By capturing their third senior football championship crown in four years, Garrycastle placed themselves among the great club sides produced by this county. And, to complete a memorable year, they also claimed the Feis Cup for the first time. A year on from their shocking championship capulation at the hands of Mullingar Shamrocks, Garrycastle bounced back to capture the Flanagan Cup for the third time in four years when they edged out Castledaly at Cusack Park on November 8 last. Justin McAteer's fisted goal in the 21st minute proved to be the decisive score as Garrycastle withstood a late Castledaly rally to take their place among the great club sides this county has produced. Ironically, McAteer was also Garrycastle's goalscorer when they slumped to a bizarre 1-0 to 0-10 defeat to Shamrocks in the 2003 quarter-final. "We were knocked out of last year's championship after only scoring a goal in 65 minutes of football. We let ourselves down badly that day," recalled Garrycastle captain and goalkeeper Cathal Mullin in his county final victory speech. While that performance was a low point in the club's recent history, it served as a massive motivating factor in a season when Garrycastle more than redeemed themselves. The path to championship glory wasn't always smooth for Garrycastle, but their class, character and experience got them out of trouble on more than one occasion. And, as if to underline their supremacy over the rest, they finished the year as Feis Cup champions - the one prize that had eluded them until now. In 2003, the Athlone outfit were severely weakened by injury and summer emigration. But with the likes of Seanie O'Donoghue, Padraig Rattigan, Alan Daly and the Dolans back in the fold last season, they were always going to be the team to beat. Garrycastle's hopes of regaining the Flanagan Cup suffered an early setback, though, when they succumbed to a depleted Tyrrellspass by 0-8 to 1-9 in the opening round of the championship on May 3. Martin Flanagan, Mark Staunton, Barry Murphy, John O'Brien and Adrian Corcoran were all absent from the Tyrrellspass line-up, but they still proved too strong for an underperforming Garrycastle team who were outscored by 1-5 to 0-3 in the second half. Due to Westmeath's extended championship run, Garrycastle didn't see action again until the end of August when another below-par performance saw them lucky to escape with a draw against neighbours Tubberclair. Martin McCabe's charges looked to be in trouble when they trailed by 0-6 to 0-3 at the interval. But with the wind to their backs, they scored four points within eight minutes of the restart to take the lead. However, Tubberclair refused to wilt and had edged into a 0-9 to 0-8 lead before Dessie Dolan rescued 'Castle when slotting over an equalizing free in the third minute of injury-time. At the third time of asking, Garrycastle finally secured their first win of the campaign when they hammered Moate All-Whites by 3-14 to 0-13 at Pairc Chiarain a week later. With only one point from their previous two games, nothing less than victory would suffice for the green and golds and this was achieved with considerable style. Moate, who had triumphed in the corresponding fixture in 2003, were just four points in arrears, 0-9 to 2-7, at the break. But with cousins Dessie Dolan and Robbie Fox in sparkling form, Garrycastle pulled away for a resounding victory in the second half. Garrycastle were now up and running and St. Malachy's were next to feel the full force of Martin McCabe's re-energised side. Despite making a slow start, two goals from Gary Dolan and another from Donal Ryan helped them to a 3-8 to 1-8 lead at the break. Alan Mangan raised hopes of a St. Malachy's recovery after the resumption when he converted three frees, but it proved to be a false dawn as Dessie Dolan replied with a fourth Garrycastle goal to put the result beyond doubt. In their final group match, Garrycastle faced a Mullingar Shamrocks team that was already assured of a place in the knock-out stages. Needing a win or a draw, the Athlone side did the necessary by chalking up a 0-10 to 0-5 victory and thus atoned for their disastrous defeat to the same opposition in 2003. Scores were difficult to come by but Garrycastle dug deep in the second half and ran out five-point winners thanks to scores from Dessie Dolan, Robbie Fox, Alan Daly and Donal Ryan. Garrycastle's quarter-final joust with old rivals St. Loman's was another low-scoring affair, but without ever hitting top form, they emerged as 0-10 to 0-6 winners. The green and reds laid the foundations for their victory in the first half when points from Dolan, Daly, Ryan and Paddy Mulvihill helped them to a 0-8 to 0-3 interval lead. In the second half, Garrycastle were content to sit on their lead as St. Loman's failed to make the most of their ample possession. Revenge was utmost on Garrycastle minds when they squared up to Tyrrellspass in the semi-final on October 31. Having been afforded a three-week break owing to Dessie Dolan's involvement with the Ireland International Rules team, there was a freshness about Garrycastle, particularly in extra-time when they ground out a 0-15 to 0-13 victory. The south county outfit had substitute Robbie Fox to thank for scoring a late equalizing point which forced extra-time. A youthful Tyrrellspass were left to rue their failure to take a number of chances in normal time as Garrycastle gained the upperhand in the additional 20 minutes. Garrycastle were the better side in the opening half, but still only led by a point at the interval, 0-6 to 0-5. With David Glennon and John Corcoran in fine scoring form, Tyrrellspass dominated for long spells in the second period and looked to have secured their place in the final until Fox pointed in injury-time to leave the sides deadlocked on 0-12 apiece. But in extra-time, Garrycastle outscored their opponents by 0-3 to 0-1 with substitute James Duignan, Alan Daly and Dessie Dolan accounting for their scores. An unbeaten Castledaly provided the county final opposition for Martin McCabe's side for the second time in three years. And just as in 2002, Garrycastle emerged victorious, albeit after a much closer contest. Central to Garrycastle's 1-8 to 0-9 victory was the dominance exerted by the imperious David O'Shaughnessy at midfield, the outstanding form of Dessie Dolan from both frees and open play and the tigerish and disciplined defending of Tom McHugh, Karl Henson and Padraig Rattigan in the winners' full back line. JP Casey opened the scoring for Castledaly with a point inside the first minute before Dolan replied with two frees for the wind-assisted green and reds. Points from Michael and Niall Duffy restored Castledlay's lead after 13 minutes before Dolan hit another brace of frees. Then a move started by Dolan culminated in midfielder McAteer fisting to the net after Castledaly goalkeeper Paddy Golden blocked Alan Daly's initial shot. Dolan's fifth free was sandwiched between points from Casey and Damien Doyle as the first half came to a close with Garrycastle leading 1-5 to 0-5. Daly increased Garrycastle's lead on the restart before efforts from Michael Duffy and Doyle kept Castledaly in touch. Duignan and Mulvihill put 'Castle four clear again before points from Derek Heavin and Doyle left two between the sides with three minutes remaining. As the tension increased, so too did tempers and a brawl involving players and mentors erupted in front of the Garrycastle dugout with time almost up. However, referee Sean Carroll decided not to take any action as Garrycastle held on for a narrow win. The curtain came down on a memorable year for Garrycastle when they recorded a comfortable 1-16 to 1-6 victory over Tyrrellspass in the Feis Cup final on December 11. Just three points separated the teams early in the second half, 0-11 to 1-5, but the southerners then found an extra gear and sealed an historic success with a goal from Conor Cosgrove. In the semi-final, Garrycastle had inflicted a crushing defeat on town rivals Athlone in what was arguably their finest performance of the season. The Garrycastle team which overcame Castledaly to win their third county title was: C Mullin; T McHugh, K Henson, P Rattigan; D Harte, S O'Donoghue, E Mulvihill; J McAteer, D O'Shaughnessy; J Duignan, C Ryan, P Mulvihill; A Daly, D Dolan, D Ryan. Subs used: P Dillon, R Fox and J O'Shaughnessy. Tweet

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