For all belonging to Sean McDermotts and the people of the parish of Kilmore & Drumsnatt in general, 2006 is one best forgotten. Club chairman Danny Clerkin says things can only get better in the coming year. Danny Clerkin has ploughed a lot of furrows in his time involved with Sean McDermotts GFC. But the tragedy which afflicted the close-knit north county club he is a member of, and currently chairs, last autumn is something which he could never have envisaged at any stage of his career with the Saffrons. The death, following a road accident, of Gary McCormack, Ciaran Hagan, Dermot Thornton, John McQuillan and Brian O'Neill tore at the heart of the club and ripped the rug from under the feet of so many who had known the unfortunate quintet of sadly deceased young men. "2006 will be remembered primarily for the tragic deaths of the lads - all of whom were well known to those of us in the club and to the people of the wider community. "Some of them played for the club and all of them frequented the club at various times. It was an unbelievable accident and nobody in the area will ever forget it." "Our hearts go out to their families and our thoughts and prayers continue to be with them. "The deaths of all five served to put football and other matters into perspective," Danny explained. From the hurt and sorrow caused by the fatal accident sprang a spirit and togetherness in the parish. "The way our club members and friends gathered to lend a helping hand at the time of the funerals and afterwards was a huge endorsement of the role that local GAA clubs and other voluntary bodies play in the community," Danny affirmed. Bravely, the entire community, have resolved to work together to help heal the wounds caused by the deaths of those young men. 2007 can only get better for the people of Threemilehouse and it's envoirns. Meanwhile it is hoped that better fortunes lie in waiting for the gaels of Sean McDermotts also. During the past year, Dame Fortune didn't find favour with Seans. "We were badly hit with injuries during the year," says Danny. "In the last two games of 2005, we lost two very influential players in Niall McGuirk and Conor McElvaney and didn't have them back in action in 2006. "We continued to suffer other injuries during the year which left us with only four of the team that played in the 2005 championship available to us for the 2006 championship match with Doohamlet." One wonders what local expectations were at the outset of 2006? "From very early on in the season, it was clear to everyone with an insight into the club that it was going to be a case of us trying to maintain our intermediate status rather than going for promotion. "It was great that we succeeded in staying up and it's a credit to the management team and the players that we achieved our goal with points to spare. "We are also proud of the fact that even allowing for our injuries, we managed to field three adult teams in different competitions in 2006." Looking ahead to the coming year, Danny sticks with the optimistic theme. He reckons the new season will see us better equipped and more able to beat the best of the rest at intermediate level. "We will be hoping to have a large percentage of our injured players back playing in 2007 and that those who carried the can last year will be on hand also to help us make a big push for honours. "I believe we have a number of players who are as good as any playing at intermediate level in Monaghan and I'll be surprised if we're not there or thereabouts when the silverware is handed out next year." A man who has been closely identified with the Sean McDermotts club for many years, Danny is keen to highlight the contribution made by so many people in the Club to keep the show on the road. He says that the ethos of volunteerism is alive and well and kicking in the North Monaghan club, at all levels including juvenile. "We're most fortunate to have in our club people who give freely of their time to promote Gaelic games among the juveniles in the area. "It's pleasing that we have quite a number of young people who are prepared to give of their time and energy and who are prepared to get involved in the formation and training of teams. "We're also lucky to have men like Cormac Connolly on board as chairman of our juvenile committee. He brings a wealth of experience to his position." Reflecting on the social side of the club's activities over the course of the past twelve months, Danny says one of the highlights for Seans was the visit of the then GAA President Sean Kelly to the club's dinner dance at it's own complex. "That was a night to remember. It was a special occasion. "We honoured the great Threemilehouse teams of 1955 and '56. They won the junior championship in 1955 and followed that up with an intermediate double in '56. "It was a night to reminisce and it was great to see so many of the players from that era in such great form and health." Seans has forever been acknowledged as one of the most progressive and ambitious GAA clubs in county Monaghan. It seems that the gaels of the Sean McDermotts are never entirely satisfied that they have in place sufficient facilities to cater for Gaelic games followers in the area. It's not today or yesterday that development draws were organised by the club to fund the provision of a new grounds, new complex etc. During 2006 the club once again signalled its intention to be a model of industry and enterprise so that the demands of an increasing discerning sporting population can be met. "2006 was the first year that we played on our new playing field and it's really only now that we can stand back and admire the tremendous facilities that we have at hand." And the next stage of the club's development? "We are currently planning for the construction of new dressing-rooms and a stand and we're hoping to commence work on those sometime during the coming year," Danny enthuses. Like many at the Seans, Danny is a man of great foresight and positivity and he is optimistic that the club can put behind them a very difficult year to set in train a period of rejuvenation and hope. "We're most fortunate to have a diligent and loyal band of people who freely give so much of their time and energy to the club. "As chairman, I can see at first hand what these people have achieved and I am constantly amazed at the voluntary effort that goes into cementing the health of our club. "The amount of men and women in the club who are prepared to give it their all in the cause of our club is amazing." For the coming year, Danny says the club will, once again, set realistic goals and hope to achieve them. "I personally hope that we will see a return of our injured players and if that happens, we can look forward with confidence to 2007. "I am positive that we will continue to make progress on the field of play from juvenile level upwards. "The commencement of work on the construction of our new, additional facilities will be a big boost to everyone involved in the club." Tweet

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