Rather fittingly, Ringtown celebrated their centenary year with a return to the senior ranks. Here, we review the club's intermediate hurling championship success. Ringtown's centenary celebrations took on an added meaning on November 3 last when the club returned to the ranks of senior hurling by virtue of a 0-9 to 0-3 victory over Crookedwood in the intermediate championship final replay. Supporters couldn't have asked for a better ending to the year, although the subsequent passing of club stalwart Paddy Maxwell overshadowed the success somewhat. Ringtown were clearly a team that meant business in 2002, not just because it was their centenary year, but because they also had a point to prove after succumbing rather tamely to St. Oliver Plunkett's in the previous year's championship decider. To mark their centenary, Ringtown opened their magnificent new facilities in Whitehall and also published an excellent club history. But the year would not have been complete without the intermediate championship triumph. Ringtown were installed as championship favourites at the outset of the year, but a shock 3-6 to 5-8 defeat to Delvin in their opening game on May 26 suggested that they may struggle to live up to expectations. However, a 1-12 to 1-9 victory over Lough Lene Gaels in their second outing set them on the road to glory. Ringtown's biggest win of the campaign came at the expense of St. Brigid's on July 26. The outcome was never in doubt with Noel Boyce's charges running out 2-20 to 2-6 winners. Turin, a team Ringtown would meet again before the year was out, were next to fall on a 3-10 to 0-7 scoreline. Ringtown chalked up their fourth successive victory on August 25 when they overcame Crookedwood by 2-8 to 0-10 in a dress-rehearsal of the final. The side in the famed green and gold stripes laid the foundations for their win in the first half when goals from Adrian Moran and Colin Murphy helped them to a 2-6 to 0-3 lead at the break. Crookedwood were the better team in the second half, but never looked like making up the deficit. Qualification for the semi-final was assured courtesy of a 2-12 to 2-9 victory over Southern Gaels at Robinstown on September 1. Ringtown led by 0-8 to 0-5 at half-time and when Colin Murphy blasted to the net early in the second half, the margin was six points. Southern Gaels brought themselves back into contention with a well-taken goal, but a similar score from Martin Burke handed the initiative back to Ringtown. The Athlone side scored a second goal with seven minutes remaining, but Ringtown held on for victory. In the semi-final, Ringtown renewed acquaintances with a resurgent Turin side. Bernie Aughey opened the scoring with a point for Turin, but two goals in the space of four minutes from Colin Murphy put the Whitehall outfit firmly in the driving seat. Vincent Bateman, Padraig Fanning and Adrian Moran followed up with points before Dermot Cafferty scored a third goal to give Ringtown a commanding 3-5 to 0-5 lead at the interval. Noel Boyce's side took another step towards victory on the restart when Murphy grabbed his third goal. Two further points from Bateman left the score at 4-7 to 0-6 and there appeared to be no way back for Turin. To their credit, Turin refused to throw in the towel and a brace of goals from Nigel Cully gave them hope. However, Ringtown's lead never came under serious threat and they were full value for their 4-10 to 2-8 win. Ringtown were pitted against neighbours Crookedwood in the final on October 13 at Cusack Park. It was a huge occasion for both clubs, especially Crookedwood who were appearing on this stage for the first time. After Adrian Moran and Frank Brennan had exchanged early points, Ringtown surged into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead thanks to minors from Moran (two) and Padraig Fanning. Full forward Moran then rifled the ball to the roof of the Crookedwood net and the situation would have been a lot bleaker for the first-time finalists had Martin Cunningham not had a goal disallowed moments later. Aidan Bardon, John Orme and Conor Duffy responded with points for the 'Wood, but further scores from Martin Burke and Moran ensured Ringtown of a 1-6 to 0-5 lead at the break. Ringtown increased their advantage to six points, 1-8 to 0-5, on the restart after Burke and Vincent Bateman had both found the target. Then came the score that Crookedwood had so desperately needed when Thomas Casserly blasted to the net. Minutes later, Casserly brought the underdogs onto level terms with his second goal. A brace of frees from Bateman edged Ringtown 1-10 to 2-5 ahead before a John Orme point and another Casserly goal gave Crookedwood an unlikely lead as the game ticked into injury-time. The late drama continued when Martin Cunningham goaled for Ringtown to edge them back in front. But, with virtually the last puck of the game, Orme held his nerve to slot over a '65' and earn the 'Wood a second chance. The final score was Ringtown 2-10, Crookedwood 3-7. The replay, which took place three weeks later, never reached the same heights as the drawn encounter, but Ringtown supporters weren't complaining after their side emerged as comfortable 0-9 to 0-3 winners. In what was a disappointing spectacle which wasn't helped by the heavy underfoot conditions, Ringtown enjoyed dominance in most sectors with Martin Craig rock solid at full back, Shane McDonnell prominent at centre back and Vincent Bateman producing a man of the match performance at midfield. Team captain Bateman provided much of the inspiration and crowned an outstanding display with four excellent points, including a strike not unlike DJ Carey's All-Ireland final gem in the second half. While the forwards failed to sparkle, Martin Burke contributed two points and veteran Tommy Cunningham also played his part in Ringtown's first intermediate success since 1997. Injury prevented Adrian Moran from starting the game, but he entered the fray with 20 minutes remaining and hit over a good point. The first half never rose above the ordinary with Ringtown holding a slender 0-3 to 0-2 lead at the break. Within three minutes of the restart, however, Ringtown had scored as much as they did in the opening 30 minutes with Bateman, Tommy Cunningham and Burke all registering minors. When Gerard Goldrick added a fourth point in the 11th minute, one could sense that the game was slipping from Crookedwood. In fact, a further 12 minutes had elapsed before John Orme managed their only score of the second period. Bateman sealed victory for Ringtown with a late point, although the outcome would have been settled sooner had the county star not been off target from a penalty midway through the half. Not to be outdone, the Ringtown under 14 team also brought silverware to the club when they defeated Raharney by 4-3 to 0-5 in the 'A' championship final on September 7. Remarkably, the final was the team's third championship outing in six days, with a replay needed to separate them and Lough Lene Gaels in the semi-final. Raharney led by 0-3 to 0-1 at the interval, but with a stiff breeze behind them in the second half, Ringtown took control to run out convincing winners. Ringtown had many heroes, none more so than Niall Kilcoyne who accounted for all but two points of their final tally. The Ringtown team which regained the intermediate championship after a five-year lapse was: Pat Burke; Tossy Brady, Martin Craig, Derek Cheevers; Keith Melia, Shane McDonnell, Jonathan Hardiman; Vincent Bateman, Gerard Goldrick; Christy Fanning, Martin Cunningham, Padraig Fanning; Martin Burke, Tommy Cunningham, Colin Murphy. Subs used: Adrian Moran, Anthony Nea, Derek Cafferty and JP Creggy. The Ringtown team which won the under 14 'A' championship was: Darren Kilcoyne; Feidhim Burke, Shane Brophy, Damien Moran; Jason Coffey, Eanna Doolin, John Davis; John Boyhan, Geoffrey Nea; Shane Boyce, Niall Kilcoyne, Colin Murtagh; Christopher Thompson, Ronan Geoghegan, Ciaran Dunleavy. Subs used: Stephen Sullivan and James Boylan. Tweet

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