If any team ever had an up-and-down season, it was surely Emyvale, whose form during the league campaign of 2007 can only be compared to the proverbial 'curate's egg' - good and bad in places. By Seamus McCluskey A disastrous start, when they suffered their biggest defeat of the year, was followed by a scintillating performance that won them their most impressive victory of the year, from one extreme to the other, while, from there on it was almost like a yo-yo. The best part was kept to the end of the season ('We keep the good wine to the last'. they said - and justifiably so.), when they suddenly saw relegation staring them in the face and realised that something serious would have to be done to remedy the situation. There is nothing like a 'good scare' to waken people out of their slumbers, and it was surely this that prompted their promising young side to pull up their socks and go all out for victory in the remaining games, which they duly did,and scored a series of impressive victories during the late autumn, that saw them climb steadily up the ladder of the Intermediate League Table and surprise everybody by finishing in fourth position and qualifying for the semi-final stages. No wonder local people were compairing them to Houdini as a three point win over Corduff shot them up the table and saw them qualify ahead of both Corduff and Cremartin. Their opening game was nothing short of a disaster when they entertained their close neighbours Tyholland and were whipped by the visitors on a 1-13 to 0-4 score-line - a twelve points defeat. Compare this to their next outing when they travelled to Cremartin, and scored a remarkable 2-12 to 0-6 victory over the home side - a twelve points victory. If you can lose by twelve points and then win by twelve points in two successive games, there is something truly remarkable about that side, and so it proved. Next game saw the side plummet again when losing by seven points to Monaghan Harps, but then scaling the heights in the very next game with victory over Corduff, with this team: Declan Callerey, John Flannery, Jonathan Murrough, Sean McMeel, Brendan O'Brien, Emmet Colleran, Killian Mckenna, Brendan McKenna, Michael Flannery, Brendan Askin, Shane McKenna, John T. Treanor, Adrian McGee, Gerard McCaffrey and Dermot McMeel. Subs used: Colm McKenna and Patrick J. McKenna. This up-and down form would continue with a one point win over Rockcorry and a drawn game away to Drumhawan. Three defeats in a row followed - to Aghabog, Sean McDermotts and Tyholland, but the 'star game' ruling was to play a vital role in these defeats, as Emyvale was not allowed to use their best player, Brendan McKenna, their only representative on the county team, and this factor would prove vital at a much later stage when Emyvale would find themselves fighting for survival. Such a rule would not affect senior teams to the same extent as it did to Emyvale. A highly creditable draw with Truagh, 0-9 each, was followed by defeats by Drumhowan and Aghabog - Emyvale, in fact, was the only team in the entire league to lose to Aghabog all season. That left Emyvale in a very precarious position, lying very much in the relegation zone, but then came the transformation. There were four games left to play and, depending on other results, Emyvale could still make it, if they could win all those games. These were against teams also producing their very best in efforts to qualify for a top-four spot, but Emyvale confounded all the critics when they showed a resurgence that had to be seen to be believed. The first was a classic, if late, result against Sean McDermotts with this side: Stephen McAree, Ciaran Connolly, John Flannery, Sean Mc Meel, Niall Kelly, Shane McKenna, Brendan Askin, Brendan McKenna, Michael Flannery, John Thomas Treanor, Robbie mcHugh, Brendan O'Brien, Darren Farmer, Gerard McCaffrey and Adrian McGee. Subs used: Colm McKenna, Declan Callery, Jonathan Morrough and Killian McKenna. The 'blood was now up' and a repeat performance against Cremartin a week later saw Emyvale galloping up the league table. Two left, and the issue still in doubt, and, to make matters worse, both of these were 'away' games, but Emyvale were in no mood to cave-in at this stage, and a 3-3 to 0-4 win over Monaghan Harps at Gavan Duffy Park in the county capital was crowned with a superb performance in the very last game, away to Corduff, when the final score read: Emyvale 0-10, Corduff 0-7. The team in that final game read: Stephen McAree, Ciaran Connolly, Jonathan Morrough, John Flannery, Sean McMeel, Michael Flannery, Killian Mckenna, Brendan McKenna, Brendan O'Brien, Brendan Askin, John T. Treanor, Darren Farmer, Declan Callery, Gerard McCaffrey and Adrian McGee. Sub used: Paddy J. McKenna. It was an amazing turnaround as a side that looked doomed now was on the brink of league glory. Their fine resurgence, however, came to an end when they lost in the semi-final at St. Mellan's Park on Sunday 25th November last to rivals Truagh. Defeat may have been their lot on this occasion, but they can certainly look back on 2007, particularly on the concluding stages, with justifiable pride, as they shocked all the pundits by coming from nowhere to contest the knock-out stages. Their young side is certainly not ready for senior ranks as yet, but the talent is there and, as they proved in recent months, the spirit is now also there. There is nothing to stop them from hitting the high spots in the year ahead, and, if ever an team deserved a bit of luck for a change, Emyvale certainly does. Emyvale ladies left to settle for league title The year 2006 was a wonderful one for Emyvale Ladies. The north Monaghan club had won the County Junior League and Championship, the Ulster Championship and were Runners-Up in the All Ireland decider. Moving up a grade is always a big test and in 2007 Emyvale hoped to continue their winning streak at Intermediate level. It was to be a year that promised a lot. It delivered a title but it could have been so much better writes Alan Gunn. All eyes were on Emyvale in this year's Intermediate championship to see if they could follow up on their junior success. They were given their toughest possible draw when they were pitted against Magheracloone in the semi-final. The game was fixed for St Oliver Plunkett Park on July 6. It had all the ingredients to produce a classic. What unfolded was way beyond what anyone had even hoped for. The game will go down as one of the very best in neutal eyes but not maybe in Emyvale's eyes as they went down at the finish 3-15 to 5-8. It was a cruel defeat for the home side who had played so well throughout but the greater experience of the Mitchell's eventually gave them the edge. At half time Emyvale led 4-4 to 0-6 and looked in total control. The opening goal arrived on 16 minutes when Brenda McAnespie found Erin O'Neill who blasted home. With the wind at their backs, a strong finish to the half saw Erin O'Neill, Melanie Colleran and Ciara McAnespie all rattle the net. Emyvale were still very much in control as we entered injury time as they led by seven points. Gradually Magheracloone began to cut the deficit and by hitting 2-2 in those eight minutes of added time they turned the game around and left Emyvale shell shocked as the final whistle blew. Emyvale had crashed out and victory was snatched from their grasp. Experience was the key as this young talented Emyvale side failed to see out the game against the greater experience of Magheracloone. Emyvale (v Magheracloone): Sinead Mohan, Martina Flood, Ann O'Brien, Aoife McDonald, Therese Curley, Patricia Feely, Aoife McAnespie (0-1), Brenda McAnespie, Nicola Fahy, Ciara McAnespie (2-2), Melanie Colleran (1-2), Aisling McKenna (0-1), Hannah Hughes, Erin O'Neill (2-2, 1f), Caroline McAree Subs: Aine McAree for H Hughes, Hannah Bowe for T Curley, Nadine Hughes for A McAree They regrouped and put the defeat behind them to go on and win the league. In the final they faced Donaghmoyne 'B' at Aghabog in October. While, Emyvale were caught with a late smash and grab in the championship this time it was them that came late to snatch the honours. Two goals in the final two minutes gave Emyvale a single point victory 4-4 to 1-12. Donaghmoyne had a blistering start going 1-3 ahead before Emyvale opened their account with Caroline McAree firing over as the game entered the second quarter. Entering injury time in the first half Emyvale where thrown a lifeline when Erin O'Neill beat Donaghmoyne keeper Ann Marie Burns to a 50/50 ball which resulted in a goal to leave the midway score 1-8 to 1-2 in favour of Donaghmoyne. Emyvale got a second goal 20 minutes into the second half through Ciara McAnespie to keep them in the game and give them hope. They continued to push forward and with two direct high balls into the danger zone Laura Askin and Erin O'Neill netted majors to give the north Monaghan club a one point win. Emyvale (v Donaghmoyne): Sinead Mohan, Martina Flood, Ann O'Brien, Aoife McDonald, Aoife McAnespie, Patricia McKenna, Therese Curley, Nicola Fahy, Melanie Colleran, Ciara McAnespie (1-1), Aisling McKenna, Hanna Hughes, Laura Askin (1-0), Erin O'Neill (2-2), Caroline McAree (0-1) Subs: Nadine Hughes, Aine McAree Tweet

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