Losing out, after a replay, in the IFC semi-final to the champions-elect would have knocked the stuffing out of most teams. But not Cuchulainns. With great gusto, the Cross-Mullagh lads bounced back to win the ACFL Division Two title less than eight weeks later. Cuchulainns set their stall out from the very early part of the year with a 0-13 to 0-6 win over Lavey at Edwin Carolan Park, putting down a marker for the rest of the season. After an understandably tentative start Thomas Reilly opened Cuchulainns account with a free after five minutes and when the in-form Reilly then scored two good points from open play in quick succession, the writing was on the wall for the visitors. Lavey belatedly opened their account with a free but in the following five minutes, two points from play by Thomas Reilly and Gavin Daly extended Cuchulainns lead to four points. The free-flowing Cuchulainns attack impressed throughout and Seamus Clarke and Martin Callaghan both got in on the scoring act for Cuchulainns before Ciaran Galligan converted two more frees just before half time to leave Cuchulainns 0-7 to 0-4 in front. Cuchulainns had the bit between their teeth though and Martin Callaghan opened Cuchulainns account in the second-half with a good point from play before two Lavey frees gave the hosts a timely reminder of the task at hand. Thomas Reilly steadied Cuchulainns nerves with three well taken frees in the eight, thirteenth and twentieth minutes to leave the margin five points with ten minutes to go. A Seamus Clarke point after a good Cuchulainns move and another converted free from Thomas Reilly extended the lead. Lavey were shell-shocked and on the ropes but their opponents, like good champions, went for the jugular and duly hit the jackpot when Seamus Clarke was in the right place to fist a rebound to the net. Come the end of July it became increasingly obvious that Cuchulainns were the team to beat in the league in 2004. The champions-elect showed their consistency and their pedigree with a well merited win over would-be IFC finalists Drung at the Bunnoe venue. Both sides played fast and open football in a match played in excellent playing conditions. Every player played their part in a valuable away win. For instance, Colm Anderson's courageous save prevented the home side from opening the scoring within seconds of the throw-in. In a fast, open game, both sides moved the ball at pace but the visitors were particularly guilty of dropping the ball short into the goalkeeper's hands on a number of occasions. In addition, it took Cuchulainns 22 minutes to score through Thomas Reilly and when the same player pointed for them again in the 25th minute, Drung knew that they were going to be really upset against it. Just a few minutes later Seamus Clarke fisted point had the white and blues in the lead which they held for the remainder of the game. Then a long clearance from midfield was collected by Killian Lynch who pointed in front of the posts. Lynch was again back in the action when he was brought down in injury-time and Thomas Reilly slotted over to leave the visitors ahead at the interval by 0-5 to 0-2. Cuchulainns hadn't things their own way despite having the edge thereafter. In fact Drung found the net shortly after the restart to level matters. Cuchulainns proceeded to register consecutive wides before Gavin Daly's well worked point gave his side the lead once again. The impressive Seamus Clarke, Kilian Lynch and Shane Smith then pointed for the visitors to open up a four points lead, reflecting their domination at this stage of the game. Cuchulainns remained in the ascendant from there to the close of play despite a strong finish by Drung. Cuchulainns continued to show great cohesion and spirit with their excellent second half showing against Drung fairly reflective of their growing confidence and self-assuredness. That assuredness was manifest too in the decisive 1-13 to 1-6 victory over would-be IFC kingpins Lacken Celtic. Victory over the Celtics underlined Cuchulainns' potential and growing stature among their peers. By the end of October, the feeling in Cross-Mullagh was that their favourites could only throw away a place in the last four of the competition. And while they arguably drew the short straw in being pitted against Ballinagh in the semi-final of the league, nobody in any part of the county of Cavan was in doubt but that Cuchulainns had the grit and the toughness to give as good as they would get from the Saffrons, and a little more back besides. There was no sense of cockiness in the Cuchulainns camp though. It didn't matter that the team had amassed 22 points from thirteen league games, losing just two matches out of thirteen into the bargain, including a shock reverse to Cornafean. It did matter though that top scorer Thomas Reilly and impressive rookie attacker Killian Lynch were on fire. As things panned out, it was more a good all-round team display rather than star-studded performances from stand-out performers which served Cuchulainns best against their erstwhile conquerors. In a titanic struggle played in Lavey at the end of November, Cuchulainns beat the Saffrons by 1-14 to 1-8. The victory was sweet, well-deserved. Indeed, it probably saw Cuchulainns at their very best in 2004. The quality of the opposition defeated and the quality of their own play had Cuchulainns cock-a-hoop and rightly so. Sadly booking a place in the final came at a price. Thomas Reilly suffered an injury which was destined to keep him out of the final in mid-December against Swanlinbar. Swad were the dark horses of the league campaign and their shock defeat of Ballyhaise in their semi-final seemed to add a lot of fuel to the notion that their name was on the cup. The script didn't hold good though. Cuchulainns had still some of their best wine in stock and their power-packed display left the west Cavan side punch drunk on foot of a 1-8 to 1-9 defeat in Ballinagh. In capturing their first bit of silverware in eleven years, Cuchulainns were made to fight all the way to the finishing post. Indeed, it took a late, late point by Paul Tate to actually decide the issue in Cuchulainns' favour. Not since 1993 when they captured the Cavan Intermediate Championship had Cuchulainns tasted success at senior level. So the win over Swad was a joy to behold for all belonging to the club. How was it achieved? By a consistently good all-round team performance, superior fitness and intelligence use of the ball. Alan Callaghan got Cuchulainns off to a promising start when he landed a point in the opening minute. The Cross-Mullagh combination settled much quicker and when in-form Seamus Clarke fired over three points (two frees) it looked as if Swanlinbar were in for a torrid afternoon. However, the west Cavan side showed their mettle and Robbie Prior opened their account from a free. Midway through the half, Swanlinbar were rocked when Killian Lynch grabbed a goal to put Cuchulainns 1-4 to 0-1 in front. It looked as if Cuchulainns were going to dominate but Swanlinbar had other ideas. Once again Clarke was on hand when he landed a long-range free to increase Cuchulainns lead but Swanlinbar finished the half on top and fired over two frees just before the break to cut Cuchulainns' lead to five points, 1-5 to 0-3. Swanlinbar began the second half as they ended the first on the attack and were back in contention when Prior sent over three frees in the opening seven minutes. Alan Callaghan steadied the Cuchulainns nerves when he landed a free though as the game swung from one end of the field to the other in exciting fashion. Swad then had a purple patch which saw them bag a goal to put them 1-8 to 1-6 clear midway through the second half. However, it was Cuchulainns who finished the stronger and the accuracy of Seamus Clarke had them on level terms with two frees with five minutes remaining. The momentum was again with Cuchulainns and they held their nerve and took their opportunity when presented with it as Paul Tate kicked the winning score after taking a good pass from Alan Callaghan with three minutes remaining. And that was that, Cuchulainns' return to the winners' enclosure at senior level was complete. The Cuchulainns team, scorers and sub, that featured in the ACFL Division Two final victory over Swad was as follows: Colm Anderson; Adrian Tate, Barry Smith, Martin Quinn; Niall Lynch, Martin Lynch, Stephen Lynch; Paul Tate (0-1), Fergus O'Reilly; Seamus Clarke (0-6), Donal Daly, Gavin Daly; Alan Callaghan (0-2), Paul Tully, Killian Lynch (1-0). Sub - John Flanagan for M. Quinn. Tweet

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