The Mochtas didn't set the playing fields of the Wee County alight in 2002, but they didn't expect to. The challenge of keeping gaelic football alive and kicking in Louth village was admirably dealt with and club secretary Michael Martin looks back on the past twelve months with more satisfaction than disappointment. Better to stand still than to take one step forward followed swiftly by two steps back. Thus, St Mochtas have good reason to be quietly content with their modest 2002 showing. The men from Louth village reached the early-season Grogan Cup final (losing narrowly to would-be intermediate champions Naomh Malachi) and preserved their intermediate status for another year by avoiding the Division 2B relegation quagmire. Severely depleted by injuries, they made little or no impression in Group C of the intermediate championship . . . a source of only minor frustration. The bottom line is that the Mochtas achieved their prime objective of consolidation, thereby marking the 2002 season out as an unequivocal success story. And, you know, there are a lot of clubs in the Wee County who would love to be able to say that! St Mochtas will be intermediate/Division 2B again next year and will be in a better position to challenge for a place in Division 2A - the secondary grade's comfort zone. Looking back on the events of 2002, Michael Murphy doesn't exactly look like he's about to break into a jig of unrestrained joy. But there's the trace of a smile lighting up his countenance and - significantly - it reaches his eyes. Yes, Michael is reasonably content with how things panned out and the club is looking forward to 2003 with confidence anew: "We ended up pretty much the same as we did the previous year - which is by no means a bad thing," the Armagh native muses. "We were mid-table in Division 2B and never really had the threat of relegation hanging over us. There were always a few clubs behind us [Westerns, O'Raghallaighs and Annaghminnon] so we could relax a bit." However, don't be deceived for one minute into believing that the Louth village lads are happy just to go with the flow, to drift aimlessly across the sea of Louth football like so much flotsam and jetsam. No sir-ee, there's an inherent ambition smouldering here that belies the affable club officer's easy-going nature: Michael's features darken, almost imperceptibly, as he briefly sidetracks from What Was to That Which Might Have Been: "Okay, it was a satisfactory year, but with the panel of players we have here at the moment we were disappointed not to be challenging for promotion..." Indeed, it transpires that the Mochtas' ambitions for the 2002 season went beyond mere survival. That was their No.1 priority, but they were looking a little further, eying the sunnier climes and greener grasses of intermediate's higher division. "Promotion was definitely a target," the secretary admits. "And we felt that we had the players to give it a real shot. With the transfers of former county player Nicholas Browne from the Geraldines and Martin Lennon from Knockbridge we were in a much stronger position than usual to challenge for honours." Things looked encouraging before a ball was even kicked in anger. A veritable Dream Team was installed at the helm in the form of four selectors, all local men who knew the lie of the land and what made the players tick . . .how to get the best out of them. The canny quartet comprised: John Byrne (County Board Treasurer and county coaching officer), Stephen Gernon, former chairman Pat Martin; and former player Michael Crawley (in his first year at backroom level). The management team left no stone unturned in the pursuit of progression and the rewards of their efforts were evident early in the season as a County Board final was reached. Michael takes the story up: "They got working with the lads early on and showed signs of progress straight away. They made a good start to the year, and reached the final of the Grogan Cup, where they played the eventual intermediate champions Naomh Malachi and only lost narrowly. "That was our first final appearance in many years and it left our confidence high going into the league and we recorded some good victories early on in the league." There was a definite turning point, however; a Division 2B clash with 2001 junior champions O'Raghallaighs in which - rather freakishly - a number of village players picked up injuries: "The wheels came off the wagon in a league game against O'Raghallaighs which was played a few days before out first round championship meeting with Kilkerley Emmets in the Naomh Malachi grounds. We lost three key players in that game. It wasn't a dirty match by any means and it was nobody's fault, but we couldn't cope with losing three key men - Nicholas Browne, Eugene Duffy and Paul McGahon, who had an outstanding year. Those three injuries - added to the long-term injury to Gervaise Marron - left us below strength for the championship." Not surprisingly (bearing in mind the club's limited resources), it showed. On Saturday June 1st, Kilkerley thumped the Mochtas by 2-16 to 1-6. "We put up a sterling fight in the second game against the Dreadnots [the top team in Division 2A all year]. They had just come back down from senior and we gave them a fight for most of the match but they finished a lot stronger and pulled away in the end." That game took place on June 30th and the Clogherhead men prevailed by 2-16 to 2-6. The final group game - against Sean O'Mahonys - was inconsequential as both sides were already out of contention. Again, the Louth village men fielded a depleted side and their heart clearly wasn't in it - for the record, they lost by 2-11 to 0-3. The league campaign produced a happier ending, with intermediate status assured again for next year. Says Michael: "We have a nice blend of youth and experience in the team at the moment and this should stand us in good stead again next year if we can hold onto all the players. The older players - notably Paul Hoey and Anthony Rooney - had excellent seasons for us. "In 2003, we are hoping to build on last year's performance. I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the club to thank all the players for their efforts in 2002 and hopefully next year, with a bit more effort, particularly on the training field, we should be competing for honours." Things are certainly going very well for the club off the field of play. The Mochtas have just opened a fine new complex with spacious dressing-rooms and meeting rooms and the secretary points out: "We're hoping to organise an official opening of the new clubhouse shortly. Any of the clubs who came here since the new facilities came on stream were full of praise for our new building and I personally would like to thank anyone who helped make that dream become reality." And finances? "We are currently in debt, but it's a manageable debt. One of our main sources of revenue is the weekly lotto which gets tremendous local support from the community. Kevin Byrne - who is a superb worker for the club - does great work in this area. Like any club I suppose, you can never have enough volunteers, however, and we'd like to appeal to more people to assist in the buying and selling of tickets." The Mochtas were also extremely strong committee-wise in 2002: The hard-working Tony King was in his first year as chairman; efficient treasurer Declan Larney looked after the purse strings; Michael Murphy was secretary; Kevin Byrne acted as PRO; and well-known referee Tommy Byrne performed County Board rep duties. Former county stalwart Brendan Byrne was youth officer and Tony McArdle was medical officer. Michael adds: "We continue with out proud tradition of providing top referees to Louth County Board. In 2002, we gave them three referees: Patsy Connolly, Tommy Byrne and Liam McGrenaghan." Originally from the Orchard County stronghold of Forkhill in south Armagh, Michael has been involved with the Mochtas at committee level since 1987. What with Joe Kernan's team capturing Sam for the first time ever, 2002 was a bit special for the St Mochtas secretary: "Being from Armagh, I was delighted to see them go all the way. And who knows, wouldn't it be nice to think that maybe we could convince Armagh to come over and play at the opening of our pitch?" What does the future hold for St Mochtas? Michael is optimistic: "Our youth wing is extremely well run and organised. There are some very good young players coming on stream at the moment which should secure the future of St Mochtas GFC. "Before concluding, the club would like to thank our FAS workers Dessie McArdle and Tom Malone who do an excellent job and keep the grounds in pristine condition at all times." No honours for St Mochtas in 2002 then, but spirits are certainly high in Louth village at the moment - and there's always another season just around the corner! Last words to Michael Murphy: "We're flying the flag and keeping it all going. I'd like to think it won't be long before we have some silverware to put on display in our new clubhouse. Hopefully, when we do achieve promotion we'll be ready for it. We feel that if a team goes up, they should have the right foundation in place to stay up - that's what we're working on at the moment." Tweet

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