At U-14 level, the Cavan Gaels club had their best season in league competition for some years. They remained unbeaten in the league series with excellent wins over Crosserlough, Bailieboro' Shamrocks, Castlerahan, Kingscourt Stars and the holders of the title, Lurgan. By topping the league they booked their semi-final place with the side showing excellent consistency throughout. They were paired in the semi-final against the reigning champions, Lurgan at the Plunkett Park, Kilnaleck venue. In a game that was expected to be close, the Gaels after a promising start 'lost their way' in the last twenty minutes of the opening half. Despite a gallant second-half display, Lurgan went through to the final and a meeting later in the season against Bailieborough Shamrocks. A campaign which started so promisingly for Sean Higgins and his Cavan Gaels teammates ended in defeat, but the progress they made over the season should stand them in good stead when these players go onto U-16 and minor levels in the seasons ahead. U-14 Championship After starting the U-14 championship with a facile victory over Crosserlough at Terry Coyle Park, Cavan the Gaels were back in another semi-final, and hoping to make amends for their league semi-final defeat. Their opponents in the championship semi-final were their old rivals, Bailieborough Shamrocks and a close encounter was forecast. Once again, Cavan Gaels started this match promisingly and were well worth their three points lead after ten minutes play. Then the Shamrocks came more into the match and when they got through for a number of goals the confidence in the side improved immeasurably. It seemed an uphill battle for the Gaels side at the restart when they trailed by ten points to what looked a superior opposition. However, to their credit they 'never threw in the towel' and in a tremendous second-half display reduced the leeway to three with minutes remaining. In the end they were hit by a counter-attack by the Shamrocks who held out for a thrilling win in a game that was a credit to both sides and their mentors. Bailieborough Shamrocks went on to the final and a meeting with Lurgan. However, unlike the league decider, the Lurgan side were at full-strength and went on to record a deserved win. Feile na Nog competition Ramor Park, Virginia was the venue for the County Feile na nOg Finals in 2002. The event was well organised, and the games were played in excellent playing facilities in one of the hottest days of the year. Also the standard of football was of the highest calibre with all competing teams giving of their best on the day. Seven teams competed in the competition with the Cavan Gaels in the toughest group along with Lurgan, Mullahoran and Bailieborough who all reached the semi-finals of the U-14 Roinn A League. Once again the Gaels started the competition off in excellent fashion with hard-earned wins over Lurgan and Mullahoran, and despite this they still had to win their remaining game to be sure of a place in the semi-final stages of the competition. This they did in excellent fashion ending Bailieboro' Shamrocks interest in the competition for another season. In the semi-final directly after the Bailieborough game they were pitted against Castlerahan, and on form were expected to qualify for the final. However, it proved a game too much on such a hot day for the Cavan Gaels side as they went down in dramatic fashion to a Castlerahan side who hung in and finished strongly for an upset result. Lurgan won the other semi-final against Cootehill, and in the final were winners over a gallant Castlerahan side who failed to reproduce their semi-final heroics on this occasion. For the Cavan Gaels players it has been a frustrating season. Beaten in three semi-finals, and in two of them they were clearly the better side. Hopefully, they will have learned from these disappointments and will make the breakthrough at U-16 and minor levels in the years ahead. They have the talent there is no doubt, but until they make the breakthrough we won't know their true potential. Over the past number of seasons this group of players have been guided by P. J. Carroll and Martin Dunne who have spent endless hours in the training field, and have seen them make excellent progress against keen opposition. The rewards have not come yet, but if they stick to their task maybe their luck will change in the future! Under-16 campaign The Cavan Gaels side competed in Division One of the U-16 League but just failed to qualify for the semi-final stages having won one game and drawn two. Their final game where they only needed a draw to qualify was controversially abandoned, and so ended a league season that had much promise. There was no joy in the championship either for the Gaels side, when losing narrowly to a strong Crosserlough team. This is a team that has shown great improvement over the past two seasons by the fact that many of the players were ever-present on the successful minor championship winning team. Interestingly, three members of the team featured prominently on the successful St. Patrick's College, Cavan Rannafast team - including the Rannafast team-captain John Reilly, Thomas Kenny and Joe Dunne. Congratulations to all three, and in particular to John Reilly who was the winning captain - a great honour for this talented young player and his club. Huge contribution by J. J. Reilly ONE of the chief motivators for the Cavan Gaels under-age football successes not alone last season, but over the past 15 years or more, is J. J. Reilly. Eldest of the five Reilly brothers, all who played such a prominent role in the clubs senior successes in the late 'seventies on the field of play. Two of the brothers captained Cavan senior championship winning sides during that period - Hauley (Michael) and of course, J. J. and they were the backbone of the town side right into the 'eighties. When he finished playing and coming to the end of his illustrious playing career, J. J. became deeply involved in under-age coaching, and was one of the main instigators of the regular Saturday morning training and coaching sessions in Terry Coyle Park, Cavan - home of Cavan Gaels G.F.C. - when upwards of over 100 youngsters would be put through their drills by the clubs coaches. J. J. was to the forefront of these coaching sessions, and even to the present day he is an ever-present at them. He has been instrumental in many of the present senior club team making the breakthrough from U-10 right to senior ranks, with a number of these playing going on to prominence with the Cavan county senior side over the past few years. A great believer in under-age coaching, J. J.'s input into the Cavan Gaels club at all levels down the years has been immense, and he got great satisfaction last season (2002), when he coached the clubs U-12 and U-13 sides to county title successes. He knows that it is important for a club to have a strong under-age base, especially when competing with other sports in a town area. Other clubs throughout the county have followed the Cavan Gaels example regarding underage coaching, and now this coaching is very much the norm with all clubs - urban and rural throughout the Breffni county. J. J. Reilly has contributed so much to the Cavan Gaels club as player, official and especially as an under-age coach. You could say that he has laid the foundation for many successful teams in the club over the past ten years or more, and still his dedication and commitment hasn't waned. People like him are very special, and deserve all the accolades they receive in an area in a club which is very often taken for granted. The coaching skills that were imparted in the early 'sixties by Brother Cyril of the De La Salle Brothers, have been continued on to the present day by men like J. J. Reilly. Cavan Gaels and Cavan football in general owe a lot to the unselfish dedication and commitment of people like J. J. Reilly and long may this continue... Tweet

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