Many clubs around the country have realised in recent years that a greater emphasis should be placed on their underage structures and Celbridge are no different with the results being emphatic to say the least. This year will go down as one of the best in the club's history at underage level as Celbridge were crowned under-14 Feile football, hurling and camogie champions, a remarkable achievement by any standard. However, this feat was not achieved overnight and certainly was no fluke as the club have laid the foundations for the success over the years. Obviously the housing boom of the last decade or so has helped a lot of clubs including Celbridge, but even though the numbers are there, the kids have to be taught the skills and in this respect, the club has ensured that trained coaches look after the respective teams. Club PRO Niall Lanigan spoke to Hogan Stand about the emphasis that has been placed on their underage teams and revealed what plans the Kildare outfit had for the future. The success of the three underage teams was achieved following hard work by not only the players, but mentors and club officials alike, who dedicate a lot of time to ensuring the smooth running of Celbridge. "It's been a case of so far so good for the underage teams. It was a remarkable achievement to win the three titles and hopefully we can go on and do well in the Feile," said Niall. "We have a good underage structure here. A committee was set up in 2006 to develop all the kids' teams and that has certainly begun to pay dividends. Celbridge is fortunate in that they have many people willing to help out, but like everything else, you could always do with more. A lot of parents do get involved when their children are involved and that's great to see. "More and more clubs have realised that the underage is the future of the club and they have to be looked after as much or maybe even more than the adult teams. "Realistically, only a few off each team will go on to play adult hurling and football. But, the aim of this committee is to ensure that the percentage is higher than it use to be." Celbridge GAA club is one of the oldest clubs in the country having being established just eight months after the GAA was founded in November, 1884. It is not only a dual club in hurling and football, but caters for teams of all ages in both ladies football and camogie also, which amasses to over 40 teams donning the club's colours on a daily basis. To run such a massive club takes a lot of planning and there has to be a structure in place as the Kilkenny native revealed that was the case within their association. "The club has a development plan in place to be completed by 2010 and this includes work both on and off the pitch. There is a sports nursery being currently put in place as part of the plan to help bring through the kids," he added. Celbridge has had a fair share of success at both adult and underage level. The club competes at senior level in both hurling and football, winning the hurling championship in 2005, while the footballers are considered genuine contenders for the title. "Both the hurling and football teams are very strong. We had three lads on the Kildare under-21 football team this year that was unfortunately beaten by Kerry in the All-Ireland final. Hugh McGrillan, Conor Brophy and Mark O'Sullivan were part of the squad and did the club proud. "We had those lads up in the schools after they won the Leinster final and before the All-Ireland decider and it created a massive buzz around the place. The club has also introduced a school liaison officer, which has been of a great benefit to us." Niall and the committee members put a huge amount of work into planning for the respective feile finals with the hurling and camogie teams both in action. The hurlers did themselves and their county proud in the national Feile na nGael festival of hurling in Laois and Offaly. Hosted by Ferbane/Belmont GAA club, they drew with the hosts in their opening game of the tournament on a beautiful sunny Friday afternoon. The remaining group matches took place on a rainy windy Saturday morning - a total contrast to the previous day's sunshine. At ten o clock Celbridge played Tullamore in O'Connor Park. Tullamore had lost their opening game against Bray Emmets and had to win to stay in the competition. Celbridge, however, took full advantage of the wind in the first half to lead at half time on a score of 2-4 to 1-0. The anticipated comeback by Tullamore was strongly and decisively crushed by the Celbridge boys who still had the previous day's second half in their minds. Celbridge managed a second half score of 4-7 against a driving wind and rain to finish with a score of 6-7 to 2-1. The third game was effectively a play-off to win the group as Bray Emmets had won both of their previous games while Celbridge had three points to date. Again, Celbridge availed fully of the strong wind in the first half to lead by 2-4 to 0-1 at half time. Expecting the physically stronger Bray lads to come at them in the second half, Celbridge battened down the hatches and in a thrilling twenty minutes of quality hurling kept Emmets to three points while not scoring themselves. Two amazing point blank saves by goalie Eoghan Doddy kept Celbridge alive when, if either had gone in, Bray would surely have gone on to win. The final score of 2-4 to 0-4 belies the closeness of this contest and the scenes of joy afterwards showed what this win and semi final qualification meant to the Celbridge management team of Pat Byrne and Billy Kelly. Celbridge had strength in depth with the quality of players on their bench. Emmet Conaty, Emmet Murphy, Alex Kenna, Eoghan Fogarty, Adam McKay, Sean O Regan, Sean Ryan, James Stafford, Sean Clancy and Kenneth Jenkins were all available to step up to the mark as required. The semi final on Saturday evening in a windy Kinnity ground was a very different affair. Celbridge came up against a superior St John's of Belfast team who would have competed strongly in division one. With the wind at their backs St John's lead by 2-7 to 0-0 at half time and finished the game on a scoreline of 2-12 to 0-3. Even the heroic efforts of Celbridge star Gerry Keegan made little impact against a team of such ability. They went on to win the division 2 final by 2-9 to 1-1 against Portlaoise. Celbridge manager, Pat Byrne, paid tribute to the efforts of his players and supporters and particularly to the hospitality and support of the Ferbane/Belmont GAA club whose mentors and parents did everything humanly possible to ensure an enjoyable weekend for the Celbridge lads. This embodiment of the true spirit of the Feile was greatly appreciated by the Celbridge players, management and parents. The camogie side opened their Feile campaign with a 1-3 to 0-4 win over Drumcullen. Celbridge knew coming into this game that the home side were one of the favourite to win the title outright. From the word go Drumcullen put Celbridge under a lot of pressure. Aoife Kinsella got the game's opening score with a great point. Brilliant defensive displays by Aisling Slevin, Niamh Rosney, Laura Kirwan, Chloe O'Donoghue and Katie Devine kept the Drumcullen attack at bay. The Kildare side came out in the second half playing with a lot of passion and skilful camogie. Lisa Marie Reynor, Stephanie O'Donnell, Aisling O'Halloran, Sioda O'Neill and Niamh Egan were beginning to show all the qualities of the good forwards that they are. It is hard to believe that Celbridge could take on one of the finest hurling/camogie clubs in the country and beat them so convincingly as in their second game they defeated Birry by 9-5 to no score. Played in terrible conditions, Celbridge came out of the blocks making all the early running. After ten minutes Sinead Cummins, Niamh Egan and Sioda O'Neill had 3-4 on the scoreboard. Birr could not handle young Cummins and she was running riot. Niamh Berry was commanding the middle of the field and was dealing comfortably with any balls that were coming towards the Celbridge defence. Further scores from Sioda O'Neill and Aisling O'Halloran left the half time score Celbridge 5-4, Birr 0-0. The second half was much the same again with all the Celbridge forwards playing superbly. Celbridge here got an opportunity to use their bench and there were great contributions made by Émer Reilly, Aisling Naughton, Shanice Corcoran, Grace Reynor and Davina Johnston. This was a great all round team performance again but there was a harder game to come. This final game in group B meant that the winner took all and would go into the All-Ireland semi-final. Celbridge opened the score with a fine goal from Lisa Marie Reynor against a very strong breeze, rain and the hill. The Celbridge girls were in total control at this stage and the Westmeath champions had no answer to them in any quarter of the field. Katie Devine, at centre back, held their most potent attacker Catriona Murtagh under control. Midfield were winning the battle and the Celbridge defence were really on their game. Great work from Sinead Cummins and Lisa Marie Reynor led to Celbridge's second goal. Aisling O'Halloran collected the ball 21yards out and her shot went by the Lough Lene Gael keeper to put her side 2-0 to 0-1 up at half time. The rain was getting heavier and playing with a breeze you would think that it was only a matter of time before this game was wrapped up but this was not to be. The Lough Lene Gael's girls improved by 100% and with great heart and determination pulled a goal back to leave the scores 2-0 to 1-1. This meant for a nerve racking last few minutes for the Celbridge girls, nothing seemed to be going their way. From refereeing decisions to the run of play and with three minutes remaining disaster struck as Catriona Murtagh scored a goal to put Lough Lene Gaels one point to the good, a lead which they held onto until the final whistle sounded. "Heartbreaking" and "gutted" were just two of the words to describe how the Celbridge girls felt after that whistle. Great credit must go to all the mentors (Shay Cummins, Des Egan, Noeleen Egan and Noel McMahon) for all the hard work that was put in, the parents and supporters who travelled to Offaly. Last but not least a mention for the host club Drumcullen for the wonderful hospitality that was shown to the Celbridge people. Panel: Sinead Cummins, Aisling O'Halloran, Laura Kirwan, Aisling Slevin, Ruth Fitzmaurice, Davina Johnston, Aisling Naughton, Émer Reilly, Emma Barry, Chanice Corcoran, Katie Devine, Aoife O'Brien, Sarah McNiff, Niamh Berry(capt), Chloe O'Donoghue, Clare McCormack, Grace Reynor, Lisa Marie Reynor, Sinead McCabe, Rebecca Manning, Niamh Rosney, Stephanie O'Donnell, Niamh Egan, Sioda O'Neill, Sarah Kelly. Many clubs could follow the lead set by Celbridge and take note from their underage structure, which has become the envy of many of its rivals over the last few years. Tweet

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