Stabannon Parnells' four senior football championship successes during the 1990s seem but a distant memory now. But according to former club secretary Des Campbell, it won't be long before they are challenging for major honours again. The 1990s. The decade of the Celtic Tiger, boy bands, Titanic the movie and in Louth GAA circles, Stabannon Parnells. Although Stabannon had won senior football titles in 1949 and '54, those successes were eclipsed by the club's marvellous achievements during the 1990s. After defeating Sean McDermotts to capture the intermediate championship in 1989, Stabannon went on to dominate the senior scene throughout the last decade, annexing county titles in 1991, '94, '97 and '99. They also savoured Cardinal O'Donnell and ACC Cup success during what was a glorious era for the club. "I have very fond memories of that period," says Des Campbell, who served as Stabannon secretary during the mid-1990s. "Despite having a small pick, Stabannon was the dominant club in Louth during the 1990s. Paddy Clarke showed us the way by winning the intermediate championship in 1989 and he was also in charge when we added the senior championship two years later. "Having being out of the senior ranks for 30 years or so, we couldn't stop winning when we got back up. We appeared in six out of 10 senior finals (including two replays) and managed to win four championships in the process. It was a great time to be involved with the club." Campbell, who runs a successful plant and tool hire business with fellow Stabannon clubman Terry Matthews, attributes the club's success during that time to the tremendous commitment shown by the players. "We were blessed in the sense that we had several sets of brothers who were very good footballers," he recalls. "The Reillys, Butterlys, Quinns, Reynolds and McMahons were all exceptional footballers and they provided a very strong backbone to the team and complimented the many other talented players, some of whom are still playing with the club." "But while we had lots of talent, the work still had to be put in and all of those lads gave great commitment to the club. I think business and football are very similar. In my experience, those who are prepared to give the commitment are usually successful. Both depend on team work and having good people around you." Campbell feels the role played by Paddy Clarke in transforming Stabannon's fortunes cannot be understated. "When Paddy took over, we had just been promoted to the intermediate ranks. But he very quickly got the whole thing moving and I suppose we never looked back after winning the intermediate title in 1989. "After Paddy's time with us, we were fortunate to get in managers who didn't allow our standards to slip. The likes of Barney Rock, Bernie Murray, Gerry Hoey, John Cunningham, David Reilly and Nudie Hughes carried on the good work and were ably assisted by other club stalwarts who gave their commitment to the club through thick and thin. 2004 saw the passing of Mickey Reynolds Snr, one of Parnell's greatest ever clubmen." For a country club, Stabannon has always had a healthy quota of 'outsiders' involved. Indeed, Des himself is a native of Collon parish and is a former underage player with St. Kevin's. "One of the things that has stood to Stabannon down the years is that they have always been prepared to welcome in people from other parts of the country," Campbell explains. "We have had a history of 'outsiders' involved in both the playing and management side of things. Paddy Clarke, Barney Rock, Bernie Murray, Gerry Hoey, John Prendergast, Nudie Hughes and John Donaldson, who won an All-Ireland medal with his native Armagh in 2002, are among those who have done their bit for the club over the years." The Mid-Louth club's victory over Clan no Gael in the 1991 Joe Ward Cup decider remains a highlight for many supporters. They defeated St. Joseph's after a replay in the 1994 final and also needed a replay to overcome St. Mary's in '97. Their sixth and most recent success came at the expense of Kilkerley in 1999. They reached the final again in 2000, but defeat to Newtown Blues started in the decline in fortunes of one of the best club sides Louth GAA has ever seen. By Stabannon's high standards, the past few years have been lean to say the least. This year, they only retained their senior status by virtue of a victory over Naomh Malachi in their final league game. Their fortunes in the championship weren't much better with their only win coming at the expense of 2003 intermediate champions Dundalk Gaels. Their other championship outings resulted in defeats to Glyde Rangers and St. Bride's. While acknowledging that Stabannon's fortunes have plummeted, Campbell is nevertheless hopeful for the future and is adamant that they will challenge for major honours again. "Stabannon are going through a lean patch at the moment, but it happens to every club. Because of the success we had during the 1990s, the expectations are very high but we must not forget that we were only a junior club back in the mid-1980s. "While the club has seen better days, I have no doubt that Stabannon will win a senior championship again in the not too distant future. We're a small parish, but there's plenty of young players coming through who are capable of making an impact at senior level in the coming years. "I would also take encouragement from the number of new families moving into the area. The more young players we have, the better our chances of success," he says. Both Des and his business partner Terry Matthews live close to the GAA grounds in Stabannon and are currently involved in coaching the juvenile teams. Des' four children, Roseanne, Julie, Thomas and John have all represented the club, as has Terry's two boys, Luke and Adam. Des and Terry established Ace Plant and Tool Hire in 1999 in Drogheda and have since opened further branches in Ardee (2001) and Ashbourne (2003). In that time, the company's staff has grown from three to 26. Ace Plant and Tool Hire offers a wide range of equipment for domestic, DIY and building use, including lawnmowers, chainsaws, drills, diggers and dumpers. The company also supplies golf course maintenance equipment and sells power tools, and building and gardening related equipment. Many of the company's workforce hail from the Mid-Louth area. 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