Did anyone seriously believe that Latton wouldn't be in the shake-up for the SFL in 2006? One of the most consistent teams in the top flight over the last decade and more, Latton, not surprisingly, worked the oracle last November. In their defence, maybe the successful pursuit of the supremely elusive Mick Duffy provided the distraction for the Latton lads in 2005 as they exited at the semi-final stage of the senior league. Still, they did reach the last four. Twelve months on and the O'Raghallaighs took two steps forward, not alone reaching the decider but scooping the silverware for good measure. And the best of the rest can't say that they weren't given due notice of Latton's pedigree, intentions and ability to go the distance in 2006. After all by the end of April, with the competition still in its infancy, Latton were sitting pretty at the top of the table in clear water, three points clear off would-be co-finalists Magheracloone who were sitting in joint fifth place on four points after four matches. The only blemish on Latton's league record at that juncture was a draw (1-13 to 1-13) recorded in the game away to neighbours Ballybay. On the same day Truagh made for raised eyebrows among the county's Games Administration Committee by giving the Mitchells a walkover. On the first weekend of May, the ante was upped for all teams chasing top honours in the league with the advent of the first round of Star Games which would test the ability of clubs to fend without the aid of their county players. The weekend fixtures saw Latton travel to take on Tyholland. Cue Captain Fantastic. In one of the top individual displays of the year, Latton captain Noel Coyle notched 3-1 as the visitors careered to an emphatic 3-16 to 1-7 victory over the basement bottom side. Even though the side was short Sean Farmer, Eoin Lennon, Eoin Duffy, Hugh McElroy and Edmund Lennon, the O'Raghallaighs were a class apart on the day. Latton did the damage in the run up to half-time when they hit Tyholland with a 1-4 unanswered tally to pave the way for a facile victory. In the second half, the defending SFC winners showed no mercy as they pummelled their opponents in relentless fashion. One month later, it seemed as if little had changed in terms of the balance of power in the Credit Union senior league. With eight games played by early June, Latton still topped the table with 12 points amassed from eight games played with Scotstown, 'Blayney and Magheracloone all vying for the runners-up spot in boasting ten points. Fast forward to mid-August and the race for the league title was hotting up with Scotstown joining Latton in pole position on 21 points after 16 games - this despite another impressive win (1-9 to 1-7) for the champions-elect over Inniskeen at O'Rahilly Park. The crucial score for Latton was notched by Hugh McElroy from the penalty spot in the third quarter, a score which put the homesters into the lead for the first time in the game. Latton had trailed by 0-5 to 1-4 at the interval but once McElroy's shot rattled the Inniskeen net, an air of inevitability wafted its way over proceedings. By the end of August, Latton had already secured their place in the semi-finals but their continuing good form was heartening and posted out a warning to their nearest challengers. It was the in-form McElroy who did the damage for Latton once more in their 2-11 to 0-7 triumph over Castleblayney Faughs in the first week of September. The ace attacker helped himself to a healthy 2-6, his first goal propelling the host side into a 1-4 to 0-4 lead. Fittingly McElroy followed up his 43rd minute second goal with the final point of the game. The win over the Faughs saw Latton cement their place in number one position in the league. Their 25 points tally from 18 games left them three points in front of Magheracloone, Blayney and Scotstown. The semi-final draw pitted Latton against long-time league challengers Scotstown with the match going ahead in late October at O'Rahilly Park. As things panned out, a power-packed second half display proved more than enough to propel Latton to an utterly convincing 1-13 to 0-3 win over the An Bhoth representatives. The tussle turned out to be the proverbial game of two halves with the first half being evenly contested only for Latton to rule the roost with some comfort following the restart. For the most part, defences were on top in the opening moiety and the match had a claustrophobic feel about it. Both sides laboured initally to get their sights right and it wasn't until the 5th minute that the deadlock was broken with Noel Coyle doing the honours. It seemed that a combination of nerves, tension and a lack of composure was serving to hamstring the efforts of both teams to find their best form as the first half continued to gather pace. Scotstown began to show a better spring in their step edging towards the midway stage of the first half and a neat point from Nicholas Corrigan levelled matters. However Latton would soon step up a gear or two to put some clear water between themselves and their opponents. Latton's lead was to be of the slow-burner type though with their goal in the 16th minute helping to put the heat on their opponents for the first real time in the match. The goal was expertly dispatched by Kevin Hughes on the half-volley after Hugh McElroy's initial effort was partially blocked by the Scotstown 'keeper. Latton's timely major left them with a leg-up they scarcely needed as Scotstown's challenge began to weaken. Typically Latton almost visibly grew in confidence on the back of their well-taken goal and a fine move involving Eoin Lennon, Eoin Duffy and Aidan Farmer and ending with Bernard O'Brien pointing hinted at even more potent things to come from Latton as they went in at the break, 1-3 to 0-2 to the good. The writing was well and truly on the wall for Scotstown within five minutes of the restart when points from Hugh McElroy, and Bernard O'Brien made it a six points game. Three minutes later Scotstown hit back with a point to cut the deficit but, amazingly, that was to be the north Monaghan mens' final score of the match. Latton simply proceeded to leave their opponents in their wake with the imperious Eoin Lennon at midfield, playmaker Bernard O'Brien on the 'forty and a rock solid defence heaping pressure upon further pressure on their opponents. Just to add insult to injury, Latton introduced experienced campaigner Finbar Fitzpatrick into the equation and entering the final quarter, things couldn't have looked any more bleak for Scotstown. Seven further points without reply from Latton served to rub salt into Scotstown's gaping wound. And so to the league final and a meeting with Magheracloone Mitchells, conquerors of Castleblayney Faughs in the final by a whopping 4-10 to 1-9. Unlike Latton in their facile win over Scotstown, it was a storming first half display by Magheracloone which paved the way for their progress through to the decider. The Mitchells ran riot in the first half, cruising to a 3-7 to 0-4 interval lead before cantering home, pulling up. Could Latton prevent goal-hungry Magheracloone from achieving their 'goal'? As things panned out at Corduff's well-appointed ground in the first week of November, the Farneysiders did notch a major but just a solitary one. Latton's points tally of 12 was just enough to overcome their opponents' 1-8 tally. As in their semi-final duel, the Latton crew saved their best wine 'till last to leave Magheracloone punch-drunk and out of the winner's enclosure. An excellent second half performance from Latton was all-powerful and pivotal in deciding the issue on the day. Latton did it the hard way though as they played the final 20 minutes of the game with just 14 players after Noel Coyle saw red. But a terrific team effort laced with some magical scores served to compensate for Latton's deficit in personnel. In addition the deployment of Eoin Duffy as a man marker on Magheracloone flyer Tom Freeman was also of grave significance. After a bout of 'after you me lord' during which time the sides swapped points with gay abandon, the Mitchells took the initiative and proceeded to lead by three points by the end of the first quarter. Latton put on the pressure though in the second quarter but for all their increased possession, the O Raghallaighs had to suffer a 0-6 to 1-5 deficit at the interval after Magheracloone netted in the 29th minute. Latton went onto trail by three points before they ratcheted up proceedings with a brace of points from Bernard O'Brien and one from Finbar Fitzpatrick to leave just the minimum between the sides six minutes into the second half. But the subsequent loss of the influential Coyle threatened to unhinge Latton's push for the title. However the sending-off seemed to galvanise the champions-elect and a levelling point from Hugh McElroy in the 42nd minute signalled the start of a successful race to the finishing post by Latton. A purple patch period between the 18th and 23rd minutes yielded three unanswered points from Latton and, suddenly, Magheracloone were trailing by two points. Latton came under some sustained pressure in the dying minutes as their opponents threw everything bar the kitchen sink at them. However, save the concession of a single point in stoppage time, Latton's defence proved all-powerful. It was their day, the entire team's day, the day the Owen Ward Cup followed the Mick Duffy Cup onto Latton's roll of honour. Latton's conquering SFL final heroes (v Magheracloone) were as follows; Sean Farmer; Ruairi Ward, Dermot O'Brien, Edmund Lennon; John O'Brien, Francis Coyle, Stephen Fitzpatrick; Eoin Lennon (0-1), Aidan Farmer; Noel Coyle, Bernard O'Brien (0-2), Eoin Duffy; Hugh McElory (0-4), Kevin Hughes (0-3), Martin O'Brien. Subs used; Finbar Fitzpatrick (0-2), James Connolly. Tweet

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