Coralstown/Kinnegad's feat in capturing the Feis Cup, under 21 'B' and under 16 'B' championships as well as an under 14 league title was a source of great encouragement for club chairman Joe Bracken. While senior championship honours may have eluded them, Coralstown/Kinnegad could still reflect on a year which saw success achieved in four different grades. The months of November and December proved to be hugely successful for the Meath-border club with the Feis Cup, under 21'B' championship, under 16 'B' championship and under 14 league crowns being captured within a matter of weeks of one another. Club chairman Joe Bracken reckons it was Coralstown/Kinnegad's most successful year since they last claimed the Flanagan Cup in 1996. "The successes were a huge boost to the club," he enthuses. "Our heads were probably down a bit after we lost the senior championship semi-final to Athlone, but they were up again by the end of the year. What was especially encouraging about the Feis Cup win was the fact that the team was so young. A lot of them were also involved in the under 21 success and that has to bode well for the future." The Feis Cup success was particularly sweet given that county champions and arch-rivals The Downs were Coralstown/Kinnegad's victims in the final. The sides finished on level terms after 60 minutes, but Coralstown/Kinnegad upped the ante in extra-time to emerge as 1-10 to 0-8 winners. Under the management of Eamonn Mooney and his co-selectors Mick Fox, Joe Giles and Mattie Mulligan, Coralstown/Kinnegad had defeated holders St. Loman's and Tubberclair before squaring up to The Downs in the decider. There was drama inside the opening minute when Gordon McDonnell was brought down for a penalty. However, David Flynn drove the spot-kick wide, much to the relief of The Downs who were playing on their home patch. David Leonard eventually opened the scoring for Coralstown/Kinnegad before a 50 metres free from Eamonn Fleming doubled their lead. The Downs fought back to restore parity before Enda McDonnell edged the visitors back in front. But The Downs replied with another brace of unanswered points to take a 0-4 to 0-3 lead into the interval. The signs looked ominous for Coralstown/Kinnegad when The Downs stretched their advantage to 0-6 to 0-3 early in the second half. But a fisted goal by David Leonard brought the red and whites back onto level terms. Barry Conroy and Eamonn Fleming then exchanged points before Tommy Cleary edged the home side back in front. However, a late Fleming free forced extra-time. Having had a longer involvement in the championship, The Downs were expected to show greater staying power in extra-time, but it was Coralstown/Kinnegad who looked the fitter side as they reeled off five unanswered points per Jack Cooney, Eamonn Fleming, John Fleming (two) and Fergal Dardis to clinch a memorable win. The success went some way towards atoning for the disappointment of losing to Athlone in the championship semi-final. Earlier, Coralstown/Kinnegad had beaten Tyrrellspass and Moate All-Whites and had also drawn with Athlone, Garrycastle and St. Loman's to qualify for the quarter-final where they defeated Tubberclair after a replay. With an unbeaten run behind them, Eamonn Mooney's charges fully expected to reach the final, but they were left with a mountain to climb after trailing by 0-4 to 1-7 at the interval. It didn't get any better for Coralstown/Kinnegad in the second half, with Athlone eventually running out 2-8 to 0-7 winners. "Most of the damage was done in the first 15 minutes," Bracken recalls. "We never really settled into the game and I suppose we weren't helped by an injury to Eamonn Fleming. Another factor which must be taken into consideration is that we were without Billy Cole who has been one of our best defenders over the past 10 years. He broke his leg in the game against Garrycastle and was a huge loss to us." A week prior to the Feis Cup final, Coralstown/Kinnegad's under 21 team - managed by senior players David Griffin, Eamonn Fleming and David Kilmartin - also needed extra-time to see off Tyrrellspass in the 'B' (13-a-side) championship decider. It could just as easily have been the 'premier' final Coralstown/Kinnegad were playing in, but for a heartbreaking extra-time defeat to St. Loman's in the semi-final. Few would have backed against the red and whites reaching the 'premier' final when they led by 1-5 to 0-2 at half-time. But Loman's refused to throw in the towel and after taking the tie into extra-time, they went on to secure a 0-13 to 1-8 victory. Coralstown/Kinnegad quickly put that disappointment behind them when they defeated 'premier' finalists Tubberclair in the 'B' championship semi-final to set up a meeting with Tyrrellspass at Rochfortbridge. In what proved to be an absorbing contest, the Meath-border outfit rode their luck on their way to a 0-12 to 0-11 victory. Inspired by powerful midfielder Niall Kilmartin, Coralstown/Kinnegad had built up a 0-7 to 0-2 lead by half-time. But Tyrrellspass produced a mighty second half effort to force the game into extra-time. A great point from Kilmartin ensured Coralstown/Kinnegad of a 0-11 to 0-10 lead at the end of the first period of extra-time and with both teams returning just a point apiece during the second 10 minutes, Coralstown/Kinnegad emerged with the spoils. "After coming so close in the under 21 'premier' championship, it was great to see that group of lads finishing the year with something to show for their efforts," says Bracken. "In the 'premier' championship, they beat Mullingar Shamrocks before losing to St. Loman's in heartbreaking circumstances. But they still had the hunger and the desire to come back and win the 'B' championship. "With the exception of David Kilmartin and Fergal Dardis who have since gone on to play senior for Westmeath, the rest of the team are eligible for the grade again this year. There could be a 'premier' championship in them this time around," the well-known publican adds. The under 16 'B' championship also brought joy for Coralstown/Kinnegad as did the under 14 league. The under 16 team was managed by Andy Murray, Mick Culligan and Packie Cole, while Gerry Foley, Syd Geoghegan and Anthony McCauley guided the fortunes of the under 14 side. The under 16 team emerged unbeaten from a section which included Ballycomoyle, The Downs, Milltownpass and Shandonagh before accounting for Ballynacargy and Bunbrosna/St. Fintan's/Multyfarnham in the divisional and county semi-finals respectively. In the county final, they powered to a 2-12 to 1-4 win over Rosemount at Tyrrellspass. Coralstown/Kinnegad led by just three points at the interval, and the margin was reduced further when Rosemount's Danny Fielding converted a penalty early in the second half. However, Coralstown/Kinnegad responded impressively with a flurry of points from Ger Culligan and AJ Murray establishing a 0-11 to 1-3 lead with 12 minutes remaining. Culligan and Ger Coleman added goals in the closing stages to add gloss to the scoreline. Another big year awaits Coralstown/Kinnegad both on and off the field as Bracken explains: "Obviously, the senior championship will be our main objective. After a few years in transition, I think we are now ready to challenge for the Flanagan Cup again. We weren't that far off the mark last year and with a bit of luck, we'll go closer this year. "We also hope to complete the first phase of our pitch redevelopment by the end of the summer. The three pitches are already seeded and the next step is to build four dressingrooms and a gym area. It's a slow process, but it'll be all worthwhile in the end." The Coralstown/Kinnegad team which won the Feis Cup was: Damien Molloy; Martin Fox, David Cole, David McNevin; Enda Leonard, David Kilmartin, Derek Griffin; Fergal Dardis, Niall Kilmartin; David Leonard, Jack Cooney, Gordon McDonnell; Emmett McDonnell, Eamonn Fleming, David Flynn. Subs used: Joe Giles and John Fleming. The under 21 'B' (13-a-side) championship winning side was: Damien Molloy; David Cole, David McNevin; Ronan Foley, Enda Leonard, Jason Lynch; Fergal Dardis, Niall Kilmartin; Jason Glennon, Mark Gorman, Gordon McDonnell; Jamie Wilson, Andrew Cannon. Subs used: Neil Cooney, Danny Mooney and Keith Mooney. The under 16 team which reaped 'B' championship honours was: Ger Kenny; Ronan Doyle, Thomas O'Brien, Brendan Kenny; Jonathan Hickey, Kevin Lonican, Bozzo Maguire; Ronan Foley, AJ Murray; Sean Murray, Stephen Cole, Gary Coleman; Killian Foley, Ger Culligan, Alan Giles. Subs used: Brendan Geraghty, David Holmes and Roy Goonery. Tweet

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