Hard work reaps rewards
April 30, 2010However, there is a spirit within this club that has seen them make huge strides both on and off the field. For this year's edition of the Yearbook, we speak to club stalwart Jim Baker about their fortunes in 2009 and the work that is being done in the club.
Last year's intermediate campaign was not the most memorable for the club as they failed to reach in knockout stages of the championship, but the results only tell half the story.
"There was a great attitude going into last year's championship and we had good numbers turning up for training. Most nights there were up on 30 and we genuinely thought that we could do very well," said Jim.
In their first outing, Cullion faced neighbours Crookedwood and as expected this was a close match, but it was the Wood that came out on top by three points, much to the disappointment of their opponents.
"The Crookedwood game is one that we should have won and I believe that if we had won that one then it would have set us up for the remainder of the campaign, but it really set things back a lot."
Despite defeating Southern Gaels in the next match, defeats to Turin and Clonkill left them near the bottom of the table. A second win of the campaign against St Oliver Plunkett's meant it was all to play for in their remaining three matches, but it was all to no avail as three losses were the outcome.
"Once some of the lads stopped training, it was hard to get going again and in fairness we had no rub of the green during the championship. John Shaw as manager did a great job to rally the lads and he is there again this year, so hopefully we can push on."
This year's intermediate championship will consist of six teams as no team was relegated from the senior ranks due to the confusion over the implementation of a senior B championship and Jim feels that Cullion can benefit from this.
"If the senior B was introduced, it would have been a disaster for us as we would have effectively been a junior team. We have a great chance of winning the intermediate now and if we put in the right effort for the year then there is no reason why we can't win it."
Jim pointed to the emergence of a number of younger players onto the intermediate squad as the main reason for there being a renewed belief within the club.
"If you take myself and two or three others out of the equation, you have a very young squad. A lot of lads are after coming through from minor and under-21 and this is great for the club. We have plenty to aim for this year.
"There is no reason for us to fear any side that's in the intermediate this year. We have youth and experience on our side and the younger lads have an extra year at this level under their belts, which will stand to them now."
Many may feel that Cullion have a small pool of players to choose from, but the fact is that they can field a junior B team also and Jim feels that with this in place, everyone is catered for.
"Yeah, we have a junior B team and this will make sure that everyone gets a game. In previous years lads might have been training away without getting game, which is very frustrating for them, but the fact that we have had to name ten players that can't play junior B means that everyone will definitely get a game.
"At the end of the day, everyone wants to play games, none of us like training. Lads have often just walked away when they weren't playing, but that problem should be avoided this year."
Jim has shared his considerable knowledge of the game to helping develop the underage structure within the club and he along with his club colleagues are delighted with the progress that they have made.
"We're over the moon with the underage. Numbers have improved considerably and we could have anywhere between 40 to 50 kids in the park on a Saturday morning. Last year, we knew that we had to sit down and address the problem of promoting the underage.
"Thankfully this has started to work and we now are providing coaching courses for the parents, if they want to get involved. The club needs as many people as possible working with the underage teams and we'd love to see more of the players get involved."
Part of the reason for the club's upturn in numbers at underage level is down to the excellent facilities that Cullion have developed at the grounds in recent years.
"The hurling wall and the astro turf pitches are great assets to have. You can play all year round on the pitches as the weather doesn't affect them, while the wall is excellent for honing the skills of the game."
Last year, Cullion reached the under-14 B championship final, where they lost to Lough Lene Gaels, but it was a step in the right direction and the appetite for the game has certainly affected all the club's young gaels.
"Before we started back training, I had kids' texting to see when we were going back, which was unheard of before this. Hopefully, we can build up the numbers even further. This is something that we are aiming to do this year. The club wants to be competing at all levels in the near future."
Cullion are certainly a club in progression and it is only a matter of time before this reflects on the pitch. For far too long they have been regarded a 'small club' but with continued hard work that is certainly all about to change. Tweet
