With a devastating dismantling of a fancied Dreadnots/St Fechins side in the decider, Cooley Kickhams completed back-to-back minor football championship victories in 2006. For the second successive year, Jason Long registered two goals on county final day, but the modest youngster insists it was a team effort that worked the oracle for Cooley's magnificent U18s. Cooley's ultimate dream of recapturing the Joe Ward Cup perished when they lost a marathon semi-final to arch rivals St Patricks but the men from Fr McEvoy Park were still represented on county final day as their mighty minors took centre stage against a fancied Clogherhead/Termonfeckin amalgamation. As defending champions, the young Kickhams lads duly produced a wonderful display to eclipse Dreadnots/St Fechins by 4-10 to 1-10 at Clan na Gael Park on Sunday October 8. There was just a single point between the teams (2-6 to 1-8) as proceedings ebbed into the fourth quarter but Cooley then produced a barnstorming finish to totally overwhelm their shell-shocked opponents. Corner forward Jason Long registered 2-5 during the course of a Man of the Match display, a personal tally that essentially proved the difference between the teams at the long whistle. When captain Patrick McGrath took possession of the Fr Larry Murray Cup, Cooley Kickhams were crowned Louth minor football champions for a second successive season and some of the disappointment of the senior team's luckless capitulation was erased. It may be 16 years since the Green & Golds have landed the big one, but they have captured the other two senior trophies of late and, with a sound platform of underage success as well, Cooley are surely building inexorably towards that long-awaited SFC breakthrough. In 2007, they will set out once more to try to win the Ward Cup. A number of their players will have MFC medals in their back pockets and a definite winning habit. Things could get very interesting… Reflecting on the 2006 minor triumph, county final hero Jason Long admits that he wasn't sure how the team was going to shape up as they set out to defend the title won with victory over Na Piarsaigh in the '05 final: "It went well in the end, but at the start of the year, having lost so many from the 2005 team, we didn't really know how things would work out. Thankfully, it fell into place quite well. "The younger lads who came into the team - lads who didn't play in '05 - stood up to be counted and did well for the club. Those guys deserve as much credit as anyone. We weren't really fancied to hold onto the title, but we proved a lot of people wrong." A new management set-up was put in place, with James McGrath at the helm. There was also wholesale change in the playing personnel, with only nine players left over from the all-conquering squad of the previous season. The pressure was on. This was entirely new. "Things were a lot different and we had to re-adjust," Jason agrees. "We had a lot of new faces and I suppose we were starting from scratch again, even though some of us had done it all before." The year started with a massive disappointment for Jason and his team-mates as they failed to retain a trophy that means a lot to them personally: "We started training around February/March for the special league but we didn't do as well in that as we'd hoped. That was for the Colin Murphy Cup and we were disappointed not to win it as Colin played for Cooley and we'd like to have done it in his memory." Cooley opened their minor league account against Young Irelands and, despite showing mixed form, reached the business end of the Division One MFL. Short three key men, they fell to Naomh Mairtin. This left just one more trophy to play for and the Cooley lads were determined not to surrender the Fr Larry Murray Cup without a fight. But they could hardly have asked for a more difficult opener in the knockout than Drogheda giants Newtown Blues. Knowing that a first-round bye presented them with a two-game path to the county final, Cooley played superbly at Knockbridge to win with something to spare. Wolfe Tones really put it up to the holders and champions-elect at the penultimate stage but Cooley weathered the storm to book their place in the county showcase. Backboned by three outstanding county minors, Dreadnots/St Fechins were a formidable proposition and a lot of commentators fancied the seaside amalgamation to win a county final at the fourth attempt. However, the peninsula lads had other ideas and were full value for their three-goal margin of victory. Regarding county final day, Jason reveals: "There wasn't really that much hype, as we had lost to the Pats in the senior semi-final. I think that took away from the county final for a lot of Cooley supporters and people didn't want to go to the Clans to see the Pats again. Maybe that took a bit of pressure off us. We weren't as nervous as we had been in 2005. We were able to concentrate on the game and we knew we had a job to do. "We had been written off in a lot of quarters. They had four players on the Louth minor panel and we had only one, but we had drawn with them in a league game when we were depleted, so we knew we had a good chance." And what a time for the Cooley sharpshooter to give an exhibition! Was he pleased with his display? "You are never as good as the papers make you out to be. There are always things you can improve. I was thinking about the game the night before and I thought 'wouldn't it be great to get two goals again. That's how it worked out and luckily everyone else performed. Every Cooley player did their job and that's why we won." Though it was the Joes who took all the headlines at the end of the year, Cooley's minor feat is not one to be taken lightly: "Winning back-to-back minor championships is a great achievement for the club," says Jason. "We're disappointed that Joe Ward isn't around, but that's what I'm hoping for next. I was only two years old the last time Cooley won it and it would be great to play a part next year. "I'm hoping to be amongst the five subs next year and hopefully I can play a part in Cooley's bid for the championship. It's not just about the starting 15 anymore; it's about a panel of 28. There were three of us [minors] on the senior panel in 2006 and we'll be hoping to play a bigger role in '07." Jason had to withdraw from the Louth minors in 2006 due to his Leaving Certificate. He made a brief substitute appearance in the SFC during the third clash with the Pats, an appearance which ironically cost him a place in the junior 2A championship decider. A first cousin of Gavin (and a distant cousin of Brian White), this exciting young attacker has the potential to serve Cooley Kickhams for a Long time to come. Bricks, mortar and lots beside Cooley Kickhams have been one of the most consistent clubs in Louth football in recent years. Strong league form has been rewarded with a Cardinal O'Donnell victory in 2004, and this year they picked up a third successive ACC/Paddy Sheelan Cup. By Eunan White. While some clubs might have been content to collect silverware on such a regular basis, when you have a tradition as proud as Cooley's, the aim is always to transfer that league form into the championship. However, that burden of expectation has weighed heavily over the past number of years as the club bids to end a barren spell of 16 years since winning the Joe Ward Cup. Kickhams have come very close in recent seasons, but despite missing out on the big prize, they are never short of optimism that they will make the breakthrough. Goalkeeper, Seamus Quigley, reveals that this positive outlook has not changed despite the disappointment of a semi-final exit in this year's campaign. "As usual we started the year with high hopes and had Gary Thornton in as manager. He had his own way of doing things and was big on discipline which seemed to work very well over the course of the season." It looked as if those efforts would rewarded with the ultimate triumph, but their hopes of going all the way were ended by neighbours, St Pats, in dramatic fashion in the semi-final. "Those three games were hard to play in and you go into the first game never thinking that it will end in a draw. We were disappointed after the first match but managed to pick ourselves up for the replay. Although St Pats should have won that, we managed to hit back for a draw. The third game followed a similar pattern but we just couldn't finish it off." While Seamus admits it was disappointing to miss out, he feels that the team has learned much which should stand to them in the future. "I thought this year that we showed a lot of mental strength which we didn't seem to have before. I think in previous years we would have lost the second game to St Pats, but we managed to keep ourselves in the competition. "Gary Thornton deserves a lot of credit for that and it is important that we take those lessons into next year as for many of us our chances of winning a Senior Championship are running out. "Some of us are at the wrong side of 30 but there is a sense of optimism that we are getting closer all the time and improving as a team. "Although we lost in the semi-final, I believe that we are going in the right direction. We showed in the group games that we are among the top sides as we did well against Sean O'Mahonys and Naomh Mairtin and although we were not at our best in the final game against Geraldines, we did enough to get through. "It was a tough task against St Mary's in the quarter-final, but we did the job to get to the semi-final. That form, combined with a successful underage set-up has helped convince Seamus that there is better to come from Cooley in the near future. "There is also the fact that we have won two successive Minor Championships so it would be great to see some of them coming through and putting pressure on the older lads. I think it is essential that these players get the opportunity to establish themselves in the senior side if we are to make the breakthrough." Although Seamus is now approaching the veteran stages, he is determined not to hang up his boots as he bids to finally land that elusive Senior Championship medal. "There was a time when I thought of giving it up but I think I will give it another lash next year. I think I am still young enough for a goalkeeper and I have trained as hard as ever this season. I think I played quite well this year, so hopefully we can go all the way next time." Although Cooley missed out on their ultimate aim of landing the Joe Ward Cup, the club has reason to remember 2006 with pride as on June 24 Kickhams had one of the proudest days in their history with the official opening of their new complex and stand. The ceremony was performed by President of the GAA, Nickey Brennan and Seamus Kirk TD in front of a large crowd on a beautiful summer evening. The extension was blessed by Bishop Clifford and Fr McParland and the President along with Pete McGrath and Seamus Kirk and other dignitaries were given a guided tour of the new extension by Peter McCarthy, Chairman of Cooley Kickhams and Derek Malone, Chairman of the Development Association. On what was a very proud day for his club, Chairman Peter thanked everyone for supporting the club in the new development and welcoming the GAA President Nicky Brennan and other dignitaries to the opening. Peter made it clear that the centre was open to all the people in the community and can be obtained by contacting any member of the committee. Chairman of Louth Paddy Oliver spoke of the rivalry Cooley and St Patrick's have but said that it's healthy and both clubs have outstanding grounds, which are second to none in the country. Nicky Brennan said that it was one of the finest sporting complex's in the country, and said that all GAA clubs should open its doors to all the people in the community and get them involved in their club. He added that with the facilities Cooley now has that there should be no excuses for the club not going forward on the field and he wished them every success both on and off the field. Chairman of the Development Committee Derek Malone then thanked all the bodies who had given Cooley grants including, the National Lottery, Clar, Co Louth Task Force, GAA, Dep of Justice and Pobal. Derek thanked the committee which had started in 2001 and in particular Ann Callan, Patricia Campbell and Sally Ann McDonald, Michael Rogan, and James Larkin for sorting the applications and sourcing the grants. He also thanked the businesses who donated to the building and the people who bought tickets and are in the lotto, and he thanked Pat Ferguson who carried out the electrical work and Johnny Clerkin who did all the plumbing. Thanks were also expressed to Michael Sheelan for over seeing all the work as the building contractor for the entire extension. Seamus Kirk TD praised the magnificent building and said it is a testimony to the Cooley Kickhams club, committees and supporters and community. He spoke of the great driving force the committee had in Derek and Peter, and also congratulated Adrian Sheelan who worked hard at the beginning. The building is equipped to cater for the disabled with a state of the art industrial kitchen, and these facilities are available to the entire community and everyone is invited to use them, the function room is also available for different functions and will cater for 21st parties, christenings, anniversarys, weddings, race and quiz nights and Christmas parties, and will be open various weekly nights throughout the year. Tweet

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