Dundalk Gaels have become accustomed to winning silverware over the past number of years, and although the senior team failed to land any major honours in 2008, the club will nonetheless look back on the season with a great deal of satisfaction. After last year's double Intermediate league and championship wins many pundits felt that Niall Lambert's men were one of the favourites to be relegated, but thanks to hard work and some determined displays they consolidated their place in the senior ranks and will look forward to mounting an even bigger challenge in 2009. The year didn't get off to the best of starts but after a loss to town rivals, Sean O'Mahonys in the first league game, the blue-and-whites never looked back, remaining unbeaten at home all year in the league. The senior team finished third in the Division 1 league and were narrowly beaten in the Cardinal O'Donnell Cup semi-final by the county champions Newtown Blues. Niall and his selectors, Dermot Culligan, Terry Doherty and Robbie McCrave entered the championship with a certain amount of optimism and were hoping to make a real challenge for a place in the knock-out stages. However, a defeat by Glyde Rangers in the opening group game at Dromiskin seemed to affect their confidence for the remainder of the group matches and their man focus became a battle to avoid relegation. The next game was against Sean O'Mahonys who had already defeated them in the league but the Gaels had a good win against them and revenge for their win in the league. The reigning champions St. Pats were up next for Niall's team but injuries played their part and the Gaels suffered a five point defeat. This loss was hard to accept and with relegation from the championship beckoning the last game against Mattock Rangers had gained extra importance after a sterling performance. The Dundalk side showed their ability and fighting spirit when they pushed Mattock all the way but in a game that should have yielded at least a point, they were disappointed to lose by the minimum. However, that despair soon turned into joy as the Dundalk men got the reward they deserved. Other results at other venues meant the Gaels would not have to play the dreaded play-off and so after a year in senior, the Gaels can look forward to establishing themselves as one of the stronger teams in Louth football. The encouraging thing for The Ramparts side is that the team is still very young and a lot of the panel came up with the manager when he started. The majority of them at U10 with Glenmuir / Carrick Road and had success at underage level. So the future looks bright for the senior team. At junior level, the Gaels second team coached by Dermot Culligan and selectors Ciaran Boyle and Pat McElarney finished as league winners and so brought further glory to the club. The Gaels third adult team playing in junior to be coached by Peter Fee, Brian Delaney and Eddie Faulkner also finished strong in the league. It shows at the moment that things are going very well in the Gaels senior set up as they can field three adult teams in three different leagues. The ability to enter three sides at adult level is a testament to the good work which has been put in at juvenile level over the years. A large pool of talent has been developed and the good news for the club is that the work is continuing as they currently have a very healthy under-age structure. At minor and underage level things have never been as good with training and fun game, starting at six years of age right up to U-18 level. The Minor team trained by Dave Dorr, Noel Connolly and Eoin Doohan had a tremendous year with the highlight being the winning of the Minor B championship when they defeated Mellifont Rovers comfortably in Ardee. The team also contested the Div 3 league final losing out after a reply with neighbours Na Piarsaigh. At U-16 level, the team trained by Gerry Copas, Peter Sage and Cathal Copas performed well in the league and lost in the quarter final of the championship. Meanwhile the U-14 team, trained by Davy McDonnell, Paul Lynch and Paul Culligan, again reached the league final, but were very to be beaten by Na Piarsaigh in the final and losing in the semi final of the championship. Og sport for Dundalk Gaels is proving a tremendous success with the U13 league trained by Walter Lambert and Paul Culligan winning two trophies in U 13 League and championship finals both played at Darver. The U11 Og Sport team coached by Ciaran Murray, Michael Sharkey, Jimmy Reneghan and Ollie Kelly are going from strength to strength with three teams from this age group competing at their age level. U10/U9 coached by Andrew and Robbie McCrave and Packie O'Connor are again doing very well at this level with a lot of challenge matches in Og Sport. The team has been very successful. Kindergarten / U8 or younger. The men responsible at this level are Paddy Hearty, Brian McDonnell, Tony McBride, Niall Garland and Derek McKeown. This level is and introduction to the club and is mostly based upon the children getting used to playing ball and fun games. Large numbers attended JJB during the early spring and they moved out to the field in the summer. So all in all things are looking very healthy on the playing field at The Ramparts, which it has emerged will remain the long term home of the Gaels. Over the past seven years through thankless work being done by Gaels chairman Dick O'Callaghan and other members of sub committee, a deal was reached with a company which would lead to Gaels moving to a new home. However, it emerged this year that this deal fell through and as a result Dundalk Gaels will continue to play football at The Ramparts. With this in mind however, the good news for Gaels is that they are already looking to the future with plans to develop the venue in the near future. The club have successfully gained planning permission for a new clubhouse on the opposite end of the field and they intend to develop and improve facilities in the area. The grounds men in the field continue to keep the grounds in perfect condition. Tony Coleman, Tony McCrave and Eddie Faulkner do a great job with the field. Being in the centre of the town it sometimes attracts the wrong clientele. But the boys clean the mess up and have the place looking splendid for the many games that are played at the venue. So all round a good year for Dundalk Gaels on and off the field. Raising funds is always a gripe with any voluntary organisation so, with this in mind the Gaels annually have a very successful golf classic run by Gerry Oakes and his team raising much needed funds for the club. Also PJ Loughran premium level tickets for soccer, rugby and Pop concerts proved an additional success this year raising revenue. Tweet

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