Cilin Neachtain reflects on an amazing 12 months for the Michel Breathnach club in Galway. In terms of success, Micheál Breathnach will struggle to emulate their achievements of last season. The Gaeltacht club won their first junior championship since 1954 before making history and becoming the first Galway team to win the coveted Connacht junior football title a few months later. This success is a tribute to the work done by all members of the club since its inception in 1940. They had toiled for years in the junior ranks, struggling to gain promotion and even became renowned for being the bridesmaids of Galway football following county final defeats in '93 and '95. However, a glorious run in last year's campaign saw them banish the memories of those defeats and open a whole new chapter in the club's history. Cóilín Ó Neachtain is serving his first year as PRO with Micheál Breathnach. Having represented the club at under age level as a player, hisrole as a newscaster and reader with Raidió na Gaeltachta meant he was the ideal candidate for the position. He takes us through the campaign which saw the club scales heights previously unknown. "Our opening game was against Carraroe which we won 1-14 to 1-8," he recalls. "Then we beat Na Piarsaigh 1-17 to 2-5 to qualify for the West Board final. This was our seventh West Board final to contest in eleven years so it was familiar territory for us. Fortunately we managed to get through it and beat Kinvara 2-8 to 0-8 to secure our place in the county final against Tuam Stars. "It was vital that we won this final because we had already lost two finals in the nineties and we didn't want to become known as underachievers. The lads produced a brilliant performance in the final and won by eight points, 1-14 to 1-6. It was just reward because they put in a massive effort all year." Micheál Breathnach had finally put to rest a bogey which had burdened them for almost half a century. The newly-crowned Galway junior football champions next task was to represent the county in the provincial campaign. "The Connacht championship was run on a league basis," Cóilín continues, "and we actually lost our first game against Mayo side Killala. We beat Padraig Pearses from Roscommon and got byes from both Gortletteragh and St Mary's which meant we finished joint top with the other three teams. A draw was made and we got a bye to the final where we faced the winners of Killala and Padraig Pearses. Padraig Pearses eventually made it through and we got our revenge by beating them 1-14 to 1-8. It was a wonderful achievement and the players and management deserve great credit for putting the club on the map." Micheál Breathnach is a dual club located 5 miles from Spiddal in an area called Paraiste Chnoic. The parish has really started to expand in recent years with a number of factories being attracted to the area, leading to a rise in population. This has led to greater numbers joining the club, all of which bodes well for its future. "There's tremendous work being done at underage level at the club," confirms Cóilin. "A Coiste na nOg was set up to develop the games even further at that age. Ruairi O Beara is chairman of this board and along with the rest of his committee, is doing a wonderful job. "The club was successful in almost every grade last year. The under 11's reached the final of the city league, the under 12's won the Corn ui Chadhain, the under 16's won the local Comórtas na Peile Gaeltachta and the under 17's reached the championship final. There's some great young talent in the club and this should see us fare well at a higher level in years to come." So how does Cóilin think they'll do in the intermediate League this season? "Teams who get promoted usually fare quite well," he reveals. "We've got a tough draw and play Clonbur - the team relegated from the senior ranks last year - in the first game. "I really think we can do well though. The last time we went up intermediate was in the early nineties and we lost every game by a point or two. This team is better equipped to grind out results and I think we'll have no problem surviving. It may take us a few more years to mount a challenge for the intermediate title but I'm confident it won't be long before we're up competing in the senior ranks." As well as becoming the first Galway club to win the Connacht JFC, Micheál Breathnach also became the first Connacht club to win two Comórtas Peile na Gaeltacht titles last season. This is a competition for all junior clubs in Gaeltacht areas and was last won by Micheal Breathnach back in 1996. The club's Junior 'C' team also contested the county final but lost after a replay to Monavea Abbey. "I think a lot of the success has stemmed from our under 21 team in 1999. They won the 'B' championship (which wasn't played until last November) and that was the first time we ever won a championship at that grade. Most of these lads figured on the junior team and much is expected of them in the years ahead. "Another factor was the appointment of Padraig Ó Conaire to the hot-seat last year. He has instilled great confidence in the players and seems to always get the best out of them. The same management that looked after the Junior 'A' team looked after the Junior 'C' team and they were Micheál Ó Griofa, Seán Ó Loideain, Cóil Ó Finneadha, Seán Mac Eocghagáin and Mánas Ó Conghaile." On the hurling front, Micheál Breathnach - under the wistful eye of Gerry O Fátharta - have teams competing at Junior 'C' and all underage grades. At adult level they haven't enjoyed much success in recent years but their underage is thriving. Last year they won the county under 14 'C' championship for the first time ever, the under 15 city league and the under 10 Shield. The club has also been making giant strides off the pitch with the erection of a new stand the the development of a new car park. Plans are currently being drawn up for further renovations which should see the club secure more county championship games. With the proper infrastructure in place, it seems certain more success will be winging its way to Micheál Breathnach. Last year was amazing. This year promises to be even better. Tweet

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