Oldcastle will look back on 2006 and wonder how their intermediate footballers didn't manage to claim some silverware. Few clubs could match their level of consistency which saw them lose only one competitive game in league and championship, yet they ended the campaign with nothing to show for their efforts. That one defeat was a shattering reversal at Pairc Tailteann on the first day of October when Wayne Reilly kicked a wonder point from a line ball to earn Drumconrath a most dramatic Intermediate Championship semi-final victory at the end of a pulsating contest that provided outstanding entertainment and a tremendous curtain-raiser to the considerably less memorable senior semi-final between Navan O'Mahonys and Blackhall Gaels that followed. Oldcastle last won the IFC in 1987 and their 15-year run in the SFC, which included a final appearance 11 years later, came to an end when they were beaten by Summerhill in a relegation play-off at Kells on one of the wettest days in history in 2002. They possess a tremendous desire to be back up there again, playing their football with the big boys, and they did enough in the group stages of the 2006 championship to suggest that this might just be their year as they remained unbeaten and topped the section on score difference ahead of St. Colmcille's. Coached by Colm McEvoy and with John Galligan and Eamonn Moore in the role of selectors, Oldcastle opened their Group B campaign with a game against another of the big fancies for outright success, Nobber, who had reached the semi-finals the previous year. That match against Colm Coyle's team took place at Carnaross and ended level (Oldcastle 1-6, Nobber 0-9) as Ronan Farrelly converted a late equalising free. Oldcastle suffered a blow when Robert Pakenham was sent off after receiving a second yellow card late in the first half and Nobber led by 0-5 to 0-2 at the interval. They extended their advantage after the change of ends, but points from Farrelly and Niall Mangan cut the deficit to just two points. When Packie Kevin goaled Oldcastle were in front by 1-4 to 0-6 at the three-quarter stage, before two points from Brian Farrell edged Nobber to the front again. Mangan kicked a brilliant equaliser with 10 minutes remaining, but Andrew Hayes gave Nobber the lead again. However, when Terence Farrelly was fouled, Ronan Farrelly had the final say with the equaliser. Oldcastle certainly had their share of draws in the 2006 campaign. They had three in the championship and four in the A League Div. 2 where they remained unbeaten and went very close to advancing to the final and earning promotion. It was only on score difference that they missed out as Seneschalstown (with whom they had drawn) went through, and after playing all those league matches they justifiably felt disappointed. Last year's junior champions St. Michael's provided the opposition in the second round of the IFC, again at Carnaross, and Oldcastle made the ideal start when Niall Fitzpatrick netted after only four minutes. They were still a goal (1-3 to 0-3) ahead at the interval and pushed clear by 1-5 to 0-3 early in the second half, before Michael's rallied to be only two points adrift at the finish (1-5 to 1-7). A second successive victory followed against Rathkenny at Carlanstown as Oldcastle won by 1-12 to 0-11 thanks to a strong finish. Boosted by an early Mangan goal, they led by four points after as many minutes and the advantage stretched to five, before Rathkenny recovered to trail by 0-6 to 1-5 at the break. Rathkenny, who were later to take the championship by storm after a less than promising start, scored three points at the beginning of the second half to edge ahead. Mangan slotted over an equaliser from a free, but Rathkenny pushed ahead again. However, Oldcastle found their range when they needed to most and scored the last six points to win by four. Syddan, who had lost the previous year's final to Duleek after a replay, were beaten decisively in the fourth round at Kells as two second half goals from the brilliant Terence Farrelly made a significant difference. Syddan led by 0-5 to 0-4 at the interval, but Farrelly equalised on the restart. The 2005 runners-up edged ahead again, but those two goals from the superb Farrelly really turned the tide and Oldcastle went on to win easily by 2-10 to 0-7. Kilberry provided the setting for a fifth round clash with St. Colmcille's and both sides secured their place in the last eight when they finished level (0-9 each). The seasiders started brightly, but Oldcastle led by 0-6 to 0-4 at half-time. The second period was always close and the sides were tied at 0-8 apiece, before Colmcille's took a slender lead. However, midfielder Ronan Farrelly, who scored six points overall, had the final say when he fisted the equalising point a minute into injury time. Another draw, Oldcastle's third in six championship outings, followed when they returned to Kilberry to meet struggling Slane in a match they would have been expected to win with some degree of comfort. Victory looked likely when Oldcastle led by 1-8 to 1-6 nearing the end, but they conceded two late points and it finished all square (1-8 each). A third successive trip to Kilberry followed for the final group match against Mattie Kerrigan's Ratoath and Oldcastle came out on top by 0-12 to 0-9 to finish top of the group on 11 points after four wins and three draws. St. Colmcille's also finished on 11, but Oldcastle had a superior scoring average. The reward for finishing at the summit of the section was a quarter-final meeting with Gaeil Colmcille, who were coached by former Dublin player PJ Buckley. That match took place at Ballinlough and was something of a cruise for Oldcastle as they won with ease on a 1-12 to 0-7 score line. Vincent Reynolds, a survivor of the SFC final appearance against Dunboyne eight years earlier, goaled midway through the opening half and Oldcastle were well on their way to a place in the last four when they held a six point (1-6 to 0-3) lead at the break. There was no way back for the Kells side after that, though they did make a mini-revival, before Oldcastle finished strongly to be eight points clear at the final whistle. There was enough in that performance to suggest that Oldcastle could go all the way and it was hardly any consolation to them that they were part of one of the most entertaining matches of the year when they met Drumconrath in a brilliantly contested semi-final. It was all to play for in a rip-roaring contest when Oldcastle shaded the verdict at the interval with a 0-7 to 0-6 lead and the close and exciting nature of the game continued in the second period, though McEvoy's men pushed three points clear thanks to scores from Ronan Farrelly (free) and Packie Kevin early in the second half. At that stage, they certainly looked to be in pole position in such a tight contest. However, a Leighton Irwin goal helped Drumconrath to lead by 1-7 to 0-9 and the sides were locked together on four occasions after that. As the tension and excitement intensified, the team in red and white moved ahead by 1-10 to 0-12, but Kevin had Oldcastle level again with a pointed free and extra-time was looking very much on the cards. Such was the level of entertainment provided by these two fiercely committed teams that no neutral would have complained if treated to an added 20 minutes, but Wayne Reilly put paid to that enticing prospect when he fired over a magnificent point from a line ball on the terrace side to earn Drumconrath a 1-11 to 0-13 victory. It was a shattering way to exit the championship for Oldcastle and, after a campaign that was the essence of consistency, it appeared very cruel. "It was a big disappointment to lose the semi-final like that," said Oldcastle's Gerry Coakley as he reflected on that defeat. "We should have won it really. When we went three points ahead would should have closed the door. "There was also too much silly passing and you just can't afford to do that on a wet day. You need to be far more direct in those sort of conditions and kick the ball when you get it. Of course, we also weren't expecting Wayne Reilly to get that point from the line ball. We knew he was good, but that was some kick." When the bitter disappointment of exiting the championship so close to the final and in such dramatic and painful circumstances has eased, Oldcastle will be expected to launch another determined bid for Intermediate Championship glory in 2007. "Most of the players are talking about giving it another go next year, which is good to hear," Coakley added. "So we have to be hopeful. We are a generally young team and I am confident that the players will lift themselves again after the disappointment of losing the semi-final." top gun One of the unluckiest teams in the county in 2006 was undoubtedly Oldcastle who finished the year empty-handed, despite losing just one game between league and championship. While disappointed that their consistency wasn't rewarded, star midfielder Ronan Farrelly took great encouragement from the team's progress over the past 12 months. There aren't many teams in the country who can look back on 2006 and say they went unbeaten until the first Sunday in October. Oldcastle achieved such a feat, but much to their frustration, still ended the year without anything to show for their efforts. The Blues' solitary defeat was suffered at the hands of Drumconrath just one game short of the intermediate football championship final. And it was inflicted courtesy of an audacious sideline kick by Wayne Reilly which sailed over Patrick Coakley's crossbar for the winning point. "It was a heartbreaking way to go out of the championship and to lose your unbeaten record," says Oldcastle's highly-rated midfielder Ronan Farrelly. "We had been on such a role going into that game that we never contemplated losing. But fair dues to Drumconrath, they were the hungrier team and they took their chances when they came along. "While it was disappointing to lose, it was still a great year overall for us and it was certainly a big improvement on the previous year when things didn't go well for us." Farrelly, who figured for the county team at the turn of the millennium, attributes Oldcastle's improvement to the emergence of players from last year's under 21 championship winning team. "The young lads that came in were brilliant," he enthuses. "Last year's under 21 success gave the club a big lift and gave us a lot of hope at the start of the year. The new lads were a breath of fresh air and they will have benefited greatly from playing intermediate football this year. "For the first time in a number of years, there was competition for places which meant that no-one was sure of their place and had to train that bit harder." It was no coincidence either that the return of Laois native Colm McAvoy as manager led to an upswing in fortunes. The Cavan-based schoolteacher was in charge when Oldcastle last reached a Keegan Cup decider in 1998, and he was once again assisted by John Galligan along with Eamonn Moore. Drawn in Group B of this year's intermediate championship, Oldcastle needed to stage a late comeback to draw with Nobber (1-6 to 0-9) in their opening game on April 16 at Carnaross. They secured their first win a week later when they overcame last year's junior champions St. Michael's by 1-7 to 1-5. In their third outing at Carlanstown, Oldcastle defeated a wasteful Rathkenny side by 1-12 to 0-11. Rathkenny created a few goal chances but their failure to take any of them allowed the Blues to chalk up their second win of the campaign. Colm McAvoy's charges led by 1-5 to 0-6 at the break and despite falling behind on two occasions in the second half, they finished the stronger to run out four-point winners. Arguably Oldcastle's best display of the championship came against Syddan at Kells in early July. The Blues have always found Syddan to be a tough nut to crack, but on this occasion they produced a dominant performance to emerge as 2-10 to 0-7 winners. "It was a super display," Farrelly recalls. Oldcastle drew their next two matches against St. Colmcille's (0-9 each) and Slane (1-8 each) to copperfasten their place in the knock-out stages. They completed their programme of group matches with a 0-12 to 0-9 victory over Ratoath. Oldcastle led by 0-7 to 0-6 at the interval, but Ratoath levelled after the resumption and the result remained in doubt until the North Meath side hit three unanswered points in the closing stages to secure another win. Having lost quarter-finals to Navan O'Mahony's and Nobber in 2003 and 2004 respectively, Oldcastle were determined not to slip up on this occasion and, as it turned out, they proved much strong for a disappointing Gaeil Colmcille at Ballinlough. The Kells side's cause wasn't helped by the first half dismissal of wing back Charlie Usher. Oldcastle deployed Eoin Gilsenan as the extra man to good effect and thanks to a Vincent Reynolds goal, took a 1-6 to 0-3 advantage into the break. Oldcastle outscored their northern rivals by 0-6 to 0-4 in the second half to run out comfortable 1-12 to 0-7 winners. Ronan Farrelly top-scored with five points from frees, with Niall Mangan (0-3) and Terence Farrelly (0-2) also making decent impressions on the scoreboard. The Blues' impressive form made them hot favourites to account for another North Meath team, Drumconrath, in the semi-final at the Showgrounds. But Drumconrath upset the odds by claiming a 1-11 to 0-13 win which saw them qualify for their first ever intermediate final. The underdogs never allowed Oldcastle to settle into any pattern of play and just about deserved their victory. Ronan Farrelly opened the scoring for Oldcastle after four minutes, but this was quickly cancelled out by a Padraig McMahon point at the opposite end. Niall Mangan, Farrelly and Vincent Reynolds hit unanswered points to ease the Blues into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead, only for Drums to reply with efforts from Austin Hickey and Paddy Reilly. Oldcastle restored their three-point advantage, but Drumconrath again fought back to leave the minimum in it at half-time. Scores following the restart from Farrelly and Pakie Kevin made it a three-point game once again. However, Terry Skelly then scored a goal and a point to put Drums ahead for the first time. Another Farrelly free levelled the game before Peter McMahon edged the underdogs back in front. Skelly and Farrelly exchanged further points and the game looked to be heading for extra-time until one last Drumconrath attack saw Paddy Reilly hassle the Oldcastle defence into a poor clearance over the sideline and up stepped Wayne Reilly to fire over a dramatic winning point. Oldcastle had the distinction of being the only team in Meath not to lose a league match in 2006. But they still missed out on promotion from the top flight, finishing just behind Blackhall Gaels and Seneschalstown in Division 2. "Seneschalstown were promoted ahead of us on scoring difference and they ended up playing Blackhall in the Division 2 final," explains Farrelly, who was partnered in midfield this year by his brother Thomas. "But again, we weren't too disappointed because it had been such an improvement on other years when we were fighting relegation. Neither Blackhall or Seneschalstown managed to beat us and they're decent senior teams. It's just a pity that we won't be playing them in the senior championship next year." Ronan was corner forward on the Meath under 21 team that reached the 1997 All-Ireland final, and was subsequently involved with the county senior squad for three years. He was unlucky to miss out on an All-Ireland medal in 1999 when a broken thumb forced him to withdraw from the panel in the early part of the year. He was introduced as a substitute when Offaly ended the Royals' reign as Sam Maguire Cup holders in 2000, but his career has since been plighted by injury problems. "I had an awful run with injuries up until this year when I was able to enjoy my football for the first time in a long time. Hopefully I'll be able to stay injury-free next year and help Oldcastle to build on this year's progress. "The younger lads were on a bit of a learning curve this year and I'd expect them to be all the better for the experience. Our objectives for 2007 are to win the intermediate championship and get promoted from Division 2. And if we can show the same consistency as we showed this year, I think we'll be there or thereabouts." The Oldcastle team which was pipped by Drumconrath in the IFC semi-final was: P Coakley; F Tully, R McHugh, P Smith; R Pakenum, S Rahil, E Garrigan; T Farrelly, R Farrelly (0-6); E Gilsenan, J Smith (0-1), T Farrelly; N Mangan (0-2), V Reynolds (0-1), P Kevin (0-2). Subs: B Halpin for Tully, A McCann for Reynolds. Tweet

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