Not that many years ago - in 2005 to be exact - Cullion were challenging for intermediate hurling honours when they reached the final, only to be defeated by Crookedwood. However, the last two years has saw their form dip dramatically and, in 2007, they managed just one win in the intermediate championship. For those associated with this proud hurling club, formed back in 1949, both the '06 and '07 seasons must rank as a real source of frustration. The fact that they managed just one win in the 2007 campaign will really hurt and one expects a renewed drive in the season ahead. Cullion's solitary championship win in last year's championship came against Turin and when they reflect on how their campaign panned out, they're sure to feel that they could have done better against other teams that, traditionally, they could always master. Twice in the past Cullion has annexed the intermediate title (1996 and '99) and they'll be aiming to add to that record this year, particularly with Castlepollard having returned to senior ranks. Their real high point came back in 2001 when they reached the senior final, only to lose by five points against a Clonkill team that has since gone from strength to strength. Watching their Loughegar neighbours go on and win the All-Ireland intermediate title earlier this year is sure to inspire Cullion, who have reinstated Benny O'Dowd as manager for 2008. O'Dowd was at the helm when they reached that senior decider and his presence is sure to lead to a renewed effort. John Shaw, who is set to join O'Dowd as a selector, views this as a positive development. "We are making a renewed effort this year alright and the return of Benny O'Dowd is an obvious plus. We are capable of competing with all of the intermediate clubs. Castlepollard were a step ahead of everyone last year and we never seemed to recover from the defeat to them in the first round," he remarked. "We have to make a serious effort this year. There are young lads coming through from a very good minor team we had a couple of years ago - the likes of Tommy Gillen, Jamie Shaw and Brian O'Dowd - and that should boost things further. We have a few lads back also from last year," he added. Cullion's 2007 campaign began with a clash against Castlepollard, who were considered raging hot favourites for the title. As expected the Castlepollard men proved too strong and emerged with a decisive victory on a 3-21 to 2-6 scoreline. At half time in this clash at Clonkill, Cullion trailed by 10 points (0-4 to 2-8), with the concession of two goals a real body blow to their prospects. An early second half goal by the men in maroon suggested a revival was on the cards, but 'Pollard notched a third goal and were comfortable winners in the end. In the second round, Cullion travelled to The Downs to face St. Brigid's. In a game they really expected to win, Cullion conceded two goals again and suffered a three-point reversal (2-8 to 0-11). It was anyone's game at half time, where St. Brigid's led by 2-4 to 0-7, but in very wet playing conditions, Cullion's second half recovery faltered. Round three pitted them against Clonkill's second strong side and, after a solid showing, Cullion earned a draw as the game finished 2-10 apiece. Cullion followed up that draw by recording their only win of the campaign when they defeated Turin by four points on a 0-11 to 0-7 scoreline. However, if they were hoping these two positive results would inspire a change in fortune, they were soon left to carry out further soul searching as Delvin inflicted an eight points defeat on the Cullion men when the sides met in Cusack Park. The result did flatter Delvin somewhat, but Cullion's prospects of making the knock-out stages were now firmly dashed. In the final game, Cullion faced Southern Gaels. This was another game the Maroons expected to win, but they conceded two goals once more and suffered a five-point defeat (2-9 to 1-7). It brought a disappointing campaign to an end, with the Maroons languishing second from bottom, ahead of Clonkill on score difference. Elsewhere, at underage level, Cullion are in a period of transition, with weak teams at under 16 and minor levels. They have a promising under 14 side which they hope to nurture through. Meanwhile, away from the game itself, they are looking at developing their pitch, having received Lotto funding last year. They also plan to add a new training pitch. Cullion may have struggled for the past two years, but there are positive vibes coming from club as regards the year ahead. In what looks a wide open championship, a renewed drive could see them make real headway. The Cullion side which played St. Brigid's in the 2007 intermediate championship was: Derek Kerrigan; Stephen Bourke, Philip Galvin, John Shaw; David Bradley, James Corcoran, Vincent Conneely; Tommy Gillen, Denis Reynolds; Robbie Galvin, Paul Reynolds, John Gaffney; James Whyte, Jim Baker, Damien Golden. Subs used: Mark Keane, Ollie Fay, James Clarke, Stephen Earley, Daniel Bourke. Camogie on the up While their hurlers struggled, camogie in Cullion appears to be experiencing something of a renaissance. In 2007, they reached the senior hurling final only to be defeated by a strong Raharney side, while there was tangible consolation in the form of victory in the junior championship final. Liam Davitt, who's been deeply involved with the running of camogie teams since 1985, reflected on a positive year for the game in the area. "The junior championship win was a real shot in the arm and we had a great year, overall. We reached the senior final, which was a good achievement, and will be aiming to make a big impression again in the coming year," he said. Explaining how the present club was formed back in the 1960s, he outlined how the game was first introduced to the area in the '40s, before running into difficulties. Victory in the All-Ireland Feile final back in 1992 was a major fillip for Cullion, when the talented under 14 side defeated Mount Bellew, in New Inn, Galway. "Most of that team has been nurtured through and is still with us. We have won two senior titles (1986 and '87) as well as junior and junior B championships, so the game has enjoyed relative success," he explained. Since the double triumph of '86 and '87, Cullion have been making a big effort to relive the heady days. Last year's bold showing, plus the fact that they were making serious progress in the 2006 championship, before being eliminated on a registration technicality, suggests that they could well add to their list of senior titles in the not too distant future. "Aileen Martin and Laura Newman, who are off to Australia, will be missing this year and that is a big setback. However, we will be keen to build on the last couple of years. But there's a great social aspect to it all, with our visits to Birmingham each year to play in a competition there. And last year we travelled to New York in a trip the players had planned for two years, saving for it. "There's a new Gael Scoil in Cullion now and we hope that can help provide for the future, both in camogie and hurling," added Davitt. Tweet

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