Glen Emmets' 2007 season could probably be described as a rollercoaster ride as the Tullyallen club's campaign was a mixture of hot and cold results in the championship and the league with the only real consistency coming in the winning of the Kevin Mullen Shield, and the march to the Division 4B final. The club's PRO, Robert Murray, reflected on a season that continued to show the potential at the club and although there was some silverware brought back to Tullyallen there was some disappointment that Glen Emmets will be operating in the Junior Championship and League in 2008. The first task of the year was to find a management team and the committee went for a man with great experience at club level along with men with great knowledge of the Emmets set-up. "Our season started with a search for a new manager and trainer. After a lot of work from the committee we awarded the job of taking Emmets forward to the good team of Derek Wogan, Davey Cusack and Gerry Hanratty. Derek and Davey are former players with the Glens while the experienced Gerry Hanratty came from Collon. We were delighted to have the services of Gerry as he brought us professionalism and a wealth of football knowledge from his time with Mattock Rangers. He has just about played in every competition at all grades in Louth. "The management team set out there stall with the championship and league as our main aims. They decided to blood our fringe players and minors in the shield and I can safely say everyone training with us this year got their chance in this competition." Some good performances in that competition not only helped the club reach the Kevin Mullen Final, but also sent them into the league in confident mood. Unfortunately, as Robert points out, things didn't go according to plan in the main competitions. "We started the season with a league game at home to St Nicholas, we lost by a point in a very entertaining game, and followed that up with draw away to John Mitchels. We then scored our first win of the season home to Dowdallshill. "Our start to the shield was a lot better, we went unbeaten for five games with some impressive wins, before are first defeat in last game against Westerns. Despite this we qualified for the final an were just waiting to see who are opponents out of Group B would be. "In the meantime the junior championship had started and we travelled to Stabannon to take on Dowdallshill. Unfortunately, we got off to the worst start possible by conceding two goals inside the first 20 minutes and never recovered. "Three goals in five minutes in the second half saw the Hill record a comfortable win, but two weeks later we bounced back with a one point win in championship round two against St Nicholas in Drogheda." During the break in the championship, Glen Emmets had their first opportunity to land some silverware when they faced a return to Stabannon to meet Dowdallshill. This time they turned in a better performance and were rewarded with victory. "It was only four weeks since they beat us comfortably in the championship and we knew that it would take a huge effort to win. However, we played much better and, as they say the rest is history as we recorded a fine victory without conceding a goal and marksman Joey Carolan scored the only goal of the game too the delight of a large Glen Emmets crowd." The team and scorers on duty in the Kevin Mullen Shield Final at Stabannon was as follows: Scorers: Joey Carolan (1-3, 3f), Eamon Taaffe (0-4), Mark Noone, Noel McCarron, Stephen Healy (0-1 each). Team: Liam O'Connor; Colin Carolan, Frankie Carolan, Derek Johnston; Aidan Monaghan, Robert Murray, Danny White; Gordon Healy, Declan McGarvey; Eamon Mullen, Eamon Taaffe, Keith Farnan; Mark Noone, Joey Carolan, Andrew Murphy. Subs: David Mongey for A Murphy, Noel McCarron for E Mullen, Stephen Healy for K Farnan. The club hoped to build on that success in the championship but the loss of key members of the team meant they were unable to make it to the knock-out stages. "We returned to the championship with a moral boosting win against the Finbarrs. Unfortunately, this was probably the turning point in the Emmets season as a series of bad injuries and holidays were to result in us playing their final two games with a lot of key players missing," added Robert. They were unable to overcome these difficulties and crashed out of championship with defeats to Young Irelands and St Mochtas. However, it wasn't all bad news as the second team were in impressive form in Division 4B in their first season after winning promotion from Division 4C. "We recorded nine wins, a draw and three defeats resulting in a three-way play-off. We lost the first play-off to Roche Emmets, followed by a win against Na Piarsaigh to qualify for a semi-final meeting with table-toppers, St Brides. This match was played in Kilkerley and we won this game well and played the best football we probably produced all year. "We took on Roche in the final and lost. Although we were disappointed, the better team won on the night and overall Roche were best team we played all year and deserved their win." Glen Emmets have also been putting in a lot of work at underage level in recent years and Robert was encouraged by some of the performances. "Our minor team went well again this year holding their own in the league and contesting the secondary competition final for the second year but unfortunately lost out to Kilkerly/Naomh Malachi. Meanwhile the U16s got to the league Division 3 final where they were beaten by a strong St Nicholas team." Off the field of play, Robert paid tribute to the continuing efforts to improve the facilities with the development of the grounds going well following the completion of the new clubhouse. "It is a credit to Emmets hard working Chairman and committee that we have a great facility for the future development of our young players. I would just like say on that note how important fundraising is with all this new work been carried out, we need to raise a lot of money. The main way we can do this is through the club lotto and we need more sellers and buyers so please make the effort to buy a ticket weekly as it will allow are hard working committee to continue the development of your club." Robert also pointed out that the Emmets ladies team had a great start to their first season by winning three games this year. Managers Anthony Murray and Jason Finnegan have asked any girls or women of all ages in the parish to contact them if interested in playing for the Emmets. Glen Emmets are holding a dinner dance on Saturday January 19th 2008 in the Westcourt Hotel, tickets available from Robert Murray or any committee member. Tweet

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