Clonkill have been one of the most successful clubs in Westmeath hurling for the past five years and although they have only claimed one championship title in that time, the Loughegar side have rarely ended a year without any silverware in recent times. Success in Division One of the league and a Feis Cup win were the senior team's reward for 2004, while wins in the Minor 'A', under 16 Premier and under 16 'A' championship left the club to reflect on what was a quite successful season. Clonkill senior hurlers set out in 2004 to erase the painful memories of the previous year when a last minute goal by Castlepollard captain Darren McCormack earned the Town a fortuitous victory in the SHC decider. Unfortunately fairytale endings don't always happen as the Loughegar side endured more heartache. As has been the case for the past few years, Clonkill were tipped as one of the favourites for the championship and as always it would be a brave man to bet against the green and golds. A lengthy barren spell was ended in 2001 when Clonkill won the title for the first time in 32 years and many expected the club to dominate the senior championship for some time to come, however they failed to add to their tally, although they have had huge success at underage level. Their campaign last year started out with a highly anticipated encounter with neighbours Raharney. Relations between the clubs soured the previous year in a much publicised incident that there is no need to dwell on. Many neutrals believed that the match could see a mass brawl erupt but to both sides credit, the players let hurling do the talking. Although the standard of hurling was far from brilliant, the match itself was a tense affair with scores at a premium. Both sides seemed nervous which restricted the standard of hurling. Clonkill got the expected win but just by the narrowest of margins after Raharney made them fight all the way for their 0-11 to 1-7 victory. Brownstown were their next opponents. For so many years the Archerstown Blues had the better of Clonkill in the championship but the tide has certainly turned in the Loughegar outfit's favour recently. And it was no surprise when they ran out easy winners on a scoreline of 2-16 to 1-4. Full forward Jonathan Forbes caused the most difficulty for Brownstown, while Sean Loughlin, Andrew Mitchell and Brendan Murtagh were also impressive. Two wins out of two left Clonkill on top of the championship table and Pat O'Toole's side were on course to make the knockout stages after a 2-8 to 0-4 win over relegation strugglers Ringtown. The Westmeath hurling championship at the moment sees four teams realistically having any chance of winning the title with Clonkill among those considered as favourites. Their success at underage level suggests that they will be around for a few years to come and it will be a major surprise if this current squad cannot add to their roll of honour. Their fourth outing was to be their toughest to date against defending champions Castlepollard. Revenge is thought to be used as a great motivational tool for teams and certainly Clonkill needed no encouragement against the side that had snatched victory from the jaws of defeat the previous year. The 2003 beaten finalists showed no mercy to their opponents as they completely outplayed a shocked Pollard side. Scores from the talented Brendan Murtagh, Enda Loughlin and Andrew Mitchell put Clonkill in a commanding position by half time. There was no comeback for the defending champions in the second half as Pat O'Toole's side increased the pressure to record a comfortable win by 0-15 to 0-6. Although the win over Castlepollard went some way to erasing the memory of what happened in the county final, only success in the 2004 campaign would compensate fully. Having guaranteed their place in the knockout stages Clonkill could have been forgiven for taking their foot off the pedal so to speak but this was not to be the case as Delvin were crushed in their next outing. The gulf in class between the sides was evident as a mammoth 24 points separated them at the end of the match, 3-23 to 1-5. Lough Lene Gaels were next up and a first defeat of the championship was recorded when the Collinstown had eight points to spare over Clonkill, however it must be pointed out that the Gaels needed the points, while the Loughegar side were already through to the last four. Clonkill returned to winning ways for their last match in the group when they defeated Castletown-Geoghegan by a point. Martin Scally scoring the all important goal deep into stoppage time, 2-10 to 1-12. Qualifying straight through to the semi finals meant that Clonkill had a wait of over six weeks before their next competitive match but it did not seem to affect them when they met Castletown-Geoghegan in the last four in September. A bright start saw Clonkill race into an early lead and midway through the second half, it looked as if Castletown were about to be knocked out of the championship but an unfortunate knee injury to Brendan Murtagh changed the whole match. The Westmeath star fell awkwardly on his knee and had to be stretchered off the field. This was a huge blow to Clonkill who seemed to lose their way soon after but it looked as if they would hold on when they lead by four points as the game entered injury time. But to Castletown's credit they came back and a long range free by Alan Mangan was dropped into the square where John Brennan was on hand to pull on the sliothar in mid air, leaving Clonkill goalkeeper Brian Murray with no chance of stopping the shot. A minute later and Castletown were level when they struck over a point to get out of jail and earn a replay. Brendan Murtagh started the replay on the bench as he was not full fit following the knee injury sustained in the drawn game and this seemed to affect the rest of the side as they were outplayed during the first half of the match. Trailing by eleven points at half time, it looked as if Clonkill were dead and buried. The second half began with Castletown stretching their lead to twelve points but in a dramatic change of events when Murtagh was introduced in the second half, it was Clonkill who had the belief that they could win the match. Murtagh and Andrew Mitchell scored ten points between them and with normal time elapsed it was Clonkill who lead by a point. But in a repeat of the final a year before, a late goal was to break Clonkill hearts and the black and ambers followed that up with a point to record a 3-10 to 1-13 win. It was a bitter pill to swallow for Clonkill, especially to lose in dramatic circumstances for a second year running. The club soon put the loss behind them and wins over Raharney in the Feis Cup and Division One league final meant that the players had something to show for their efforts. The club's conveyor belt of talent at underage level continues to produce exceptional player and 2004 was no different as success in the Minor and under 16 championships sent a warning to the other clubs in the county that Clonkill will be battling for senior honours for some time to come. Back to back success was achieved in the Under 16 A championship as neighbours St Oliver Plunkett's were easily brushed aside in a one sided final. To be fair it was any one's guess who would win this tie after fifteen minutes as the sides were level, however Clonkill kicked into gear and pulled away from their opponents with ease. It was in the second quarter of the first half that Clonkill stamped their authority on the match by scoring 2-4 and holding their opponents scoreless. Two goals from Darren Quinn spurred the Loughegar outfit on and with Owen Price in excellent form at right half forward, the winners never looked back. Price finished the match with a superb tally of ten points, four from play and is definitely a player for the future while he was ably supported by Quinn, Darryl Kenny and Conrad Reilly. For the record the victorious under 16 side was: Gary Moran, John Fitzsimons, Colm Coffey, Noel Mitchell, Lorcan Cafferty, Conrad Reilly, Niall Keegan, James McCormack, Shane Power, Owen Price, Mark Keegan, Michael Heffernan, Darryl Kenny, Darren Quinn, Alan McGrath. Subs: Philip Dowdall, Christopher Cribbin, Cian Keegan. Apart from their success at minor and under 16, Clonkill also made it to the Under 14 Feile na nGael and championship finals but lost both to Lough Lene Gaels and Castletown-Geoghegan respectively. So the main aim for 2005 once again will be too win the senior championship and if faith has any say in the matter, Clonkill definitely deserve the title, although try telling that to the other senior teams! Tweet

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