Crookedwood finally reached their Holy Grail last year when they annexed the Intermediate hurling championship for the first time in the history of the club. Maroon and White takes a look at how this remarkable success was achieved. The club had endured two championship final defeats in the last four years, which for many teams would be an almost impossible scenario to come back from. However, they are made from some stern stuff in the 'Wood and despite suffering the heartbreak of losing the two finals including last year's decider to St Oliver Plunkett's after a replay, Crookedwood came back again this year and finally rose to the top. Apart from their opponents in the final, not one person in the county could begrudge Crookedwood the title and indeed Cullion will take some consolation that the team that beat them were winning their first title. Noel Boyce was once again manager of the side and if possible the people of Crookedwood would bestow a knighthood on the Ringtown man. Boyce has brought the club that extra step needed to reach the senior grade. Following the heavy defeat to Plunkett's in the 2004 final replay, Crookedwood could have been forgiven for losing interest in the championship and just going through the motions. However, they have a strong belief, mixed with some very talented hurlers which makes up a formidable side. The 2006 campaign will be the club's first ever venture in the top flight. They may be many people's favourites for relegation, but not many clubs possess the determination, character and attitude that the 'Wood display. Players like Johnny Orme, Colin Murray, Kevin Tormey and Conor Duffy would easily walk on to any team in the county and with youngsters like Antoine Savage and Kevin Orme coming through the ranks, their goal of staying in the senior ranks can be easily achieved. Crookedwood kicked off their campaign against St Brigid's and as expected the 2004 finalists had no real problems in seeing off the challenge of the Dalystown outfit. Skipper Johnny Orme lead the way in the scoring charts to get his season off to the perfect start as the 'Wood won by 1-12 to 0-8. The intermediate championship is made up of six teams with all having a realistic chance of winning the title and so it was with no surprise that all teams suffered a defeat in the group stages. Crookedwood went on to defeat Southern Gaels and Cullion before a surprise defeat to Turin brought them crashing back down to earth with a bump. However, it was the match against Brownstown that turned out to be one of the most exciting matches of the year. Right from the very start, Crookedwood tore into their more experienced opponents and took their scores, which left Brownstown struggling to stay in touch with Orme, Kevin Tormey and Enda Murray causing most of the damage. Midway through the second half, Crookedwood led by seven points, but a melee involving players, mentors and supporters erupted on the sideline, which lasted five minutes. When parity was restored, the 'Wood were knocked out of their stride and their opponents slowly clawed their way back into the match and a succession of late goals brought about an unlikely result as Brownstown emerged winners by 3-7 to 1-10. Having made the top four meant that Crookedwood would be facing Turin in the semi-final. The sides met at the same stage last year as the 'Wood emerged victorious, but Noel Boyce's side could take nothing for granted. The semi-final was an entertaining contest with scores plentiful and the level of hurling produced was top quality. Turin played with the aid of a stiff breeze in the first half and they took the lead through a well taken point in the second minute. Crookedwood were awarded a free moments later and Johnny Orme opened his account from the placed ball. Turin went three points ahead as they used the wind to their advantage. Orme narrowed the gap with a well-taken point, before Ciaran Brennan found namesake Ger with a good pass and a point was the outcome. Turin continued to press forward and the reds managed 1-1, back came the 'Wood and Orme was quickest to react from a rebound and buried the ball into the back of the net. However, Turin managed the last score of the half to leave the scoreline 1-8 to 1-3 at the interval. Colin Murray narrowed the deficit to four points with a well taken point just after the break before substitute Stephen Leavy managed another point for Crookedwood. Murray scored his second point of the afternoon to leave two between the sides and the tricolours were now in full flight. Turin responded with a converted free, although Orme fired over from play almost immediately. Two pointed frees from their inspirational captain brought the sides level before the same played raised a green flag following a rasping drive into the net. The sides exchanged points as Turin tried their hardest to get back in the match, but the Crookedwood defence held firm for a merited win and their third appearance in the final during this millennium. Final score 2-12 to 1-11. In the final, Cullion would be the opponents after they saw off the challenge of Brownstown to reach the decider. The sides had meet a few weeks earlier in the Intermediate Cup when extra time was needed before the 'Wood won and this match was expected to be as close. However, finals are unpredictable as Crookedwood's second half performance was nothing short of breathtaking. This compelling final was very much in the balance at half time as Cullion lead by the minimum, 0-9 to 1-5. Kieran Brennan opened the scoring with a long range point after just ten seconds. Nonetheless, it was Cullion who settled quickly in the opening quarter and they raced 0-5 to 0-1 lead, while some wayward shooting by the maroons would have seen them further in front. Johnny Orme pointed a free to try and kick-start his side, but Cullion hit back when they raised another white flag. The turning point in the match came at the midway point of the first half when Stephen Leavy won a free fifty metres out and Orme's testing ball was misjudged by Cullion goalkeeper Jim Baker, who was behind his own line when he batted the sliothar. Cullion hit another point, but the tricolours sensed that they were back in the match and Orme converted a free before Colin Murray opened his account. The sides exchanged points deep in first half injury time to bring the scoring to a close at the interval. Crookedwood came out like a team possessed in the second half and in the first minute drew level with a '65 from Orme. A long ball into the Cullion defence was flicked on by Colin Murray to Kevin Orme and the full forward scored his side's second goal. Minutes later, a long delivery by Ger Brennan was latched onto by Johnny Orme and the skipper beat the defence and fired home. Crookedwood were now well on top and just two minutes later Orme scored his third goal of the evening when he gathered a line ball by Stephen Leavy to give the 'Wood an unassailable lead. The same player converted another free before Colin Murray showed his footballing skills by kicking the sliotar to the net. History was on the horizon as Crookedwood now lead by 12 points. To their credit Cullion did their best to narrow the gap and scored a goal to give them a glimmer of hope. However, it was to be the 'Wood's day as they ran out convincing winners 5-13 to 2-11. History was made on that dull Sunday evening in September and it will be a day that the Crookedwood faithful will never forget. For a small club with so much passion to make it into the senior ranks is a momentous achievement. Their rise as a hurling power in recent years was demonstrated as the club contested two more finals. The minor side was amalgamated with Cullion to form Cu Chullains and this team reached the premier decider only to narrowly lose to neighbours Clonkill in the final. In the Junior 'B' championship, Crookedwood saw off the challenge of Cullion in the semi-final to set up a meeting with Ringtown in the final. The match was closely contested and extra-time was needed to separate the sides, before the 'wood collected their second adult title of the year. Crookedwood have produced many great characters over the year, but none more so than Adrian Murray, who sadly passed away after a long battle with illness in early November. No doubt, Adrian will be a happy man, having seen his beloved Crookedwood win the Intermediate championship and Westmeath hurlers winning the inaugural Christy Ring. For Adrian devoted his life to his family and Westmeath GAA as a player and referee, while he held numerous positions on the county board over the years. Tweet

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