Lough Lene Gaels' dreams of achieving a four in-a-row of senior hurling championship titles were dashed by Clonkill last August. But they bounced back to beat the same opposition in the delayed 2000 Feis Cup final. Club secretary David Kelly believes the victory served as a reminder of what the Gaels are capable of. By the club's recent high standards, 2001 was a quiet year for Lough Lene Gaels. Since their return to prominence in 1996, the Collinstown-outfit have been the dominant force in senior hurling, contesting six championship finals (including the 1997 replay against Castlepollard) and winning four. Last season, the Gaels had their sights set on equalling the Clonkill record of four successive championship wins. After victories over Raharney, St. Brigid's and Cullion, however, came a shock semi-final defeat. How ironic that their conquerors were the men from Loughegar. "We would love to have completed the four in-a-row," says club secretary David Kelly. "Everything seemed to be going according to plan until we played Clonkill in the semi-final. We never really got going and before we knew it, we were out. Losing that game was a bitter disappointment for us but I'm confident the players will have gotten over it by now and will be back challenging for the Examiner Cup again this year," he adds. Kelly isn't sure what went wrong against Clonkill. He does suggest, however, that a lack of appetite and a qualifying group in which the Gaels weren't seriously tested may have contributed to their downfall. "After spending such a long time at the top, the possibility of some of the players being tired cannot be ruled out. Maybe they didn't give enough commitment to training. "One problem the players may have had is that they hadn't had a hard game before the semi-final. They won all of their group games by comfortable margins and mightn't have been prepared for a tough battle against Clonkill who had been in a more competitive group." The Gaels began their championship defence with a 2-11 to 0-7 victory over Raharney at Cusack Park on May 27. Three weeks later, they demolished St. Brigid's on a 5-21 to 0-7 scoreline. Qualification for the last four was secured by virtue of a 1-15 to 2-5 win over Cullion on June 30. After a lapse of nearly two months, the purple and golds squared up to a highly-motivated Clonkill outfit at Cusack Park. It was nip and tuck in the early stages with the sides sharing eight points between them in the opening 20 minutes. But then a Sean Loughlin goal put the challengers in the driving seat and at half-time, they led by 1-7 to 0-6. Clonkill continued to hold a four-point advantage as the game moved into its final quarter. But the champions refused to throw in the towel and a well-struck goal by John Kennedy left just the minimum in it. When Kennedy followed up with two further points to put his side in front for the first time, it seemed that the Gaels were destined to reach yet another final. But Clonkill dug deep and two unanswered points from Brendan Murtagh and substitute Jonathan Forbes had them back in front. Paul Williams equalized for the Gaels but in a dramatic finale, teenage star Murtagh sent over a free from 55 metres to secure a famous 1-11 to 1-10 victory for the Loughegar men. Clonkill subsequently beat Cullion in a novel county decider before renewing acquaintances with Lough Lene Gaels in the delayed 2000 Feis Cup final on October 7. There mightn't have been as much at stake as in the championship semi-final but the Gaels were still anxious to exact whatever revenge they could. As it transpired, the Gaels got their own back, winning on a 2-10 to 1-7 scoreline. They laid the foundations for victory in the opening 10 minutes when a Gary Briody goal was followed by points from Mark McNicholas, Daniel Carty and David Cunningham. By half-time, the purple and golds were 1-7 to 0-4 to the good. Clonkill made a determined start to the second half, scoring 1-1 without reply. But the Gaels responded in impressive fashion. A John Gavigan centre was finished to the net by Joey Williams and there ended the Clonkill challenge. "It was nice to be able to get some revenge on Clonkill so soon after the championship defeat. We felt we had a point to prove and we wanted to remind everyone that we're still a force to be reckoned with," Kelly explains. "Contrary to what some people might think, winning the Feis Cup was a big thing for us. It was our first time to win it after seven previous final defeats. I was delighted for Matt Kennedy in particular as he had played in six of those finals." Lough Lene Gaels' reign as Feis Cup champions didn't last long as they were beaten by Clonkill in the semi-final of the 2001 competition which was played a few weeks later. The intense rivalry between the two north county clubs is set to be renewed in the forthcoming championship. The Gaels may not have retained the Examiner Cup but there is little doubt that they remain the strongest club in the county. Their unrivalled strength in depth is reflected in the fact that they are the only club to field teams in the senior, intermediate and junior championships. After a poor campaign in 2000, the Gaels' second team came within a whisker of qualifying for the intermediate championship final. Wins over Ringtown, Turin, Southern Gaels and Delvin earned them a semi-final spot. There, they suffered an agonising 1-8 to 2-6 defeat to the Ringtown men. "The intermediate team had a great year and with a bit of luck, might have reached the county final. They can take a lot of encouragement from the fact that they provided St. Oliver Plunkett's with their toughest game all year. Plunkett's proved what a good side they are by winning the Leinster junior club championship a few months later." Now into his sixth year as secretary, David is disappointed that there were objections from some clubs to Lough Lene Gaels' participation in the intermediate championship last year. "It saddens me to think that some clubs objected to us having an intermediate team. I feel they showed an element of begrudgery towards us. I've no doubt that my comments will upset some people but as far as I'm concerned, 'if the cap fits, wear it.' "I think that clubs should welcome whatever competition they can get. The bottom line is that we would have between 15 and 30 adult players deprived of hurling if we weren't allowed to field a team in the intermediate championship." Lough Lene Gaels also reached the junior championship final but lost to Clonkill by 0-9 to 1-8. The same team later atoned for that disappointment when they defeated Raharney by 3-17 to 2-5 in the All-County League Division 3 final. Incredibly, it was the club's first league success of any description since 1971. "Thirty years was a long time to be waiting for a league title," Kelly acknowledges. "We won a junior league title in 1971 and most of the players involved in that success went on to win senior championship medals in 1975 and '76. I would like to compliment Mattie Conaty, Ned Nolan and Matt Kennedy for their work with this team." At underage level, the under 14 team provided the year's highlight when they defeated Castletown-Geoghegan by 8-3 to 4-13 in an amazing Feile Shield final. After leading for most of the game, the Collinstown side needed a late goal from Killian Cosgrave (son of senior team manager Mick) to secure victory. Looking to this year's championship, David Kelly can see no reason why Lough Lene Gaels cannot regain the Examiner Cup. "I have no doubt that the players have what it takes to win another championship. If they are fully focused, they will be difficult for any team to stop. "They have been drawn in a much tougher group than last year and in a way, that could prove to be a good thing. One thing's for sure, it will keep everyone on their toes," he concludes. The Lough Lene Gaels team which captured the Feis Cup for the first time was: Mark Briody; Martin Williams, Christo Murtagh, Matt Kennedy; Brendan Williams, John Gavigan, Ciaran Williams; Francis McDermott, Paul Williams; Mark McNicholas (0-1), Gary Briody (1-4), Joey Williams (1-1); Daniel Carty (0-3), John Kennedy, David Cunningham (0-1). Subs used: Shane Murtagh and Francis O'Farrell. The Lough Lene Gaels team that triumphed over Raharney in the Division 3 final was: Brian Conaty; Paul Walsh, Shane Murtagh, Michael Walsh; David Coleman, Maurice Gavigan, Seamus Carroll; Mark McNicholas (2-4), Cathal Murtagh; Kevin Gavigan (0-3), Dara McCormack (0-2), Joey Williams; Alan Murray (0-4), Shane Fitzpatrick (0-1), Daniel Carty (1-3). Subs used: Oliver O'Farrell, Ciaran Fagan, JP Hannon and Chris Boyle. The Lough Lene Gaels team which won the Feile Shield was: Patrick Hannon; Francis Kennedy, Kieran Dermody, Alan McCormack; Gary Kelly, Shane Reilly, James Boyle; Noel Conaty (1-1), Killian Cosgrave (3-1); Stephen Grace, Richard Jennings, Michael Farrelly; Breffni Crone (0-1), Padraig Fitzsimons (3-1), Darragh Egerton. Tweet

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