It is difficult to mention Crosserlough football club without recalling their magnificent, seven in a row, S.F.C. successes back in the mid sixties to the early seventies. To the present crop of players who don the famous 'Black and Amber', it is of little value as they are annually pitted against the exploits and glories of former players and teams. While this is an inevitable inheritance of such a rich history, the only way to overcome the constant 'reminder' is to achieve your own personal glory. This Crosserlough have been trying to do now for the past twenty years and while success may have come their way during that golden era, tradition and pride has still focussed them on to strive for their own achievements. The season of 2005 was to prove to be one of difficulty for Crosserlough with an unprecedented exodus of players who took time out and emigrated to Australia and America respectively. With such a haemorrhage of talent, most clubs would have been forced to pack up and close shop but not Crosserlough. The spirit that captured the seven in a row was evident as all at the club set about trying to redress this imbalance. According to the their affable PRO, Andrew Galligan: "With such a loss of players we always felt that the season ahead would be difficult. We had acquired the services of a new team manager, Ciaran O'Reilly, and were determined to make the best of our situation. We had a poor start, as the loss of so many players seem to take its toll. We entered competition in the South Ulster league and lost all our games. However, with a little bit of confidence regained under our new team manager, things began to look up as we commenced our season in the ACFL Division 1. Our first six games proved to be a fairytale, we won five and drew one. However, it all ended there. The enthusiasm and drive we had found was not enough to compensate for the loss of so many of our senior players, and we failed to register a win in the competition for the remainder of the year. Our early season form, was enough to see us gain a mid-table spot and with a bit of luck, if we had won a further game or two, could have made it to the semi-final of the league. "The senior championship was always going to be a difficult task but the group which we were in was to prove even more treacherous. Known as the 'group of death', we were pitted against county champions, Cavan Gaels, Drumgoon and Lacken. While we would have had hopes against both Drumgoon and Lacken the opening game against the county champions, Cavan Gaels, was going to be a defining one. We played with great spirit and commitment but just failed to get a result, losing by cruellest of margins, a single point. We failed to bring this commitment with us to the next game and Drumgoon and Lacken in succession beat us. We now faced the prospect of having to avoid relegation in the play-offs. The Crosserlough spirit shone through when our backs were to the wall, we produced a sterling performance when we overcame Bailieborough Shamrocks to secure our place in senior championship football in 2006." The loss of the eleven players had also a downward spiralling effect on the club overall. Having fielded three teams in the past, the club were unable to do so in 2005. The club's junior team played their football in Division 3 where they finished in eighth place. This position qualified them for a league quarter final play-off against Kill. In an entertaining game, Kill just managed to edge the result leaving the senior side of the club bereft of any silverware for the year. "While this was a trying year for all, the work put in at senior level by the team management of Ciaran O'Reilly and his selectors, Pat Shalvey, Tomas Smith, Brian Lynch and Damien O'Reilly was of the highest calibre and great credit is due to them," said Andrew. Positive Outlook According to PRO Andrew Galligan: "We are looking towards the 2006 season with a very positive outlook. A number of players have already returned and a further group are expected back. Ciaran Duffy, Jonathan Crowe, Sean Brady and Ray Reilly have also returned and with Paddy McCabe, Paul Galligan and Declan O'Reilly also expected back then the outlook is indeed one of optimism. We also have a number of very good young players who are now on the fringe of making it into the senior side. Young players of the calibre of Enda Gaffney, Tomas McEvoy, Colm Lynch, Stephen Denneny and Kevin Finnegan will give the senior team management more scope to play with. This is something we will need when it comes to championship football again this year as once again we find ourselves in the 'group of death', with county champions, Cavan Gaels, Killygarry and Belturbet Rory O'Moores. Our outlook this coming season will be more optimistic as we can now choose from a much larger pool of players which will be of enormous benefit to the club." Underage This is an area where the club have always made an impact and this year was no exception. The underage committee headed by the husband and wife combination of Chairman, Benny Byrd and secretary, Una Byrd is hopefully going to prove to be the life blood and a return to glory for Crosserlough. The club were serious challengers at U-12 where they lost out to Lacken in the semi-final of the Roinn B championship and had good runs in both the minor league and championship. Disappointment at losing out in both minor finals was a tough blow but the fact that it took a very talented Castlerahan team took two attempts in the championship final to overcome the Crosserlough challenge bodes well for the future of the Black and Amber. It is expected that the work put in at minor level in 2005 by team manager, Colm McEvoy and his management team of Shay Smith, Mark Rehill, Patsy Gaffney and Michael Donohoe will prove to be an asset to the senior club in 2006. "When speaking of the work at underage level, club PRO Andrew Galligan feels quite proud of the work put in by all those involved." We could deem ourselves unlucky in the first championship final when the game ended in a draw. We felt that we should have taken that one but in the replay we never really reached our own high standards and had to settle for second best on the day. We lost out in this 'battle of the neighbours' on a final scoreline line of 0-3 to 0-8. Our task on the day was compounded when we had two players sent - off and had to play with just thirteen men. We also had to swallow the bitter pill of defeat as we lost out in the Cavan Minor League Division 1 title to the county champions, Lurgan on a scoreline of 1-6 to 1-8. This was one of the best minor games of the year and we could deem ourselves unlucky to lose this one," said Andrew. "Just like all clubs nationwide, there is a very dedicated group of people involved with underage football at the club and I feel that it is important to acknowledge their work and commitment. At U-12 and 14 level, Sean Cusack, Dessie Smith, David Clarke, Enda Reilly, Gerry Charters and Vincent Mulvey's were unlucky to see their charges lose out to Lacken in the U-12 semi-final in a low scoring game. While at U-16 Declan Gaffney, Dermot Reilly and Karl Kelly all worked hard." Ground Development A commitment to the future of football in the Crosserlough parish is evident with the development of new training area which is being developed at the club grounds at Plunkett Park in Kilnaleck. The area which will be finished this year (2006) will be available for use in 2007. The new training ground will double up as football field for some of the underage football games and will also allow a training area for all the teams at the club. Camogie Since the formation of Crosserlough camogie as far back as 1932, the women of the parish have enjoyed success at all levels from underage, novice right through to senior. The crowning glory as a club was achieved back in 1999 when the senior county championship title was won and a great run in the Ulster club where they lost out in a very exciting final. This was the first time in the club's history that they not only won the county senior title but also reached the Ulster club final. Over the years, Crosserlough have shown that they are force in camogie circles and the season of 2005 proved to be a very successful one for them. Showing good form throughout the year, the club managed to get themselves into the winners enclosure on two occasions and just losing out at the final stage on another title. Three finals contested in one season is a great achievement and winning two of them was further proof that the club is presently on a high. The U14 team had an excellent year, which was made complete by a well deserved win over Laragh in the Rionn A Championship final on the 23rd October. This was a an extremely evenly fought contest but the Kilnaleck side showed tremendous resilience and held firm to win by a one goal margin. The U16 team also demonstrated their excellent abilities throughout the year and their determination gained them a place in the Rionn A Championship final on the 4th November against Lacken. The girls showed great spirit in the first half and the game remained a close contest for much of the game. Unfortunately Lacken were the stronger side and ran out convincing winners in the end. The underage victories over the last number of years are largely due to the hard work being carried out at Primary School level. The indoor league plays a huge part of the Primary School competition with all three schools within the parish of Crosserlough having their share of success during 2005. The Kilnaleck/Crosserlough combined team won the U9 and U13 "A" competition and Drumkilly N.S won the U9 "B" competition. The Junior team also achieved honours at Championship level with an impressive victory over Bailieboro on the 10th July. This win was as a result of excellent skill and determination but the most evident winning factor was the positive combination of youth and experience, something Crosserlough has been working on in the last number of years, the rewards of which are now coming to fruition. Looking forward to 2006 the prospects look extremely healthy. The primary school, U14 and U16 teams have their sights firmly set on further victories with the U14's going for 3-in-a-row. The 2006 Junior championship will be the most fiercely contested the county has seen in the last number of years. If Crosserlough are to retain their title they will have to overcome strong challenges from Castletara, Lacken, Laragh, and Ballinagh but the Crosserlough girls have no intention of relinquishing their title. Senior Title With all the hard work being put in at all levels in the parish, the Crosserlough camogie committee are hoping for that elusive breakthrough at senior level in an effort to re-instate their claim as kingpins of the Breffni county. The talent at their disposal, it is something that will come their way in not too distant future. With the 'Crosserlough' spirit, they will be a force to be reckoned with and should they capture the Cavan senior title, they will, as they have shown back in 1999, be a force to be reckoned with in Ulster. Martha makes things tick Ladies football in Crosserlough is on the up and up and the success of the club's under 12s has let everyone in on the secret The things ladies do for love (of their sport)! Crosserlough will forever hold a special place in the annals of Gaelic football in Cavan. However since their status as inarguably the greatest kingpins modern day football in Cavan has seen came crashing down in 1973, the famed black and ambers have been fighting against the tide. That tide consisted of more committed, more focused and better organised clubs. And while the jury is out as to whether the tide is about to change again, in Crosserlough's favour, in the coming seasons, silverware is never too far removed from the club's Kilnaleck base. And in the parallel game of ladies football, the members of the fairer sex gave their male counterparts a timely reminder in 2005 of just what it takes to beat the best of the rest. Crosserlough under 12 lady footballers, take a bow! In a real boost towards the promotion of the country's fastest growing sport in the Crosserlough catchment area, the local under twelves scooped the county B championship title in great style. In what turned out to be a real rollercoaster ride over the course of the year for the young Crosserlough girls, the team rebounded superbly from major disappointment in the league to secure the championship title. Team-manager Martha Smith believes that the girls' success is just the filip the sport needs in her neck of the woods. "The game hasn't always been the strongest in the area but the under 12s' win is just the boost we've been looking for to get things really moving in Crosserlough," Martha says. "On occasions some of the club's best players have had to play with neighbouring clubs to get some competitive action so the under 12s' win couldn't have come a better time as we look to build towards the future," a delighted Martha adds. Ironically, it's not so much a match-winning goal or a real gruelling dog-fight during the campaign that Martha remembers most of all from the 2005 championship. "No, my abiding memory is of the weather on the day of the final in Ballyjamesduff. It was just so horrible, really bad and if it hadn't been a final, the game probably wouldn't have went ahead. Thankfully it did but ourselves and Drumgoon really had to battle against some terrible conditions." Martha reveals that as the final approached, she was neither sure of the challenge the weather was going to pose nor the opposition. "Maybe I should have known a bit about what they (Drumgoon) were like but, to be honest, I hadn't a clue. It was definitely a case of us going into the unknown in more ways than one at the time of the final." Nevertheless those who graduated from the Smith school of excellence merited their honours, having hinted at their rich promise in both the earlier league campaign and the preliminary rounds of the subsequent championship series of games. Having fallen short of fulfilling their expectations in 2004, Crosserlough's maturing under 12s were determined to make up for things in '05. They had to be patient though as deliverance played hard to get. Hunger may be a great sauce but sometimes scraps from the top table have to suffice before the feast comes around. Martha says it was fortunate that the vast majority of the Class of 2005 had experience of playing the previous year at under 12 level and also that they were at their peak, age-wise, last summer. Still, nothing was to be taken for granted. Martha knew that any complacency among the panel - or management - would have been knocked on the head by the wily Tom Dowd! "Tom was a great help with the under 12s and under 14s and it was only after he asked me to help out that I got involved to help get things up and running again in the club," the 30-something adds. And so three years ago Martha and Tom put all their energies in laying the seeds for a future junior/senior team at the club by organising and training groups of under 12 and under 14 players in and around Kilnaleck. Reflecting on the 2005 glorious season, Martha acknowledges that the success achieved by the Crosserlough under 12s was all the more heartwarming and joyous because it really wasn't entirely expected. Although the squad put in the effort and commitment right from the very first training session in March, the team-manager concedes that she was "hopeful" more so than optimistic that silverware would be bagged. "I knew the under 14 girls were really going to be up against it because they had 'lost' quite a few of their more experienced players from the previous year but I was hopeful that the under 12s would go close and maybe had a chance of going the distance," says Martha, a qualified accountant. With regard to the players at her disposal at under 12 and under 14 levels, Martha insists that no whip was needed and both squads were a joy to work with. The players were "all eager to play and eager to train." With both squads training in tandem, a good spirit was generated among the girls and the duality of some players also helped gel the two crews together. From their base at Plunkett Park, both squads prepared hard and diligently and deserved a day out in the sun. Sadly for the Crosserlough under 14s, it wasn't to be. Perhaps their day will come soon. More than six months on from the county triumph in Ballyjamesduff, Martha is still as pleased as punch for the girls and ladies football in Crosserlough. "I'm delighted that Crosserlough ladies have won something because it's the first trophy that has come our way in a long time. It might be ten or twelve years since we won a cup. Certainly given the oftimes struggle which has coloured Crosserlough's recent ladies football history, the under 12s win couldn't have been more timely. With some players opting to play camogie and others flirting with Ballymachugh, Castlerahan and Inny Gaels ladies, it was important that Crosserlough's ladies made a name for themselves in their own right. The club's under twelves got due recognition for their efforts too. "The GAA club has been very supportive of us and they made a big deal of our win which was nice." So a coming together - an even closer one - may be in the pipeline then? "It looks like ourselves, the camogie club and the GAA club will all be coming under the one umbrella in the next year which will be good for everyone I think. It will save us all having to go out and raise finance all in the one area of the parish," Martha explains. And what of the moves among Camogie Association chiefs and the GAA plus ladies football to come under the one umbrella nationally? "First of all I'd like to see it working out for us at a local level and that can't happen soon enough for me," Martha comments. It's obvious that a lot of hard work goes into promoting and developing ladies football in Crosserlough and the success of the Crosserlough under 12s is testamount to the sleeves-rolled-up attitudes of people like Martha and Tom Dowd. It must be remembered that for part of the past year, it didn't look likely that the local under 12s were going to reap any reward in 2005. "The league was run off before the championship and it didn't go that well for us even though we reached the semi-finals. The girls tried their best but just couldn't beat Lurgan in the semi-final. In hindsight that result mightn't have been too bad because it seemed to make the girls even more hungry to make up for it when the championship came around. "They really wanted to make sure that they got to the final of the championship and do their very best at that stage." And as things transpired, not only was a place in the championship decider secured but the silverware on top of it. Was Martha always confident during the decider that her girls would come out on top? "It wasn't an easy game for all sorts of reasons. We were on top for most of the game at midfield but overall we weren't quite at our best on the day. "Possibly the occasion might have got to the girls but it wasn't their best game of the year, no way. I'd have to say it was a big relief when the final whistle went because the girls' legs were obviously showing signs of tiredness towards the end of the second half." Looking to the future, Martha is keen to stress that she doesn't want to forecast future success for the club and that a lot will depend on the talent available and the commitment shown by the various squads. But there is a good foundation to work from. Laoise Brady, Sinead Gaffney and Amanda Soroghan are all county players at this juncture and can form the spine of future teams. Martha says it will take time for the different squads to mature and come together as a real force at junior level in the coming years. We await their progress with interest. Tweet

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