After a difficult couple of seasons of late, it was a case of "home sweet home" for Sean O'Mahony's as they celebrated a return to their Point Road base by winning both the Division 2B and 4C leagues. Redevelopment of their pitch meant that O'Mahony's didn't have a real home fixture in the league since 1998 and influential forward, Brendan Nordon, believes that the return to base was the boost the club needed following the disappointment of relegation at the end of last season. "It was a big setback for us to go down last year as we thought we had avoided the drop after finishing third from the bottom. However, Naomh Fionnbarra, who were below us in the league, went on to win the championship, so we ended up being relegated. "At the time it was a big blow, but looking back after our success this year, it probably didn't do us any harm and allowed us to regroup. "I have no doubt that the biggest factor in us being able to come back up straight away was being back on our own pitch. The fact that neither the first team or junior team lost a game at home illustrates just how important it was to us." Even before the team got back playing on the impressive new surface at the Point Road, Brendan felt there was a determination among the players and that was rewarded over the course of the year as confidence grew and results were achieved. After last year, we hoped we would bounce back, but we also knew that things could have gone downhill for us. There was the fear that players would lose interest or some might retire and that we would end up struggling. However, Paul McLaughlin stayed as manager and he got us moving in the right direction from the early stages. "Without being bigheaded, we felt we deserved to be in a higher league, but it was up to us to go out and prove it. It was never going to be easy because we knew it would be a very competitive league and all games were tough." After some hard work on the training pitch in pre-season, Brendan points out that things didn't go too well in the Grogan Cup, but when the league started, the Seans weren't found wanting. "Fortunately we got off to a good start and there was a snowball effect from there as we just kept going. We won our first league game and went on to win four of the next five. Ironically, the game we didn't win was our first one back at the Point Road when we drew with Sean McDermotts. "That was a big night for the whole club and I think we were a bit anxious going out on the field and McDermotts really should have won. There was a big crowd at the game and naturally we were a bit edgy, as we really wanted to do well. The conditions weren't ideal as there was a lot of rain, but at least it showed that the pitch could stand up to the wet weather. "Despite dropping a point, the start to the league gave us great confidence and it was a much better feeling to be winning games after losing so many the previous year. As a result there was a growing confidence from the early stages that we had the ability to win the league." Apart from having home advantage for matches, Brendan points out that one of the main benefits was having proper training facilities. "The training aspect is one that can be underestimated as it was noticeable that there was a bigger turn-out at training. Trying to hold sessions in the park is very difficult compared to being on your own pitch and it made it easy for people not to attend. "Now we have floodlights and plenty of space so training was much improved and we were able to do much more ball work. It showed on the field as our fitness levels were greatly improved. "Last year we found that we were competing with teams in the first half, but fading towards the end. This year it was the opposite as most of our games saw us pull away in the closing stages." The efforts both on and off the field were rewarded when O'Mahony's clinched the Division 2B title to move up to the top grade of Intermediate ranks, while the junior side followed suit by winning their league. For Brendan, who picked up two winners' medals the Division 4C victory was every bit as important as the first team's. "We were absolutely delighted to get back to winning ways but I think the junior league win was a very good sign for the club as it meant that everyone got the taste of success. To win both competitions and get to the Junior 2B Championship Final shows great commitment from everyone in the club and indicates that we are doing the right things." One of the most pleasing aspects for Brendan is that fact that his side played consistently well over the year, with the championship - where Seans were landed a very tough draw - proving to be the exception. "Although the championship is the big thing in the GAA, I think a team who wins the league have proven themselves over the course of the year. "In previous years Sean O'Mahony's were regarded as a championship team, but now it is the opposite. We have had to play consistently good football to come out on top in the league and I think we can take great confidence from that. Unfortunately, we couldn't transfer that form into the championship and went out after the group stages. "I feel it came at the wrong time for us as we had only three league games played, while we were also drawn in the toughest group against the likes of Dreadnots and Kilkerley who had come down from senior. "We gave Dreadnots a good game before being narrowly beaten, before turning in a poor display against Kilkerley in the next round. We never really got going and it was the only time over the season that happened, but it was enough to put us out of the competition." Although that was disappointing, Seans responded well when hitting form in the league and there was no stopping them as they went on to clinch the title. After that success, the aim for O'Mahony's is to build on that success and hopefully to continue making progress over the coming years. If that is to be achieved, Nordon is fully aware that it will take even more hard work. We had a great season this year, but the important thing for us is not to get carried away with that. Next year is going to be very tough as we will be facing teams such as Geraldines and Oliver Plunketts, while we also have a local derby against Gaels to look forward to. "We have improved a lot this year and some individuals such as Gary Mulligan, Peter McCormack and Gerard Doyle have come through to become vital members of the team. We are always looking for young players to come through and if that is the case then there is no reason why we can't compete for promotion in the future. "We are a young team and at 24 I am one of the more experienced members, so that is a good sign. You have to set your standards high and if we continue to do the right things, there is no reason why we shouldn't have senior football back at the Point Road in a few years. "We learned this year that it is a much better feeling to be on the way up rather than battling relegation. The example for any club in our position has to be Knockbridge as they went from junior four years ago to the senior final. Hard work and commitment is what is required and hopefully we will have more success to celebrate in the coming years." Tweet

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