They say nowadays that football is a young man's game but one man from Na Piarsaigh is currently proving the exception to that rule. At the age of 38, Paul Smith is still going strong as 2005 saw him celebrate his 21st year playing adult football. There have been many ups and downs during that spell but despite the service he has given to the Rock Road club, he still has no intentions of hanging up his boots. Paul's hunger for the game is still very much evident as is his passion for the club for which he has served in a number of roles, including this year as selector of the Division 2A team. Looking back over the past two decades, Paul has few regrets and is grateful that he can reflect on more than his fair share of triumphs. Two Junior Championship titles and a league success were the highlights, but he has little doubt as to his most memorable moment. It came back in 1993 when Na Piarsaigh captured their first ever adult championship title and when the history of the club is written it is fitting that it will record that the captain on that day was none other than Paul Smith. "There is no doubt that the most memorable day of my football career would have to be when I was captain in 1993. It really meant so much to me to be captain on the day we won our first ever adult championship. "It was such a great day for everyone involved in the club and especially the founder members such as Fr Vincie Duffy and Paddy Larkin. There were so many people who put such a lot of work into bringing the club to that stage and I think we really broke down a barrier that day. "It meant so much to us all and while the second championship ten years later was also very enjoyable, the first one was something I will never forget and to be captain made it extra special," explained Paul. The veteran has been part of the playing panel almost since the foundation of the club and is proud to see just how well established Na Piarsaigh are at the moment. The facilities on the Rock Road provide an excellent base for the young club and is a long way removed from when Paul started when the club didn't even have their own pitch. "When I started playing adult football in 1985 we were based in the Sean O'Mahonys for training and games, so fair play to them for providing their facilities. We also used the Dowdallshill pitch for a time before eventually getting our own field at the Rock Road in 1988. "In 1985 I was sub for most of the time but it was great to be playing with the likes of Jack Malone, Gerry McGee, Thomas O'Connor and Andy Quinn who were all very experienced players. The young players learned a lot from them and they really brought us on and made it very enjoyable." It was also a relatively successful period for the club as they established themselves among the top junior clubs in the county, just narrowly failing to make the break into the intermediate ranks. "In 1985 we reached the Junior Championship final but unfortunately were beaten by Nh Mhuire from Drogheda. The following year we won the Donagh Cup and in 1987 again reached the final only to lose again, this time to St Nicholas." Although they club went through a bit of a lean spell on the field of play, there was plenty to be encouraged by as a group of young players was beginning to make the breakthrough into the adult ranks. All that work at underage level was to pay off in 1993 when Na Piarsaigh finally lifted the Junior Championship. "We went into the final against Glyde Rangers as underdogs as they had beaten us by 18 or 19 points a few weeks earlier in the league. However, on the day in Haggardstown we got it right and thanks to the efforts of selectors Jack Malone, Thomas O'Connor and Donal McKeown we came out on top. Eugene Judge was also brought in to help and it was fantastic to captain of the winning team." The club stayed in intermediate football for two seasons before returning to junior. However, their success in the 1997 Macardle Cup meant they were back up. Despite a lot of young players coming through, Na Piarsaigh failed to build on that success and again found themselves back in the junior ranks four years later. Again they didn't stay too long as Damien Shields and Pearse Craven took over the management of the team and with Damien Smith and Damien Lally taking charge of training the team were again pushing for honours. The season ended in further glory for Paul as he was part of the team that defeated Dundalk rivals, Dowdallshill in the 2002 final at Clan na Gael Park. Paul recalls that 2003 was another memorable year, but this time for different reasons. "It looked for a long time that we would be relegated and were on the brink when we had to win our last four or five games. It was a strange year because we had trained as hard at the start of the year as at the end but things just began to click for us. We won the games we required and then defeated St Mochtas in a play-off in Haggardstown to stay in intermediate. "We haven't really looked back since and the following year was again a success as we won promotion to Division 2A. Again we had a late run and it was another play-off, this time against Westerns, that saw us finish second in the 2B league." Paul has also enjoyed success as a selector, bringing the minors to the championship final alongside Stephen Murphy only to lose out to Valley Rangers by a point. However, with the assistance of Stephen Murphy and David Hearty, Paul guided the club to an U-21 championship. Despite suffering a cruciate knee injury, Paul continues to play with the Division 4 team, and it delighted to be part of a club that is going places both on and off the field. Our Year The end of 2004 was also a momentous time for Na Piarsaigh off the field of play, when the installation of floodlights on their playing field was completed. Secretary, Marc Wynne was the driving force behind the floodlight installation project and he reflects, "The installation of floodlights at Pairc an tAthair Ui Dubhaigh on the Blackrock Road brings the playing facilities for the youngest club in County Louth up to speed with its more established town neighbours." "The lights were switched on for the first time on the night of the AGM and long time club stalwart Gerry McGee was the first to grace the floodlit hallowed turf; albeit with his welly boots and not his football boots." The first competitive game to be played under the new floodlights was a Division 4B league game against Naomh Malachi. At this stage, the club looks forward to its next major project which includes the development of the clubrooms and possibly an all-weather playing pitch on the Blackrock Road. Underage - 2005 2005 provided lots of underage football at all levels for Na Piarsaigh with each team continuing to perform well against all opposition in Division 1 of U-13, U-14, U-15, U-16, U-18 competitions. Whilst other clubs are happy for their underage teams to compete at a lower grade and perhaps win some trophies at that lower grade, Na Piarsaigh continue to compete at the highest level at under age and whilst silverware is not always secured, the experience players gain playing at this level is invaluable and is perhaps evident in the club's success in reaching two Minor Football Championship finals in four years. Club Youth Liaison Office Gerard O'Hare states: "A good underage structure is the key to the future improvement of the club as a whole and must be given the best attention and resources to build on the progress of previous years." The Minor team plodded their way through the league and were beaten by St Bridgets team in the league semi final. Championship was more successful with good performances against Oliver Plunketts and Dundalk Gaels seen the team reach Championship Final only to lose out to Cooley. Squad members were - Chris Murden, Andy Mulligan, Joseph Woods, David Kenna, Rory McGuinness, Gary O'Hare, Brendan Nash, Jarlath Lyons, Niall Franklin, Paidi Blair, Michael Woods, Tiernan Mulvenna, David Cooney, Brendan Hughes, Paul O'Hare, Paul Grimes, Padraig Gorham, Peter Gallagher, Kevin Mulgrew, Donal Greene, Fergal Donnelly, Michael Cooney, Ciaran Donnelly, Colin Roche, Ciaran Collins, Shane McElroy, Thomas Conway. The U-16 team gave good commitment in general during the year but were unable to provide the vital instinct to finish off crucial games which led to them not reaching final of league and championship. Squad members included -- Paul O'Hare, Joseph Woods, Michael Woods, Peter Gallagher, Ciaran Donnelly, Niall Franklin, Michael Cooney, Sean Malone, Dualta Donnelly, Gary Clarke, Fergal Donnelly, Donal Greene, Sean O‚Reilly, Shane McElroy, Sean Nordone, Sean Conlon, Chris Neary, Kevin McCabe, John Smith, Robbie O'Hanlon. The U-15 squad had a mixed bag of results in league games after a long season for all the team who were made up of players from the U-14 and U16 squads. Team included - Donal Greene, Chris Cotter, Michael Cooney, Sean O'Reilly, John Smith, Philip Duffy, Robbie O'Hanlon, Conal Mulvenna, Gary Clarke, Shane McElroy, Sean Jemison, Ritchie Smith, Steven Smith, Kieran Connolly, Kieran Boland, Stephen Todd, Shane O'Sullivan, Thomas Moran, Fergal Stanley, Alan Quigley, Pierce Poland, Finbar Poland, Jason O'Connor. The U14 squad is a team with good strength and confidence in depth which will develop over the next few years. The team reached both League and Championship semi finals after a long series of games and were beaten in both matches by the eventual winners. Squad - Sean O'Reilly, Chris Cotter, John Smith, Steven Smith, Kieran Connolly, Philip Duffy, Mark Griffin, Robbie O'Hanlon, Kieran Connolly, Kieran Boland, Stephen Todd, Shane O'Sullivan, Thomas Moran, Fergal Stanley, Alan Quigley, John Galligan, Mark Griffin, Kiefer Dowling, Martin Dowling, Sean McCabe, Mark Teather, Conor Bowe, Adam Coburn, Keith Harmon, Paul Mallon, Pierce Poland, Cathal McElroy, Gerry Joyce, Conor McElroy, Patrick McDonagh. Underage football and skills training for 7-12 year olds started in mid-February in the playing field under the new floodlights and continued each Monday evening throughout the spring, summer and autumn with great success. This is no doubt a very successful and enjoyable weekly event for all involved and provided a good skills base for all, especially the children and managers involved in the U-10 and U-12 teams. It is intended to recommence this training in early February 2006. - Courtesy of Na Piarsaigh GAC Tweet

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