Players and supporters of the county's oldest club will fondly remember 2006. The year brought numerous successes on the field of play and with ground developments continuing at Pairc Eire Óg, the future is looking considerably brighter for the green and blacks. One of the highlights was the Junior I team under the management of Patrick Conlon, winning the Division 3 Junior I league and Macardle Cup for the first time since 1949. After losing their opening game the team went on to record eight straight wins and there were jubilant scenes after the penultimate game at home against John Mitchels when Louth County Board Vice-Chairman Jim Thornton presented the trophy to winning captain Aaron Rogers Unfortunately, due to league re-structuring, Irelands did not gain promotion and will remain in Junior I for 2007. However, on the plus side, Irelands introduced the likes of Derek Maguire, Mark Savage, Kevin Keelan, Peter Nixon, Paul McDonald, Craig McKenna, Sean Laverty, Niall Fergus, Conor Nixon and Chris McCormick to adult football in 2006 and with more players hopefully to come from recent successful underage teams, confidence is high within the club. For long serving club members, Tony Hande, it was a great reward for the work that has been done over many years. "Pat Conlon came in from Silverbridge to train the team and the lads would go through a wall for him. The success was a long time coming and it was great to see so many young players coming through. "I think it is important that we won the league but it is just a pity that there was no promotion as I believe the higher grade would have brought the young players on a step further. "However, the taste of success should give the players the incentive to achieve more and hopefully we will continue to make progress next year. The league should be more competitive and we will benefit from having the likes of Graham Carr and Gerard Nixon back so that will strengthen us." The one disappointment was the performance in the Junior Championship when eventual champions, St Kevins, beat Irelands at the semi-final stage. The Dundalk team had already accounted for Mitchels and Fechins to reach the last four. "The boys were very disappointed but we just didn't get into it that day. However, St Kevins proved they were a good side and in fact they were the only team to beat us all year, so that shows what progress we made," explained Tony. In the other adult grade it was a mixed year for the Junior 2B team who started well in Div 4C only to lose their way mid season mainly due to a shortage of competitive games. The Junior 2B Championship gave the side a lift with a good win over Sean McDermotts following a replay, however Irelands subsequently lost to Gaels at the quarter-final stage. At juvenile level the club continues to make great progress, a fact that delights Tony and his club members who continue to build for the future. "There is a lot of work being done and it is great to see the club being competitive at all grades. A few years ago we set out to challenge for the underage titles and that is what we are doing." The effort of the dedicated mentors is obvious from a run down of the juvenile season: U-18 The minor team played in Division 1 in 2006 with a young team - all bar four of the panel are eligible again in 2007. The year started well with a good away draw in Cooley (who went on to win Minor Championship). Unfortunately, in the Minor Championship, Newtown Blues visited Dundalk and caused somewhat of an upset, winning by two points against an understrength home team. U-17 There was good news for the U-17 team as on Saturday November 4, they won the U-17 Louth Blitz which was held at Pairc Eire Óg. After the blitz, Minor Board Chairman Tomás O hEochaidh presented the U-17 Blitz Shield to Young Irelands winning captain Craig McKenna. Team: Craig McKenna (c), Niall Fergus, Colin Farrell, Eoin Whearty, Conor Nixon, Paul McDonald, Derek Maguire, Sean Laverty, Shane Greene, Peter Nixon. U-16 Although honours eluded Irelands, 2006 was the club's best year at this level in a long time. They were unlucky to lose to a strong Geraldines side. In the U-16 "A" Championship, Irelands also made the Final for the first time in 20 years. Geraldine's again spoiled the party however on their way to claiming back-to-back U-16 Championships. Derek Maguire was named on the Louth Junior I, U-18 and Louth Minors. Derek is destined for a great career with club and county. U-15 The disappointment of losing two finals at U-16 was lessened somewhat with the U-15 league final win over Roche in October. Captain Nicholas O'Connor was to the fore scoring 2-1 for the winners. Ciaran Murray and Dermot Mone ably assisted him. Congratulations to mentors Enda Murray, Tony Hande, Gerry Corbally and Laurence O'Hanlon. U-14 It was a mixed year at U-14 level accounting for St. Michaels and Naomh Finnbarra but losing to St. Patrick's and St. Vincent's. Irelands beat Lannleire/St. Kevins in the U-14 "B" Championship before losing to Clans in the quarter final. Seatown/Cluan Enda - Cumann Peil na nÓg The club had the distinction of contesting all of this year's Cumann Peil na nÓg Finals. At U-12 level, it was a case of so near yet so far as Quay beat Seatown/Cluan Enda in the League Final while Bridge End did likewise in the Championship decider. Success however followed in the U-10 grade with Seatown/Cluan claiming the Championship title after a nail-biting replay win over Kilkerley. Young Dean Maguire, son of loyal clubman Kieran and brother of Louth minor Derek captained the winning team while another prominent player was Fergal Sheekey, grandson of Young Irelands legend Jimmy Ross. Jimmy indeed celebrated his 90th birthday during 2006 and the club wish him well. In February, Seatown/Cluan Enda hosted their annual juvenile presentation night in JJB Sports. Players of the Year awards were presented to U-12 David Bellew and U-14 Nicholas O'Connor, also U-14. Most Improved Robert McKinley followed by presentation of new Louth jerseys to each of the Penalty Kick competition winners U-8 Sean Laverty, U-10 Conor Durnin, U-12 Aidan Sheekey, U-14 David Murphy. Anyone wishing to join Cluan Enda should contact John Laverty at (086) 8558614 or log onto www.dundalkyoungirelands.com. Coaching starts in April, every Monday evening at 6.30pm on Cluan Enda green. 2005 Senior Presentation Night BBC/TG4 analyst and Armagh's 1999 Ulster Championship winning captain Jarlath Burns was the special guest star at Dundalk Young Irelands Senior Presentation night in McGeoughs on Wednesday March 8. Louth U-16 2005 Division 1 League and Secondary Competition trophies were presented to captains Craig McKenna and Peter Nixon and medals were also presented to the winning panel. In 2005, Young Irelands also won the Minor "B" Championship and Tomas O hEochaidh presented the cup and medals to the winning panel led by captain Shane O'Connell. Jarlath Burns presented the 2005 club awards: Player of the Year U-15 Robbie Agnew, U-16 Derek Maguire, U-17 Chris McCormick, U-18 Shane O'Connell, Junior 2 David Bailey, Junior 1 Aaron Rogers and Club Person of Year John Laverty. In recognition of the 70th Anniversary of Louth first All-Ireland Minor win in 1936, Young Irelands honoured their two surviving members, Leo Burns and Jim Cunningham. Unfortunately Jim was unable to attend the function. 1887 All-Ireland Final commemorated President Sean Kelly unveiled a plaque on a site at Clonskeagh near Donnybrook on Wednesday 12th April, 2006 where the first All-Ireland Football Final was held almost 120 years ago between Limerick Commercials G.F.C and Dundalk Young Irelands G.F.C. Dundalk Young Irelands were represented by their President Fr. John Mulligan S.M, Hon. President Michael Flood and their former Chairman and Central Council delegate Pat Hamilton. Sean Cunningham RIP 2006 started on a sad note for Young Irelands with the news of the death of former Young Irelands player Sean Cunningham in Los Angeles on New Years Eve 2005. Sean will be remembered most for his winning goal for Louth in the 1957 All-Ireland Final. 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