As an emerging talent, Redhills left no-one in any doubt as to their intentions as the young guns from the border club cut through Division 2 with flair and a composure more associated with players of greater experience to gain promotion into the top flight of Cavan football. This composure is one of the reasons Fintan Reilly, the club's outstanding goalkeeper, feels will help them settle in their new home in Division 1 of Cavan senior football in 2009. When you look at Fintan's career with the club, you see that he is well placed to talk about the current crop of players at the club's disposal. Like all players on the squad, he has played all the grades and according to him, "is now one of the veteran players in the side". Still only 29, Fintan has been playing with the senior team for past fourteen years, making his senior debut as goalkeeper against Cornafean in the intermediate football league. "We have had a few good seasons over the past number of years, but the introduction of some of the club's younger players in the past two years, has helped propel us into the current position of Division 1. We had won the junior championship and junior league titles so the winning ethos was there. What we needed was that extra impetus to help us move up into Division 1. With the introduction of players of the calibre of Rory Dunne, Ciaran Smith, Oisin Moynagh, Garry Kelly, Mark Kelly, Joe Callan and Packie Leddy who now had a season of playing senior football under their belts, we were now a more compact unit with a great deal of flair. The 'old guns' who are still young men, like the West brothers, Alan Brady, Brendan Leddy, Rocky Reilly, Paddy Gumley, Mark Smith, James Smith and Adrian Fitzpatrick now have that extra 'something' that hopefully will see us compete with the best in the top flight," stated Fintan. "Over the previous four years we had gotten used to winning, having secured both the junior league and championship titles. We had gained promotion to Division 2 back in 2007 and held our own in our first year. The management team of Ollie Leddy, Owen McPhillips and Peter Reilly all played a magnificent part in helping us to get to the point we are at today. They decided that after four years to step down and make way for a new manager. Their contribution will long be remembered at Redhills GFC. We acquired the services of Fermanagh man, Micky Cadden from St. Pat's, Donagh. His choice of selectors of Mickey Reilly, chairman of the club, and Bernard Rudden along with kit man, Kevin Smith proved to be a winning combination. Mickey continued where the previous management team left off and we began from the beginning of his tenure to focus on winning both promotion and the Intermediate football championship," stated Fintan. "From the start of the league we had felt that we had the players to secure both the league and championship titles. However, we were also wise enough to know that to do this we would need not just a little luck but also would have to work extremely hard and show a fortitude that is needed to make you champions. Our league run saw us amass a total of twenty two points which saw us gain promotion. The end result does not reveal the entire picture as throughout that league run we only lost one game and drew two. This showed a great deal of consistency as many of the teams in Division 2 feel that they are capable of beating each other on any given day. With only two top teams gaining promotion, the race for the top spots was intense as Ramor United and Drumgoon were also in shake-up. A real test of our character came the Saturday after we had won the Intermediate championship when we took on league leaders, Drumgoon at Redhills. Many felt that this was one test we would have difficulty overcoming and possibly lose out in the promotion race. In a very tight and evenly contested game, we showed great character and fighting spirit and deservedly edged the result. It took a special piece of magic from Rocky Reilly who showed why he is such an essential influence with the team when he fired home a superb goal to put us into pole position. Drumgoon put a lot of pressure on us in the final five minutes but some great defending and a resolute character saw us win what I thought was a defining moment for the team" stated the Redhills goalkeeper. With that victory the club virtually ensured our place in Division 1 and so could set their sights on the Ulster Intermediate Club Championship. They were crowned champions with 0-14 to 1-8 victory over our neighbours, Ballyhaise. "This was a game, I felt, that showed what we really were made of. Prior to the final, we had lost the services of one of our most exciting young players, Oisin Moynagh, who many felt had been harshly treated as he was suspended for an incident that took place during a U21 championship game just prior to the final. The loss of Oisin was a great blow to the club, but showing maturity beyond his years, he addressed the team and made it clear that it was the team that counted and that his omission should be a driving force to help them on to win the title. We started badly in the final and were down 1-1 just after four minutes. Ballyhaise were on top but we had been winning all season in both league and championship and did not panic as a result. Gradually, our midfield pairing of Rory Dunne and Brendan Leddy began to exert total dominance and this was to prove to be our platform for victory. With a generous supply of the ball, we saw some great scores being registered and with young Packie Leddy in superb form it looked like we were on our way to securing the championship crown. Credit to Ballyhaise, they never gave up, and had some great opportunities to put this game into a nerve tangling finish. However, it was the greater finishing quality of the Redhills forwards that was to prove to be the real difference in this final," stated Fintan. "We now had the prospect of playing the Division 2 league final a week before we took on Tyrone side, Trillick in the Ulster club Intermediate club championship semi-final. We played Ramor United for the league in Lacken in conditions that could only be described as monsoon. With driving wind and rain and poor visibility it was always going to be down to a piece of luck as who would be the eventual winners in this final. Unfortunately it fell to Ramor and as they say the rest is history." It may not have been the greatest way to approach the Ulster semi-final but resilience is something that Redhills had shown throughout our long season. The hang-over from the league final saw them get off to a sluggish start which in the end was to prove to be their downfall. In the opening eight minutes, Trillick registered a staggering 2-1 and looked set to run away with the tie. It was not to be the case as Redhills, came back in sterling fashion but to no avail as the Tyrone champions held on for a 2-11 to 0-11 victory. "We played some great football on the day and showed that we can mix it with any company," said Fintan. "With the 2008 season now history we have to look towards 2009 and our new home in Division 1. This will indeed be a stern test of not only our character but temperament. As new arrivals in the topflight, it will be important to get off to a good start. If you look at the senior league over the past number of years, ten to eleven points should secure you in the division. I feel that we have the players to do this. With the average age of the side around the 21 year mark and most of our players at third level education we should be able to avoid the ravages of the credit crunch with players leaving the country seeking employment. Unfortunately, we have lost one of our most charismatic and talented players in Ciaran West, who has taken time out to travel to Australia. Ciaran's loss will be balanced with the emergency of some very fine young players from the minor squad who will be coming on stream during the course of the year. One young player in particular, Turlough Mooney, looks set to have a say in composition of the team in the coming season. Regardless of what talent that is at our disposal, we know that our first year in Division 1 will be tough. The panel is eager for the challenge and has taken it as their mantra that they want to play at this level and win. To this end we have spent the winter months doing gym work to help build up some of the younger players for the test that lies ahead. "We have seen clubs like Ballinagh and Lavey hold their own at this level and we feel that we too can do the same. When you look at the panel of 25 players at our disposal, we have been blessed with so many players who have natural talent. This, I feel will be of tremendous importance playing at the higher level where you will be allowed to express your talents more. "The grind in Division 2 is tough but a valuable training ground for any young player as he learns to deal with games that are tight and demanding. So our elevation to the premier status should allow our younger players express their talents. A good start to the league will be very important in helping us settle down. A good run in the league should set us up for a confident run in the senior football championship," said Fintan. "We have talked about the team and the team management but a club is much more than one squad of players, comprising both first and second teams. We have wonderful people working and winning at underage level over the past number of years and again this year with our U14 side winning the Roinn D championship when they emphatically overcame Drumlane by thirteen points, 2-14 to 1-4." This underage coaching system of excellence has produced some of the club's best senior players and is a continuous conveyor of young talent. They also have an excellent camogie club with victories at both U16 and in the Allianz Cumann na mBunscol where they won the Division 2 title overcoming Crubany by 3-2 to 1-0. The club is skilfully guided by an excellent executive committee. Long serving chairman, Mickey 'The Pound' Reilly has thrown his massive energy behind all facets of the club and these victories over the past number of years also belong to him. Joint treasurers of Mark Smith and Philip Maguire work selflessly while PRO Frank Smith has proven to be a great find. Secretary, Geraldine West, is without doubt, what Redhills is all about. A truly committed Redhills person, Geraldine never shuns any duty and is always available for any task asked of her. She is a permanent fixture around the club and her enthusiasm is both infectious and inspiring. "I know that all the players appreciate her tremendous work and would like to express their gratitude for her passionate involvement throughout the year. Now we have gained promotion we must firmly set our sights on the bigger prize and set our talents against the formidable tasks ahead, which I have no doubt we as a team can face and overcome," stated a proud Fintan Reilly. Tweet

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