2005 had been a disappointing year for Carrick Emmets following the club's demotion from senior level. However this season, a tremendous effort resulted in the Intermediate championship coming back to the club for the first time since 1976. Carrick Emmets victory in this year's county Intermediate championship final was a significant moment in the club's history. It was the first time in thirty years that they had won the Fr. McCormick Cup. It may be a cliché but if ever there was a panel effort, this was it. Commitment was superb all year. When a team is winning, it makes things that bit easier but a 32-player squad showed immense character all year. Alongside this, a hard-working management team (under team manager Michael McConville), backroom staff, physio and committee made sure that preparations were top notch from the outset. Winning a championship is the goal every year for a team competing in its own county. Although a backdoor system has been introduced to the Monaghan championship in recent years, the Emmets were fully intent on going the whole way undefeated. First up was a local derby. Corduff had provided the opposition for many big games in the past; the 1999 senior championship first round and the 1992 junior championship final. The Emmets had won both games but they were warned about Corduff's capability. It was Corduff who took the game, played in Toome, to Carrick in the first half. Corduff were well in the game at half-time. The turning point came when Gary McEnaney scored a superb goal for the Emmets at the start of the second half. Carrick never looked back from that point. Clones provided the opposition in the next round of the competition. Although Carrick won the game by a point, the general consensus was that Clones had been unfortunate. For long periods of the game, it looked like they would prevail. A few key moments turned the game in Carrick's favour; Declan Smith's converted penalty, Stephen Gollogly's second half goal and finally Andrew Callan's last minute point. Clones were rightfully disappointed; they had given the Emmets the fright of their lives. Aghabog were the opponents in the quarter-final. Like Clones, Aghabog came away feeling that an opportunity had slipped. Again a goal from county player Gollogly in the second half proved crucial and Carrick prevailed by a point. Despite the victory, Carrick felt they hadn't done themselves justice on the field of play. A greater effort was needed in their semi-final joust with Doohamlet. Doohamlet, who had lost the previous year's championship final to Inniskeen, had shown good form in the league and had proved their credentials earlier in the season, coming from behind to force a late draw in the league game at Emmet Park. Carrick had narrowly won the return league game in Doohamlet. Fired up before the game, Carrick produced one of their best performances of 2006. Although Andrew Callan's boot eventually proved decisive, this was when the Emmets' team spirit showed its true colours. Despite being reduced to fourteen men in the first half, Carrick reversed a half-time deficit wonderfully. Towards the end of the game, stern resistance in defence, in which Eoin Duffy and John Conlon were outstanding kept Doohamlet out and Carrick were not to be denied. This victory was particularly cherished. Like many teams reduced to 14 men, the Emmets had showed resilience when it mattered. Hard work and will-to-win were abundantly clear and the victory was merited. Monaghan Harps provided the opposition in the final. Although Carrick had done the double over them in the league, they could not afford complacency. Harps had reached the All-Ireland junior semi-final the previous season and under former Tyrone player Mattie McGleenan, would provide a stern test. In the aftermath of the match, one Emmets supporter mentioned a key factor in his side's victory: control. From start to finish, Carrick asserted their superiority over the affair. The accuracy of Sean Downey, Andrew Callan and Stephen Gollogly, the hard-working James McGeown and Mark McNally ensured that Carrick always looked on top. Carrick were never behind throughout the entire game. It may have been a concern for the Emmets at half-time that they were only two points ahead. Carrick had had several chances to go well ahead but only had a slender lead to show for it. Monaghan Harps got the opening score of the second half but when Carrick scored four points without reply, the game looked like going beyond Monaghan. Although Monaghan rallied in the latter stages of the game, Carrick never looked troubled. They survived a few scares but the 'Harps were unable to score the goal they badly needed to give themselves hope. The final score of 0-14 to 0-11 probably did not do justice to Carrick. Nevertheless, there was no complaining in the dressing room afterwards. Instead there was jubilation to greet an historic moment in the club. Those who had made the trek to Clontibret heard a rousing speech from team captain, Gary McEnaney who received the Fr McCormack Cup while Andrew Callan was presented with a man-of-the-match award. Despite the triumph, Manager Michael McConville urged his team to greater efforts in the weeks ahead. Carrick were already through to the league semi-final and the double was a distinct possibility. Before that, though, Carrick faced Stewartstown in the Ulster club championship. Played in Clones, Carrick were well in the game in the first half, Andrew Callan's goal putting them in an excellent position but Stewartstown replied with a goal of their own. A second half goal from the Tyrone outfit sealed their passage to the next round. To Carrick's credit, they refused to give in, doing their utmost to snatch a draw from the jaws of defeat. Down a few points with only minutes left, Carrick looked like pulling the game out of the fire but fell just short. Despite the despondency after the game, Carrick still had the opportunity of finishing the season on a high in the league final. Emyvale and Aghabog were the only two sides to have beaten them all season in the league. Although there had been games when Carrick didn't play to their full potential, character again shone through at the right time. They had beaten Emyvale by a solitary point away from home and overcame stiff first half resistance from Corduff in Carrick. Eire Og, in their fight for survival also made life difficult for Carrick at times but Carrick dug deep to come out on top in that one. When the games were completed, Carrick were sitting on top of the table. Corduff provided the opposition in the league semi-final. This was the team's fourth meeting of the year. In a hard-hitting encounter, a goal from Gary McEnaney at the start of the second half gave Carrick a platform to build a convincing victory. By the final whistle, Carrick were 1-15 to 1-7 winners. Now only Doohamlet stood between the team and an historic double. Carrick were determined to atone for the disappointment of losing to Stewartstown the week before. In difficult playing conditions, Doohamlet took the game to Carrick and went three points up. Andrew Callan goaled but by half-time the sides were level. When Doohamlet scored an early second half goal, things looked bleak for the Emmets but they refused to lie down. With James Conlon and Mark McNally leading from midfield, Carrick stamped their authority on the game. Playing into the wind, Carrick moved the ball quickly into the forward line and began to see openings in the Doohamlet defence. Credit must be given to the defence for restricting Doohamlet to a single point in the second half. Doohamlet were continuously placed under pressure in the Carrick half but Carrick displayed steel in withstanding the onslaught. Up front, six unanswered points put Carrick in the driving seat and despite missing a hatful of chances, Carrick held on. The weather conditions were hardly conducive to long speeches and presentations but Carrick didn't mind that when they were awarded the Vincent McAviney Cup. Having lost their senior status in 2005, the Emmets had one goal for 2006: to make a swift return to the top division in Monaghan football. Team selector PJ O Hanlon had stated in last year's edition of the Monaghan Yearbook that he hoped Carrick could win the Intermediate Championship in 2006. His wish became a reality this year. The club are in the process of moving from its current field on the road to a new facility on the Donaghmoyne road. Work is set to commence in the second half of 2007. On the field of play, all involved with the Emmets will be hoping that there will also be success on the field of play. Championship final team: 1.Ciaran Keenan 2. Eoin Sherry 3. John Conlon 4. John McNally 5. Eoin Duffy 6. Gary McEnaney (0-1) 7. Timmy Lonergan 8. James McGeown 9. Mark McNally 10. Declan Smyth 11. Sean Downey (0-4), 12. Diarmuid Kelly 13. Andrew Callan (0-6), 14. Stephen Gollogly (0-3) 15. Mark Downey Subs used: James Conlon for D Kelly; Paddy Lonergan for McGeown. League final team: 1. Ciaran Keenan 2. Eoin Duffy 3. John Conlon 4. Eoin Sherry 5. Padraig Rafferty 6. Gary McEnaney 7. Timmy Lonergan 8. James Conlon 9. Mark McNally 10. Declan Smyth 11. Sean Downey (0-2) 12. Paddy Lonergan 13. Andrew Callan (1-3), Stephen Gollogly (0-2), Mark Downey (0-1). Subs: James McGeown for P Lonergan; Seamus Mulholland for M Downey. Rest of panel: Ronan Gollogly, Paudie Swinburne, Declan Finegan, Terry Kiernan, Richard Cromwell, Cian Ó Raghallaigh, Paudie Rafferty, Paul Conlon, Padraig Keenan, David Fox, John G Conlon, Derek Donnelly, Ronan McMahon, Christopher McEnaney, John Fitzgerald. Emmets win Intermediate double In 2006 Carrick went all the way in both league and championship competitions. Andrew Callan, Monaghan Intermediate Player of the Year spoke to Cian O Raghallaigh. Although they had been relegated with a couple of games to spare the previous year, Carrick seemed to have enough talent within their panel to make a swift return to senior ranks. In reviewing the season, Andrew Callan, who captained the team in their league success, began by explaining the effect team manager Michael McConville had on proceedings in 2006. His impact was immediate; his preparation meticulous, his passion persistent. Possessing these traits helped his team maximise their potential in Monaghan's intermediate competitions. "Michael McConville certainly brought a lot of professionalism and dedication to the setup. There was never any excuse for missing training; you just had to be there," says Andrew. "When he spoke to the players the first night, people began responding. His intensity filtered through to the players. When you're from Crossmaglen all that matters is winning championships. He set out to win the championship (with Carrick) and he managed to do that," he says. "Things worked out well this year and I'd like to thank PJ O Hanlon and the backroom team for all the dedication they brought to the setup this year. There was a good blend of the older players - such as John Conlon, Declan Smith and myself - and the younger players. "We would try to help out the younger players and talk to them - and they're probably sick of us talking to them!" Carrick's form was somewhat lacklustre through the early championship games, as Andrew explains. "In the first championship game, we weathered the storm against Corduff and came back well in the second half. Then in the match against Clones we were very disappointed even though we won the game. Clones probably deserved a draw in that one. "In the next match against Aghabog we weren't really at the standard that we should've been at but we got a bit of luck. We were three points down with ten minutes left and still managed to win the game." The encounter with Doohamlet was a defining moment in the Emmets' season. It was then, he says, that Carrick realised that they could go the whole way in the competition. "The penny dropped in the Doohamlet game. We were down to fourteen men and we showed immense workrate. It was a turning point in the season really. "Every player really put his shoulder to the wheel in that game. Michael rejigged the team at half-time and when we went and won that game, we felt we had a real chance of winning the thing," he says. There was still, however, a job to be completed in the final. "We knew the final was going to be tough. Monaghan Harps were well-organised under Mattie McGleenan and had done well in the All-Ireland junior championship the year before. We knew that they would be good and there wasn't as much pressure on them as we were favourites," he says. He admits that the margin of victory (three points) in the final could've been greater. Still, winning was what mattered. So it was on to Ulster and a one-point loss to Stewartstown in the first round. It was disappointing as Carrick believed that winning the All-Ireland Intermediate championship, as Inniskeen had done in 2005, was possible. "Losing the Ulster championship match to Stewartstown was disappointing. We felt if we'd won that match, we could've gone on and emulated Inniskeen. "We didn't play all that well in the first half and even though we came back and could've got a draw, it just wasn't to be," he says. Meanwhile the league season began with victory over Monaghan Harps in Carrick. From then until the league final, Carrick proved their consistency. "In the league campaign we played twenty games, winning sixteen, drawing two and losing two by just a point. So you could say it was a successful campaign," says Andrew. During the summer, he says, there was a period when Carrick won four or five games in the space of ten days. That helped them secure top spot. It meant that players who had one or two niggles could be rested in time for the big championship games later on in the season. For Andrew the Doohamlet league match was another of the high points of the season. So was the league final against the same opposition. "The league match we played against Doohamlet on a Wednesday night in Carrick was one game which stood out. Both teams had just won championship matches and we finished level at 1-12 apiece. It was a very good game of football, a real ding-dong battle. "Winning the final (against the same team) was also very special. It was played in atrocious conditions. We played against the wind in the first half and went in level at half-time. In the second half, we showed great character to pull through the game." Since he first wore the Carrick Emmets jersey, Andrew Callan's commitment to the Carrick Emmets jersey has been superb. His honours include a Dr McKenna Cup medal with Monaghan, two Intermediate league medals and now the Intermediate championship as well as a string of medals at underage level. This season he has been superbly fit and despite the close attention of many corner-backs in the county, Callan has produced the goods on several occasions. Carrick have come close to the finishing line in championship football on several occasions. 2007 presents an ideal opportunity to prove themselves at senior football after this season's success. "People have been saying for a long time that Carrick have a good young team but this is the first year that we've really delivered with something," he says. "I think we need to go on and win a senior championship now. The team is good but there is more in every player and every man will need to give a bigger push for success in 2007. "Winning a championship would give a huge incentive to young players to come into the club. It would also help us when we are developing the club (the club are relocating to a new site on the Donaghmoyne road) as it would make it easier to get people in to do the work that is needed." This year Carrick have had a successful year at intermediate year but 2007 will certainly bring a whole new challenge. Tweet

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