Roche Emmets didn't set the Wee County GAA world on fire in 2003, but they're not about to dwell on that trivial fact. Rebuilding began towards the end of the season and - with a new campaign on the horizon - morale in the camp is high. Young midfielder Gerry Murphy epitomises the confidence permeating the Blue & Whites. After failing to win a game in the 2003 senior football championship, Roche Emmets decided to take rapid correctional action. The team building process was initiated with immediate effect and the latter part of the league was pinpointed as an ideal time to blood new players. After all, what was the point in waiting until the start of the '04 campaign? A number of players have been introduced to the first team and these will be well versed in the challenges of senior football by the time the new year gets underway. Twenty-one-year-old Gerry Murphy was one of the team's more impressive performers during the season just ended. Gerry was switched from corner forward to midfield at the midway point in the season, where he made a big impression. The young Roche man is adamant that there's every reason for optimism in Faughart these days: "We're certainly not down and out. We're looking forward to the new season and we've plenty of cause for optimism. We decided to rebuild straight away after being knocked out of the championship and that decision has had a very positive effect on the team. At a time of the year when most clubs were struggling to keep players out training, we were experiencing the opposite. Our numbers were up and there was a real buzz about the place. "So we're confident about 2004. We knew when we lost the three group games that we had to rebuild and the lads are coming through already. Confidence is growing all the time and hopefully we'll even get a few more new players through from the minors next year. Even though we didn't make an impact last year, we don't see that as a major setback at all. The mood in the club is very positive." Roche reached successive Joe Ward semi-finals in 1999 and 2000 (losing the latter semi to Newtown Blues after a replay) and also captured the Division 1B title in '00, in the process becoming the first-ever recipients of the Jimmy McShane Cup. That success bridged the gap back to their last senior trophy - the SFC in 1970 - and the Faughart men followed up in double-quick fashion by capturing the ACC Cup in 2001. It was a promising flurry of silverware-scooping activity but a few players have been lost in the meantime and Roche's efforts proved fruitless in 2002 and again last year. Reflecting on the '03 campaign, Gerry notes: "In the championship, we just couldn't get a win under our belts, which was a bit frustrating, especially against Kilkerley where we hit something like 18 wides. I still don't know how we lost that game..." The influential Ciaran Nash missed the Kilkerley clash, having finally been forced into early retirement due to arthritis in his ankles. Gerry describes the loss as a "huge blow" to the club. The talismanic Ciaran had lined out in the first two championship games against Naomh Mairtin and Glyde Rangers. Gerry takes the story up: "After we were knocked out of the senior championship, we brought in David Marmion, Sean Kirk, Aaron Callan and Philip Quinn. All four were thrown in for the remainder of the league and they certainly helped give the team an added dimension. We were playing with a spring in our step again and had started to gel by the end of the season. We finished the year on a really positive note and everybody's raring to go again in 2004, which is a nice position to be in. "Starting the rebuilding process mid-season was an inspired move from the management and it's going to set us up nicely." Things definitely look encouraging. Even without the four newcomers, Roche still have a predominantly young team anyway. While the oldest player is 29, most of the lads are still in their early 20s (many of them, including Gerry Murphy, featured on the 1999 minor B championship winning side). Roche Emmets were in Group D of the 2003 Louth senior football championship. They got their campaign off on the wrong foot with a disappointing 1-9 to 1-5 defeat at the hands of Naomh Mairtin at Castlebellingham on June 12th. It was the first match played in the '03 SFC and Roche trailed by five points at half time and by eight with as many minutes remaining. They upped the tempo with a late rally but the comeback was scuppered when they ran out of time. Next up were Glyde at the same venue on June 22nd. Defeat was Roche's lot, this time by 0-16 to 2-5. Roche started well but hit some early wides. However, two Kevin Callaghan goals had them 2-1 to 0-5 ahead at the short whistle. Glyde levelled nine minutes after the resumption but Roche regained their lead with points from player-selector Noel Litchfield and Callaghan. Those were their last scores of the game, however, and the Tallanstown men pulled away with seven unanswered points. Roche were still in with a chance of forcing a play-off place ... depending the Glyde/Mairtins result and victory over neighbours Kilkerley in their last group outing. That game took place at Rassan on the evening of Saturday July 12th and Roche's dreams went up in smoke when they lost by 1-9 to 0-8. "When we saw the group, we intended to get out of it. We were hopeful going in against the Mairtins. Even though they were favourites, we went in believing we could do it. It was a scrappy game and we finished strongly. If the game had gone on another five minutes, we might have won. "We were right in it against Glyde but they kicked five points in the last four minutes. We dominated the entire match against Kilkerley but everything we hit seemed to go wide. As it turned out, Glyde beat the Mairtins anyway so we wouldn't have got a play-off place even if we'd beaten Kilkerley. "Paddy Martin [from Carrickmacross] and Noel Litchfield took charge of the team for the year and they adopted a very professional approach to training and preparations in general. We started at the end of January and carried it right through. The effort was put in and everybody invested a lot of hard work. The attitude in the club was excellent. "Even after going out of the championship, we still had 25 to 30 lads turning out at training on Tuesday and Thursday nights and I don't think there are too many other clubs in the county who could say that." The enthusiasm surrounding the team was staggering considering that Roche's championship campaign had ended prematurely and their chances of achieving promotion back to Division 1A were also falling by the wayside. What's the secret? "Lads just want to play for the club. It's as simple as that. The spirit is very strong and everybody wants to pull on the jersey. There's great pride in the club and that augurs well for our future." What was Roche's target at the start of 2003? "We were relegated at the end of 2002 and our first priority was to go straight back up. We were on course but a couple of narrow defeats in mid-September damaged our prospects. As the year came to a close, we realised we probably weren't going to make it, but I've no doubt we can get back to the top flight next year." Two-thousand-and-three was Gerry's third year on the team. He started out as corner forward but was gradually moved further outfield. He was handed the Number 9 jersey for the championship clash with Kilkerley and has settled into the new role with minimum fuss. A naturally fit individual who enjoys running at opposing players, Gerry looks every bit the tailor-made midfielder. Hopes for 2004? "If we stick together and get a few good results early on we can have a decent year. We're determined to get back into Division 1A because it's vitally important to be playing regularly against the best quality teams in the county. Against the top sides, you'd have to push yourself a lot harder and you'd be learning all the time. "If we get a nice group in the championship, we'd fancy ourselves to reach the knock-out stages. Martin Craven picked up a serious ankle injury early in the year and he wasn't fully fit for the championship, but if we get everyone fit next year and stay together we should be genuine challengers. "Our goalkeeper Shane McCoy was with the county seniors in 2003 and Dermot Craven was with Louth the previous year. We have many more solid performers and plenty of young blood coming through, so we're looking forward to 2004." Looks like Roche's return to winning ways will come sooner rather than later... Tweet

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