After a two-year absence, Dreadnots reclaimed their place in senior football by winning the 2004 Louth intermediate football championship. And they did it the hard way. The triumphant campaign went right down to the wire before the Clogherhead men carved out a one-point victory over O'Raghallaighs in the final at Dunleer on Sunday October 3. Dreadnots were red-hot favourites going into the 2004 IFC final, but they knew it would be a grave error to under-estimate competition surprise packets O'Raghallaighs. As it transpired, the determined Hoops put it up to the Black & Red from start to finish but Dreadnots kept their focus all the way to the final whistle, deservedly booking a return to the top grade of Wee County gaelic football. Dreadnots led by two points before Man of the Match Ronan Connolly kicked a last-minute point, after picking up possession from captain Darren Malone. It was this point that proved ultimately decisive: O'Raghallaighs rallied with two injury-time points but ran out of time in their brave bid for an equaliser, as Dreadnots justified their pre-match billing. Victory in the final marked the end of a remarkable campaign, which also included victories over Oliver Plunketts, Geraldines, Naomh Fionnbarra and Sean McDermotts - all of whom boasted genuine aspirations of securing the Seamus Flood Cup. As they defeated practically all of their main challengers along the way, nobody could argue with the merit of Dreadnots' superb championship win … their second IFC success in five years. As it turned out, Dreadnots would have secured promotion anyway. They also finished the season at the top of Division 2A, a placing which also carries the prize of automatic promotion to senior level. Thus, the all-conquering Dreadnots were emphatic double winners, ending the year with both the Toner Cup and Seamus Flood Cup in the Clogherhead clubhouse. Due to the inclement conditions and the high stakes, the 2004 IFC final proved a nervy affair, with the quality of football on display suffering at times. While Dreadnots were burdened by the tag of favourites, O'Raghallaighs were appearing in their first ever IFC decider and wanted to make the most of the opportunity that presented itself. A closely contested encountered ensued, which provided plenty of entertainment in its own right. The winners played with wind advantage in the first half and made a dream start when full forward Gary Shevlin put the ball in the net after only three minutes. Malone added a point four minutes later but the Drogheda side had levelled by the end of the first quarter. The accuracy of Colin Kelly from placed balls was the difference between the teams in the remainder of the half. Playing against his former club, the former Wee County star was unerring in helping his side to a 1-4 to 1-1 interval cushion. But Dreadnots still had to play against the strong wind and they were rattled when O'Raghallaighs reduced the deficit within two minutes of the resumption. However, the winners regained a strong foothold in the match when wing forward Connolly found the back of the net with a long-range strike to give his team a double-scores advantage, 2-4 to 1-2. The Green & Whites just refused to lie down, though, and landed five unanswered points to draw level by the 50th minute. At this stage, all the momentum appeared to be with the underdogs and an upset was on the cards. But Ronan Connolly provided leadership when it was most needed: he hit the crossbar before firing over two points, supplementing a Chris Mulroy effort, to give the seasiders a narrow but crucial victory. For their part, O'Raghallaighs were bidding to return to senior football for the first time in 30 years. The Hoops were also perilously close to the bottom of Division 2B, and so had everything to play for. Though the fare on offer was never of the highest order, Dreadnots did well to repel the stubborn challenge of the underdog… The conditions were deplorable and the game never really had a chance of catching fire under such circumstances. The pitch was heavy and greasy and fancy football simply was not an option. The outcome hung in the balance right up to the final whistle. Though O'Raghallaighs had all the second-half momentum, it was Dreadnots who stood forward to be counted when it mattered most., the winners managed only a single point from play in the opening 30 minutes. When O'Raghallaighs drew level with only ten minutes remaining, Dreadnots had their backs to the wall. However, it was then, when the game turned into a battle, that they dug deepest to etch out a famous, hard-earned victory. Dreadnots lifted their game at midfield, where Paddy McGuigan and Darren Malone began to exert a tight grip on proceedings, and Ronan Connolly showed the way up front with two vital points and some priceless endeavour. It was a close shave but Dreadnots, who were gunning for an intermediate double (as they sat proudly at the top of Division 2A at the time of the final), had done enough to book a return to senior football. The management team of Sean McEntee and Eamonn Lynch could ask no more from their players. The 2004 win was Dreadnots' third intermediate championship success, following on from the triumphs of 1986 and 2000. The Clogherhead side qualified for the final with knockout victories over Sean McDermotts and Naomh Fionnbarra, after finishing top of Group C. The semi-final against the Finbarrs was played at Drogheda on Saturday evening, September 18 and a close contest was expected between the two neighbouring clubs. The Togher men had annihilated Oliver Plunketts in the previous round and were many people's favourites to go all the way. However, Dreadnots wasted no time in romping to a much-easier-than-expected seven-point win, 2-9 to 1-5. Making light of the absence of Colin Kelly who was ruled out by a broken thumb, the winners took the game by the scruff of the neck early on and completely dominated the first half. The match was effectively over as a contest at the interval, the Black & Reds turning around with a 1-7 to 0-1 advantage. With the backing of a strong breeze and driving rain, Dreadnots controlled the first ten minutes. There may have been an element of fortune about Ronan Connolly's fifth-minute goal, but there was nothing lucky about the avalanche of scores that followed from Fergal McGuigan, Darren Malone (2), Paddy McGuigan, Connolly, Kenneth Shevlin and Chris Mulroy. Dreadnots were pinned back for the first 20 minutes of the second half but they were well able to soak up the pressure and never looked like relinquishing their healthy lead. A Connolly free on 49 minutes kept them in control and Gary Shevlin's goal at the death provided the icing on the cake. On the strength of their powerful first-half display, Dreadnots were worthy winners. The quarter-final, a fortnight earlier, had been a much closer affair. At Dromiskin, on Saturday September 4, Dreadnots just about survived a stirring second-half Sean McDermotts revival to win narrowly, 2-8 to 0-11. The Seans were playing their third championship eliminator in as many weekends following play-off wins over Na Piarsaigh and Sean O'Mahonys. In contrast, Dreadnots looked a little rusty. McDermotts made a better start to the game but Dreadnots assumed control with first-half goals from Gary and Kenneth Shevlin. When Fergal McGuigan pointed within a minute of the resumption, Dreadnots led by six but the Mountrush men battled back to lead by a point with only four minutes remaining. It was here that the Clogherhead men showed the hallmark of true champions by knocking over four unanswered points to book their place in the last four. Dreadnots were in Group C of the 2004 Louth intermediate football championship, a four-team group also containing Oliver Plunketts, Geraldines and Westerns. With two wins from three, they qualified for the knockout stage of the competition alongside the Plunketts, who boasted a similar record. Dreadnots opened their account against the Mell men at Drogheda on May 28, winning by four points, 1-11 to 1-7. Plunketts scored first but Dreadnots responded with a brace of Colin Kelly points and a Gary Shevlin goal. Points from Derek Shevlin, Kelly and Ronan Connolly established a 1-5 to 0-2 half-time cushion. When Plunketts drew level with 1-2 inside a three-minute purple patch, Dreadnots knew they had a game on their hands. Paddy McGuigan moved to midfield, with Derek Shevlin switching to centre back and the Clogherhead men never looked back. Dreadnots' hopes suffered a temporary setback when they were trounced by Westerns in their next group outing, 3-13 to 0-14 at Louth village on June 19. The result was a major surprise and threw the group wide open, but the seasiders rediscovered their form to book their passage to the business end with an emphatic 1-14 to 0-7 defeat of Geraldines on July 10, with Colin Kelly (0-13) giving an exhibition of point-taking. Dreadnots have the look of a team that'll be well able to cope with the demands of senior football. They know the drill. Two-thousand-and-four was a memorable year. It could be quite a while before the Black & Reds play intermediate football again. Dreadnots, 2004 Louth intermediate football champions: John Cunningham; Brian Gargan, Derek Shevlin, Jeff Brannigan; Fergal McGuigan, Donal Skinnader, Danny Sutherland; Paddy McGuigan, Darren Malone (0-1); Ronan Connolly (1-2), Chris Mulroy (0-1), Paudie Connolly; Colin Kelly (0-3), Gary Shevlin (1-0), Kenneth Shevlin. Subs: Ciaran Murphy, Stephen Marley, Pat Lynch. Tweet

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