Westmeath hurling supporters received a surprise when St Oliver Plunkett's were relegated from the senior championship at the end of the 2003 campaign, especially after their performances against the top teams. However, the Mullingar side were overwhelming favourites to make an immediate return to the top flight and they did just that, although it was not all plain sailing along the way. Plunkett's are a team that have the potential to become one of the truly great clubs in the county. Their underage structure has been second to none over the past decade and they are now reaping the benefits of that at adult level. Although they suffered a setback two years ago, the town team will be the ones to watch during the course of the 2005 championship. The majority of their squad already have a year's experience in the top grade and that will stand to them in good affect for the upcoming campaign. Last year, they received an early wake up call when beaten in the opening round of the intermediate championship by a Crookedwood team that would cross paths with Plunkett's again before the year ended. The 'Wood deserved their victory in the opening round, although they were pushed all the way by the saints, who were minus the services of a number of regulars. A goal for the tricolours in the first half set them on the way to a surprise victory and, while Plunkett's did their utmost to come back into the match, it was to be an opening round defeat. It was not a great start to the campaign but one thing that this side do not lack is confidence and they soon returned to winning ways. Just a week after the defeat to Crookedwood, a comprehensive win over Southern Gaels was recorded. The Plunkett's forwards were in fine form as they clocked up an impressive tally of 1-14 in reply to the Athlone's tally of 0-7. In their next outing Turin were accounted for in a one-sided affair, while Plunkett's made it three-in-a-row with their biggest win of the year against St Brigid's, 3-19 to 1-03. The Plunkett's bandwagon was now fully back on track and a place in the knock out stages was a forgone conclusion. Neighbours Cullion were to be the opponents in the last four and a tight match was expected between two sides that were tipped for the title. The game itself was played at a very fast pace right from the start as both sides were desperate to make it through to the final. Indeed any observers of this tussle could have been forgiven for thinking that what they were witnessing was a senior match. In total 31 scores were registered, some of which were top quality from both sides. Cian O'Leary opened the scoring for Plunkett's with a well taken point after only 20 seconds. The sides traded frees as Peter Collins pointed for the town team. A goal and a point for Cullion put them in the driving seat after only 15 minutes but Collins narrowed the gap from a placed ball. Goal chances went begging on both teams in the next few minutes, but it was Plunkett's who drew next blood when Collins fired over two more points to level matters. The maroons hit back with two points of their own as a Ciaran McCormack point from play kept the green and whites in touch. A long range free from centre back Noel Gavin helped reduce the deficit to two points after Cullion had added to their tally. Plunkett's then missed a goal chance before the break that could have proved crucial as the sides left the field with the rural club leading by 1-7 to 0-8. In the second half, the saints' goalkeeper Ian Egerton was called upon to deny Cullion their second goal of the evening. Shortly after the lead was stretched to three points before Plunkett's started to stamp their authority on the match as Collins and Noel Gavin scored to leave a solitary point between the sides. Despite suffering from tonsillitis, Peter Collins was the star man for the Mullingar side and after good work by Cian O'Leary on the right hand side, Collins was left with the simple task of tapping the sliothar into the net. Cullion were not about to lie down though and two points brought them level within minutes of Collin's goal. The wily corner forward then pointed another free to put Plunkett's in front once again. Another Collins' free was sandwiched in between three points for Cullion. O'Leary scored arguably the point of the match following a good move that involved six of the Plunkett's team. The sides traded points as time began to run out. Tied at 1-13 apiece, the match looked to be heading for a replay before Noel Gavin and Dermot Curley found the range to give the saints a two point lead. With six minutes injury time to be played, Cullion had plenty of opportunities to find an equaliser and although they did manage to narrow the gap to one point, a resolute Plunkett's defence held on for a merited win. Following a tough, physically draining semi final battle, Plunkett's then only had two weeks to prepare for the final, where they would meet a Crookedwood side that had the advantage of already beating the town team in an earlier round. Despite that, Plunkett's still entered the match as favourites, but the tag seemed to have a bearing on their performance. Scores were scarce during the drawn game as Plunkett's looked static throughout the match and their titanic struggle against Cullion seemed to have physically drained them. A draw was the end result in a dour affair as both sides never really reached full potential. The replay was fixed for a fortnight later, September 12th and the Mullingar side used the break to their advantage as they turned out a determined display, in contrast to their lacklustre performance in the drawn game. Playing with the aid of a strong breeze in the first half, Crookedwood applied the early pressure but could not convert their possession into scores. Shortly after the town made a breakthrough when James Coyle capitalised on a mistake by three Crookedwood defenders and slot the sliothar past the advancing goalkeeper into the net. Conaire Flanagan then stretched their lead with a well taken point before Crookedwood opened their account with a pointed free. Goalkeeper Ian Egerton was then called into action when he tipped a goal bound effort over the crossbar, the wood added a further point, however their mini revival was short lived as Plunkett's found the net for the second time during the match. A ball delivered into the small parallelogram was dispatched to the net by Coyle after the full forward executed an over head shot with precision. They goal gave Plunkett's a commanding lead and although the rural side responded with two points. Noel Gavin and Peter Collins replied with a couple of points to leave the half time score 2-3 to 0-6. Moments into the second half and St Oliver Plunkett's were on the attack as Michael Curley found Coyle with an excellent pass and the full forward looked set to complete his hat trick only for the wood 'keeper to make an impressive save. Peter Collins added a point for the town. Sean Maguire and Cian O'Leary then fired wide as Plunkett's began to dominated as the second half wore on. The pace of the game slowed dramatically as both sides never really looked like scoring, especially Crookedwood as the Plunkett's defence held firm. When Cian O'Leary dispatched captain Dermot Curley's long pass to the net with ten minutes remaining, the writing was on the wall for the team from the shores of Lough Derravaragh. Maguire then added another point and the game was over as a contest. Crookedwood were making every effort to close the gap, but it was St Oliver Plunkett's who went further ahead when their skipper scored his first point of the replay. With time almost up, substitute Ciaran McCormack scored for the champions elect and this was to be the last score of the match. And so an immediate return to the senior ranks was the outcome for Plunkett's and although not many were surprised by this situation, it was by no means an easy task. 2005 will be a big year for the club and their main objective will be to preserve their status in the senior ranks and maybe cause a surprise or two along the way. The victorious St Oliver Plunkett's intermediate side was: Ian Egerton, Stephen McManus, Sean O'Leary, David Murray, Damien Kiernan, Noel Gavin, Oisin Clinton, Dermot Curley, Sean Maguire, Conaire Flanagan, Cian O'Leary, Greg Gavin, Michael Curley; James Coyle, Peter Collins. Subs used: JJ Flanagan for Damien Kiernan; JP Bracken for Peter Collins; Tony Sheerin for Conaire Flanagan; Tony Gavin for James Coyle; Ciaran McCormack for Michael Curley. The club's intermediate team were not the only side in the club to end the year with some silverware as the under-14's annexed the 'A' championship at the expense of Delvin. The final was a one sided affair as Plunkett's dominated from start to finish. After only 15 minutes, Mullingar led by 11points and they stretched that lead to 21 points by half time. Captain Conor Lynam, Tony Dunne, Richie Kavanagh and top scorer Cian O'Leary all gave excellent performances, however all the team played their part in a comprehensive victory. For the record the victorious under-14 team was: Kevin Conway, Daniel Reilly, Alan Finch, Alan Murtagh, James Duggan, Conor Lynam, Davy Gavin, Tony Dunne, Shane Boggs; David Hughes, Niall O'Brien, Richie Kavanagh, Colm O'Leary, Emmet McGarry, Brian McGowan. Subs: Dean Moore for B McGowan, Jamie Mahon for J Duggan, Enda McCague for A Murtagh, Shane Donagher for E McGarry, Matthew Coward for C O'Leary. This was not to be their last piece of silverware for the 2004 campaign as the Under-21 championship had yet to be played. The Under-21 championship began last January and the town team faced fierce rivals Clonkill in the opening round. Usually games between the sides are close matches, but a more experienced physical St Oliver Plunkett's side ran out easy winners on a scoreline of 1-11 to 0-4. This was followed up by an eight point victory over Lough Lene Gaels in the semi final. In the final Plunkett's would meet a Raharney side that have had their fair share of success at underage level in recent years. The final was fixed for Easter Sunday and was played in Kinnegad. Plunkett's deserved their victory as they worked hard throughout as their forwards possessed the greater threat throughout. The win was made all the more special as some of their players had been part of the Mullingar Shamrocks side that captured the Under-21 football title a week earlier. The sides were evenly matched throughout the first half before a Cian O'Leary gave Plunkett's some breathing space. Leading by a solitary point at half time, it was the town team who took the initiative in the final 30 minutes and a further goal by O'Leary left them in the driving seat. With Conaire O'Flanagan and Eoin O'Meara dominating at midfield, the green and whites held the upper hand. Centre forward Peter Collins was in fine scoring form and notched six points, while he was ably assisted by Paddy Loughney and Sean Maguire. The 2-9 to 0-9 win was another feat that proved the town team would be competing at the top for some time to come. St Oliver Plunkett's Under-21 side: Stephen Conway, Ciaran Curley, Clive Conway, Shane Degnan, Marcus Twomey, Sean Maguire, Michael Curley, Conaire Flanagan, Eoin O'Meara, Joe Healy, Peter Collins, Ciaran O'Meara, Cian O'Leary, James Coyle, Paddy Loughrey. Sub used: Aonghus Smyth for Marcus Twomey. Tweet

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