Once again, Lacken have shown that as a club they have indeed mastered the accomplishment of being complete all rounders. While the senior team made progress in the league, the ladies camogie side captured a coveted three-in-a-row double of league and championship titles to put them among the elite groups of Cavan camogie while the senior ladies narrowly lost out in the Division 1 football final. There was also success at underage level and the emerging hurling club won the U12 league title. When you talk to the club chairman Padraig Mahon, you get a real feel of what football means to the people of the locality. Padraig who 'in a previous life' spent sixteen years as chairman, is now back in the 'hot seat' having resumed his stewardship as chairman in 2008 and is presently set to take the club into the 2009 season. Always forthright in his speech, Padraig does not hedge away from his hopes and aspirations for the team in 2009. Lacken, who commenced the 2008 season under the stewardship of former Cavan Gaels boss Joe O'Connor, got off to a great start to their league campaign. A strong early showing in the league ensured that relegation would not be problem for Lacken. This encouraging league start augured well for the championship but cruel luck in the draw saw them face county kingpins, Cavan Gaels, in the first round. The final scoreline gave the Gaels' a seven point victory it fails to show the spirited performance put in by the team on the day. Lacken's spirit challenged the might of the town side but eventually found themselves under pressure as the champions managed to pick off some good long range scores. A number of good chances early in the second half were not taken and this allowed the Gaels get into their stride. This first round championship defeat doomed Lacken to the relegation play-offs. Here they met Belturbet in the first game of the relegation battle and were convincing winners. This victory ensured that they were safe from the relegation drop but the performance in the next championship game saw them lose out to Ramor. "We did not do ourselves justice on the day but I have no doubt that this defeat will help us gather valuable experience for the coming campaigns ahead," says Padraig. "Having exited from the championship the team showed great character as we recommenced our league campaign. At the leagues end, we had finished in third place. With Ballinagh having lost out through suspension, a number of teams were gifted two points, a factor which I think probably militated against Lacken in their quest to get to a league final. Having said that I have no doubt that our aim for the coming season will be to get to a league final and hopefully make it to a semi-final of the championship. "While we have some players who are probably nearing the end of their careers we have a crop of young players who are now coming into their peak in their mid 20s. We won the U21 title some three years ago so these same players should now be the ones leading the charge for senior honours. We have some very talented young players and in Raymond Galligan, who is presently captain of his college team, Athlone IT, we have an exceptional talent. Other players who fit easily into this category are the Moynagh brothers, Phil and James, our young fullback, Johnny Sheridan, cousins, Kevin and Michael Shanaghy, Padraig Sorohan and Shane Sheridan, two talented goalkeepers. We also have some very experienced 'old' players in the squad who have been around for a number of years and we also have our inspirational veteran players who have over many season contributed enormously to the cause of Lacken," stated Padraig. New manager Just after serving one year team manager Joe O'Connor stepped down to make way for a new man at the helm. Joe who has done wonderful work over the year has committed himself to work with the new county team manager, Tommy Carr as an outside observer. His decision left a void that needed to be filled quickly and with this purpose in mind the club have stepped in and secured the services of former Leitrim boss, Declan Rowley. Declan, has tasted championship success with Abbeylara in Longford winning the senior championship before moving on to the county scene. He also worked with Luke Dempsey as his right-hand man with the senior Longford team and has worked with a number of clubs over the past few years. "He certainly has the credentials to help bring on Lacken. Lacken will be hoping that with this high powered management structure in place that the players will respond and give a commitment which will allow their talents to be fully utilized and hopefully see them make an impact on the senior stage. With the great league run in 2008 the players must have confidence to take this to another level. Having won the U21 title just a few years ago, the pedigree is there so 2009 could be the year that will see Lacken shake up the pecking order of Cavan football," staed the club chairman. Camogie A convincing victory over Ballinagh - Laragh in the senior camogie championship gave this Lacken side the credit it deserved and their own piece of history making it a three-in-a-row championship run. The strength of the Lacken camogie club has grown apace over the past few years but it is this victory more than anything else that will catapult them into the realm of kingpins of Cavan camogie. The magical three-in-a-row is proof positive of a side that has earmarked itself as one of the great clubs of Cavan camogie and there is no doubt that this group of players will be seeking to increase this run of championship wins. The final scoreline of Lacken 2-11 Ballinagh - Laragh 0-3 tells its own story. While the first half of this final was closely fought with Lacken holding a slender one goal lead 1-2 to 0-2 at the interval, there was little doubt left in any of the spectators minds as to the outcome of this final as Lacken set the scene ablaze with a blistering start to the second-half. Lacken: Marie Brady, Sinead Brady, Maria Murphy, Fiona Crowe, Lisa Bennet, Karen Fitzpatrick, Bernie Briody, Rosie Crowe, Lisa Magarahan, Niamh Brady, Marie Brady, Linda Crowe, Miranda McIntyre, Roisin O'Keeffe, Susan Mulligan. Subs: Catriona Leddy, Catherine Magarahan, Aoife Brady, Amy Sheridan, Laura Briody, Nora Moore, Emer Smith, Mary Moore, Brenda Goldrick, Rose Brady, Edel Keany, Rosie Mulligan. Consistency is the key factor for the Lacken senior camogie ladies as they stamped their authority on Cavan camogie with a well earned victory over great rivals and former kingpins, Castletara in this senior league final. The final tally of 1-13 to 1-4 saw Lacken add a three-in-a-row of senior league crowns to their already amassed three-in-a-row championship titles which they claimed earlier in the summer of 2008. As the old rivals confronted each other in this league decider, it was always going to be a tough and closely fought tie with Lacken showing why they are presently the cream of the crop with a burst of high octane camogie over the final twenty minutes, finally put an end to any hopes Castletara had of victory. Lacken who were defending their Ulster Intermediate camogie crown saw their title slip away against a talented Derry side, Kilrea in this entertaining quarter-final at Crow Park, Lacken. The final scoreline of Lacken 3-5 Kilrea 1-15 gave the Derry champions a four point victory. This high tempo game certainly provided the large crowd with lots to cheer about as the game as a contest was evenly balanced up to the final whistle. Two converted 45 metre frees as the clock ran down gave the Derry champions the necessary daylight to survive this encounter. Lacken had to concede defeat to 'old rivals' Castletara in an exciting U14 Division 1 final held at Annalee Park, Ballyhaise. The final scoreline 6-3 to 5-3 tells the story of this exciting and nail biting encounter. No doubt this Lacken side will be looking for revenge in the coming season. Ladies football In this Division 1 ladies football final, Lacken saw their championship crown slip from their grasp as Lurgan edged them out in this closely fought senior final on a scoreline of Lurgan 1-12 to Lacken Celtic's 0-13. Played in Terry Coyle Park on a beautiful summer's evening, it looked like Lacken had this game in the bag as they held a six point lead with just over fifteen minutes remaining. However, a goal with just fifteen minutes remaining seem to ignite the Lurgan girls who clawed their way back from 6 points to level matters. Once again it was Lurgan's goalkeeper, Claire Foley came to the rescue with a superb match winning save which inspired her team mates to a renewed effort and with a flurry of scores took the lead at a crucial stage with time running out. Lacken: Rachel Galligan, Ann Marie Moynagh, Joanne Moore, Shona King, Miranda McIntyre, Niamh McInerney, Lisa Urbanski, Josephine Maguire, Rosie Crowe, Debbie Lee Fox, Eireann Galligan, Annie Lynch, Roisin O'Keeffe, Catriona Leddy, Kelly Donohoe. Underage football Lacken Celtic has invested heavily with their time and resources to help develop a winning ethos at underage level. This great work has been duly rewarded in 2008 with some great wins at U12, 16 and at Cumann na mBunscol. This dedicated investment at juvenile level which is being put in by all the coaches was handsomely rewarded with the U12's winning the Roinn B final with a well deserved win over a talented Killygarry side. Further proof of the great work being done at this level was evident when the U16s came out victorious in the Mullagh Pharmacy Division 3 league final when they defeated Shannon Gaels at Rory O'Moore Park, Belturbet. Lacken also added the Division 5 title of Cumann na mBunscol to their list of victories when they overcame Greaghgrahan with a comprehensive winning scoreline of 3-15 to 2-6. The club's had a convincing win over Mountnugent by 2-11 to 1-9 in the Division 3 final. A powered packed first half display set the seal on this victory as Lacken powered to a half time lead of 1-8 to 0-3. A more spirited effort from the losers helped to ignite this second-half but for all their endeavour, Mountnugent did not look like overturning the Lacken lead. With time running out it was Lacken who had the final say with a goal from full-forward, Fergal Brady. This was a concerted team effort and with all players playing their part in this victory. Coached by senior player, Finbar Reilly, Lacken looked the more composed and their man of the match Niall McKiernan was all inspiring. Lacken: Padraig Sorohan, Peter Moore, Shane Finnegan, Karl Reilly, Declan Brady, Daniel Shanaghy, Stephen Brady, Niall McKiernan, Conor Finnegan, Liam Hyland, Eoghan Donohoe, Fergal Brady, Thomas Brady. Subs: Damien McKiernan. Fledgling hurling club Belief and dedication could be attributed to this great victory for the fledging Lacken hurling club as their U14s grabbed the league title with a well merited victory over Cootehill Celtic at Crowe Park, Lacken. The final scoreline of Lacken Celtic 4-4 Cootehill Celtic 2-3 describes the closeness of this contest. Cootehill got off to the better start with a three point lead. Stubborn resistance from the home side was rewarded when Karl Clerkin crashed the ball to the back of the Cootehill net to level matters. Just as Lacken seemed to have stemmed the Cootehill tide, they were rocked minutes later with a Cootehill goal. The game as a contest was proving to be a rip-roaring affair and Lacken once again showed great resilience from this setback to score a well taken goal from Shane Moynagh. Points from Eimear Brady and Paul Leddy had put the homeside into the lead for the first time in this game. Now on top of their game Lacken hit the back of the Cootehill net for two superbly taken goals from Eimear Brady and Paul Leddy just on the stroke of half time. Lacken now had a commanding half-time lead of 4-2 to 1-3 as the game restarted for the second-half. While a spirited second half performance from Cootehill was evident, it was not enough to wrestle the destination of this title from the young Lacken hurlers. Lacken: Desmond Martin, Gary Cronin, Laura Briody, Siobhan Donohoe, Killian Galligan, Karl Clerkin (1-0), Laura Leddy, Stephen Daly, Eimear Brady (1-3), Padraig Donohoe, Paul Leddy (1-1), Shane Moynagh (1-0). Subs: Linda Murtagh, Fiona Brady. Tribute Chairman Padraig Mahon said "while a lot of great work has been done and is presently ongoing by many great people at the club, there are two men; I feel that help to epitomize what this club is all about. Their consistent, dedicated service to the Lacken cause, through thick and thin is indeed commendable. In both Pat Smith and Sean Delaney we have two great dedicated servants of Lacken football club. Looking after jerseys, marking pitches, ensuring players and selectors have a cup of tea after training and hot showers is something that these two men have done quietly in the background for years," stated the club chairman. Tweet

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