin Dooley, Jordan Meegan, Michael Fitzpatrick, Gary Lynch, Michael Lennon 0-2, Martin Callan, Pat Meegan, Stephen Callan, Niall Lennon, Paul Meegan 1-2, Ronan Meegan. Subs: Oisin Loftus for A Meegan, Pearse McSkeane 1-0 for S Callan, Michael McKenna for M Callan, Thomas Mulholland for R Meegan, Kevin Boylan for N Lennon. Tweet

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