It was as nondescript and unexpected a place as possible for it all to end. Right at the outset, before it had even started. By Gordan Manning On a wintry afternoon in March, a Carnaross cavalcade meandered into Ballivor for their third game in Division 2A of the All County Football League. Elsewhere in the county that weekend games had been postponed because of unplayable pitches after persistent and heavy rainfall. The Ballivor pitch hadn't held up well after downpours during the previous 24 hours but the go ahead was given for the game to take place. The Carnaross players laced their boots, dragged the maroon and gold jersey over their heads, braced themselves, and left the relatively comfortable confines of the dressing to plod through the puddles. By the time they would return over an hour later their season lay in ruins. And they never fully recovered. Just five minutes into the game, stalwart Gavin Murphy broke his leg. While still coming to terms with that blow, Meath senior panellist John L McGee then also suffered a broken leg with the game in injury time. In one foul swoop, Carnaross had lost two of their most important players for the entire season. And, at that stage, they hadn't even played a single game in the Intermediate championship. Both injuries were accidental but Carnaross delegates at the following month's county board meeting conveyed their anger that the game was allowed go ahead on the pitch in the first place. In a sadly ironic twist, Carnaross player Ciaran Yore broke his leg on the same pitch two years earlier. Carnaross won the game 1-7 to 0-8 - recording their first competitive win of the season having lost their first two league games. They would finish their league season in eighth position with 11 points, safely retaining their Division 2A status. However, their championship campaign was worse than anybody at the club could have feared - almost culminating in relegation to the junior grade. Ciaran Yore's side won just one game out of seven in the group section of the championship, finishing joint bottom of the table with just two points and a scoring difference of minus 43. However, a 1-11 o 1-4 victory over Na Fianna in the group relegation play-off in Athboy on September 24th salvaged middle tier football for the North Meath men next year. "Losing the two players early on was a huge blow and things never really got going for us this year," admitted defender Peter Nugent. It wasn't just Murphy and McGee that were out injured for Carnaross this year. Brian Smyth, Declan Reilly and Peter's brothers Paddy and Thomas were among those who were sidelined at various stages during the season. Of course, not all of Carnaross' disappointing season can be blamed simply on their injury problems. It was, undeniably, a massive factor and a pivotal one. However, it did provide others with an opportunity to come in and take their chance. Unfortunately for Carnaross the team just never clicked in 2006 and they'll spend the winter trying to erase it from their memory. If they had been relegated, it's hard to know what the future would have held for the club. Over the last few years Carnaross have been among the annual favourites for the Intermediate championship. They lost their senior status in 1999 but were just one win away from a return to the top flight in 2003 when they progressed to the final. However, they suffered a 17 point annihilation, 3-14 to 0-6, to Navan O'Mahony's in the decider that year. In 2006, Navan contested the Meath senior football championship final. Carnaross contested an intermediate do or die relegation play-off. The contrast couldn't be greater. Yet, Carnaross should still not be far away from promotion. In 2004 they lost to Wolfe Tones by five points in Kells. It was a game many in club felt they left behind them. A game they could, and should, have won. Wolfe Tones went on to win the Mattie McDonnell Cup that year. In October this year The Tones lifted the Keegan Cup. "Hopefully if we can get everybody together next year and putting in an effort then we can go well. We would expect to be at least making it out of the group," continued Peter. "We just got a bad start this year and the more games we lost the harder it proved to get players out training so it just got worse and worse." Carnaross' championship campaign started off with a 1-12 to 2-5 defeat to Donaghmore/Ashbourne at Seneschalstown in April. An early Colin Yore goal helped them to a 1-4 to 1-2 half-time lead while Dermot McGee added a second after the resumption. However, Donaghmore/Ashbourne were much more prolific in front of the posts in the second half and pulled away for the victory. Memories of that horrendous day in March were ignited next time out when they faced Ballivor in the second round of the championship in Athboy. Carnaross never got into the game though and trailed by four points at half-time. Ollie Murphy scored a second half goal for the north Meath men but the result never really looked in doubt with the Ballivor winning 1-13 to 1-7. They suffered their third successive championship defeat in Moynalty at the start of June when going down to Castletown, 0-13 to 1-7 - this time it was substitute Declan Reilly with the goal while Ollie Murphy scored five points. However, after three defeats on the trot Carnaross appeared to drop their heads. If there was one game which could motivate the players and get them back on track then it was surely a meeting with local rivals Gaeil Colmcille. However, Carnaross collapsed to the Kells town side - suffering a 2-18 to 1-6 defeat in Moynalty, losing not only the game but the local bragging rights as well. Carnaross were without a number of players due to holidays for their next outing - against Drumconrath in August - and so it was little surprise when they tumbled to a fifth consecutive championship defeat, 1-15 to 2-7. Championship defeat number six subsequently followed against Dunderry at Kilberry in early September, 0-13 to 0-5. After that result, Carnaross were rock bottom with no points while Na Fianna were just above them on two. The sides met in the final game of the group section, with Carnaross needing a win to force a relegation play-off. The game took place in Bohermeen and finished in the most dramatic circumstances with Brian Comaskey kicking a last gasp point to earn Carnaross a one point victory, 0-11 to 1-7. The play-off took place on September 24th in Athboy where Carnaross finally found some championship form to win 1-11 to 1-4. They had to claw back from a one point half-time deficit to graft out the victory. Points from Dermot McGee, Paddy Nugent and Ollie Murphy pushed them ahead after the resumption. They were three points in the ascendancy as the game approached full time when Murphy picked out Stephen Yore and he slotted the ball to the back of the Ballivor net. Brian Comaskey added a point moments later. Carnaross had survived. "Things actually only started to come together near the end of the year when everybody starting putting in more of an effort," recalled Peter. "We had a good run in the Feis Cup and thankfully we stayed up in the Intermediate championship because it would have been a nightmare if we had been relegated." Away from the club scene, it was a fantastic personal year for Peter's younger brother Paddy Nugent as he captained the Meath juniors to a Leinster Championship final win over Louth at Croke Park in June, 1-12 to 0-11. Paddy, who was part of the All-Ireland winning junior team in 2003, was also part of Eamonn Barry's Meath senior panel this year. A tight marking, tenacious and hard working defender, he's likely to figure in Colm Coyle's 2007 plans. Indeed, the club has a proud tradition of providing players to the county set-up. In recent times PJ Gillic and Ollie Murphy have been key players on All-Ireland winning Meath teams. However, the number one ambition for the club next year will be to re-establish themselves as contenders in the Intermediate championship. There is no doubt that they have the calibre of players to challenge for the title next year. A number of young players have now had a taste of championship football and there is a nice mix of youth and experience. If they can get all of their players out and remain injury free, then 2007 could see pride restored in Carnaross. Their campaign ended before it had even started this year. It was a long and dark season. But after the darkness, tends to come the light! Tweet

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