With their resplendent new pitch and associated facilities in place at Bawnboy, Templeport St Aidan's are perfectly poised for a productive future. New chairman Bryan McKiernan feels that the good times could be about to return for the west Cavan outfit. At the club's AGM in February 2006, Bryan McKiernan was elected new chairman of Templeport St Aidan's. The new man in the chair succeeds Thomas Doonan, who stood down after a number of successful years at the helm of the west county club. During this time, Doonan oversaw the development and opening of the club's spectacular new grounds and facilities near Bawnboy - a fitting legacy to the outgoing chairman, who remains involved at committee level as club PRO. The new chairman, meanwhile, takes over the reins of a club that's in an extremely healthy state. Templeport have facilities to match anyone else in the county as well as some impressive emerging talent, so things are looking up. Bryan says his long-term objective is to restore former glories and the structures certainly appear to be in place to accomplish such a goal. Looking back on 2005, the highlight was the official opening of the club's stellar new pitch, which took place on May 2 with a challenge match between Cavan and Dublin. It marked the culmination of almost three years of hard work from the pitch development committee, spearheaded by the aforementioned Doonan, whose vision, industry and ambition were instrumental in making the dream a reality. Reflecting on '05, the new chairman admits that the official pitch opening took centre stage. It was a proud, proud day in the history of Templeport St Aidan's. With such splendid facilities in place, the next step is to produce players, teams and a brand of football to match: "Opening the pitch was definitely the main thing last year," says Bryan. "We were working on it for two-and-a-half years and it's a big achievement for Templeport. Everything is in place now and we're in the process of adding on a children's play area as well. It's one of the finest grounds in the county and we're thrilled that it has all come to fruition. "It's something to be proud of. We have two prunty fields and you can play matches on either. There are floodlights on the practice field and we have a large car park, dressing-rooms and an upstairs area which we're hoping to develop into a weights room with a small gym." With the development virtually wrapped, the club is now in a position to channel all its energies into winning football matches. Bryan continues: "The big thing now is to try and get Templeport back to where we were ten or twelve years ago. We want to play Division One football again. In fairness, the football has never been neglected in the club and we have produced a succession of winning underage teams over the past eight years or so, albeit in the lower divisions. "The players are there and we're hoping to win a junior championship. After that, perhaps we could take it a step further and compete for intermediate honours. We'd like to return to the top flight. That's our goal - to be back playing the Crosserloughs, Kingscourts and Cavan Gaels of this world." Time appears to be on Templeport St Aidan's side as the age profile of the first team lends itself to the prospect of steady improvement. The chairman believes the players on hand at present are both young enough and good enough: "We have a very young team and we intend to do everything we can to keep them together. The majority of them are in their early 20s. Only two of last year's team were over 25, and the core of the team was in the 19-21 group, so we have the nucleus of a good, young team." Templeport have been pitted in Group C of the 2006 Cavan JFC, where Cornafean and Munterconnacht provide the opposition. What does Bryan make of the draw? "We have no recent history of championship matches against either of those teams, so it's a welcome change. It's nice to get away from Corlough, Shannon Gaels and Kildallan, out local rivals, who we seem to come up against every year. "We know we won't get anything easy from Cornafean or Munterconnacht. The group presents the players with a challenge and I think they're good enough to come through. "Noel Lyons is the new manager and hopefully he can motivate the players for those two big days…" As ever, the underage section of the club will also receive plenty of attention. The U12s reached a semi-final in 2005 and, though the majority of those lads are now ineligible for the grade, there won't be any lack of effort as another good showing is sought. The U16s and U14s are also losing a lot of good players, but the various mentors are determined to mould teams that play in the Templeport spirit. "We have some brilliant young players coming through and we hope to unearth more," says Bryan. "Ben Kiernan and Liam Galligan, who were both U12 last year, are two beautiful players. They're two to watch. They have big futures in the game. If we could produce a player of that calibre every year, then we'd be more than happy, but the main thing with young lads is to get them out playing with the club and interested in football." All things considered, the club is in good shape. Financially, they are relatively sound and the committee aims to raise further funds this year to alleviate the pitch development loan and render it even more manageable. On Saturday January 12 2006, Templeport St Aidan's scooped an Ulster Scor title in set dancing, and the Cavan champions went on to compete in the All-Ireland final, losing narrowly. The successful team was: Áine and Niamh Dolan, Aishling Kiernan, Claire Maguire, Fiona Prior, Danielle Doonan, Evengeline Bleaney and Kievan McCaffrey. Bryan notes: "Martin McDermott and Orlan and Evelyn McCaffrey are doing tremendous work promoting the social aspect of the club. "We also have a strong ladies club, which also embraces Corlough and Swanlinbar. The U12s won a league and championship double last year, and the first team won the junior championship and pushed Clones all the way in Ulster." The new development is the jewel in Templeport's crown and hopes are high that even more championship matches will be staged in Bawnboy in 2006. "It would be good for the village and good for the club. People could go down and watch other teams and the occasions should heighten their enthusiasm for the community and for the game. The knock-on effect would be more support for Templeport." The chairman concludes by paying tribute to his immediate predecessor: "I'd like to take this opportunity to say a big Thank You to Thomas Doonan for his huge input as chairman of the field committee. He was the main driving force behind this development and it would never have happened without him. Nobody else would have taken it on, but he saw it through and has given the club facilities to treasure. "Youngsters should look forward to going out and playing on these pitches, so things are looking good. It's all positive." The following officers and committee members were elected for the 2006 season: Honorary President: Canon Thomas Murray. Honorary Vice-President: Fr Tom McKiernan. Hon. Presidents: Chris Maguire, John Edwards, Eamon O'Reilly, Sean Smith, Jim McGoldrick, Tom Kellegher, J. P. Brady, J McAdam, Sean Reilly (Port), Sean Reilly, Leo McCaffrey, Chris Crowe, John Bannon, Conor Maguire, Aidan Darcy, Ciaran Maguire, Thomas McManus, Seamus McGovern. Chairman: Bryan McKiernan. Vice-Chairman: P. P. Galligan. Secretary: Tony McCann. Assistant Secretary: Hugh Og Farrell. Treasurer: Frank Coll. Assistant Treasurer. Martin McDermott. P.R.O: Jim McManus (match reports). P.R.O: Thomas Doonan. Irish Officer: Martha McKiernan. Youth Officer: Martin Dolan, Registrar: Thomas Doonan. County Board delegates: Padraig Kellegher and Tony McCann. Insurance Officer: Joseph O'Reilly. Umpires and linesmen: Paddy Maguire, Patsy Maguire, Dessie Kellegher, Joe Reilly, Martin McDermott, Chris McCaffrey, Ray McCaffrey and Declan Shannon. Child Protection Officer: Tomas Kellegher. Field Committee: Paddy Maguire, Aidan Darcy, Con O'Gorman, Thomas Doonan, Aidan Rudden, Fr. Tom McKiernan, Dessie Kellegher. Breffni Park stewards: Vincent Tierney, Michael Smith and Joe Brady. Gateman: Aidan Darcy. When history is made Where's the smart money being laid in the realms of ladies football in 2006? Templeport anyone? In 2005 the Templeport St. Aidan's lady footballers signalled their intention of driving a horse and carriage through the county rankings in the not too distant future. By careering their way to a first-ever junior championship title and later adding an under 12 blue riband crown, the west Cavan ladies demonstrated that they are, quite possibly, the 'coming' team in Cavan ladies' football circles. Templeport ladies were one of the stand-out clubs of 2005 and their absorbing and impressive 3-9 to 1-12 victory over Killinkere in the junior final told a plain tale about the potential inherent in the club right now. Templeport, as a division two team, were the favourites to lift the title with division four outfit Killinkere regarded by observers as respected outsiders to go the distance. But finals are notoriously unpredictable and so it proved last August when the red-hot favourites had to pull out all the stops to deny their unfancied opponents in a thriller. "I was totally surprised by how well they played in the final," admitted Templeport's top-scorer Clodagh Doonan. "They were far better than they were in the semi."Indeed, Templeport's all-conquering ladies team seldom received such a torrid examination as they did in Cornafean in a final that exceeded all expectations for excitement. Excellently managed by Adrian McGovern, the Templeport crew showed great character and will-to-win to come from five points behind to make history in claiming the cup. In the end, it was a great hat-trick of goals by the aforementioned Doonan which helped most to seal victory for the Templeport girls. "It was really special to win the cup, especially as it was the first time for the team," Clodagh explains. Adrian (McGovern) had us well tuned, mentally and physically, for the final and there was no way he was going to let us go into the final is a complacent or over-confident fashion. He had us very fit as well and that counted for a lot." Indeed the fitness factor counted in a very big way for referee Gerry Sheridan (Mullahoran) saw fit to add on some 12 minutes of added-on time, Clodagh maintains. "I couldn't believe the game was going on so long at the end and it was really tough going for the final ten minutes of the game and then we had another twelve to play. "Killinkere were up in our half of the field for a long time towards the end of the game and nearly all the players were in our half on a couple of occasions late on." Indeed the Killinkere 'keeper Eaodain Duff, Clodagh's erstwhile county minor and county under 17 team-mate, was a virtual spectator in those dying, dramatic minutes. "Just like in training, we were totally focussed during the match and kept our composure and concentration going right to the very end," Clodagh assures us. And even when Killinkere were awarded a 13 metre free (and a retake) in the dying seconds, Templeport's defensive wall repelled their opponents' final, desperate assault. Clodagh is fulsome in her praise of the team's effort and, modesty itself, says one of her three goals was a fluke, no less. Thereafter Templeport went onto lose bravely to an Aisling Tierney-inspired Clones side in the Ulster club competition. So how does Clodagh - an Arts student in Maynooth - believe Templeport will do in the coming year? "We'll be playing at intermediate level so the competition will be tougher with the likes of Erne Gaels around but I think we can hold our own. "I'd say we have a good chance of maintaining the momentum we built up last year and building on our form and the experience we gained. "All the players are keen to add to the cup we won in 2005 and there's plenty of hunger and ambition in the squad." Pity Gaels and co. in 2006 then? The following are the successful 2005 JFC-winning squad from Templeport who overcame Killinkere in the county decider: Karen Baxter; Clodagh Doonan (3-1), Deirdre O'Brien, Mary T McGoldrick, Mairead Dolan, Martha Brady, Shona O'Brien, Siobhan Murphy, Tara Doonan, Aisling Doonan (0-2), Sharon Cassidy, Blaithin Murphy (0-1), Niamh Gilbride (0-1), Maggie McGovern, Pauline Glance, Grainne Dolan, Eilish Gilbride, Danielle McKiernan, Niamh Dolan, Noelle Maguire, Aoife Glancey. And as if things couldn't get any better for the young ladies from Templeport, the St. Aidan's club added the Under 12 ladies 'A' championship title for good measure. Mid-October may not form the most prized backdrop for a county final but the latest array of talent to come off the Templeport production line were oblivious to the cold. Plunkett Park, Kilnaleck was the venue for the girls' title tilt with a highly-rated Lurgan squad standing between the west Cavan ladies and championship glory. On a wind swept day which was hardly conducive to quality, cohesive football both sides deserve great credit for putting together a game of great intensity and no little skill. Pointedly, the elements were to play a pretty significant part in determining the fluidity of the play and indeed, to a large extent, the direction of the play over the hour. As things panned out, the winners-elect only managed to score one point in the second half such was the nature of the gusting and, at times, contrary wind. Similarly, it was Templeport's intelligent and economic use of the wind in the first half which provided the platform for their thoroughly deserved 1-7 to 0-4 triumph. The green and golds led from pillar to post and always looked the most likely winners even if Lurgan gave as good as they got for the duration of the exciting contest. Aisling McGoldrick got the Saints off to a good start with a neat point in the third minute after outpacing the retreating Lurgan defenders with a direct, quicksilver solo. The lights remained fixed on green for Templeport as the first half progressed with Rachel McCaffrey kicking a great point in the 7th minute to double Lurgan's deficit. Then disaster struck for the Virginia-based side when Aisling McGoldrick nipped in behind the ball-watching Lurgan defence to rifle the ball into the net for a great goal. Lurgan were shell-shocked and continued to look vulnerable as they laboured to conjure up any worthwhile offensive movements to take the pressure off their rearguard. The in-form McGoldrick proceeded to copper-fasten Templeport's ascendancy with yet another point as the wind, their cuteness and skill had the 'Aidan's in pole position. The onus was on Templeport to consolidate their wind advantage by building up the scores and their consistent volume of attacks and workrate reflected that objective. There was simply no way out for the chasing team and but for some desperate, last-gasp defending Lurgan would certainly have conceded another goal in the first half. As things worked out, Templeport succeeded in extending their cushioned lead to nine points by half-time (1-6 to 0-0) with a brace of points from Carol Kellegher. It was in the second half that the Saints really earned the plaudits of their mentors and supporters as wind-aided Lurgan threw everything bar the kitchen sink at them. A terrific third-quarter comeback by Lurgan in particular put Templeport under considerable pressure, testing their character, fitness and ambition in equal amounts. Three unanswered points from the town team reflected the closeness of the exchanges and the turning of the tide as Saints sought to circle the wagons with great haste. At the other end of the field, Templeport tried their damndest to take some of the heat out of the exchanges by stretching their lead but a brace of wides ensued instead. Templeport persevered and Aisling McGoldrick did well to hit the target for what was, amazingly, Templeport's only point of the afternoon, albeit a very welcome one. Lurgan continued to dictate the flow of the play but the spirited Saints rallied at their times of most need to keep them at bay save a point with ten minutes left to play. Lurgan proved doubty battlers but Templeport's sterling defensive resilience and overall team spirit plus exceptional workrate served them well as they held out for a great win. The all-conquering Templeport under 12 team was as follows; C McGoldrick; N Doonan, A Dolan, E Dolan, A McGovern, S Martin, K Maguire, R McCaffrey, S Leonard, C Kellegher, A McGoldrick. Subs; Aisling Smith, Beverly Simms. Tweet

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