This coming Autumn, Castlerahan will be gunning for a hat-trick of U21 FC titles. In 2007 they proved themselves to be a class apart once again. There were some landslide victories in underage finals in Cavan in 2007 with Kingspan/Breffni Park hosting some outstanding performances by the eventual competition winners. A number of really lop-sided deciders panned out over the course of the year but what transpired on December 15th last beat Banagher; something nobody could have forecast. Castlerahan didn't just beat Cavan Gaels in the Under 21 Football Championship final, they walloped the county town team with a ruthless, thoroughly professional performance. The maroon and whites' 2-7 to 0-3 win didn't actually adequately reflect their superiority in the final which was played at headquarters in front of a gobsmacked attendance. The truth is, the Ballyjamesduffy-based side totally dominated proceedings on the day to the degree that they really ought to have won the final by a greater margin. There was never any doubt about the destination of the spoils and were it not for the fact that the winners recorded a tally of 14 wides, Cavan Gaels would have been beaten by more. Castlerahan were magnificent against what was a fancied county town side who had impressed in beating Denn, St. Brigids and Lurgan on their way to the county decider. "I think the fact that we had won the title in 2006 meant that expectations at the start of last year were pretty high," says Castlerahan club chairman Seamus Greene. "The title win in 2006 was sweet but I'd say going the distance again in 2007 and defending the title in such a convincing fashion was that bit more special. "I think the team showed last year that the hunger was still very much there despite the fact that they had won the title in 2006 and they showed they hadn't lost their skills either. "I suppose while many around the county would have been surprised by the way the team won the final, I think a lot of people would have rated the players just as highly as we do. "Down the years those same players have picked up county medals at various grades so it would have been naieve of people not to think they couldn't have done it at Under 21 level." And yet, in their opening salvo in the competition, the Sean Fitzpatrick, John Caffrey and Ronan Coleman-management team had to sweat it out against Crosserlough. "Crosserlough was the lads' first game in the competition and although we were at home, it was horrible, wet day and we needed a late goal to keep us in the competition. "We were behind with about four or five minutes to go when Darren Smith did very well to get through for a goal which saw us through, luckily enough. "I suppose that was a day we could so easily have lost our way and relinquished the title," explains Seamus who was re-elected to high office at the club's most recent AGM. Thereafter the champions-elect certainly impressed with a 2-10 to 0-11 quarter-final victory over Killygarry being particularly heart-warming for the club's supporters. "It was a confident, quite comfortable victory in Killygarry and, overall, the team played with much more cohesion and self-belief that day," Seamus recalls. No championship is ever easily won and so it proved as Castlerahan proceeded to engage in a real war of attrition in the semi-final against a fired-up Cuchullains side. On a miserable Saturday afternoon borrowed from Siberian just two weeks shy of Christmas, Castlerahan travelled to Ballyconnell and managed to edge home four point victors. "I remember we went in at half-time, having played against the wind, slightly in front but there was nothing easy about the second half despite having the elements at our back. "In fact, as much as I hate singling out individual performances, I'd have to say that Ronan Flanagan had a phenomenal game against Cuchullains and played a real captain's part. "He was everywhere on the field but, in fairness, all the lads really pulled out all the stops and they showed a lot of character and ambition that day." And to the final against Cavan Gaels, a club hell-bent on sweeping the boards at every level in Cavan in 2007. For their Under 21s, however, it wasn't to be. In fact, right from very early on in the match, the Gaels' bid to overcome Castlerahan in the county decider looked destined to be a bridge too far. Cavan Gaels had distinct ambitions of adding to the title they last won in 2004 but they didn't get a look in against defending champions who really stole the show. Castlerahan's achievement in not only beating the vaunted Gaels squad but holding them to a meagre three points said volumes about the talent inherent in their panel. With the wind at their backs, Castlerahan began the game with the required urgency and after just eleven minutes they had laid down a marker by storming into a 1-2 to 0-1 lead. Dan Lynch opened Castlerahan's account with a point after barely 60 seconds and then Cian Mackey followed up with a similar score to immediately put the Gaels on the backfoot. Castlerahan continued to force the issue with Pauric Smith and Fiachra Cork engineering a solid foundation at midfield with some quite stunning fetching and carrying. Three consecutive wides temporarily stymied Castlerahan's fluidity but the team continued to play entertaining and confident football as they powered ahead with great determination. Indeed it came as no surprise to anyone at the match when the winners-elect prised open the Gaels' rearguard to notch their opening goal of the game. In the 11th minute, Fiachra Cork sent the ball deep in towards the Cavan Gaels' square and Brian Coleman showed good opportunism to nip in and fire the ball to the net. It wasn't until the 17th minute that Castlerahan conceded a point (free) and while another hat-trick of wides were recorded by Castlerahan, Cavan Gaels just couldn't get into the game. The Gaels bagged their second point in the 24th minute and then almost sneaked a goal but Castlerahan 'keeper Jamie Leahy brillantly saved at the expense of a fruitless '45. At the other end of the field, Castlerahan struggled to convert well-won possession into the hard coinage of scores and a tally of 14 wides by half-time spelt frustration all-round. Leading by 1-2 to 0-2 going into the second half, Castlerahan's advantage was reduced to just the goal some ten minutes into the second half. But points from Enda O'Connell and Cian Mackey soon afterwards restored the status quo and when Brian Coleman netted for a second time in the 49th minute, the Fat Lady could be heard clearing her throat. Now seven points clear, Castlerahan refused to let their hands be wrenched from the rudder and a brace of converted frees by Cian Mackey duly rounded of a superb victory. "We kicked a lot of wides in the first half which didn't augur well for our chances of coasting home," Chairman Greene reflects. "But eventually we got into our stride in front of goal and got through for the goals that really put us in the driving seat and left us clear-cut winners in the end. "I think every player played his part in winning the final and, as I far as I know, only one of the team will be ineligible to play next year which is very heartening. "Hopefully these fellas can stay together as a panel because they have a lot of talent, play well together and look to have a promising future at senior level." Cavan Gaels, Gowna, Mullahoran, Ballinagh - ye have been warned! Tweet

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