Having preserved their intermediate status in dramatic circumstances the previous year, Sean McDermotts went into the 2007 season full of hope. This time, they at least managed to avoid the unwanted tension of a relegation play-off but, sadly, the Seans' season was overshadowed by the passing of one of their most popular members - Gerard 'Cooper' Curran. Peter Osborne was understandably downbeat and crestfallen when he spoke to Gerald Robinson about the events of '07. The fleeting nature of life is such that we are sometimes reminded that football is just a game. At the end of the day, despite the huge effort that every player invests for the love of his club or county, there are far more important things in life than football results. Never is this more obvious than when a club loses one of its most cherished members. Unfortunately, such a fare befell Sean McDermotts in 2007, when the mid-Louth club bade a sad farewell to the much-loved Gerard 'Cooper' Curran. Gerard was very much the heart and soul of the Mountrush club. He could always be seen around the clubhouse, helping out in any way possible. He was a proud McDermotts clubman and he never missed a training session. Thus, there was a massive void about the club in the second part of the season after 'Cooper' passed away on May 20. The loss put the matches played during the year into perspective. At the same time, it must be said that the players did their former colleague proud by retaining their intermediate status and they produced some very impressive performances towards the end of the year in particular. Victory over Oliver Plunketts in July effectively assured the Seans of their place on the middle rung in '08, while spirited displays against Clan na Gael and the Geraldines in their final two Group A outings offer much encouragement for the coming year. As the club's position in intermediate ranks had gone down to the wire in both 2005 and 2006, consolidation was satisfactory if unspectacular. Bearing in mind that the Seans were also affected by injuries to key men during the season, they have every reason to look back on the season just ended with a sense of vindication. With men like Peter Osborne around, they should be able to improve in the coming years. Peter is one of the most promising young talents in the Wee County at present and has already earned the attention of county selectors at minor, U21 and senior levels. Though his year was severely disrupted by illness and injury, Peter was still one of the Seans' leading lights and is a player with a big future at club and county level. He was full back with the county U21s in '07 and will be eligible for the grade again in '08. Glandular fever and a dislocated collarbone combined to ensure that his chances were limited with Eamonn McEneaney's first team but time is very much on the McDermotts clubman's side. Casting his mind back on the general events of the year, Peter speaks first and foremost of his fond memories of Gerard Curran: "Gerard was one of the main men in the club and we were all very sad when he died. He was always there for us and his passing placed a massive cloud over the year for everyone in the club. "We hoped to do well enough and we knew we were good enough to win a few games in the IFC. We made a bright start in the league but found it hard to pick ourselves up after losing Cooper. We soon had little or nothing to play for, as we were in the middle of the table in the league and couldn't make the knockout stage of the championship, so it wasn't the most exciting year ever." After surviving the dreaded drop against all odds the previous year, Sean McDermotts took their place in Group A of the 2007 Louth IFC. They lost their opening two fixtures to Na Piarsaigh and O'Connells on Sunday April 15 and Friday April 27 respectively but then recorded a fantastic 2-11 to 2-8 win over Oliver Plunketts at Clan na Gael Park on Saturday July 26. This was a crucial result as it effectively determined who would finish bottom of the section. By winning (against a side that had just come down from senior), McDermotts ultimately avoided the relegation play-off final. The team built upon that impressive performance with decent displays against the Clans and the Gers in their last two group matches. At Knockbridge on Thursday August 9, they ran the Clans within five points, 1-11 to 1-6; fifteen days later, at Tallanstown, they were only two points shy of Geraldines - 1-12 to 0-13. Thus, after a poor start, the players showed that they are capable of overcoming limited resources to compete in the middle grade. Two points was enough to keep the Seans away from the relegation decider and there was a palpable sense of relief in the Mountrush air as it was confirmed that a third successive year in intermediate football had been secured. Peter Osborne accepts that the Plunketts result was the decisive one: "It was important to get a win at that stage and get ourselves off the bottom of the group. In fairness, that was a very poor game but the result was all that really mattered and those two points made sure we'd stay in intermediate football for another season, which is what we all wanted. It's a relief to know we won't be playing junior football in 2008." On the improved performances against the Clans and the Geraldines, Peter notes: "We did well in the Clans game. We got back within a few points and then I dislocated the collarbone and Ronan Valentine got concussion. We really only have 16 or 17 players to call upon, so we faded in the last ten minutes of that match. Against the Geraldines, I think we got back on level terms but they knocked over a couple of late points. In the end, we were disappointed that we didn't make a greater impact in the championship, but we were also happy not to end up being relegated given the problems we had during the year." So what's in the stars for 2008? Can Sean McDermotts avoid another flirtation with junior fare? "Our main aim will be to stay up but we'd like to do it with some comfort. We'll want to get a good run in the league and we'll also push and try to get out of the group in the championship. If we can keep everybody fit and we have better luck with injuries, we could put it up to most intermediate sides in the county." A first-team regular for five years already, Peter is looking forward to the new season and is targeting a good run in both the league and championship: "We're hoping to get the same lads out again and to go for it. It would be nice to attract another player or two but that would be nearly impossible in such a small parish with three clubs all drawing on the players. It's difficult for Glyde, Westerns and ourselves. I think we can finish well up the league table this time and we're also good enough to get past the group stage of the championship." The Sean McDermotts team that beat Oliver Plunketts in Group A of the 2007 Louth IFC at Clan na Gael Park in July 2007 was: Damien Curran; David O'Neill (0-1), Ciaran McMahon, Conor Callaghan; Kenneth Taaffe, Sean McMahon, Patrick Osborne; Brendan McGahon, Peter Osborne; James Woods, Ronan Valentine (0-6), Tony Kelly; Kevin McMahon (1-0), Colin Curran (1-4), Tommy Durnin. Subs: Daniel Woods, Kevin Carroll, Adam Finlay. Tweet

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