Many predicted that Annaghminnon Rovers would suffer an immediate demotion to the junior ranks they fled in such spectacular JFC-winning fashion in the summer of 2000 but they silenced their critics by gathering enough points to stay in Division 2B, much to the obvious delight of long-serving player Colm Martin who doubles up as club Secretary. Words: Gerry Robinson. It was another successful year for Annaghminnon Rovers who didn't exactly set the Wee County GAA world alight but did live up to their pre-season Mission Statement of preserving their newfound intermediate status. And make no mistake about it: consolidation of intermediate football is every bit as impressive an accomplishment as achieving it in the first place, so the Rovers can hold their heads high and look forward to the 2002 season, when they should all be that crucial year older and wiser following their '01 exploits, ready perhaps to set their sights on moving up another division, into the higher of the two intermediate sections. Who knows? "We're very happy with the way things worked out," Colm Martin reveals. "Our objective at the start of the year was to stay up, having just came up from junior, and we're pleased to have achieved that." It could have been a different story but for the exemplary spirit in the Annaghminnon camp. Their intermediate championship match against St Kevins at St Brigid's Park on June 28th ended in a 0-17 to 0-6 defeat which had the potential to demoralise the players, were they made of less stern stuff. Having said that, they were looking at the bigger picture all along, so it's hardly a major surprise that the championship result didn't affect them unduly. As Colm explains: "We were concentrating primarily on the league so it would be fair to say that we didn't have the same focus for the championship. Because of the way our preparations were set out, we never got going for that game at all. Of course, we were disappointed to lose but we felt that it was far from the end of the world. The important thing is that we're going to be intermediate again next year and hopefully we'll improve our championship form. "Things worked out well, especially when you consider how everyone was hindered from a training point of view by the Foot & Mouth earlier in the year. Having won the junior championship in July, we finished up early in 2000, which made for a long time off, but it worked out nicely once we got back into it. "We were on the periphery of the exclusion zone so the training was affected but eventually it started to pick up and the numbers were up again and results started to go pretty well." Indeed, one particular statistic suggests that results went considerably better than merely "pretty well". According to Colm: "We played each team in Division 2B twice and no team managed to beat us twice. The team that brought us through from junior the previous year is a great bunch of lads who have mostly come through together from national school level and a lot of credit must go to the national school teachers for bringing that bunch of players on. "Those players are around the 21/22 mark now and have progressed and matured into fine footballers, so it's looking good for Annaghminnon Rovers for the next couple of years. "Master Sloane did unbelievable work in the school and the new teacher - Tom Kindlon - who came in last year is continuing in the same vein. They won the Louth two-teacher schools competition last year which was a great achievement and they are certainly continuing to do their bit. As a club, we are reaping the benefits of those efforts." Colm's on a roll now, with plenty more praise to hand out: "The backroom staff have been excellent too. They have been the very lifeblood of the club and have kept us going over the years. There were a lot of long hard years when we had no success whatsoever. Those guys are now seeing the fruits of their work. It's a good feeling in the club to see that happening." Reflecting on the 2001 league campaign, Colm admits that there were a few worrying moments but contends that in general Annaghminnon were well worth their consolidation: "We had a lot of draws in games where we could easily have taken two points and were unfortunate in a good few results, but we pulled out the necessary results towards the end when it mattered most and we're now hoping to build on that. "Our first game was against O'Connells who had won the junior league the year before us and we got a draw which was a decent effort. Our centre half forward Declan Lambe went to the States for a couple of months at that stage, and that was a blow, but we managed another couple of draws which gave us heart, even though we were still in the bottom half. "At the midway stage, we were comfortable but a couple of defeats put us under added pressure and we found ourselves in the relegation zone with a few games to play - third from bottom with two teams going down. We recorded crucial victories over the Mitchells and local rivals the Mochtas and got a draw against St Kevins who were second in the table and still pushing for promotion at the time. "It was the Kevins, of course, who had beaten us in the championship but we think that league game, with both teams going all out for the points, gave a better indication of our ability. "We're taking great encouragement from what the likes of Dreadnots, St Brides and Sean McDermotts have achieved. We wouldn't have the same population as them but we have a terrific level of support which is reflected in what we've achieved over these past two seasons. "The young lads have a good attitude and the older fellas give good leadership and experience, so there's a good healthy mixture there." Colm has been club Secretary for two years. The corner back has been a regular with Annaghminnon since 1986 and the 2001 season provided him with his very first taste of football other than junior fare. He enjoyed it. He's looking forward to some more of the same. Tweet

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