While the adult footballers at the club failed to secure any major honours during 2006, the emphasis switched onto the underage and ladies teams who did not disappoint, both coming up smelling of roses. Nevertheless a midtable league finish and a poor championship display by the men has to be taken in its proper context. When you speak to the club's PRO Thomas Doonan, the impression of honesty and realism is foremost in the conversation. His belief in his club and the drive engendered by Thomas is both infectious and commendable. He tells it as it is and does not try to embelish the facts but lays them bare for all to see. Thomas sees the coming season as a time for the younger players at the club to step up and make an impression which he feels they are capable of doing. "When you look back on the 2006, we were disappointed with the outcome of both the league and championship. The final league placing of ninth ensured that we just missed out on the play-offs. We opened our league campaign with a loss but picked up after that. When it looked like we had settled the ship, the loss of a number of players to emigration and injury really created an imbalance which we struggled to rectify for the remainder of the season. "We lost a total of seven players from the previous year's championship team. Martin Ball, Rory Galligan, Donal Maguire and Lassa Mongenroth took time out to travel to America while the loss of the talented Ciaran Heery through injury was also a further setback. We did manage to weather these losses and were unfortunate to lose out to Cornafean at the end of the league. If we had won that game, we would have made it into the play-offs. "The players should look at the situation they were in 2006 and know that they were almost there, so now is the time to take the next step and push for league honours. In our group in the championship, we lost to Cornafean in the opening round and in a tremendous game of football lost to junior finalists Munterconnaught by just a single point. With the loss of so many of the first team squad, the knock-on effect took its toll on the second team. It was felt that with a relatively strong second team the reserve championship was well within our reach. However, as the first team played in the championship, a number of the second team were drafted into the senior team thus curtailing their participation in the Reserve Championship. Even hampered by the loss of a number of their team, a quarter-final place against Denn was secured. Denn went on to play in the final. "We can look forward to the 2007 season as we have a panel of over forty players. It is a relatively young squad with the thirty six of them under 25. We hust have two players over thirty and two over forty. The outlook for the year will be to secure a play-off place in the league. With the new league structure in Cavan it will be important that we achieve this as no-one wants to be floundering in the league basement and a possible drop down in divisions. The ambition of the club should be promotion to Division 2 and for the reserve team to make their way into Division 5. It is a realistic outlook but much will depend on fortune and the attitude of all involved. We will be looking to the players of the calibre of David Sheanon, Sean Corrigan, Martin Ball, Danny Ball (team captain), Ciaran McManus and Ciaran Heery," stated Thomas. Stalwart With the reserve team exiting from the championship in 2006 one of the club's 'oldest' playing members, Chris McCaffrey has declared himself unavailable for the 2007 campaign. A true servant to the club, Chris has played for Templeport from his juvenile days to the present and his loss will be severely felt. Along with PRO, Thomas Doonan, they constitute the link with the great Templeport teams of the past. No doubt there will be added pressure on his decision as the reserve championship approaches. Committee Thomas, who was chairman from 1998 to 2005, has acted in many capacities at club level and is all too aware of the commitment needed to do the job successfully. "While we have excellent committees in place I feel special mention must be attributed to our chairman, who is also our main sponsor, Bryan Kiernan. Bryan is a successful and busy businessman who still finds time to contribute to Templeport St. Aidans. Our secretary, Tony McCann who is along with Tom Reilly, Shannon Gaels represent West Cavan at the county board in their capacity as GAC members has been an efficient and courteous secretary for the past seven years. Our treasurer who has had to handle large sums of money throughout his tenure is a man of exceptional talent and is ably suited for this task as financial controller," said the PRO. Underage success As a club Templeport have always had underage football but it was just as recent as 2004 when the then club chairman, Thomas Doonan set up a juvenile committee. With such a recent history, the club have made tremendous strides in organising their resources and can boast sixteen members who hold the foundation level coaching certificate while ten others have progressed to Level 1. The result of this ambitious plan has already paid dividends as the club have to-date fielded teams from U-10 right up to U-21 level. When speaking of the underage setup at the club, Thomas is quick to point out that a great deal of people give of their time and expertise to ensure that the children of the area are catered for in Gaelic games. With the high employment rate presently in Ballyconnell many locals have returned to area from America and England and those children are now part of the juvenile structure at the club. "Our U-10s are the youngest team at the club. While there is no official competition at county level for them, we have participated in a number of blitz tournaments throughout the county. Under the tutelage of Tommy Mimnagh, Damien McKenna, Michael McNulty and P.P. Galligan who have done great work, a promising crop of players will be coming on stream for the years to come. The club's U-12 team stole the show last year. Winning the Roinn D league title, this talented group of players are now going into the 2007 season to play their football in the higher grade of Roinn C. With ten of last year's team eligible they should be quite capable of holding their own at this grade. This side was expertly coached by Seamus Martin, Michael Smith, Thomas Kellegher and Patrick Maguire. This team showed that they are a match for the rest when they overcame Drung to capture the Roinn D final title. This victory will give great heart to the club and a foundation to build on for the future. It was a display of passion and commitment that earned Templeport their deserved 3-9 to 2-8 victory over Drung. A turbulent first half-performance failed to dent the belief of the West Cavan side as they battled gamely and stuck to their task. While playing catch-up for most of that opening period they were only two points adrift at the interval, 1-5 to 1-3. An inspirational start to the second-half saw dangerman, Ben Kieran rattle the back of the Drung net and now the game was really on. Inspired by this score Templeport worked hard at increasing their new found lead but in a game that was always going down to the wire, defences on both sides were in no mood to be lenient. With a nail biting climax it was Templeport who had the final and decisive say when Hayden Kellegher sealed victory with a superbly taken goal in the dying minutes. This victory had team work stamped all over it. It was just reward for a talented squad and for the people who have invested their time and expertise in coaching at underage level at the club. Templeport U-12: D. Donohoe, Niall Barrell, Benjamin Kelly, Dylan Raythorne, Dylan Durran, Oran Duffy, Liam Galligan (0-2), Eoin Martin (0-1), Carol Kellegher, Eon Doonan, Aishling Smith, Ben Kiernan (2-5), Hayden Kellegher (1-1). "The club also fields teams at U-14, U-16 and minor with Aidan Rudden, Chris McCaffrey and Thomas Doonan coaching the u-14s and the u-16s while the minors are looked after by Brendan Kiernan, Patsy Maguire and Aidan Rudden. The U-14s, who had just had the bare numbers, lost out to Knockbride in the quarter-final while the U-16s had to give way to Arva in the semi-final of the championships. At minor level Munterconnaught beat us in the semi-final. The age spread at U-16 is such that the club will only have eight players at their disposal for 2007 and it is hoped that may be able to amalgamate with some of the neighbouring clubs. "At U-21 level Templeport could count themselves unlucky to lose out in the dying moments to fellow West Cavan side, Drumlane at the quarter-final stages of the Division 2 championship. Drumlane who had home advantage were made to fight all the way and but for a last ditch attack would have had to travel to Bawnboy for the replay. We had ten of the senior team playing on that team. From that team we have lost Fionan Doonan and Damien McCaffrey who have emigrated to Australia while there is uncertainty surrounding the commitment of Padraig McGovern who might be taking time out to concentrate on music. Padraig is a big strong player who has a great deal of potential and would be a great loss if he decides not to play,"said Thomas. Ladies football As a club, Templeport have been to the forefront of Cavan ladies football over the past number of seasons. The 2006 season was no exception with the U-12 girls successfully defending their league and championship crowns for the second year in a row while the senior ladies captured won the Shield title when overcoming Inny Gaels in a thrilling contest and for good measure added the 9 - a - side crown to their cabinet of silverware. When speaking to Fr. Tom McKiernan, coach of the U-12s he leaves you in no doubt as to the ability and skill factor engrained in his squad. But what is more eye opening is his enthusiasm and excitement at being part of this talented group of young players. "At the beginning of the 2006 season we were not sure that we would have the numbers to field a team and go out to defend the titles we won back in 2005. We knew we had the talent but the lack of numbers was a worrying factor. We did manage to put a panel in place and while we went on to successfully defend both our league and championship titles, what intrigued me more than anything was the sheer joy and pleasure derived from the skills displayed by this group of players. I have been a long time involved in football but I feel that the 2006 season probably has given me my greatest moments of joy," stated Fr. Tom. "The championship final between Knocbride and Templeport was a repeat of the league final and while we won the league by eight points the outcome of the championship was a completely different game. The final scoreline itself tells the story, Templeport 2-11 Knockbride 5-1, just a single point separating the sides at the final whistle. While both Nomi Doonan and Hailey Raythorne both gave masterful individual displays, this victory was the merit of a team effort. Credit for both victories must also be attributed to Katie Donohoe and Valerie Kellegher who worked with and helped to coach the squad," said Fr. Tom. U-12 Squad: Holly McGovern, Aishling McCluskey, Aishling Plunkett, Haley Raythorne, Aideen Farrell, Yvonne McGoldrick, Emily Farrell, Karly Dowd, Makilla Bannon, Aileen McKiernan, Lorrainne Bannon, Orla Smith, Danika Doonan, Aishling Smith, Carol Kellegher, Rachel McCaffrey, Ellen Gilheeny, Alanna Maher, Naomi Doonan, Rebecca Fee. Clodagh Doonan, Niamh Gilbride. The senior ladies proved to be just as successful as their junior counterparts and went on to win the Cavan Ladies Shield final. The game which was played in Ballyhaise at the October 2006 proved to a cliffhanger with the West Cavan side edging out Inny Vale by two points, 2-08 to 1-09. Templeport showed great character in this final when they were down 1-1 to no score in the opening six minutes. Templeport soon settled when star player Aishling Doonan opened her side's scoring with a cracking goal. Minutes later Doonan had the sides on equal terms and now the game was really on. With both sides level at the break it was all to play for as the second half progressed. A high intensity drama filled final thirty minutes saw Templeport emerge victorious. Templeport: K. Baxter, S. Murphy, M. T. Goldrick, C. Maguire, M. Brady, C. Doonan, M. Dolan, T. Doonan, N. Gilbride, P. Glancy, S. Cassidy, B. Murphy, D. Reilly, A. Doonan, A. Gilbride. Doonan honoured One of the finest exponents of lady football not only in Templeport but in Cavan, Aishling Doonan saw her talent recognised when as part of the Cavan New York ladies football team she was the recipient of a number of awards at a gala presentation held recently in New York. Aishling gained the distinction as being declared the 'Player of the Month' for May. Playing for Cavan she was part of the team that won the Sean Flaherty championship and the Annie Kearney Cup (seven-a-side) where she was also honoured as the MVP in that final. Further glory was bestowed on her when the she was announced as a member of the New York All Star ladies football team for 2006. Magnificent Complex Templeport St. Aidan's, who officially laucnhed their modern complex back in May 2005, opened a new vista to many clubs who would otherwise never had made the journey to play at Templeport. The generosity of the St. Aidan's during 2006 in facilitating the Cavan Co. Board, especially towards the end of the season when conditions for most playing surfaces prohibited the use of many of the club grounds in the county, was in itself exemplory. Templeport's new facilities provided a fitting arena for the many games that were staged over the year and especially when the weather deteriorated, the playing surface at Templeport was a credit and a joy to play on. This was the opinion of the many clubs who had the fortune to lineout at this magnificent grounds. Thomas Doonan leaves no-one any doubt as to the work put by Paddy Maguire their groundsman. "Paddy is a true clubman with Templeport close to his heart. His dedication and commitment to keeping the playing surfaces and complex in top condition is of personal pride to him. His great work at the complex is there for all who have visited and played at St. Aidan's." Future Development The club have been granted Lotto funding of 60,000 euro with which they intend to convert the top floor of the complex to a modern weights room, a tea room and an office. Not content with this new development now moving into its next phase the club are already in the process of arranging the installation of a floodlighting on the main pitch to enable football to be played under lights. The drive to secure the necessary funding for this next major project is now underway and it is hoped that by 2008 the club will have those facilities in place. Tweet

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