While Killucan's intermediate championship success of 1992 remains the club's greatest single achievement, it could be argued that the club reached new heights in 2002. The Saffrons had an involvement in no fewer than six finals (excluding a replay in one of them) last year, and while defeat was their lot in four of them, the fact that they were competing for silverware on so many fronts suggested that the club has never been as strong. "A lot of people would regard 1992 as our best ever year, but I would say last year surpassed it," says veteran forward Noel Croash. "For the club to have had an involvement in six finals was a phenomenal achievement, especially when you consider how strong hurling is in the area. At the moment, the club is going strong in nearly every grade and long may it continue to be the case," he adds. The All-County League Division 3 and under 16 'A' championship titles represented Killucan's two successes last season. The club also contested the Intermediate Cup, junior 'B' and minor 'A' finals, as well as providing the backbone to the St. Earnan's team which lost the under 16 'premier' championship decider to Clann Braonain after a replay. While the intermediate championship brought little joy, Killucan fared significantly better in both the league and Intermediate Cup. Under the guidance of former St. Mary's and Westmeath star Pat Bradley, Killucan recovered from a poor start to capture the Division 3 title and ensure themselves of Division 2 status for the first time in their history. Having lost two of their three opening fixtures to Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall and The Downs, Killucan were faced with the threat of relegation. But a run of five straight wins over Mullingar Shamrocks, Caulry, Shandonagh, Athlone and St. Loman's put them in a strong position for promotion. However, a defeat to Castledaly in their remaining league game meant that a 'final' against Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall - who finished on the same number of points - was required to determine which side would make the ascent. Played at Bunbrosna on February 23 last, the game was keenly contested with Killucan emerging as merited 0-13 to 1-7 winners. Killucan's greater scoring power was a key factor in their success, with seven different players in Saffron jerseys getting their names on the scoresheet, compared to four for the losers. Killucan laid the foundations for their victory in the opening half when, favoured by a strong breeze, they blazed their way into 0-8 to 0-0 lead after 22 minutes. During this spell of total Killucan dominance, Noel Croash, Padraig Connaughton, Brendan McKeogh, Padraig Leavy and Paul Greville all got in on the scoring act. Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall notched three unanswered points thereafter, but Killucan still took a 0-8 to 0-3 lead into the interval. Crucially for Killucan, they made a dream start to the second half with points from Shane Briody, Shane Leavy and Padraig Leavy stretching their advantage to 0-11 to 0-3 by the 46th minute. The north county side then staged a determined rally, but points from Greville and Shane Leavy had restored Killucan's seven-point advantage with three minutes remaining. Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall were thrown a lifeline in the 59th minute when Kevin Brazil scored the game's only goal, but it arrived too late to change the outcome. In the Intermediate Cup, Killucan defeated Mullingar Shamrocks, Ballinagore and Kilbeggan Shamrocks to qualify for a final showdown with Shandonagh. Conditions at Joristown were atrocious, but in spite of this, both teams served up a cracking contest. Although Stephen Morley gave Killucan an early lead, Padraig Lynn replied almost immediately with a point for the wind-assisted visitors. Shandonagh then proceeded to fire over five unanswered points per Alan Hickey (two), Roy Smyth (two) and John Rushe before Morley managed a response for the men in Saffron. Further scores from Hickey (two) and Paddy Duffy had Shandonagh perched nicely on a seven-point lead, 0-9 to 0-2, at the break. As expected, Killucan fought back in the second half, taking the lead, 1-7 to 0-9, with just two minutes remaining. When Noel Croash put the home side two points clear with the game in stoppage time, the title looked to be Killucan's. But Shandonagh launched a final raid which culminated in Padraig Lynn forcing the ball over the line for the winning goal. There was still enough time for Killucan to salvage something from the game, but Shadonagh held on for a dramatic 1-9 to 1-8 victory. The form Killucan displayed in the league and Intermediate Cup was sadly not in evidence during the championship with the result that they were dragged into a relegation dogfight. The tone for a disappointing campaign was set when they lost to Kilbeggan Shamrocks by 0-4 to 2-9 in the opening round. They bounced back to beat Shandonagh (3-14 to 2-8) and Bunbrosna (2-10 to 0-3), but defeats to Milltownpass (1-8 to 3-9), Rosemount (1-9 to 3-13) and Mullingar Shamrocks (0-5 to 0-7) left them facing a relegation play-off against Shandonagh. As it transpired, Shandonagh reversed the earlier result with a 1-9 to 0-10 victory. That left Pat Bradley's men needing to beat Mullingar Shamrocks to preserve their intermediate status, and this they achieved by a comfortable margin. Killucan had high hopes of landing the junior 'B' title, but they paid the price for a poor second half display in the final against Tubberclair at Shandonagh on December 15. A Jason Croash goal had helped the Saffrons to a 1-6 to 0-5 lead at the interval, but Tubberclair dominated after the restart to run out 1-10 to 1-8 winners. It must be noted, however, that Killucan's cause was not helped by injuries to John Duignan, Jason Croash and Kevin Keogh during the first half. That disappointment was forgotten about 24 hours later when the club captured the under 16 'A' championship following a 1-7 to 1-6 victory over old rivals St. Malachy's/Ballinagore at Rochfortbridge. The win was sweet revenge for a controversial defeat to the same opposition in the under 14 'A' final two years earlier. Making good use of the breeze, Killucan had opened up a 1-5 to 0-2 lead at the break. Corner forward Alan Sullivan gave the Saffrons a dream start with a fisted goal after just seven minutes. St. Malachy's/Ballinagore staged a spirited revival in the second half, and when Sean Whelan scored a goal to reduce the deficit to the minimum with five minutes remaining, it looked like they would break Killucan hearts once again. But the Saffrons defended as if their lives depended on it in the closing stages to hold on for victory. A few months earlier, Killucan provided nine of the starting line-up to the St. Earnan's team which contested the under 16 'premier' championship final. The Killucan/Delvin/St. Paul's amalgamation led by 2-4 to 0-3 at half-time, but their opponents Clann Braonain outscored them by 0-8 to 0-1 on the resumption to earn a replay. Clann Braonain were much quicker out of the starting blocks in the replay, with David Glennon's goal helping them to a 1-5 to 0-4 lead at the break. But St. Earnan's refused to give up the fight and with only minutes remaining, they had cut the deficit to the minimum. However, a late point from Drew Morgan copperfastened a 1-9 to 1-7 victory for Clann. Killucan's current wellbeing is also reflected in the fact that they qualified for the minor 'A' championship decider, a game which they will have nightmares about for some time to come, however. Played at Robinstown on the last Sunday in January, the final was controlled by Killucan for the most part, but opponents Kilbeggan/St. Joseph's staged a remarkable recovery in the closing five minutes to claim an unlikely 4-9 to 4-6 victory. Goals from Shane Leavy and Paul Greville had helped Killucan to a 2-6 to 2-1 lead at half-time and further majors from Greville and Conor Jordan left them 4-6 to 2-8 in front after 55 minutes. But in a blistering finish, Kilbeggan/St. Joseph's notched 2-1 without reply to leave Killucan shattered. Having recently made a winning debut in Division 2 of the All-County League under new manager Dermot Brady, Noel Croash is convinced that Killucan can go a long way in this year's intermediate championship. His optimism is, not surprisingly, based on the club's rich crop of young talent. "In all my time as a Killucan player, I have never seen so many good young players coming through at once. The likes of Shane Leavy, Conor Jordan and Paul Greville are terrific talents and playing in Division 2 against senior teams can only improve them. "Apart from consolidating our position in Division 2, we really want to give the championship a good crack. Last year was a great year overall and the only thing that took away from it was our form in the intermediate championship. We've been handed a tough draw, but I'm convinced we have the talent to make an impact," he concludes. The Killucan team which captured the Division 3 title was: Joe Croash; Kevin McKeogh, Barry Nea, Nicky Weir; Padraig Connaughton, Brendan McKeogh, Stephen Morley; Shane Leavy, Noel Lynch; Noel Croash, Paul Greville, Christopher Leech; Shane Briody, Padraig Leavy, Enda Reilly. Subs used: John Duignan and Derek Croash. The Killucan team which defeated St. Malachy's/Ballinagore in the under 16 'A' championship final was: David Byran; Conor Carey, Francis Boyle, James Leech; Darren Egan, Paddy Croash, Ciaran Moore; Conor Jordan, Brian Smyth; Jimmy Greville, Ciaran Traynor, Kyle Smith; Conor Boyle, Tony Doyle, Alan Sullivan. Sub used: Patrick Davis. Tweet

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