2005 was easily Monaghan's most successful year since the county last captured the Ulster football title in 1988, and one man who rejoiced in the team's achievements was former Currin player Hubert Kearns, who is County Manager in Sligo. Monaghan football is on a high after the county's stunning National Football League Division 2 success and the subsequent championship run which brought the team to the brink of an All-Ireland quarter-final appearance. The incredible scenes which followed the dramatic Division 2 final victory over Meath at Croke Park on May 1 showed just how much Monaghan people love their football. What they also highlighted was the county's unquenchable thirst for success after many years in the doldrums. "It is great to see Monaghan back in the limelight, they've been starved of success for long enough," says former Currin player Hubert Kearns, who has been County Manager in Sligo for the past nine years. "The league final was a marvellous occasion for Monaghan football, I don't think Croke Park has seen celebrations like that in a long time. The victory gave Monaghan a huge lift going into the championship and they didn't disappoint by having their best championship run in many years. It was no disgrace to be eventually beaten by Tyrone who, it must be said, were in deep trouble until Stephen O'Neill scored that goal just before half-time." Kearns, who grew up across the road from the Currin GAA grounds in Scotshouse, admits that he was surprised by Monaghan's achievements this year. "There has been an amazing turnaround in their fortunes in a short period of time. The Division 2 campaign was a slow-burning thing, but they managed to come good in the end. "To beat an established power like Meath in those circumstances did wonders for Monaghan's morale and confidence. While the league victory surprised me, the run they had in the championship didn't because their confidence levels were up. The biggest improvement I noticed was in the forward line. We now have good scoring forwards which wasn't always the case." In the Division 2 final, the Farney County had the better of the first half exchanges, but only led by a point at the break, despite a brace of wonderful goals from Thomas Freeman. Within minutes of the restart, substitute Ollie Murphy netted to put Meath back in front and when Trevor Giles followed up with a free, the Royals were 3-8 to 2-7 to the good. However, Monaghan stuck to their task and regained parity with unanswered points from Dick Clerkin, Paul Finlay, substitute Nicholas Corrigan and Declan McKernan. Meath looked to have done enough when Daithi Regan and subs Mark Ward and Brian Farrell responded with points, but after another sub Hugh McElroy reduced the gap, Finlay scored a bizarre injury-time goal from a 35-metre free to give Monaghan a dramatic 3-13 to 3-12 victory. "What really impressed me were the battling qualities Monaghan showed. They never gave up and, while the winning goal was a bit on the fortuitous side, I felt it was no more than they deserved," Hubert says. Luck was also on Monaghan's side when, after losing to Derry in the Ulster championship, they were paired with London in the All-Ireland qualifier first round draw. As it turned it, they comfortably accounted for the Exiles and recorded further victories over Wexford and Louth before succumbing to eventual All-Ireland champions Tyrone in the last 12. "It was a very creditable year overall and hopefully this is only the start of bigger and better things to come. Monaghan played two big games in Croke Park this year and that is something that hasn't happened in a long time. "The entire county is behind these players and their manager Seamus McEnaney who has done a fantastic job. He has three Monaghan greats in Gerry McCarville, Gerry Hoey and Bernie Murray working alongside him. They are men who every youngster in the county would look up to." Hubert feels it is unfortunate that Monaghan's re-emergence has come at a time when Ulster football is at an all-time high. He argues that if they were playing in any of the other three provincial championships, they would stand a better chance of winning championship silverware. "It's a pity Monaghan aren't in Leinster, Connacht or Munster because they would be well capable of winning any of those championships. Ulster is by far the strongest province at the moment. It's amazing how much times have changed. Not so long ago, the Ulster champions would regularly get hammered in Croke Park and their best chance of winning an All-Ireland semi-final was when they would be pitted against the Connacht champions. "The standards Tyrone and Armagh have set over the last few years has made it all the more difficult for Monaghan to win an Ulster championship, but having said that, nothing is impossible, especially in the early rounds when the big teams are vulnerable. Monaghan proved this when they beat Armagh, who were the then reigning All-Ireland champions, a couple of years ago." Hubert comes from a strong GAA background with his father, also Hubert, and uncle James Smith, having played for Currin before him. He played all his underage football with Clones, winning two under 14 championships in 1968 and '69 and a minor championship in '73. He was just 16 when he helped Currin to a junior championship success in 1972. "Because there was no underage in Currin at the time, I played with Clones up until the age of 18," he recalls. "I was lucky to be part of a successful team which included great players like Vincent Maguire, Kevin Reilly, Willie Reilly, Barry McCabe and Brian Quigley. The highlight was our minor championship victory in 1972 when I played at full back." Founded in 1886, Currin is one of the oldest GAA clubs in Ulster and Hubert was delighted to see them regain intermediate status last year after winning the junior football league (Dr Ward Cup) for the first time since 1951. Since leaving Currin many years ago, Kearns has been domiciled in the West of Ireland, having worked in Galway and Mayo before joining Sligo County Council 11 years ago. He served as County Secretary for two years before taking up his present post. Hubert - who represented Ireland in the World Coarse Fishing Championships in 1978, '79 and '80 - takes a keen interest in Sligo GAA affairs and feels the county has much in common with Monaghan. "They're very similar in that the GAA is strongest in the rural areas. Neither county team is getting enough players from the towns which is something the GAA needs to address as a matter of urgency." Despite being happily settled in the Yeats County with his wife Mary and two daughters Roisin and Kate, Hubert clearly retains a great passion for Monaghan football and will be willing them on to greater heights in 2006. Tweet

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