It was Shannon Gaels' crack minor side who started the ball rolling last May. By dint of their league heroics, the west was well and truly awakened.
In an action-packed semi-final, the Gaels' under 18s booked their passage through to the decider thanks in the main to a storming second half display which saw them out-score Cornafean by 2-17 to 3-4.
The winners-elect were in sleeves-rolled-up mode from the opening whistle and a point apiece from Jason McLoughlin, Colin McCaffrey and PP O'Hara had Cornafean quickly looking to their laurels.
And while Cornafean got up and running with a point in the 7th minute with a point, a Conor McCaffrey goal three minutes later really rocked the Reds back on their heels.
Indeed each time Cornafean attempted to chisel a foothold in the match, the Gaels seemed to have the capacity to knock the stuffing out of their opponents' challenge almost immediately in response with further points from Conor McCaffrey and PP O'Hara helping to ease the Gaels into a 1-10 to 2-2 interval lead.
Goal-hungry Cornafean found the net again in the 35th minute after PP O'Hara and Jason McLoughlin had earlier added a point apiece as the second half roared clear off the starting blocks.
However the Gaels stubbornly refused to relinquish the initiative and in the 38th minute, Jason McLoughlin blasted home a penalty after he himself was fouled in the box.
Amazingly, a 44th minute effort was to be Cornafean's final score of the afternoon as the Gaels proceeded to firmly embellish their lead with PP O'Hara, Aaron O'Hara, Jason McLoughlin (two) and Nevin O'Donnell all pointing to seal the issue.
The final saw the west Cavan lads lock horns with near-neighbours Kildallan in early May and after a brillant contest, the Gaels chiselled out a 3-15 to 5-5 victory at Bawnboy.
In a terrific shoot-out, the Gaels notched a magnificent 3-9 from play after being caught on the starting blocks and going six points in arrears after eight minutes.
To the credit of the winners-elect, they knuckled down and cut the gap to four points, 0-4 to 2-2, with 16 minutes on the clock.
A clinically-taken goal by PP O'Hara in the 20th minute - after being set up by Nevin O'Donnell - then left just one point between the sides.
Then after good work by Jason McLoughlin two minutes later, young O'Hara levelled matters with a typically neat point.
A third goal from Kildallan upped the ante but the Gaels responded with typical gusto and moments later with the aforementioned O'Donnell netting.
With the scores tied at 3-2 to 2-5 at the interval, things were all set for a dramatic second half and it definitely didn't disappoint.
A goal in the 35th minute from Kildallan again asked questions of Shannon Gaels and they duly hit back with a string of points to ease their way back in front in the 37th minute for the first time since the 4th minute.
Ahead by 2-12 to 4-4, the Gaels kept up the pressure and Nevin O'Donnell again pointed thereafer to leave the winners-elect further ahead with four minutes left on the clock.
In their next attack, the Gaels grabbed the crucial score of the match with young McLaughlin setting up Niall McGrath for a tidy goal which left his side leading by 3-13 to 4-5.
Back came Kildallan with a goal to set up a frenetic finish but the Gaels rose brillantly to the challenge to notch the insurance points through PP O'Hara and Jason McLoughlin to seal the title win.
Shannon Gaels (2009 MFL Division Four final v Kildallan);
Liam O'Reilly; Aaron O'Hara, Daniel McCann, Niall Corrigan; Gary Gallagher, Stephen McManus, Jason McLoughlin (0-2); Shane Dolan, Nevin O'Donnell (1-4), PP O'Hara (1-3); Cathal Dolan, Conor McCaffrey (0-2), Daniel Fitzpatrick (0-1).
Sub used; Niall McGrath (1-1).
Reflecting on his club's triumph, team selector Anthony Murray was fulsome in his praise of the players' efforts.
"There was nothing between the teams at any time but our lads showed great spirit and commitment in what was a fiercely entertaining game.
"A lot of praise is due to the team-manager John McManus. Even though he was working in Dublin, he gave it 100% and selector Ollie Nolan deserves a lot of credit too for helping to get the best out of the lads.
"Even our defeat in the championship final to Killinkere in October couldn't take away from what was a great year for the minors."
There was further joy for the Gaels' young guns at the tail end of July when the under 16s came out on top (3-6 to 0-11) against Drumgoon in the Division Three League final at Kingspan/Breffni Park.
The Gaels started slowly though and were 0-0 to 0-3 adrift early on before lynchpin Nevin O'Donnell notched a point after ten minutes.
However it was to be another ten minutes before the black and ambers would add to their tally.
"We were really rocked back on our heels at the start of the game," team-manager Eugene McLoughlin recalled.
"We had a lot of young lads on the team and they didn't settle nearly as quickly as Drumgoon who seemed to have a much more experienced side."
As half-time approached, Shannon Gaels still trailed by 0-3 to 0-5 but in the dying seconds of the first half, the strong-running Conor McCaffrey burst through and netted to level the scores, 1-3 to 0-6, for the first time as the half-time whistle sounded.
"Conor's goal was crucial and the most important score of the game," says the aforementioned McLoughlin who was assisted in the management of the team by James Gallagher.
"It meant that we went into dressing-room at half-time in good form and with renewed confidence whereas we felt the goal was a real body blow for Drumgoon."
Things got even better on the restart for the would-be winners with two goals within the opening six minutes firmly setting them on the road to victory.
The majors - scored by the excellent duo of Nevin O'Donnell and Niall Walsh - was consolidated by a neat point moments later from the in-form O'Donnell.
"We couldn't have asked for a better start to the second half," Eugene remarks. "Even though they came back with a few points, our defence was very good and I never thought we would let it slip after getting on top after half-time."
Shannon Gaels actually almost nabbed a fourth goal in the closing minutes of the game when a 25 metre shot from Nevin O'Donnell richocheted to safety off the Drumgoon crossbar.
Drumgoon kept going 'till the death but Shannon Gaels were not for turning. They would not be denied their due reward.
"The players only got what they deserved," team-manager McLoughlin re-iterated.
"Their win in the league was all down to the dedication they showed from January 1st when we started training in the snow, hail and rain.
"We knew we'd be up against it 'cause from the team that won the under 14 title two years ago, we lost four girls and another two players plus it went from 13 to 15 aside and we had only a panel of 16 players.
"We found ourselves playing against teams who were physically stronger than us but the local derby win over Drumport in the first round of the league really set us off on a roll."
And yet, in fingering the key game in the team's victorious odyssey, Eugene says his team's home defeat to would-be co-finalists Drumgoon was telling.
"I think that defeat was a turning point in the campaign. They beat us comfortably. Before that game we were getting things very much our own way.
"Losing to Drumgoon at home was our only defeat of the year and it really helped put fire in the players' bellies.
"They put in an even greater effort into training after that game and showed a lot of ambition and determination from there right through to the final and in the final itself."
Shannon Gaels (U16 Div. Three League final v Drumgoon);
Liam O'Reilly; Emmet Hartigan, Aaron O'Hara, Stephen McManus; Patrick McPartlin, Niall Corrigan, Stephen Corrigan; Nevin O'Donnell (1-3), Cathal Dolan; Liam McManus, Niall McGrath, Brian Loughlin; Conor McCaffrey (1-1), Sean McPartlin, Niall Walsh (1-2).
Sub; Daniel McPartland. Tweet

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