Ballycomoyle celebrated a rare underage success last October when they captured the under 14 'C' football championship crown. This success, coupled with those of Inny Gaels, should ensure a bright future for the north county club according to under 14 joint-manager John 'Snow' Fitzsimons. In a year when Ballycomoyle disappointed at junior level, the club's under 14 team provided the season's highlight by capturing a championship title. Ballycomoyle's 5-7 to 1-2 victory over St. Fintan's/Multyfarnham in the under 14 'C' championship final was a source of great pride for a club not accustomed to underage success. The last time Ballycomoyle were triumphant at underage level was in 1988 and '89 when under 14 'B' championships were put back-to-back. An under 21 'B' championship was garnered at the expense of Tubberclair in 1995 but that was considered an adult title. "This is only the third underage title we have won since the club was reformed in the mid 1980s so it means an awful lot to us," says John 'Snow' Fitzsimons, who jointly managed the victorious under 14 side along with Dermot McKenna. "This team has been together since under 10 level and they have worked hard to get to the stage they are now at. Their success is a huge boost to everyone involved in the club and hopefully it will lead to greater things in the years ahead," he adds. Last year's success was a case of third-time lucky for this particular team. Four years previously, they lost to Coralstown/Kinnegad in the final of the St. Loman's under 10 tournament. Further disappointment followed in 1999 when they were beaten by Tyrrellspass in the under 12 'C' championship decider. Ballycomoyle played three teams - Tubberclair, Shandonagh and St. Fintan's/Multyfarnham - in the group stages of the under 14 'C' championship and were comfortable winners in each game. They renewed acquaintances with St. Fintan's/Multyfarnham in the final at Whitehall on October 27 and were once again impressive winners. The blue and whites dominated from the beginning and never looked to be in trouble. Padraig Fitzsimons, Neil Salmon and Patrick Hannon had all scored points before Damien Clogher notched the opening goal. At half-time, Ballycomoyle led by 1-5 to 0-0. St. Fintan's/Multyfarnham looked as though they would make a fight of things by registering a brace of unanswered points at the start of the second half. But their comeback was effectively ended when Ciaran Smyth scored a second goal for Ballycomoyle. Ballycomoyle continued to apply strong pressure and they were rewarded with further goals from Padraig Fitzsimons and Niall McCormack. Leo Blake pulled back a goal from the penalty spot for St. Fintan's/Multyfarnham but the blue and whites finished strongly with a Gary Kelly point being followed by a fifth goal from Padraig Fitzsimons. While delighted with the success, Fitzsimons believes that Ballycomoyle were too strong for the 'C' grade. "Really, we should have been playing in a more competitive championship," he says. "It was great to win a championship but I think we would have been more suited to the 'B' grade. I'm sure we would have played in the 'B' championship if there hadn't been a breakdown in communications with regard to our league fixtures. "We only got to play three league games - all of which we won - instead of the full seven. There was a mix-up somewhere along the line and as a result, we finished well down the table which meant that we were graded in the 'C' championship." The under 14s weren't the only ones to bring championship medals back to Ballycomoyle in 2001. Inny Gaels, of which Ballycomoyle is an integral part, retained the minor football championship with a comfortable win over St. Loman's. County minor Daniel Carty lined out at full back in the decider while Mark McNicholas was at top of the left. Keith Weldon, Gary Farrelly and Aonghus Ennis were also part of the panel. Inny Gaels also reached the final of the delayed 2000 under 21 championship but were forced to give second best to a very strong Ennell Shamrocks side. Billy Ryan, Gerry Smyth, Conor Kiernan, Sean McEoin, Jim Ward and Damien and Ronan Fagan were the Ballycomoyle representatives. "I think that the Inny Gaels amalgamation has been hugely beneficial to Ballycomoyle. Our players are now getting an opportunity to compete at the highest level and that can only be a good thing," notes John. The north county outfit also fielded teams at under 8, 10 and 12 level in the year just past. The under 8s were the most successful, winning the Ballynacargy tournament which included teams from Mullingar Shamrocks, Milltown and the host club. Those involved in coaching these younger age groups were Michael McCormack, Seamus Leahy, Johnny Corrigan, Seamus McDermott and Tommy Barden. Ballycomoyle's ladies football section also continues to go from strength to strength under the guidance of Helen Coyle. The club is now fielding ladies teams from junior down to under 12 level. Undoubtedly the year's biggest disappointment was the failure of the adult team to make an impact in the junior championship. Having contested the junior championship final two years previously, four points from a possible 16 was a very disappointing return. The tone for the season was set when Ballycomoyle lost to Caulry by 1-6 to 0-11 in their first outing. They subsequently suffered narrow defeats to Delvin and Milltown before recording their only win of their campaign at the expense of St. Paul's (3-7 to 2-9). Further defeats followed at the hands of Loughnavalley, St. Joseph's and Bunbrosna with a walkover from St. Fintan's/Multyfarnham being of only academic importance. Andy McEoin and his co-selectors Seamus Leahy and Larry Masterson have since stepped down, making way for Tullamore-based garda Seamus Reynolds as trainer, and John Smyth and John 'Snow' Fitzsimons as selectors. "After the disappointment of last year, we'll be hoping to at least qualify for the semi-final stages of the championship. I know we only won one game on the field of play last year but most of our defeats were by narrow margins. There is a very thin line between success and failure," the Collinstown man stresses. "As well as doing well in the championship, we hope to bounce back from our relegation to Division 6 of the league. Division 6 football simply isn't good enough for a club with ambitions of winning the junior championship." The Ballycomoyle team which captured the under 14 'C' championship was: David Fitzsimons; Jamie Ward, Ciaran Dermody, Raymond Halpin; Stephen O'Neill, Kenneth Fox, James Boyle; Damien Clogher (1-0), Ciaran Smyth (1-1); Patrick Hannon (0-1), Padraig Fitzsimons (2-3), Simon Ryan; Neil Salmon (0-1), Gary Kelly (0-1), Niall McCormack (1-0). Subs used: Stephen Bardon, John Corrigan, Alan Fitzsimons, William Corrigan and Brian Caffrey. Tweet

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