It may not have ended with the All Ireland trophy but the year was still one to remember for the Emyvale club. The ladies lifted both the county and Ulster titles only to be defeated after a replay in the All Ireland decider. By Alan Gunn After a number of final disappointments the north Monaghan club finally made the break through. The campaign began with Carrickmacross as visitors to St Oliver Plunkett Park. It was to be an easy Friday evening for the Emyvale girls as they coasted home to a twenty nine point victory. This moved the girls onto a semi-final clash with neighbours Truagh also at the Emyvale ground. There may have been eleven points between them at the finish but the home side only led by one at the interval. However with Laura Askin hammering in two goals in the final quarter the Truagh challenge ended and Emyvale progressed to the decider. After been beaten at this stage last year, Emyvale were all out not to taste defeat again. Standing in their way were Latton with the game taking place in Rockcorry on 25th August. The eventual winners had an array of stars which included Caroline McAree who rattled the net on three occasions and deservedly took the player of the match award. Two of McAree's goals came in the opening period to help Emyvale lead 2-4 to 0-3 at the break. They continued to dominate after the resumption with McAree completing her hat-trick and finishing with a personal tally of 3-4. The other goals coming from Ciara McAnespie and two from substitute Niamh McAree. Finally Emyvale had put behind them the many years of heartbreak and were on the winner's podium. The attention was now turned towards the Vhi Ulster championship and a trip to Antrim to play Cregan. Conditions were far from ideal but despite playing against the strong breeze Emyvale still led at the break 3-3 to 0-2. Ciara McAnespie, Laura Askin and Erin O'Neill all found the net. With the home side only adding five points to their tally after the resumption Emyvale were never in any danger. Ciara McAnespie was on hand to hit her second major and her sides fourth in all. There were many key scorers with McAree rowing in with four points while Brenda McAnespie and Aisling McKenna hit two a piece in a comfortable 4-10 to 0-7 win. With the first hurdle overcome it was back to Emyvale for the last four clash against Fermanagh champions Brookeborough. Yet again the home side turned in another wonderful performance to blow away their opponents. At the finish the score board was reading a convincing 4-15 to 1-5 victory. Ciara McAnespie thumped in three of the goals while Brenda rattled the netting for the other one. At the break the home side led 3-7 to 0-3 and already one foot in the final. They continued to easily keep the Fermanagh girls at bay with some great defending from the back six of Martina Flood, Ann O'Brien, Aoife McDonald, Therese Curley, Patricia McKenna and Aoife McAnespie, the goal for Brookeborough coming from the penalty spot. The success story was gaining momentum and next up was a short trip to Fintona in Co Tyrone and a clash with Armagh side Lissummon in the Ulster final on October 22nd. We were to witness another master class performance with Emyvale producing the goods again in a 5-6 to 0-2 win. They had also the luxury of kicking twenty three wides over the hour. It was a very dominant show with the defence excellent while the forwards took the opportunities when it mattered. After the opening thirty minutes they led 1-4 to 0-1 with Brenda McAnespie firing the all-important goal just before the break. It was the score Emyvale required to ignite them as they came out to rattle the net twice from Ciara McAnespie and Caroline McAree in quick succession. It was game over and Emyvale never were in any danger despite their wasteful shooting. They wrapped up the victory with further goals from Brenda McAnespie and Laura Askin. A jubilant Patricia McKenna received the cup while Brenda McAnespie who was excellent through took the player of the match award. (Emyvale v Lissummon): Sinead Mohan, Martina Flood, Ann O'Brien, Aoife McDonald, Therese Curley, Patricia McKenna, Aoife McAnespie, Lisa Hughes, Nicola Fahy, Ciara McAnespie (1-0), Brenda McAnespie (2-2), Aisling McKenna (0-2), Caroline McAree (1-2, 1-1f), Erin O'Neill, Laura Askin (1-0). Sub: Niamh McAree It was beginning to seem like a dream as Emyvale moved on now and just one step from an All-Ireland Final. However it was no dream as this was reality and the Emyvale girls were producing performances from the top drawer. To make the final they had to set sail for a journey to Birmingham. Yes the girls, management and a large following set off from Emyvale and destination Birmingham to face John Mitchell's on November 12th. The long journey did not hinder the girls in anyway as they stormed home by 5-17 to 1-6. Eight players in all were on target in what was a one sided encounter. At the break Emyvale were already well on their way leading by 3-8 to 0-3. It was an opening period that saw Brenda McAnespie, Laura Askin and Ciara McAnespie all finding the net. Erin O'Neill and Aisling McKenna added a further two goals during the second period. With the job completed it was now back to Emyvale and preparations for the Vhi healthcare All Ireland Junior final against Eadestown of Kildare. The two weeks of piecing together the final tactics soon passed and the day had finally arrived on November 26th with the venue Dromard in Co Longford. Just sixty minutes separated Emyvale and the glory of an All Ireland. The task was a tough one against a very physical Kildare side with players from counties like Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo. Backed by a vocal crowd Emyvale got off to the perfect start with Ciara McAnespie finishing a strong run by finding the net and only a minute on the clock. They were soon put on the back front as the elements blew into their faces and Eadestown threw everything at them. Emyvale had to withstand the loss of goalkeeper Sinead Mohan to the sin bin; a great penalty save by Brenda McAnespie while Mohan was in the sin bin and McAnespie was also to pick up an injury and out for a length of time. Despite all these set backs Emyvale dug deep and only trailed by three points at the break. They took heart from this and came out fighting and helped by some fine points by Laura Askin, Erin O'Neill, Caroline McAree and a second goal by Ciara McAnespie they led by two at one stage. That was clawed back and it was onto a second day after the sides finished Emyvale 2-4 Eadestown 0-10 at the finish. Midfielder Lisa Hughes was deservedly announced as the player of the match. So back they came six days later only this time to Pearse Park in Longford. The venue had changed and unfortunitly so too did Emyvale as they failed to rediscover their performances they had shown all year. This time the Kildare side hit them from the start and raced 1-4 clear and Emyvale never recovered. They battled hard but nothing was going right and at the break they had already a massive uphill task as they trailed by 1-9 to 0-2. Ciara McAnespie did hit two-second half points but Eadestown were always on top and ran out easy winners 3-14 to 0-4. It brought the year to a disappointing end. However, Emyvale can look back on what was a very memorable year that give their large following some wonderful days and special moments. Everyone will have their own memories of different games and events. Each player can be proud of what they achieved and they did their club and county proud. Emyvale Panel: Sinead Mohan, Martina Flood, Ann O'Brien, Aoife McDonald, Therese Curley, Patricia McKenna, Aoife McAnespie, Lisa Hughes, Nicola Fahy, Ciara McAnespie, Brenda McAnespie, Aisling McKenna, Caroline McAree, Erin O'Neill, Laura Askin, Hannah Bowe, Catriona McKenna, Laura McKenna, Niamh McAree, Louise Hughes, Sinead O'Brien, Eimear McCarron, Caroline McCarron, Elaine McCarron, Damhnait McKenna, Sinead McCrudden, Denise Treanor, Sorcha McKenna, Melanie Colleran Results 23rd June: beat Carrickmacross 5-19 to 0-5 25th July: beat Truagh 2-12 to 0-7 25th August: beat Latton 6-11 to 0-5 24th September: beat Cregan (Antrim) 4-10 to 0-7 15th October: beat Brookeborough (Fermanagh) 4-15 to 1-5 22nd October: beat Lissummon (Armagh 5-6 to 0-2 12th November: beat John Mitchell's (Birmingham) 5-17 to 1-6 26th November: Drew Eadestown (Kildare) 2-4 to 0-10 2nd December: lost Eadestown 0-4 to 3-14 Underage policy pays off 2006 will long be remembered in Emyvale as the most successful year ever for the club at under-age level, with a plethora of under-age titles coming their way following a highly exciting season. By Seamus McCluskey. In the early seventies, Emyvale and Inniskeen were generally regarded as the two strongest rural clubs at underage level in the country, and Emyvale had the unique honour of averaging one Juvenille title every year during that particular decade. However, the other clubs soon 'caught on' (and caught UP), and successes for Emyvale dwindled considerably, that is, until this year just completed, when no less than four underage teams brought honours to the club, three of them at Juvenile level. The under-21, under -16, under-13 and under-12 titles all came Emyvale's way, while the minors, under-15s and under-14s also all gave a very good account of temselves, though not figuring in any of the county's 'Honours Lists'. Of the underage teams we will deal firstly with the adult side, i.e the under-21s, who won the McQuillan Staircases Division Two Football League for the Lerley Cup, a trophy that had already rested on the Emyvale sideboard on no less than four previous occasions down the years. In their opening game, the Emyvale U-21 squad had Clones as visitors on Monday 3rd June and scored a decisive 1-14 to 1-4 win over the St Tiernach's team. Played in glorious conditions, Emyvale led at the break by 1-5 to 0-2 and played even better in the second period. They had lined out: - Shane Fields, Thomas Kelly, Killian McKennna, Mark Colton, Nial Kelly, John Flannery (0-2), Sean McMeel (0-1), Michael Flannery (0-1), Brendan McKeena (0-3), Colm McKenna (0-2), Enda McCudden, John Thomas Treanor (1-4), Conor Corrigan, Brendan Askin (0-1) and Adrian McGee. Subs used: - Rayn McGee, Gavin McQuaid, Barry McGuirk, Colin Donnelly and Adrian Gilbane. For their second game they travelled to play Sean McDermotts and again looked impressive with a 3-12 to 1-8 vicotry, that shot them to the top of the League table. Further full points from the Aughnamullen and Tyholland fixtures made them undisputed winners of their section, with Aughnamullen in second place, and so qualifying for a Final between these two top sides. The Decider took place at Doohamlet on Monday 14th August and the big Emyvale follwoing were again treated to a superb performance from their heroes, Emyvale winning comfotably by 0-16 to 0-4. At half-time Emyvale led by 0-7 to 0-2, having pressed from the word go, and never looking like loosing. In fact, the losers failed to register a score until the 21st minute, and the one-sided pattern continued throughout the second period, Emyvale ending up comfortable winners. The team for the Final was: - Shane Fields, Thomas Kelly, Killian McKennna, Mark Colton, Nial Kelly, John Flannery (0-1), Sean McMeel, Michael Flannery (0-1), Brendan McKeena (0-3), Colm McKenna (0-2), Brendan Askin (0-1), John Thomas Treanor (0-2), Adrian McGee (0-1), Enda McCrudden (0-2), and David Bellew (0-1). Subs used: - Gavin McQuaid, Colin Donnelly (0-1), Damien McKenna, Martin Connolly and Conor Corrigan (0-1). There were tremendous scenes of excitment when the trophy was carried home in triumph, as ot had been quite a while since a piece of Co. Board silverware had come to the club. Full credit to all the players involved, and also to the rest of the U-21 panel, as well as to their team mentors - Brendan McNally, Anthony McArdle, Fergal Colton, Willie Flannery, Barry McDonald and Sarah Mohan. From adults to Juveniles, and the U-16s were the first to head the victory list by bringing home yet another trophy to the club, in a competition that lasted from March to August. The opening encounter was with Sean McDermotts at Threemilehouse, where Emyvale won by 3-12 to 3-10 on Friday 31st March. A week later they had Latton as visitors and again came out on top, by 2-14 to 1-6, with this team: - Kevin Flannery, Thomas Hackett, Michael Flood, Gerard McCarey, Cillian McCarron, Kieran McAree, Shane Crudden, Seamus Downey (0-2), David Bowe, Daniel McMahon (0-2), Gavin McKernan (0-3), Paul McCarron (1-0), Darren McKernan (0-3), Patrick McCarron (0-3), and Martin Hughes (1-1). Subs used: - Fintan McKenna and Craig Oliver. A long trip south to take on the Killanny-Magheracloone amalgamation followed, but again Emyvale prevailed, winning by 4-10 to 3-7. On Friday 28th April they were again travelling, this time to Clones, and again brought home the spoils with a decisive 3-17 to 2-10 win over the homesters. A week later they met another amalgameted side Shamrocks, but again came out on top on a final score-line of Emyvale 2-10, Shamrocks, 2-8 with this team: - Darren McKenna, Thomas Hackett, Michael Flood, Martin Hughes, Cillian McKenna, Kieran McAree, Shane Cudden, Seamus Downey, David Bowe, Daniel McMahon, Gavin McKernan, Paul McCarron, Gareth McQuaid, Patrick McCarron and Fergal McDonald. Subs:- Eoin McKenna, Fintan McKenna, Craig Oliver and Emlyn McGee. On Tuesday 9th May they were faced by yet another amalgamation from Aghabog and Killeevan (Ennets-Sarsfields), but this did not stop their winning streak and they won, if even the narrowest of margins, 2-13 to 2-12. A long breal followed and teh next outing was not unitl 4th May when they overcame their close neighbours, Truag, by 2-12 to 0-4. The hardest game of the series was to be the next one, when they travelled to Clontibret, but still survived, finishing two points in fornt, 4-5 to 1-12. They were now in the semi-final against fourth placed Truagh, whom they met on Friday 18th August and finsihed comfotable winners to qualify for the Final. The Decider was fixed for Friday 25th August in Tyholland, with the opposition to be provided by Clontibret - the team that had given them their toughest test throughout the entire series. This time, however, Emyvale were in a determined mood and scored a decisive victory on a final score-line of Emyvale 3-8, Clontibret 0-7. Three great first half goals left Emyvale leading by 3-5 to 0-3 at the inteval and, while Clontibret tried everyhting they knew in the second period, the honours were destined to come to Emyvale, with this as gallant a young side as ever represented the club:- Kevin Flannery, Martin Hughes, Michael Flood, Thomas Hackett, Cillian McCarron, Kieran McAree, Conor Bellew, David Bowe, Seamus Downey (0-2), Paul McCarron (0-3), Patrick McCarron (0-1), Daniel McMahon (0-1), Gavin McKernan, Gareth McQuaid (2-1) and Darren McKernan (1-0). Subs used: - Shane Crudden, Eoin McKenna and Gerard McCarey. Again there was great excitment when the John McCormack Cup was presented to team captain Danile McMahon, and much enjoyment as the trophy was carried home in triumph. Full credit to all the players and panel, and to their mentors - Raymond Kelly, Frankie McCromack and Fergal Colton. And so the second under-age title of the year had been brought home to Emyvale. The U-13 competition was not played until the tail end of the year, with the first game on September 16th. This was against Sean McDermotts, and Emyvale won rather easily by 1-20 to 2-4. They followed this up with a draw against Truagh, 2-6 each, and then a very decisive win over visiting Maghercloone, 3-14 to 2-6. They then met thier first amalgamated opponents of the year - Aughnamullen/Blackhill, but again came out oon top, this time by 5-6 to 4-8. Two more points from Latton fixture and they were now in the semi-final in which they would meet old rivals. Scotstown, always a strong side in Juvenile competition, but Emyvale were to reverse many previous decisions on this occasion when they deservedly, if narrowly, came out on top by 0-13 to 2-6. The Final took place on Saturday 4th November, against neighbours Traugh, the only side to have taken a point from them in the league campaign. This time there were to be no questions asked, however, as Emyvale strolled to a caomfortable 2-14 to 0-5 victory with this team - Mattew McAree, David Downey, John McAlister, Colin McHughes, Caoimhin Kelly, David Gilbane, Niall McAree, Thomas Doody (0-6). James McAlister (0-1), Parnell Watters, Stephen Askin (0-2), Karl McQuaid (0-2), Damien McAree, Alan McKenna (0-3) and Eoghan McCarey. Subs used:- Ryan Nestor (1-0), Ryan McAnespie (1-0), Mervyn Brown, Cormac Watterson and Stephen Treanor. Team captain James McAlister, was presented with the Kilpatrick Cup - amazingly it was the first time ever for Emyvale to win this particualr trophy. The team, subs and entire panel, as well as their mentors - Vincent McAnespie, Genie McKenna, Arthur Sherry, Mervyn Brown and Stephen Callery - all deserve the plaudits of every one connected with the club on such a unique success. Under-age trophy 'number three' was now with the Emyvale Club. Finally the youngest team competeing officially in the county during the year - the under-12s. They started well with a 2-8 to 2-5 win over Ballybay on 15th April and followed that up with a 3-17 to 0-10 victory over Clones in the same month. Come May, and they began with a 4-4 to 0-10 win over Sean McDermotts and then a comfortable 3-14 to 1-5 victory over Latton. Theydropped their first point when they were held to a draw by Donaghnoyne, 2-6 to 1-9, but made up for this lapse with a comprehensice 7-8 to 3-6 win over Ballybay in the return game, and then a big win over Clones, also in the return series. Sean McDermotts, however, surprised them with a 2-7 to 2-5 defeat, that was to be Emyvale's only reverse of the year. Full points from their return fixture with Latton, however, and they were now in the semi-final, against the only team that had defeated them throughout the league campaign - Sean McDermotts. The semi-final was fixed for Setember 12th and this time Emyvale made no mistake, winning decisively by 3-9 to 1-6, putting them into the Final, where they would meet Donaghmoyne on Saturday 23rd September. In atrocious weather conditions, Emyvale overcame all the odds and won a low-scoring game by 0-8 to 0-4, thus bringing home the fourth county title of the year to the club. The Tom Reilly Cup was presented to the winning Emyvale captian, Alan McKenna, amid great scenes of excitment, despite the dreadful weather. The winning team, which was surely a credit to themselves, to their club, to their parents and to their mentors - Vincent McAnespie, Genie McKenna, Arthur Sherry, Mervyn Brown, Stephen Callery and Martina Flood - had lined out: - Damien McAree, Pascal Murphy, Enda Callery, Conor McQuillain, Dylan McKenna, Mervyn Brown, Nathan Keenan, Alan McKenna (0-1), Colin McHughes, Rayn McAnespie (0-4), Ryan Nestor, Martin Loughran, Rory Sherry (0-3), Gareth Mohan and Stpehen O'Brien. Subs used:- Ruairi McGinnity, Darren Doherty, James McKenna, Shane McCarron, Rayn McVicar and Anthony O'Brien. Tweet

Most Read Stories