St Oliver's CC and the Louth county VS team enjoyed excellent campaigns in 2001. Gerry Robinson looks back on how both sides put themselves on the map. Louth Vocational Schools reach A final Having won the previous year's B competition, the Louth Vocational Schools team did exceptionally well in the 2001 Leinster Vocational Schools SF A championship, going all the way to the final and only losing out to Offaly after extra time. To say it was a bizarre campaign would be understating things a little - having beaten Dublin in the provincial semi-final, Louth were booted out of the competition due to the FMD crisis. They were later reinstated and played Offaly in the Leinster final . . . after the Faithfuls had already beaten Mayo in an All-Ireland semi-final! Of course, one can't help but wonder how far Paddy Carr's team might have gone but for that unwelcome interruption. Certainly, it didn't help them when - tiring - they had to play extra time against Offaly. A case of what might have been, then, but still there's no point looking back upon the Wee County team's season as anything other than a raging success. They kicked off with a superb 0-11 to 0-7 victory over Wicklow in a quarter-final tie at Drogheda on the last Friday in January, Louth's experience of having played together throughout the previous year's victorious B competition standing them in good stead. Louth looked more coherent and cohesive throughout, demonstrating a better gameplan as well as greater economy in front of goal. They built the platform for victory in the first half and led 0-6 to 0-4 at the break, increasing that advantage to 0-8 to 0-5 within eight minutes of the restart. The Louth lads' early scores were all from frees, two from Darren Clarke and one from Kevin McGeough. On 19 minutes, full forward McGeough registered the winners' first score from play. The same player - the team's captain - added another before Vincent Loughran rounded off the Wee County's first-half scoring. Goalkeeper Alan Fedigan also made a vital first-half contribution when he magnificently deflected a seemingly goalbound effort over the bar at the midway juncture. Four minutes after the restart, Wicklow had clawed back to within the minimum but Mark Brennan and Loughran put daylight between the teams with fine points. A dominant period from Wicklow yielded no scores and Brennan rubbed salt in their wounds with a 49th minute point. The Model County did attempt a fightback but two late scores from Darren Clarke sealed their fate. On Saturday February 10th, Louth sensationally saw off defending All-Ireland champions Dublin with a comprehensive 0-13 to 1-5 win at Rathkenny. This was an amazing success for a team that just continued to defy all odds and exceed all expectations. Fielding five of the previous year's all-conquering team, Dublin just couldn't compete with a hungry and industrious Louth side that adapted better to the tricky conditions. Once again, the Wee County started brightest and led by 0-5 to 0-2 at the end of the first period. They dominated proceedings for a long spell thereafter and led 0-11 to 0-3 at one stage in the final quarter. Dublin did peg back a few late scores but were never going to bridge such a pronounced gap. Just like Wicklow, Dublin lacked any sort of efficiency in front of goal, while Louth were vastly more clinical. In fact, Dublin's goal - which only just about put any semblance of respectability on the scoreboard - didn't arrive until a minute into injury time. It must also be acknowledged that Louth defended stoutly and their tenacious attitude at the back contributed to much of Dublin's wastefulness. Nine of Louth's 13 points came from play as they got on top from early on. Every time Dublin scored, Paddy Carr's team had an immediate response. Louth opened their account through Michael Johnson with the very first attack of the game. Darren Clarke added a brace from a free and a 45 and Kevin McGeough and Gavin Farrelly also contributed to their interval lead. Within ten minutes of the restart, Louth had raced 0-8 to 0-2 clear thanks to Farrelly and Clarke (2). Dublin's reply was followed by three more points from Vincent Loughran, Andrew Farrell and McGeough. Again the Dubs came with two scores but Louth replied immediately with a fine solo effort from Mark Brennan. And even after Dublin's injury time goal, Clarke replied with his fifth point of the day for the winners. The final whistle sounded and Louth were through to the Leinster final. Or were they? One minute they were. Then they weren't. Then they were again. The game was scheduled to take place but then the Foot & Mouth outbreak in Proleek caused a kneejeck reaction within the Vocational Schools body which resulted in Louth getting the boot - even though they had offered to field without players from the exclusion zone. Paddy Carr couldn't understand the decision to throw the Wee County out ("You have to be fair with young lads and matters must be decided on the field") - neither could the County Board. An appeal was lodged and the result was that Louth were re-admitted. In the meantime, Offaly had beaten Mayo in the All-Ireland semi-final. Now they had to come back and face Louth in the Leinster final, with a place in the All-Ireland against Monaghan up for grabs. A saga or what? The journey came to an end at Mullingar on Wednesday March 11th, when a tense final ended with Offaly advancing on a scoreline of 3-8 to 1-11 after extra time. Louth's preparations were severely hampered by the fact that the game actually went ahead BEFORE the official 30 day suspension of games had ended. Offaly, meanwhile, were much better prepared, having enjoyed a number of competitive outings while Paddy Carr's team was in limbo. Louth's determination was incredible and they were most unfortunate to see victory snatched from them towards the end of normal time. With ten minutes remaining, Louth - who had been the better team throughout - looked on course for a famous victory. They led 0-10 to 2-2, only for Offaly to strike two late scores and level the match. Louth, 2001 Leinster Vocational Schools A finalists: Alan Fedigan; Owen Zambouglou, Richard Sherlock, Andrew Tinley (0-1); Ryan Moran, Enda Winters, Ronan Valentine; Daniel Woods, Gavin Farrelly; Vincent Loughran, Mark Brennan, Andrew Farrell; Emmett Kelleher, Kevin McGeough (1-5), Darren Clarke (0-5). Subs: Ronan Gillard, Andrew Johnson. What a year for St Oliver's! St Oliver's CC, Drogheda enjoyed a magnificent campaign which saw them go all the way to the U16 Vocational Schools C final. In the decider, however, they met their match in the shape of St Joseph's, Coalisland who proved much too strong. It was a humbling defeat but nothing could ever detract from the magnificence of the St Oliver's voyage. This was the second time St Oliver's CC had reached an All-Ireland final and they travelled to Enniskillen determined to bring a first All-Ireland title to the school. While they knew they were up against it, their performances en route to the final suggested they were capable of beating anybody. Olivers came from nowhere to storm their way to an All-Ireland final in what was an incredible rise to prominence for the team and coach John Heeney (who played midfield when St Oliver's contested their last All-Ireland final against St Mark's of Warrenpoint in 1994). Going into the final, Heeney said he couldn't believe his charges were within 60 minutes of an All-Ireland . . . in what was effectively his first year teaching at the school! At the start of the year, he was just assisting Paddy Clarke but when the county VS team had such a good run he was given complete control of the Olivers. They started out with a fine win over Meath side St Peter's, Dunboyne in the first round and followed this up with an emphatic victory over fancied Offaly outfit Ard Scoil Ciaran, Clara, 4-13 to 1-4. They were in the mood for it now and continued to impress in the Leinster final with a resounding 3-8 to 0-9 victory over St Kevin's of Dunlavin (Wicklow). That was a case of Mission Accomplished. St Oliver's were Leinster champions. Now they turned their minds to the All-Ireland series. In the semi-final they faced Mayo and Connacht kingpins Belmullet, administering a 1-11 to 1-5 spanking. All this had been achieved with a very small panel, with many of the players also involved in the U15 soccer team that reached the All-Ireland semi-final. But it was never going to be easy against St Joseph's. The Coalisland school had some excellent footballers as they proved with their 4-17 to 3-5 semi-final thumping of Causeway (Kerry). St Oliver's worst fears were realised in Enniskillen on Saturday May 19th when their All-Ireland dreams were shattered on a scoreline of 7-8 to 0-8. It was a disappointing end to what was effectively a magical campaign. A Leinster title and an All-Ireland final appearance is some achievement! St Oliver's CC, Drogheda's All-Ireland final team and scorers: Keith Martin; Darren Stevenson, Sean Gilsenan, Harry McArdle; Stephen Bishop (0-1), Damien O'Halloran, Jack English; Andrew Tinley (0-2), Anthony Johnson (0-3); Marc McCormack, Anthony Doonan, Keith Arnold (0-1); Brian McAuley, Patrick Murtagh, James Guilfoyle (0-1). Subs: Robert Callaghan, Gary Teelan, Aaron Harrison. Not used: Edward Madden, Colin Woods. Tweet

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