2007 will go down as one of the most successful years in the history of Killeshandra Leaguers who captured both the junior football championship and Division 3 league titles. Killeshandra's success was warmly welcomed by sponsors Cavan Box, whose managing director Anselm Lovett is predicting a bright future for the club. What a year for the Killeshandra Leaguers! After many years of frustration and disappointment, the club made a spectacular return to winning ways in 2007 by landing both the junior championship and Division 3 league titles. Under the management of Cavan's 1997 Ulster championship winning captain Stephen King, the Leaguers clinched their first junior championship since 1983 when they overcame Shannon Gaels by 0-11 to 0-8 on an unforgettable day for the club on September 30 last, and they completed a famous double in November when they defeated Cavan Gaels after a replay to claim league honours as well. "It was a great year for them and I'm sure they can go on to make a big impact in the intermediate championship now," says Anselm Lovett of team sponsors and Ballyjamesduff-based packaging company Cavan Box. "Winning the junior championship was just reward for the hard work the club has put in at underage level over the last few years and I don't think you've seen the best of this team yet. They are a young side with a great future ahead of them and it also helps that they have a top-class management team in Stephen King, Tom Downes and Junior McKiernan. Cavan Box has been sponsoring the Killeshandra footballers for the past number of years. Established in 1982, the company is run by Anselm Lovett with a brilliant enthusiastic team of local young people, his father of the same name worked as a journalist for the Anglo-Celt newspaper for many years. Under Anselm's leadership, Cavan Box has grown into a major concern which is now a large employer in Ballyjamesduff along with Liffey Meats and Gleneagle Woodcraft. "We've grown from having a staff of four or five to 50," he explains. "We are very grateful for the support we have received from the local companies down the years. They all have been fantastic customers of ours, especially Lakeland Dairies in Killeshandra who buy a very large percentage of their packaging from us. I would like to encourage everyone to support all local industries and where possible buy Cavan produced products followed by Irish produced products. This is very crucial for our next generation that we leave local Irish jobs for today's youth." Cavan Box operates from a purpose-built 100,000 sq ft premises on the New Inns Road, Ballyjamesduff. The company supplies all types of packaging and boxing to all industries and also supplies timber, foam, anti-static bags etc. A former player with Killygarry, Anselm decided to sponsor Killeshandra because of his company's strong connections with the town and club. "We have a good few people working with us who may not otherwise be employed as a result of the support from the people of Killeshandra, so it made sense for us to give them our support," he adds. Few could have predicted the success the Leaguers would have enjoyed last year after they lost their opening game of the championship to Shercock. Luckily for them, a backdoor system was in place for the first time and they made the most of their second chance. Wins over West Cavan sides Templeport and Corlough earned them a meeting with Munterconnacht who had won the corresponding fixture in 2006 by 2-5 to 0-8. Despite the concession of two first half goals, the Saffrons made a fine recovery after half-time to run out 2-10 to 3-3 winners. And they booked their place in the final with a 0-12 to 0-7 victory over their neighbours Cornafean. Stephen King's charges faced another West Cavan team in Shannon Gaels in the county decider at Kingspan Breffni Park. Although it was the club's first appearance in a county final since the 1991 intermediate championship triumph over Munterconnacht, Killeshandra were firm favourites to overcome what, if anything, was an even younger Shannon Gaels side. On a perfect day for football, the Leaguers made the better start and led by 0-3 to 0-1 after 11 minutes thanks to points from Adie Burns, Damien Higgins and Thomas O'Reilly. Despite an injury to centre back Higgins, the favourites continued to take the game to their opponents and two converted frees from midfielder Declan McKiernan extended their advantage to 0-5 to 0-1 after 20 minutes. However, Shannon Gaels finished the half the stronger and a point each >from Cian McGovern and Eamonn O'Reilly left just two in it at half-time, 0-5 to 0-3. The outcome was effectively decided in the first 11 minutes of the second half when six unanswered points from Austin Fitzpatrick (three), Adie Burns (two) and Dara Tighe propelled Killeshandra into an eight-point lead. To their credit, Shannon Gaels never gave up and when their midfielder Eamonn O'Reilly slotted over two frees in the 58th and 63rd minutes, the margin was down to three points. However, Killeshandra were not to be denied their fifth junior championship and first in 24 years. The Padraig Ui Dhoibhlinn outfit subsequently became the first Cavan club to play in the new Ulster junior club football championship, and they marked the county's debut in the competition with a 1-11 to 1-5 victory over Antrim champions Aghohill. But disappointment was to follow when they were lost out to The Rock from Tyrone in the provincial semi-final. Killeshandra completed the second leg of a memorable double on November 23 when they defeated Cavan Gaels in the Division 3 league final replay by 2-8 to 0-6 under the Kingspan Breffni Park floodlights. The first meeting of the sides had finished in a 2-8 each draw. The Leaguers were the more determined and hungrier team, and they were never headed after Tomas Reilly's 21st minute goal helped them to a 1-3 to 0-3 lead at the interval. However, it wasn't until the 51st minute that they made victory safe when attacking wing back Daniel Lubey got in behind the Cavan Gaels defence to fist home their second goal. The losers rallied in the closing stages, but the Killeshandra defence stood firm. Killeshandra will look back on 2007 as being one of the most successful years in the club's history. The club won its first junior championship in 1935 and were victorious again in 1939, '70, '83 and, of course, last year. The late 1980s and early 1990s were a golden period for the Leaguers, during which they won two intermediate championships ('86 and '91) and finished fourth in Division 1 of the league ('87). In 2008, the club will return to the intermediate ranks when they will face Bailieboro Shamrocks in the opening round of the championship. And supporting them all the way will be their loyal sponsors, Cavan Box. Killeshandra Leaguers' junior championship winning team was: Cyril O'Reilly; Cillian O'Reilly, Colm Duffy, Dara Tighe; Daniel Lubey, Damien Higgins, Ciaran Owens; Declan McKiernan, Thomas O'Reilly; Justin Hayes, Austin Fitzpatrick, Adie Burns; Eamonn O'Reilly, Adrian Martin, Michael Murphy. Subs used: Rory Braiden, Glenn Shanley and Shane Murphy. Tweet

Most Read Stories