Dunshaughlin's Meath SFC title treble triumph in the first three years of the new century added an exciting new chapter to the Keegan Cup competition. But how things have changed since that golden period for the black and amber brigade and in 2006 a place in the closing phase eluded them for the first time since 1998. By Noel Coogan. Not only did not qualify for the last eight for they first time in eight attempts this year, but they also failed to win a game in the group stages. Draws with Kilmainhamwood, Duleek, Summerhill and Blackhall Gaels were just enough for them to steer clear of a play-off for senior survival and there were minimum margin defeats at the hands of Simonstown Gaels and Navan O'Mahonys before the campaign was concluded with a ten points defeat to St Patrick's. Dudley Farrell had replaced Charlie Redmond at the Dunshaughlin helm and had Stephen Claire and T. P. Toolan as his assistants but it was just not to be for the village men in 2006. Although a few talented young players have come up from the St Martin's nursery, with so many miles on the clock, some of the older team members lacked the freshness needed to bolster a strong challenge. Before the opening round tussle with Kilmainhamwood at Simonstown manager Farrell told his troops that games were not won on paper. Dunshaughlin had a good sprinkling of players who helped bring those three county titles as well as a Leinster success in 2002 and appeared to have a stronger side than their opponents. But the favourites had to come from four points in arrears after 55 minutes to snatch a somewhat fortunate 1-10 to 2-7 draw. Dunshaughlin were forced to field without strong midfielder Niall Kelly, who was serving a one-match suspension for being sent off in the 2005 quarter-final against Trim, but Richie Kealy returned after missing the previous year's campaign because of injury. The All-Ireland winner of the '90s was the 2006 captain but was forced to retired hurt five minutes into the second half. The hard working forward also figured on the Meath junior team which won out in Leinster and it was understandable that the former county senior took time to regain his old form. Conor Staunton came on and made his mark with 1-2, with the goal and a levelling point from Trevor Dowd, who had returned after a sojourn in Australia, saving the evening for them from a free. Eight days later Dunshaughlin looked to be in a comfortable position when leading Simonstown by four points six minutes into the second half of the Pairc Tailteann encounter but then they did not score again as Colm O'Rourke's charges hit five points without reply to win by 1-10 to 0-12. Niall Kelly returned but the forwards in black and amber were in wasteful form although David Tonge and Cathal O'Dwyer hit three points each and David Crimmins kicked over two. Dunshaughlin faced an uphill battle after that and again it was a case of letting a lead slip away as they had five points on the Pairc Tailteann scoreboard before O'Mahonys got their blank off it and went on to finish up 0-13 to 0-12 victors. Niall Kelly started at full forward before being moved to midfield. His side depended too much on converted frees for scores with only half of their total coming from play. Four of their points came after the Brews Hill side had completed their tally and Stephen Ward was unlucky not to force a draw when a late free from a difficult angle hit an upright. That near miss occurred at the hospital end and it was suggested than the sun going down may have signalled the light going out on Dunshaughlin's championship hopes. Holding on to a lead was a big problem for the former kingpins and in a third visit to the county ground for the fourth round tussle with Duleek they were 0-7 to 0-0 to the good near the end of the opening period before leading by 0-7 to 1-1 at the break. Dunshaughlin went into that game and the remainder of their SFC outings without county senior panel members Caoimhin King and Denis Kealy, both of whom had departed to the United States earlier in the week. But they were making light of the loss with David Tonge, Cathal O'Dwyer, David Crimmins and Conor Staunton raising white flags from play and when Trevor Dowd sent over four points, three of them from play, in the second half, the black and ambers were looking good for a first win. When Niall Kelly took a pass from Ray Maloney and left his side leading by 0-12 to 1-7 on 54 minutes it turned out to be their last score. After that they conceded two Peter Curran points, a free and a '45, and both teams hit more wides than scores. Games in the fifth and sixth rounds were played in the same week and Dunshaughlin doubled their number of draws and they conceded the lead late in both outings. Against fellow strugglers Summerhill at Dunsany they led by 1-8 to 0-8 before their opponents added three points to also claim their first of two draws in six days. 'Dunshaughlin unlikely to advance' read one newspaper headline following the 1-13 to 2-10 draw with local rivals Blackhall Gaels at Ratoath. It was eight days of frustration for Dudley Farrell, who was doubling as county minor manager and he looked set for a first win in three games in that short period only for Anthony Moyles to pop up for a late leveller. Boosted by a goal from Trevor Dowd, Dunshaughlin led by 1-7 to 1-4 at the break and that was the fifth successive game in which they were ahead at that stage of an SFC match. Dowd and Cathal O'Dwyer were scoring well for them and Michael McHale put his name on their second goal. Fergal Gogan became one of countless corner backs to score in 2006 and although David Tonge was sent off on receipt of a second yellow card near the end, the winless run appeared to be at an end. But once again they were caught at the post. In contrast to the previous few outings, Dunshaughlin were trailing from the opening minute against a rampant St Patrick's who finished 2-13 to 0-9 to the good at the end of the seventh round clash at Walterstown. Apart from Cortown who lost seven out of seven, Dunshaughlin were the only team in the 2006 Meath SFC to fail to register a win. But the four draws kept them just above Kilmainhamwood and they can look forward to improving upon their efforts at senior level in 2007. While Dunshaughlin failed to make an impression in the SFC, the club's second string made it through to the last four of the Junior B FC where they lost to 2005 beaten finalists St Brigid's. Dropping down from the junior A grade in which they operated for a few years, they won four games in their group, drew one, lost one and got one walk over. The wins were gained at the expense of Cortown, Navan O'Mahonys, Donaghmore/Ashbourne and Bellewstown, there was a draw with Moynalty, a six points defeat by Blackhall Gaels and Na Fianna did not field against them. Those results put them through to the quarter-finals where Seneschalstown were defeated by 0-7 to 0-5 but St Brigid's proved too strong in the penultimate round tussle at Walterstown which resulted in a 1-16 to 1-8 victory for the Ballinacree side. The junior B team was managed by Paddy Ward whose assistants were Martin Summerville and Noel McTigue. After a wonderful few years during which the Division 1 League and the Feis Cup were also annexed and there were also the memorable Leinster club championship tussles with Rathnew of Wicklow, Dunshaughlin are struggling in their efforts to return to the top of the county tree. But lifting the Keegan Cup three years on the trot was an achievement matched only by Navan O'Mahonys, Kilbride, Summerhill and Walterstown. Ten years ago next year the club won the IFC for the second time with a final victory over Duleek. The black and ambers have done well in years ending in a seven. In 1967 they gained outright honours in the JFC with a final victory over Skryne and in 1977 the intermediate title was annexed with Nobber being defeated at the last hurdle On the Dunshaughlin club's website there is a short insert and after the word disasters there is the answer : 'not too many, thank God.' Members of this proud club will hardly consider failing to reach the last eight year of the latest Meath SFC as a disaster and they will look ahead to 2007 with renewed optimism. Another year to remember St. Martin's marked 50 years as a club with another successful underage season. The u-14's completed the double by winning the league and championship in impressive fashion. They proudly represented Meath in the Feile and were unlucky to lose to Omagh in their final group game after beating a Wicklow and a fancied Kerry team in their first two matches. This talented bunch of players is well used to winning and in three years has only lost two games. Ten of the squad was on the Meath u-14 development squad. Dedication is the key for the management team of Tommy Clusker, John O'Brien and Dominic Devereux. Most teams take a break in October after the U-13 season and don't arrive back on the pitches until February or March. But things are different when you have players who are willing to work all the way through the winter. Manager Tommy Clusker was delighted with the effort. "We decided to stay on and train after the u-13 season. We went back to basics, no heavy slogging just working on catching, kicking and trying to keep the lads ticking over the winter. They're a great bunch of lads, they worked really hard. "There are some fine individual players on the panel but our main strength is we have a good squad and play as a team. There's a good balance in the squad, as there is nobody hogging the limelight or trying to carry the ball 50 yards. If there is a player in a better position they always give it. They respect each other for that. The training has given them more confidence. We try to get them to retain possession for as long as possible and then use the direct ball, even if it takes hand passing the ball out of defence that's good enough for me. "There's a great friendship between them and that's great to see. They worked hard over the winter and I think those few months training stood to them as they looked a lot sharper than some teams when it came to the championship," he explained. Sharper they were when it came to the u-14 league as they quickly disposed of most teams. There biggest scare came in the semi final when they played an impressive Na Fianna side. St. Martin's trailed by two points with five minutes remaining when they showed their true grit and determination. Three goals in the space of as many minutes ensured their place in the final. St. Martins ran out easy winners of the league final by beating Round Towers by a score line of 2-24 to 0-6. A siege of scores in the first half meant the tie was over as a contest at half-time. Conor O'Brien found the net a few minutes in after a superb passing move that began in the St. Martin's backline. The onslaught continued as scores were taken with confidence from a number of players. A second goal from Jimmy Beattie helped the Dunshaughlin outfit to a comfortable 2-16 to 0-2 interval advantage. As expected Round Towers came out fighting in the second half. Both teams traded scores for most of the second half until points from Alan O'Brien and Niall Clusker sent Martins on their way to victory. There was some fine individual display's, but the most pleasing aspect of the game was the fine teamwork they showed on the day. Ten players ended up on the score sheet. St. Martins contested their second final of the year as they took on Na Fianna in the u-14 championship decider in Pairc Tailteann on Wednesday June 21. The last time the two sides met it took a few last minute goals for Martins to prevail. The first half was played at a ferocious pace with both team's trading scores. Na Fianna had a goal within the first five minutes. St. Martins opted to play with the advantage of a stiff breeze in the first half. They attacked their opponents in droves and both corner backs Keith Doherty and Niall Hannon strode forward to shoot points in the early stages of the game. 13 minutes in and St. Martins scored their first goal. Team captain Conor Devereaux had a shot well saved from Na Fianna keeper Ciaran Brennan, Devereaux was the quickest to the rebound and finished the loose ball to the net. They increased their lead with some excellent scores coming from James Beattie, Michael McCarthy and Joe O'Brien. McCarthy was proving a real handful for the Na Fianna backline and after 20 minutes he rattled the crossbar with a stunning shot. Although they failed to convert most chances they had in the first half St. Martins went into the break leading by 1-10 to 2-2. The second half wasn't as eventful in comparison to the first. The pace dropped considerably but many believe St. Martins were playing in third gear and if their counterparts asked them a serious question they would have upped it to a new level. The defence led by Conor O'Brien and Fergus Doolin was superb. They restricted their opponents to just two points in the second half-only one of them coming from play. Conor Devereaux and Joseph O'Brien controlled midfield throughout and troubled their opponents on many occasions with surging runs through the spine of Na Fianna's defence. With ten minutes remaining Alan O'Brien rapped up the game for St. Martins when he found the net after his initial effort came back off the upright. Further points from McCarthy and substitute Gavin Byrne ensured they Winning margin was ten points. Team captain Conor Devereaux raised the u-14 cup after his team's victory. They did terrifically well in this years Feile and were unfortunate to lose out to Omagh at the quarterfinal stage after impressively beating teams from Wicklow and Kerry. There is no doubting this team is very talented. The last few years they have been the team to beat at underage level in Meath. The one aspect that pleases management and parents is the fact that they play as a team. Ten players contributed to the scoreboard in the two finals they contested this year. Their dedication is excellent and everyone within the Dunshaughlin and Drumree community is hoping the team stays together for the next few years and continue with its success. U-14 St. Martins panel: Gavin Byrne, Alistair Doyle, Jeff Flanagan, Fergus Doolan, Alan O' Brien, Niall Clusker, Conor Devereaux, Joseph O' Brien, Ian Donoghue, Conor O'Brien, Michael McCarthy, Liam Ormsby, James Reilly, Stephen McCarthy, Keith Doherty, James Beattie, David Baggot, Aidan Boswell, Niall Hannon, Eoghann Hannon, Evan Kinsella, Henry Komolafe, Leon Everett, Gary Flanagan. Tweet

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