With the intermediate team bowing out of the championship at the semi-final stage, it was left to the under 16s to provide the highlight of Rosemount's year. Team mentor Martin Healy reflects on their success. In what was an otherwise disappointing year for the club, the Rosemount under 16 team provided hope for the future when they captured the 'B' championship crown following an impressive victory over The Downs last December. The success helped to soften the blow of Rosemount's intermediate championship semi-final collapse at the hands of Tubberclair. It has also raised hopes of a return to the senior ranks - which had been the club's home for 70 years - in the near future. "Ultimately, our aim is to get back up senior because that's where we have been for most of our history," explains Martin Healy, who was joint-manager of the under 16 team along with Michael Hannify. "When we were relegated at the end of 2000, people assumed that we would come straight back up the following year. But it hasn't turned out that way and we were well beaten by Tubberclair last year. "We're still relying to a certain extent on players who were part of the 1989 senior championship winning team and most supporters would agree that we are in need of some new blood. Last year's under 16 team contained some very promising players and I'm hopeful that a number of them will break into the intermediate side in the next year or two," he adds. Since winning the under 12 'C' championship in 1998, expectations have been high for what is considered to be the finest underage team Rosemount have produced in many years. In 2000, they annexed the under 14 'C' championship and followed it up last year with the under 16 'B' success. In qualifying for the final, they defeated Delvin/St. Paul's in the quarter-final and Kilbeggan/St. Joseph's in the semi-final. The Delvin/St. Paul's game was played in dreadful conditions which tested the mettle of both teams. After being under the cosh in the early stages of their clash with Kilbeggan/St. Joseph's, Rosemount pulled clear for a comfortable victory in the second half. The final, which was played at a bitterly cold Rochfortbridge venue on December 15, was dominated from the off by Rosemount. Danny Fox slotted over an early free before Enda Murray scrambled the ball to the net after another free from Fox came back off the post. The Downs replied with points from Stephen Devine and Greg Crowley before they were rocked back on their heels for a second time when Fox converted a penalty in the 22nd minute after Shane Tone was fouled. Rosemount could have been in for two more goals before half-time but, instead, Devine and Aidan Duncan registered points for The Downs to leave just a goal in it, 2-1 to 0-4, at the interval. An Ollie Merlehan point on the restart reduced the deficit to two before Fox restored Rosemount's half-time advantage from a free. Again, Stephen Devine responded for The Downs, but their hopes were then dealt a shattering blow when Paddy McCormack and Danny Fox combined to set up Danny Fielding for a crucial third goal. With 13 minutes remaining, Fox sent over another point to give the south county outfit a 3-3 to 0-6 lead. In the closing stages, another point from Fox was followed by a fourth goal which was scored by David Tone. While the final score of 4-4 to 0-6 was somewhat flattering, there was still no doubting Rosemount's overall supremacy. "We were delighted with the victory," recalls Healy whose brother 'Dockie' was a regular on the Westmeath senior team during the 1990s. "The Downs put us under a lot of pressure at the start of the second half, but we eventually weathered the storm with Danny Fielding's third goal being absolutely vital. Ten of the team which started are eligible to play under 16 again next year so we'll be expecting them to at least repeat last year's achievement." Healy is proud to report that Rosemount's underage structure is particularly strong at the moment. "There has been a big emphasis placed on the underage set-up over the past few years and it's great to see it paying off. As well as at under 16 and minor, we expect to be very strong at under 14 level this year. "You cannot stress enough the importance of a strong underage structure in a club. For years, we were guilty of neglecting our underage and there is little doubt that we paid the price when we were relegated from senior football," he adds. Among the favourites for the intermediate championship at the outset of the year, Rosemount failed to live up to expectations with their 0-13 to 2-16 defeat to Tubberclair in the semi-final coming as a huge disappointment to supporters. They opened the campaign with a 1-14 to 2-6 victory over Bunbrosna, but then suffered a treble setback when losing to Milltownpass (0-7 to 1-7) and Shandonagh (0-8 to 0-10), as well as drawing with Kilbeggan Shamrocks (1-12 to 1-12). However, wins over Mullingar Shamrocks (0-18 to 0-4) and Killucan (3-13 to 1-9) in their last two group games earned them a quarter-final joust with Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall. The sides were level on 0-2 each after nine minutes, but Rosemount dominated the next 10 minutes to open up a five-point gap. In a blistering five-minute spell before half-time, the black and ambers notched 1-3 without reply to lead by 1-10 to 0-3 at the break. Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall came more into it on the restart, but Cathal Keane put the result beyond all doubt when he scored a goal six minutes from the end to seal an emphatic 2-15 to 0-10 victory for the Rosemount men. Rosemount entered the semi-final against Tubberclair in a confident frame of mind, but a poor second half display cost them dearly. After a slow start, Fergal Wilson opened the scoring for Tubberclair. James Martin and Wilson followed up with points, but Rosemount eventually settled into their rythmn and with the Keanes - Cathal and John - to the fore, they led by 0-8 to 0-4 at the interval. The gauntlet had been thrown down to the younger Tubberclair side, but three points from man of the match Wilson on the resumption brought them back into contention. Cathal and John Keane replied with points for Rosemount before Wilson hauled Tubberclair onto level terms with another brace of scores. Cathal Keane pointed again, only for Wilson and Francis Spollen to hit back with scores. Rosemount substitute Damien Kelly restored parity before the turning point arrived in the shape of a Francis Spollen goal. Wilson and Sean Reid tagged on points to put six between them. Then, with three minutes remaining, Michael Hopkins wrapped things up when he lobbed the ball over Rosemount goalkeeper Darragh Mullen and into the net. "We were bitterly disappointed with how the Tubberclair game panned out. After playing so well in the quarter-final and reaching the final the previous year, we thought we had an excellent chance. But we simply didn't perform in the second half and Tubberclair ran out easy winners in the end," Healy says. In their latest bid to regain senior status, Rosemount have appointed former Athlone and Moate player Mossie Collins as their manager this year in succession to Brendan Lowry. Collins will be assisted in the selectorial duties by Healy and 'Mixie' Molloy. "Winning the intermediate championship will once again be our objective this year. We have been boosted by the fact that both Tom Darcy and 'Dockie' (Healy) have agreed to play on for another year. It would be fitting if those two lads could go out on a high by leading us back into the senior ranks," he concludes. The Rosemount team which annexed the under 16 'B' championship was: John Carroll; Owen O'Reilly, John Kelly, Paddy Molloy; Cyril Elliffe, Anthony Kelly, John O'Connor; Richard O'Brien, Paddy McCormack; Enda Murray, Danny Fielding, Liam Byrne; Shane Tone, Danny Fox, David Tone. Sub used: Declan Mullen. Tweet

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