After three rounds of last year's intermediate football championship, Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall looked to be well on their way to securing a place in the knock-out stages. But then it suddenly all went wrong as full back Colin Farrell ruefully reflects. Every team has a turning point in their season. For Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall in 2006, that came when Rosemount inflicted a first defeat on them in round four of the intermediate football championship. The county's most northerly club had started the championship in impressive fashion, drawing with Kilbeggan Shamrocks and recording victories over Ballymore and Milltownpass. But the loss to Rosemount was a body blow from which they never recovered, and further defeats to Maryland and Tang ensured that their championship interests didn't extend beyond the group stage. "We started out strong, but seemed to lose our momentum after losing to Rosemount," recalls Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall full back Colin Farrell. "We then lost to Maryland, but could still have qualified if we had beaten Tang in our final group match. However, the previous two results had knocked the stuffing out of us and Tang also beat us. Tang were battling against relegation and they were the hungrier team on the day," he adds. Finea had more than their fair share of injury problems last year, but Farrell isn't using this as an excuse. "I wouldn't blame the injuries for our demise. Yes, Darren McCormack (who suffered a cruciate ligament injury while on duty with the Westmeath hurlers) was a huge loss and the likes of Kevin Brazil, Eric Sullivan, Ray Sheridan and Shane Egan were all carrying injuries at various stages of the year, but I think the reason why we didn't go further in the championship was that not everyone was fully committed. "Over the past few years, 75 per cent of the players have been giving good commitment, but the other 25 per cent haven't and they need to take a look at themselves. To be successful, everyone needs to be putting in the effort. Look at Bunbrosna - they won the championship last year because they were all fully committed." Farrell is disappointed that Finea haven't progressed more since their minor 'A' championship triumph in 2001, and fears that the current team is now in real danger of never fulfilling its potential. "The present team is built around players from that minor side, but so far that success hasn't carried through into the intermediate ranks. Most of us are now 22 or 23 and it's getting close to the stage where something needs to happen soon. "The Bunbrosna team we beat en route to winning that minor championship is now looking forward to playing in this year's senior championship. We need to step up to the mark fairly soon. It could be do-or-die in the next year or two," he says. Under the management of Des Doolin, Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall must still be wondering how they didn't make a winning start to last year's championship. They drew 1-8 apiece with Kilbeggan Shamrocks, but the big talking point afterwards was Finea's tally of 15 wides. Despite fielding a weakened side, the Cavan-border outfit were on top for long stages but couldn't hammer home their advantage. Kilbeggan opened brightly, but faded and led by just a solitary point at half-time, 0-4 to 0-3. Within seconds of the restart, Michael Moran struck the first goal and when Shane Egan followed up with a point, Finea were 1-4 to 0-4 ahead. They led until the closing stages when David Keenan's goal salvaged a share of the spoils for Kilbeggan. Des Doolin's charges secured their first victory when accounting for Ballymore by 1-9 to 0-7 at a rain-soaked Castletown-Geoghegan. While Finea's goal arrived with the last kick of the game courtesy of teenage star Niall Kilcoyne, the north Westmeath side had done enough before then to justify their win. After an impressive opening period by Finea, Ballymore responded to draw level at 0-3 each by the 22nd minute and the sides were level again at 0-4 each three minutes later, but unanswered points from Ray Sheridan, Kilcoyne and Kevin Brazil saw Finea lead by 0-7 to 0-4 at the interval. Ballymore introduced a number of subs in an effort to turn the game, but despite Paddy Martin's excellent fielding and hard work, they continued to struggle in the forward department. They did, however, manage to reduce the deficit to two points on a couple of occasions in the final quarter, but Finea made sure of victory when a sweeping move involving Daniel McDermott, Mark Brady and Ryan Plunkett culminated in young Kilcoyne firing home the only goal. Another strong finish saw Finea chalk up their second successive win at Milltownpass' expense. Level at half-time, the game could have gone either way for a long time in the second half, but the green and golds eventually came out on top. Milltownpass had edged into a 0-8 to 0-7 lead before Finea clicked into gear and finished the game with four points on the trot per Ryan Plunkett (two), Alan Brady and Eric Sullivan to run out 0-11 to 0-8 winners. The wastefulness which had cost Finea victory over Kilbeggan in their opening game came back to haunt them when Rosemount ended their unbeaten run at Cusack Park. Rosemount - who were surprisingly relegated at the end of the season - were lucky not to concede two early goals which would have left them facing an uphill task. Despite being outplayed, however, they went on to lead by 0-6 to 0-4 at the break. Finea, who kicked a total of 12 wides, lost their way somewhat in the third quarter but were still very much in contention until five minutes from the end when Rosemount corner forward David Tone rounded Mark Brady and drilled home the only goal. Daniel McDermott almost replied with a similar score in the dying moments, but the Roses held on for a 1-9 to 0-7 victory. Finea's hopes of reaching the knock-out stages were dealt a further blow when they succumbed to Maryland by 1-10 to 2-10. Despite an early goal from Michael Moran, the northerners went into the half-time break trailing by 1-3 to 2-5. Three points without reply from Ryan Plunkett, Ronan Doolin and Niall Kilcoyne brought them right back into contention early in the second half, and further efforts from Plunkett and Eric Sullivan reduced the deficit to the minimum with time running out. However, the crucial moment came when a great block by David Reynolds denied Daniel McDermott a winning goal, and Maryland swept forward for Ollie Moran to land the insurance point. Despite their defeats to Rosemount and Maryland, a quarter-final berth was still in the offing for Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall if they could beat Tang in their final group game. Alas, it wasn't to be as the relegation-threatened southerners prevailed by the minimum margin, 1-10 to 2-6. Finea could have few complaints about the outcome as their second goal was scored from the penalty spot by goalkeeper Gary Sullivan with the last kick of the game. A more determined Tang side got off to a very positive start and were 1-3 to 0-1 in front at the end of the first quarter. Finea reduced the gap to three points at half-time, 1-2 to 1-5, but despite making several switches, they never looked like making up the deficit in the second half. A few years ago, Finea joined forces with neighbours Ballycomoyle to form a new underage club called St. Michael's. This amalgam has proved to be very successful and last year the club captured an under 14 Division 3 league title. The same team also qualified for the Division 3 championship final which they lost to The Downs by 5-7 to 5-9 after extra-time. "It was one of the best games of football I've ever seen and the boys were obviously very disappointed to lose it. But they got revenge on The Downs when they beat them in the league final," explains Colin, who helped out with the coaching of the under 10 and under 12 teams last year. A notable change to the Finea management set-up for the coming year is to return of Jim Mahon, who will link up with Des Doolin. During Mahon's previous spell in charge, the northerners were viewed as geniune contenders for the intermediate championship and this, coupled with the return of a couple of key players, has Farrell in upbeat mood. "There's a good air of anticipation this year. Jim made great strides with us when he was last over us three or four years ago, and I think both he and Des will work very well together. They're two good men to have over a team. "Everyone was delighted with the progress of young players like Eanna Doolin, Niall Kilcoyne and Shane Egan last year, and I'm sure they will only get better in the year ahead. Dermot Caffrey, who played for the Westmeath under 21s a couple of years ago, is back with us after being abroad last year and Martin Cunningham, who is better known as a Ringtown hurler, is also back playing football for the first time in a number of years. "We have the makings of a strong team and if everyone can give the required commitment, I think we could go very close this year," he concludes. Tweet

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