Delvin hurlers exceeded all expectations during the course of the 2004 senior hurling championship, as not only did the Valleymen secure their status among the senior ranks for this year's campaign but they made it into the quarter-finals, much to the surprise of many neutrals. At the start of the year, Delvin were one of the favourites to return to the intermediate ranks as themselves, Ringtown and Brownstown were regarded as the weaker teams in the SHC. But to their credit the 2003 intermediate champions caused a few surprises during the year and were involved in what many believe was the best match of the championship when they met neighbours Brownstown in a play-off towards the end of the year. The draw for the championship saw Delvin face the defending champions Castlepollard in the opening match of the campaign. Although Pollard had eleven points to spare over the underdogs, Delvin showed glimpses of form that would cause future opponents a few problems during the course of the championship. The opening sequence of matches saw Delvin paired against some of the teams that were tipped to win out the title as Lough Lene Gaels were their opponents in their second outing. If the maroon and whites had thought that Castlepollard were a tough outfit, then the Gaels gave them a lesson in hurling among the big boys. Eighteen points separated the sides at the finish as the Collinstown side gave Delvin a lesson in long range scoring. The top side in the county throughout the late nineties and early part of this decade fired over a total of 2-22 during an impressive display, while Delvin could only manage 2-4 in return. The general consensus throughout the county was that Delvin would probably now lose all their remaining matches having suffered such heavy defeats in their opening two games. Castletown-Geoghegan were next up and no one could have predicted the outcome of this match. Beaten finalists in 2002, Castletown were rated as one of the favourites for the title and they justified that by annexing the championship later in the year. However, the champions elect moniker did not fit the bill when Delvin humbled them at a damp Cusack Park in June. The hero of the evening was veteran forward Peter Kelleghan, who turned back the clock by scoring two opportunist goals during the match, as Delvin shocked Castletown winning by ten points, 4-6 to 1-5. The win was a huge boost for moral and gave Delvin an advantage over their rivals in their bid to avoid a relegation play-off. Delvin followed up the victory against Castletown Geoghegan with another two points against Ringtown. Ringtown entered the match having lost all their previous matches and their lack of confidence was exploited by their opponents as Delvin recorded a comfortable five point victory with the Williams' brothers Kevin and Niall playing exceptionally well. A win over Brownstown in their next outing would have guaranteed Delvin a place in the last eight of the championship but whether complacency set in or the conditions did not suit the maroons, a defeat was the outcome of this clash as Brownstown called on all their experience to earn a four point win on a scoreline of 1-9 to 1-5. The defeat meant that the sides would have to meet again in a play off with the winners advancing to the quarter-final and the losers facing Ringtown in the relegation final. A gale force wind and torrential rain left the match in doubt but after a pitch inspection it went ahead and for the small crowd present the two sides certainly gave an impressive display. Reports in local newspapers at the time suggested that it was one of the best matches of the year and who could disagree, it had everything, fine scores, excellent defending and extra time. Brownstown got off to the better start and were leading by 2-3 to 0-2 after the first quarter. However with only two minutes to go to half time Peter Kelleghan pounced on a mistake by the Brownstown defence to fire home their first goal and with plenty of stoppage time to be played, Delvin clawed their way back into the match as a pointed Kevin Williams free was followed up by a goal from Niall Williams to level the match on the stroke of half time. In the second half the rain got increasingly heavier but this did not deter either side as the excitement level reached fever pitch. Delvin got off to the better start with a point from Brian Farrelly and the same player scored Delvin's third goal in the 40th minute to give his side a four point lead. Now it was Brownstown's turn to close the gap and they did exactly that when a point was followed up by a fortuitous goal for the blues when a long range free decieved Delvin goalkeeper John O'Shaughnessy and ended up in the net. With so much to lose and local rivalry being the main driving force for the sides, it was no surprise that tempers did flare at some stage, although to his credit match referee Rob Cornally kept control of a match that was by no means dirty. Seven minutes elapsed before the next score of the match was registered when Niall Williams scored his second goal of the game by capitalising on some poor defending from the Brownstown defence and fired the ball into the net from a ground stroke. A point for the Archerstown blues left the score 4-4 to 3-5 before midfielder Padraig Fitzsimons sent over a point as the game entered its final few minutes. Brownstown replied with a point of their own before they scored their fourth goal of the match as the game entered stoppage time. Delvin now trailed by a point and although many of their supporters were panicking, the players certainly weren't and a long range free by Kevin Williams caused confusion in the Brownstown defence and Niall Williams was on hand to slot over a point and send the match into extra time. The drama was not over yet as two Williams' frees and a point from Padraig Fitzsimons put Delvin three points in front while Brownstown replied with a point to leave just two between the sides at the end of the first period of extra time. Brownstown had the perfect opportunity to take the lead just after the interval when awarded a penalty but goalkeeper John O'Shaughnessy earned his keep with an excellent save low to his right. From the resultant '65 the gap was narrowed to one point as the clock ticked away and despite Brownstown's best efforts to level the match, it was Delvin who had the last laugh when top scorer Niall Williams fired over a point to earn his side a historic victory and a place in the quarter-finals. Having already beaten Castletown Geoghegan in an earlier round gave Delvin a pyschological advantage over their opponents, but the fact that a number of the Delvin players were away on holidays meant that they would have to field an understrength side in the quarter-final. To their credit Delvin made their opponents work all the way as nothing separated the sides in the first half as the black and ambers held a slender 0-6 to 0-4 advantage. Delvin's scores came Niall Williams, Ger Clune, Kevin Williams and John O'Shaughnessy. Despite starting the second half brightly, Delvin could not add to their tally and Castletown pulled away in the latter stages to win by 10 points, 0-14 to 0-4. The scoreline did not reflect Delvin's efforts and although they were out of the championship, it was a case of a job done. 2005 is a big year for the club as they can build on their success from the previous year and with young players like Ger Clune, John O'Shaughnessy, Padraig Fitzsimons and J.P Farrelly among their ranks, the Valleymen look set to go from strength to strength. Football revival continues Despite winning just one game in last year's junior football championship, Delvin's battling performances augur well for the coming season according to club secretary Sean O'Brien. Delvin may have won only one game in last year's junior football championship, but club secretary Sean O'Brien is still brimming with optimism. After a few difficult years, the north county club is back on track again at both adult and juvenile level. Under the guidance of Mayo native Pat Shryane, they were a much improved team last year, even if their results didn't reflect this. "We could easily have won three matches in last year's championship and got through to the knock-out stages," O'Brien points out. "We beat Ballycomoyle and were desperately unlucky to lose to both St. Fintan's/Multyfarnham and Loughnavalley by a point. And even though we were well beaten by St. Joseph's, we only trailed by two points at half-time. "Compared to a few years ago, there is a much better attitude in the club now. We have a good bunch of young players and I think this could the year when we make a big impact in the junior championship," he adds. The 'Valleymen' opened their championship campaign with a narrow 0-8 to 1-6 defeat to St. Fintan's/Multyfarnham. For much of the game, they had been the better team but a late fade-out saw Multy hit three unanswered points to snatch victory. Delvin bounced back to defeat Ballycomoyle by 2-8 to 1-9 in their second outing. Ballycomoyle held a slender 0-5 to 0-4 lead at the interval, but second half goals from Niall Williams and John Cogan saw the team in maroon and white prevail. Another narrow defeat followed against Loughnavalley. Delvin trailed by 1-3 to 1-4 at the break and fell further behind when Loughnavalley goaled shortly after the resumption. But two points from Daniel Clune and a goal from Niall Farrelly gave Delvin a two-point advantage entering the final quarter. However, just as Multy had done in the first round game, Loughnavalley scored the last three points to consign Delvin to another one-point reversal, 2-8 to 2-9. Delvin's final two games were always going to be the most difficult and so it proved as they slumped to heavy defeats to eventual finalists St. Joseph's and St. Paul's. Their Junior Cup interests were ended by St. Paul's, while they had to settle for third place in Division 7 of the All-County League after suffering defeats to Tang and Milltown. At juvenile level, Delvin will field in all grades except minor in 2005. O'Brien is pleased with how things are going and is fulsome in praise of juvenile secretary John Gaffney in particular. "John is one of a number of people who are doing tremendous work with the young players. There is such a demand on our pitch between hurling, football and camogie that you nearly have to book a time to train there. It's a great way to have things," he says. Looking to the coming season, O'Brien will be disappointed if Delvin don't win at least three matches in the junior championship. "Our aim is to win three games and qualify for the quarter-final. We are making steady progress and we know that success won't happen overnight. But I think we are at the stage now where we should be looking to reach the knock-out stages at the very least," he concludes. Tweet

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