Killinkere as a club can look back on 2005 with a great deal of satisfaction when they review their roll of honour with victories at senior, juvenile and ladies football grades. According to their PRO, Brian Clarke: "While we had some great successes, especially at juvenile and ladies level, overall, we might have done that bit better at senior level. We reached the semi-final of the Intermediate championship and in a local derby against neighbours, Cuchullains we never reached our peak and lost out on the day by 2-10 to 1-9. We never really got going in this game. Our league campaign saw us finish in fifth position overall. This is an area we can certainly do well in, in 2006, as we lost a number of decisive games that could easily have gone our way. That having been said we will be looking to the new season to improve on those statistics and see our first team take some silverware. We had a new manager during the season, John Mulvanney, who brought a great brand of discipline with him and an approach to which the players responded to. We are fortunate to have held him for another year and no doubt, John who has had vast experience will be pushing to try and capture some silverware". "We are looking to the future with an optimistic frame of mind. We have provided our own gym for the use of players with state of the art equipment. Presently we are seeking planning permission for the erection of a new stand and will now be bringing on stream our new training pitch this coming season. The new training area which was constructed by local contractor, Luke Reilly, will be of enormous benefit to the club in general," stated Brian. Juveniles set the pace for Killinkere A storming second half display by Killinkere's U-14 side saw them deservedly capture the Bord Peil na nOg Under 14 Roinn B championship when they accounted for a brave and valiant Cootehill Celtic side on a scoreline of 5-19 to 4-6. The standard of football produced in spite of a strong wind was of the highest quality from both sides but it was the determination and work-rate of the Killinkere boys that saw them deliver the spoils on the day. Playing against the strong wind in the first half, Killinkere worked hard to contain a vibrant Cootehill challenge and the manner in which they dealt with the elements and the Celtic's attack paved the way for victory. While Cootehill enjoyed the greater share of possession and with the aid of a strong wind at their backs, their return of 3-5 to 1-7 was a paltry interval lead of just four points. The manner in which the young Killinkere side stood up to the first half pressure from Cootehill was an ominous sign for all those supporting the Celtics. Killinkere got off to a dream start at the beginning of the second-half when goals in quick succession by both Kevin McCabe and Darren Smith propelled the East Cavan side into a two point lead, 3-7 to 3-5. With a spring in their step and a renewed confidence, Killinkere tagged on four more points in as many minutes to further increase their lead. A superb effort from the outstanding Darren Smith added another point in the thirteenth minute and Cootehill's fate was now firmly sealed. To make matters worse for Cootehill and ensuring that any hope of a revival was shut-out a dazzling individual goal from Emmet Fitzsimons who weaved his way from 30 metres out through the Cootehill defence before his pile-driver flew past the helpless Carroll in the Celtic's goal. This goal gave them a ten points lead 4-12 to 3-5 and a virtual grip on the cup. Cootehill tried valiantly to stem the tide but only opened their account in the sixteenth minute of the second-half when captain, Stevie O'Connor landed a point. In a frantic finale, Cootehill did manage to register a further goal but it was too little too late and while both sides had their respective goalmouth thrills in the dying minutes, it was the winners who finished the stronger with a goal from Kevin McCabe in the thirty-fifth minute and points from McCabe, Peter Cusack and Emmet Fitzsimons. Killinkere: Eugene Clarke, James Tackney, Conor Lynch, Barry Denning, Mark Higgins, Laura Clarke, Emmet Fitzsimons (1-3), Gary Denning (0-2), Darren Smith (1-6), Peter McCabe (0-3), Michael Smith (1-0), Kevin McCabe (2-3), Eoin McMahon (0-1), Nigel Higgins, James Farrell. Subs used: Breen Smith, Philip Clarke, Peter Cusack (0-1), Leo Traynor. Last gap effort secures title An Edward Flynn free, four minutes into injury time, was the dividing factor in this entertaining and closely fought Cavan Reserve Division 2 football championship final when Killinkere edged out favourites, Drumalee at Lavey on a scoreline of 0-6 to 0-5. The game appeared to be heading for a draw until the twist in the tail allowed Killinkere edge out the Drumalee challenge and secure the title. The game which was played in less than ideal conditions with heavy rain and strong winds conspiring to hamper good football, Killinkere with their greater physique settled the better and with the wind in their backs for the first half took a 0-4 to 0-1 half-time lead. With just three points between the sides and with the advantage of a gale force wind, Drumalee were expected to set the challenge for the second half and this they did. Monopolising most of the possession in the second-half Drumalee found a combination of the elements and a strong and determined Killinkere rearguard difficult to handle. Scores were a premium but Drumalee managed to ensure that the final minutes of this closely fought final would in itself be a dramatic climax. The teams were level on 0-5 apiece with one minute of injury time having been played it looked set for a replay until the decisively struck Flynn free doomed Drumalee to another final defeat. Killinkere opened the scoring just after three minutes with a Flynn free but had to wait a further five minutes before Declan Sharkey tagged on their second point. Drumalee responded a minute later with a point from John O'Connor but once again Killinkere responded with a further point from Edward Flynn to restore their two point margin 0-3 to 0-1. Killinkere had the Drumalee defence under severe pressure but missed opportunities kept the town side in contention. It was not until the seventeenth minute of the first half that Killinkere tagged on their fourth point in the form of a Flynn free. Further Killinkere pressure failed to increase their lead and they ended the half with a three point lead, 0-4 to 0-1. Drumalee began the second half with the elements in their favour and a renewed spring in their step. John O'Connor registered their first score of this half a point just after five minutes. Drumalee who now had the upperhand were finding it difficult to register scores as the Killinkere defence, worked manfully to limit their opportunities with some great rearguard tackling. By the fortieth minute, a Barry Downey free had reduced the arrears to just one point and now the game was in the melting pot. Killinkere responded but two missed opportunities left Drumalee a life-line. With nine minutes remaining midfielder, James Mooney edged Killinkere further ahead with a well taken point. Drumalee responded through John O'Connor whose score with just six minutes remaining left just one point between the sides. Just as it looked that Killinkere had done enough to stem the Drumalee challenge, a Drumalee point from Seanie Lee in the first minute of injury time had the sides on level terms. It was now great defensive work by the Killinkere rearguard who managed to find that extra effort as they turned defence into attack and when the Drumalee conceded a free, with six minutes of injury time having been played, up stepped Edward Flynn, who calmly stroked over the winning score for a well deserved victory. Killinkere - Shane Donnelly; Colm Smith, Stephen Smith, Dessie Traynor; Brian Cooney, David Owens, Michael Duff; Kevin Clarke, James Mooney (0-1); Cathal Roe, Edward Flynn (0-4, frees), Declan Sharkey (0-1); John Clarke, Shannon Gaynor, Padraig Denning. Sub - Francis Sheridan for Declan Sharkey (43m). Ladies Football We also gained promotion to Division 3 In what proved to be probably the most successful year in the history of Killinere Ladies football club, capturing the county 9-a-side championship crown with an outstanding victory over Ballymachugh and what had to be the crowning success of the season their epic victory over St. Finbarrs in a replay of the Division 4 League final. They also gained promotion to Division 3 for the 2006 season. The club also reached its first championship final but had to succumb to eventual winners Templeport after a very tense and exciting game in which Templeport only managed to pull away in the dying minutes to secure their victory. The final score of- Templeport 3-08 Killinkere 1-12 - tells its own story. In the Division 4 League final. drawn game, it took an injury time point from Emer McGovern to level the scores and bring the final to replay. This first encounter which was played at the end of October, saw both sides belie the fact that conditions were not conducive to good football. Killinkere would have started slight favourites on the day but it was St. Finbarr's who made most of the running in the first half and held a half-time lead of 1-4 to 0-3. It was the second-half performance from the Killinkere girls that really showed their true spirit and determination as the immediately started their comeback with two points from Edel Donnelly. Emer McGovern added another to leave just the bare minimum in it. Edel Donnelly edged Killinkere in front with two points. In an evenly contested final ten minutes both sides exchanged scores and with normal time virtually up, St. Finbarrs got in for what seemed like the winning point. Pure determination and will to win was evident as the Killinkere girls dug deep and with injury time ebbing away, Emer McGovern stepped up to level the game and bring the decider back for a reply. The replay of this final was again to prove to be an tight and exciting encounter with once again an injury time score proving to be final arbitrator in the destination of this title as Killinkere edged out a brave and spirited St. Finbarrs on a scoreline of Killinkere 1-9, St. Finbarrs 2-5. With both defences in top form scores were hard to come by but Pamela Crowe broke the deadlock in the twelfth minute when fired over the opening point for St. Finbarrs. This score only seem to spur the Killinkere side and two points from Edel Donnelly, the second one, a superb individual effort. Killinkere were rocked when a long high ball evaded the efforts of their defence and landed in the back of the net for St. Finbarrs first goal. The losers celebrations were short lived as a superb effort from Emer McGovern was the perfect reply as her long range shot sailed over the bar to leave just one points between the sides. The sides were level by the twenty-seventh minute when Sinead Denning pointed to leave the half-time score - St. Finbarrs 1-1, Killinkere 0-4. In a super charged second half, the closeness of the contest was always evident and had the spectators, neutrals included, on the edge of their seats, as both sides set about trying to determine the destination of the trophy. St. Finbarrs were first off the mark in the second half when Pamela Crowe put her team ahead in the fourth minute with a point before. Killinkere's Orla O'Sullivan equalised minutes later. Just when it seemed that Killinkere were about to dominate the exchanges, St. Finbarrs struck again, this time for their second goal when Kathleen Smith found the back of the Killinkere net. True to the pattern of the first half, the Killinkere ladies responded with a vengeance and a well taken goal from Sinead Denning seemed the perfect response. St. Finbarrs, fired over three unanswered points to edge them front and set them in what appeared to be their path to victory. Now with their backs to the wall, Killinkere, produced a storming comeback, with two points from Eimer O'Reilly and Sinead Denning which reduced the St. Finbarr's lead to just one point with full time approaching. Now with the momentum behind them, a further point from Emer McGovern had the sides level with time up. Just as the game looked set for another replay, a fine individual effort from Edel Donnelly who soloed through the Finbarr's defence to shot over the winning point. Killinkere - E Smith; L. Clarke, C. Delaney, V. Kettyle, A. Clarke, A. Duff, L. Smith, S. Denning, Emer McGovern, M. Murphy, E. Donnelly, E. O'Reilly, O. O'Sullivan 9 a-side League Champions In the 9-aside shield we had victories over St Finbarrs, Killygarry, Laragh, Cornafean, Cootehill, with our only loss coming to Ballymachugh in early June. On 1st of August we met Ballymachugh in the final in Munterconnaught. We took control of the game just before half time and a couple of goals just after half time killed off Ballymachugh and we won our very first final in the clubs history. We used up on 20 players in this game and everybody enjoyed our first victory Great Championship Run Killinkere reached their first ever championship final having accounted for Cootehill and Arva along the way before taking on Templeport in the final. Templeport started the game as red hot favourites but the Killinkere girls were determined to make their presence felt. Taking the game to Templeport for the first half paid rich dividends as Killinkere ended the half with a four point lead. On the restart, Killinkere had a number of great chances to put the game out of reach of Templeport but failed to take their chances. Templeport as expected mounted a strong challenge but found themselves a point in arrears with just a minute of normal time remaining. With the game ebbing away, Templeport scored their third and most decisive score of the game which gave them a two point advantage which they held until the final whistle. There was some consolation for the club as Sinead Denning won the "Player of the Game" award. Killinkere - Elenor Smith; Joanna Clarke, Ruth Smith, Carol Delaney; Eaodin Duff, Aine Clarke (capt), Laura Clarke; Louise Clarke, Lisa Smith; Sinead Denning, Eimer McGovern, Edel Donnelly; Fiona Lynch, Maria Murphy, Eimer O'Reilly. Subs: Orla O'Sullivan for F Lynch, Laura Coleman (blood sub), Roisin Duff, Mairead Fitzsimons, Aishling Kellett, Emma Cooney, Paula Sheridan, Valerie Kettyle, Sharon Delaney. Great credit is due to team manager, Anthony Brady and his backroom team of Bernard Sheridan, Tommy Smith, Paul Kerr and Oliver Fitzsimmons. Sponsorship The club feel a great debt of gratitude to the sponsors for coming on-board over the past twelve months. Credit is due to Pat Clarke of Ballyjamesduff who presented a new set of jerseys to the senior club while a set of Polo shirts was presented to the successful U-14 side by Patrick McGovern of McGovern Plumbing while Luke O'Reilly (Plant Hire), sponsored a set of togs to the minor squad while Padraig Sheridan (P.F.L. Stores), sponsored a set of T-shirts to the minor team. Roinn C U-14 league Killinkere found themselves in the winners enclosure when they accounted for neighbours, Lavey in the final of Roinn C U-14 league on a scoreline of Killinkere 1-16 Lavey 3-5. A blistering eight minute spell either side of the half-time break was enough to set the seal on this Killinkere victory. Killinkere got the ideal start when Darren Smith fisted his side's opening a score, a goal, just after one minute. The tempo and pace of the game was a credit to both sets of players and coaches but it was Killinkere's nine unanswered points that really put them on the road to victory. KILLINKERE: Eugene Clarke, James Tackney, Conor Lynch, Mark Higgins, Eoin McMahon, Gary Denning, Darren Smith (1-3), Laura Clarke, Kevin McCabe, James Farrelly, Peter McCabe (0-2), Emmet Fitzsimons (0-10), Nigel Higgins (0-1). Subs: Peter Cusack for James Farrelly (inj); James Farrelly for Peter Cusack. Tweet

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