Duleek would have loved to make it through to the quarter-finals of the Senior Football Championship in their first year back in the top flight. They didn't make it, but they were still in the hunt going into the concluding series of group matches and did enough during the campaign to demonstrate without any doubt that they are fit for life in the highest grade. When Duleek finally made the breakthrough in 2005 by winning an overdue intermediate title - their first since 1978 - there was undoubted joy, but there was unquestionably also a sense of relief that they had at last got over the finish line and earned the right to play their football with the real big boys again. Former Dublin star forward Barney Rock has been part of an amazing Duleek footballing adventure over the past few years and it was great that he was there as manager when they deservedly took the intermediate title after years of frustration and again when they returned to the senior ranks. When you do make that step up, especially after going close previously, the last thing you want to do is slip straight back down. But that was never likely to happen to Duleek who, in the opinion of the vast majority of observers of the game in the county, would be more than capable of holding their own. They went into the Senior Championship knowing that more recent intermediate winners have fared well in the top flight. Wolfe Tones are a prime example and it should be remembered that it was that fine side that deprived Duleek of the intermediate crown in 2004. Duleek were drawn in Group A of the 2006 SFC and couldn't have asked for a much more demanding opening to their campaign than against title favourites Blackhall Gaels. The section also included Navan O'Mahonys, the team many felt would have won the championship last year but for that unfortunate mix-up over substitutes, former three-in-a-row kingpins Dunshaughlin, Simonstown Gaels, St. Patrick's, Summerhill and Kilmainhamwood. And they opened in satisfactory fashion when earning a draw against Blackhall at Skryne where the concession of two goals cost them victory as it finished 0-14 to 2-8. Duleek were the better side for much of the game and demonstrated tremendous spirit. With Peter Curran superb they had the edge early on and led by 0-2 to 0-0, but they leaked the first of those goals to Mark Crampton and soon trailed by 0-2 to 1-3, before they recovered to be the minimum adrift at the break (0-5 to 1-3). A Tadhg Brosnan goal from a dubious penalty helped Blackhall to lead by 2-5 to 0-7, but Duleek never gave up and outscored them by 0-7 to 0-3 in the final 18 minutes as Curran had the last say with a pointed free in injury time to secure the draw. Bellewstown was the venue for a rip-roaring second round derby against St. Patrick's in a match that was close throughout. Curran scored a brilliant goal after five minutes, but Pat's led by 2-5 to 1-4 at the break, before Duleek enjoyed their best spell in the opening 20 minutes of the second period to edge a point ahead. But the Stamullen men finished best to shade the verdict by a point (2-9 to 1-11). Duleek's first win back in the senior ranks came at Kilberry when the beat Kilmainhamwood by 1-12 to 0-7. They were only a point (0-5 to 0-4) up at the interval, by which stage Ricky Nolan had made a very good save from a Ray Magee penalty, but a flood of scores after the change of ends helped them to push seven points clear and any chance the 'Wood had of a recovery were destroyed when Stephen Nolan netted. He top-scored with 1-3 on a day when all the Duleek forwards registered. A second draw of the group stages followed against Dunshaughlin at Pairc Tailteann when Duleek missed far too many chances, kicking 14 wides. They went 30 minutes without a score in the first half, before Curran got an injury time goal and Daire Ferguson pointed and Dunshaughlin led by 0-7 to 1-1 at the break. Duleek added eight second half points and Curran eventually secured the draw with a late point from a '45'. It ended 1-9 to 0-12 and by that stage they were fourth in the group on four points, but most of the teams around them had played a game less. Navan O'Mahonys provided the fifth round opposition, also at Pairc Tailteann, and a Conal McGinley goal after five minutes helped Duleek to lead by 1-3 to 0-5 at half-time. They edged two points ahead on the restart, but O'Mahonys soon found their rhythm and took some great scores from play, hitting the front for the first time entering the last quarter. They went five clear, before Curran replied with a brace of late frees to leave it 0-15 to 1-9 at the finish. The other Navan giants, Simonstown, were next up at Skryne and this win must have given Duleek added satisfaction as a late Colin Duignan point earned them a 0-10 to 0-9 verdict. Colm O'Rourke's team led by 0-7 to 0-5 at the interval, by which stage Duleek had squandered goal chances, including a 16th minute Paul Martin penalty that was well saved by Gary Lynch. Simonstown looked set for victory when they pushed ahead by 0-9 to 0-6, but three Curran points drew the sides level and Duignan got the winner to push his team into the fourth qualifying position on six points. Duleek's first campaign back at senior level was a great adventure, but it ended at Pairc Tailteann on the second Sunday of September when Summerhill beat them by 1-13 to 1-9 to secure their own survival and knock Rock's men out of the title race. It wasn't a good performance from Duleek when they really needed one and they managed only two points from play over the hour. The teams were level three times during the first half and at the break (0-4 each), but Summerhill pushed clear by 1-9 to 0-5 in the third quarter en route to their only win of the competition. There was no way back for Duleek and Curran's injury time goal from a penalty was nothing more than a consolation. Simonstown defeated Kilmaimhamwood with ease at Kells the same day and scraped through to the quarter-finals on seven points, with Duleek just behind them on six after winning twice, drawing twice and losing three times. Barney Rock won't be at the helm when Duleek make a bid to progress further in next year's Senior Championship, but he leaves behind many great memories of his time with the club. "I had four great years with them," he said fondly as he reflected on the tough road Duleek travelled in pursuit of an overdue intermediate title before they finally made the breakthrough in 2005. "I couldn't fault them. They are a great club and a great bunch of players. I would be very hopeful for their future because there is a lot of talent coming through. They won the Minor League this year and are still in the Minor Championship as we speak. They have some very good players in the club, like Peter Curran, and I think Paudge Howard is a great prospect. He's as good as there is in the county. "As for the 2006 Senior Championship, I was very pleased in many ways. Our main goals were to stay in Div. 1 of the A League and to remain in the Senior Championship. We wanted to get a good footing there with a view to the future. "We probably should have reached the quarter-finals, but didn't make it. We didn't take our chances against Summerhill and that cost us." Duleek are going to miss the services of the former Dublin sharpshooter who has decided to call it a day. "I won't be staying on as manager," Rock added. "The lads knew that all along. I was just staying there for this year. It's time for somebody else to take over and give it a fresh start. But, as I said, it's been a great four years." MINOR GLORY St. Cianan's, the Duleek/Bellewstown combination, proved very consistent in Minor Football Committee competitions during the summer, winning the MFL Div. 1 title with a final win over Donaghmore/Ashbourne and just missing out on U-16 FC glory when they were edged out by the same club in the decider. Trailing by seven points entering the closing stages, St. Cianan's looked set for a defeat in the minor final at Ardcath, but they proceeded to turn in a stirring comeback to force the game to extra-time. The sides were locked together entering the closing seconds of the additional periods, but Stephen Nolan slotted over a free which proved to be the match-winning score. At the final whistle St. Cianan's had shaded the verdict on a 3-9 to 3-8 score line and features of the match were outstanding performances from Joey Martin, Kevin McCann, Nolan, Daniel Martin, Darren Mills and Mark Collins. The St. Cianan's panel for the final was - J. Flaherty, W. Cudden, P. Callaghan, D. Martin, E. Byrne, P. Clarke, K. Shiels, K. McCann, S. Nolan, R. Finnegan, P. Cromwell, I. O'Brien, D. Moore, G. Martin, A. Everard, T. McHugh, D. Mills, C. Brodigan, S. McArdle, J. Martin, C. Byrne, C. Connell, A. Herron, G. Durkin, O. Curley, J. Bissett, M. Collins. St. Cianan's had experienced how cruel sport can be approximately a week earlier when they surrendered a very healthy lead in the U-16 FC final at Pairc Tailteann where Donaghmore/Ashbourne turned in a sensational finish to win by 4-5 to 1-12. It was a match St. Cianan's looked certain to win as they led throughout and with Meath under-16 star Mark Collins in superb form they possessed the top player on the field. The Bellewstown youngster contributed eight superb points and was involved in the build-up to the majority of the rest. Midfielder Daniel Martin was another to turn in a great display and Cianan's looked to be heading for a comfortable victory when they were six points (1-5 to 0-2) clear at the interval, their goal coming from Martin after five minutes. Donaghmore/Ashbourne hit back with a goal two minutes after the change of ends, but St. Cianan's still led by 1-10 to 1-3 at the three-quarter stage and a victory looked very much on the cards. But they managed only two points from there to the finish as their opponents refused to accept what appeared to be the inevitable. They kept plugging away, were boosted by two more goals and eventually stunned St. Cianan's when Gavin Kennedy netted in injury time. It was the first time they led over the hour and there was no time for Cianan's to respond. It was a massive disappointment to lose in such circumstances, but it was a campaign that demonstrated just how much talent St. Cianan's possess. The St. Cianan's team in the final was - C. Tallon; G. Martin, P. Flynn, C. McGroggan; A. Whearty, J. Flaherty, J. Finnegan; P. Callaghan, D. Martin (1-0); C. Byrne, M. Collins (0-8), J. Bissett (0-1); P. Johnston (0-3), I. O'Brien, B. Moore. Sub - A. Everard for Martin. Tweet

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