Templeport's under 12 and under 14 think-tank in 2007 of Tomas Kellegher, Michael Smith, Patrick Maguire and Seamus Martin had their charges expertly prepared and it showed. No stone was left unturned by the management in terms of honing the youngsters' basic skills and inculcating a winning mentality which would hold them in very good stead. Underage training at the Saint Aidan's headquarters kicked off in February and, from the off, the squads showed a great appetite for the training and a willingness to learn. "The players had a good foundation in fitness but we worked a bit on improving it but, for the most part, we concentrated on kicking and catching skills, proper tackling, defending, positioning from kick-outs, '45s and how to get into space and create space," team-mentor Kellegher explains. Obviously Kellegher and Co. passed on plenty of hints for the goal merchants in their midst as the under 12s and under 14s both notched four goals as they raced to county title successes. For instance, it was goals that counted at Kingspan/Breffni Park in mid-August last year as the Saints hit the jackpot four times to grab the silverware at the expense of Drumlane in what was an absorbing Under 12 Roinn C decider. Templeport were very impressive in what was trying conditions and were well worth their 4-7 to 0-6 victory in a game which was a credit to the players and their respective mentors. Templeport hit the ground running and never really looked back as they carved out a match-winning cushioned lead in some style. Inside the opening 12 minutes, Drumlane were staring at a 0-0 to 0-5 deficit and clearly up against the ropes. Drumlane could scarcely have believed what hit them as a brace of points from Eoghan Doonan and one point each from Hayden Kelleher, Liam Galligan and Ben Kiernan giving Templeport a perfect start. Having beaten their opponents earlier in the campaign, Templeport had a ring of confidence about their play and they continued to look comfortable in pole position. "We had won all our matches except one (versus Butlersbridge) so the lads had built up a lot of self-belief and the fact that we had beaten them (Drumlane) earlier in the league did, I'm sure, give our lads a psychological advantage," Tomas explained. However the Milltown-based lads dug deep and deservedly, if belatedly, opened their account in the 18th minute. The chasing team doubled their tally just three minutes later but then the hugely impressive Liam Galligan soloed through for Templeport before seeing his shot deflected to the back of the Drumlane net. Things got even better for the would-be winners when, just into added-on time, Templeport's Ben Kiernan saw his speculative shot from long range go all the way to the Drumlane net. Templeport were in the driving seat, right and proper, as they began the second half, 2-5 to 0-2 to the good. Drumlane stuck to their task in manful fashion but Templeport drove a dagger through the heart of Drumlane's hopes in the 38th minute when Ben Kiernan netted Templeport's third goal which propelled Templeport into a massive 3-5 to 0-3 lead and from there to the finish, an air of inevitability hung over proceedings. Drumlane refused to throw in the towel and notched three points in a row but Templeport had too much in the locker for their opponents. After a sweeping move, the Saints got a stunning goal in the 49th minute by Liam Galligan when he drove forward from midfield before unleashing an unstoppable shot from 30 yards to seal the issue right and proper. Templeport v (Drumlane) Roinn C U-12 final: Darren Donohoe; Niall Farrell, Ben Kelly, Dylan Roythrene, Owen Duffy, Liam McAweeney, Liam Galligan (2-2), Dylan Maguire, Darragh O Se, Eoghan Doonan (0-2), Ben Kiernan (2-2), Hayden Kelleher (0-1), Killian Leonard. "I'd have to admit there were fairly high expectations with regard to our under 12s because we weren't depending on just a couple of players as can happen at underage level," Tomas adds. "There were a lot of pacy, skilful footballers in the team and they've all come on leaps and bounds since we got them together some four or five years ago. "I think our earlier win over Drumlane was very important in boosting the players' confidence. They scored five or six goals in the first half of that match and played their best ever football that day in the first half. "Given the strength of the opposition and the quality of our play, that display was probably the team's best display of the year." And the one defeat (against Butlersbridge) during the year? "We were a bit understrength and we had a couple of key players missing that day in Bawnboy but collectively the lads just had a bad day. "In fairness the team had already qualified for the semi-final so there wasn't the same incentive for them." Earlier in the year, Templeport's Under 14 troupe enjoyed a similar dividend from their efforts during the year when they captured the Roinn D title with victory in the final over Knockbride. The Saints' 4-15 to 5-11 victory was as deserved as it was exciting and dramatic in what was a high tempo game played at Kingspan/Breffni Park. It was a cracking game of football played in a great spirit and full of fine passing movements and crisp finishing at the business end of the field. In following up their 2006 Under 12 Roinn C success, Templeport's finest had to survive a few scary moments including a last minute goal before gathering the spoils. Extraordinarily, Templeport got a huge lucky break moments later when Knockbride's goalscorer followed up his major by firing the ball off the upright in an attempt to level the scores. "I'd have to say that if I was a Knockbride player or official that day, I would have been devastated," Tomas generously conceded. Interestingly, Tomas says that he was genuinely surprised that Templeport actually went the distance at under 14 level, considering the quality of teams they were up against. He puts down the squad's success to "pure determination and togetherness" and the fact that the team were bolstered by six survivors from the team of 2006. "Winning the under 14 title was a tremendous bonus for the club," Tomas explains. "The team definitely improved a lot over the course of the year and the fact too that quite a few of the under 12s were on the under 14 panel definitely helped their cause. And how was the double success received by the club's general membership? "Really great, very well received," Tomas enthuses. We had a presentation night and brought the teams to the outdoor and dirty adventure centre locally and the lads had a great time." Looking ahead to the future, Tomas is optimistic that the all-conquering Templeport underage teams will garner more silverware in the not-too-distant future. "It's not easy to keep youngsters together through under 16 and under 18 levels but if they stick together I could see them winning a minor championship title. "The lads have been consistently good in listening to their coaches and improving their skills and fitness over the years and they've a good chance of winning more cups. "The club is fortunate too in that the players' parents have taken a big interest in their sons and daughters and that's a big addition too and great to see." Templeport (v Knockbride) Under 14 Roinn D final; Niall Farrell; Catherine Maguire, Eoghan Martin, Dylan Maguire, Nathan Dolan, Dylan McGovern, Danny Hegneman, Michael Galligan, Liam Galligan (0-7), Conor McCaffrey (0-2), Ryan Duffy, Ben Kiernan (2-5), Owen Doonan (2-1). Sub used; Ben Kelly. Tweet

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