Raharney may have endured a few lean years at senior level but it is a different story at juvenile level with several titles having been annexed in recent seasons. Club chairman John Donoghue was delighted with last year's triumphs in the under 14 and under 21 grades. Without a senior championship success since 1994, Raharney is a club desperate to revive the glory days. Last year, the Deelsiders managed just one championship win before bowing out at the quarter-final stage to Clonkill. They looked to have the winning of that game when Nicky Weir scored a goal with a quarter of an hour remaining but the county champions-elect responded impressively and eventually ran out 2-14 to 3-7 winners. While their quest for senior success goes on, Raharney can't seem to stop winning at underage level. In recent years, they have enjoyed tremendous success in virtually all of the juvenile grades. Last year, championships were annexed at under 14 and under 21 level. "Our underage is going very well," acknowledges club chairman John Donoghue. "A huge effort has been put in over the past number of years and we've been rewarded for that. Ultimately, our aim is to get back to winning senior championships and by putting in the work at underage level, I think we are going about it in the right way." Along with John and Nicky Weir, Donoghue trained Raharney to win the delayed 2000 under 21 'B' championship (13-a-side) last November. There was almost an 18-month gap between the time Raharney beat Delvin in the first round and their thrilling 2-17 to 3-10 semi-final victory over Castletown-Geoghegan. The final followed a short time later with the blue and whites easily getting the better of Castlepollard on a 1-12 to 1-2 scoreline. Played at Collinstown on November 11, the final was dominated by Raharney from the off. Early points from Conor Jordan, John Shaw (two) and Michael Raleigh were followed by the opening goal from Paul Greville. Shaw added two more points to leave the Deelsiders 1-6 to 0-0 to the good at the interval. Castlepollard finally opened their account when Martin Egan pointed on the restart but Raharney hit back with unanswered points per Shaw (two), Brian Connaughton, Greville and Niall Flanagan. The game was over as a contest when Aaron Farrell eventually found the net for Castlepollard. Rather fittingly, the impressive John Shaw completed the match-scoring for the rampant Raharney men. "Even though the championship had been a long drawn-out affair, it was still nice to win it," says Donoghue, who also managed last year's county minor team. "We had a very tough game against Castletown-Geoghegan in the semi-final and I think it stood to us against Castlepollard. The players were hungry for victory and they were in control from start to finish." A few weeks prior to the under 21 success, Raharney defeated Ringtown by 2-6 to 1-4 to capture the under 14 'A' championship at Cusack Park. The same team had won the under 12 'A' championship two years previously so their victory wasn't entirely unexpected. In a low-scoring first half, Niall Flynn scored two points in reply to Aidan O'Grady's goal for Ringtown. Ringtown continued to hold a one-point lead until Cathal McKeogh swooped for Raharney's first goal with 12 minutes left to play. The charges of Padraig Connaughton and Paul McKeogh went from strength to strength thereafter with a point from AJ Murray being followed by a second goal from Daniel McKeogh. Ringtown rallied late on but the Deelsiders held firm for a deserved win. Save the senior team's championship defeat to Clonkill, the year's biggest disappointment came at under 16 level when Raharney's high hopes of landing the 'premier' championship title were dashed by Castletown-Geoghegan. Raharney had defeated the same opposition to capture the under 14 championship in 1999 but on this occasion, the black and ambers exacted revenge with a 2-8 to 1-3 victory in the final. "We were very disappointed to lose the under 16 final. We had hoped to repeat our win over Castletown in the under 14 final of two years earlier but it wasn't to be. But there's always the minor championship in two years' time to look forward to," John notes. Raharney's performances in last year's senior championship were largely disappointing. They were well beaten by Lough Lene Gaels in their opening game, 0-7 to 2-11, and were then surprised by Cullion, losing by 0-5 to 0-12. Their final game of the league section resulted in a 4-12 to 1-5 victory over St. Brigid's, which earned them a quarter-final meeting with Clonkill. Clonkill had edged into a 0-3 to 0-2 lead before David Scally scored their opening goal. But the blue and whites battled back, with goals from Nicky Weir and John Shaw leaving just the minimum it in. Enda Loughlin and Gerard Fagan responded with points to give the Loughegar-based outfit a 1-9 to 2-4 lead at the break. Raharney continued to trail until Nicky Weir's second goal midway through the second half put them in front for the first time. But Fergal Fagan immediately hit back with a goal for Clonkill who increased their advantage further with points from Sean Loughlin, Gerard Fagan and David Scally. Raharney applied tremendous pressure in the closing stages but were unable to score the goal they so badly needed and thus, succumbed to a four-point defeat. A senior hurling championship winner in 1984, John Donoghue believes that, realistically, it could take another three years for Raharney to win the Examiner Cup. This year's objective is to qualify for the semi-final stage at least. "We've been drawn in a very tough group along with Castlepollard, Lough Lene Gaels and Clonkill but I would still be disappointed if we didn't reach the semi-finals. We have the name, tradition and hurlers and it's just a matter of getting the players thinking right. "Davy Foley is back in charge this year and he brought us to the semi-final three years ago. We're going through a bit of a transitional period at the moment but the young players are there for us to make a serious challenge over the next three years. In saying that, I wouldn't say no to a senior championship win in the meantime." The Raharney team which won the delayed 2000 under 21 'B' hurling championship was: Anthony Doyle; Mark Doyle, John Greville; David Flanagan, Eamonn Fleming, Paul Greville; Brian Connaughton, Niall Flanagan; James Nugent, John Shaw, Conor Jordan; Gordon Greville, Michael Raleigh. Subs used: Declan Lynam, David Doyle, Barry McHugh and Shane Doyle. The Raharney team which captured the under 14 'A' championship was: Jimmy Greville; Declan Mullen, Rory O'Reilly, Christopher Flanagan; Gerard Kenny, Brendan Kenny, Conor Boyle; AJ Murray, Aisling Doyle; Sean Murray, Cathal McKeogh, Niall Flynn; Daniel McKeogh, Damien Grogan, Andrew Doyle. Tweet

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