REVIEW OF 2004   It was, as ever, a mixed year for the club’s teams on the playing pitch but most teams made the play-offs at their grade and so we can say the positives outweigh the negatives.  The question continues about whether we are stronger at football or hurling and while we may see our expertise as being more in the hurling, it is with the larger ball that success is coming on the adult playing fields.   Our under 10’s performed well in a number of tournaments, winning a couple and finishing as runners up in a few more, including the Pat Neville Ground Hurling which was played at this grade for the first time this year.  The camogie team improved well throughout the season after a shaky start. (Under 10 match reviews)   The under 10 camogie season went well with a number of good results against strong clubs like Rathnure, the Harriers and Blackwater.  We were given something of a lesson by Oulart however which demonstrated the levels we need to aspire to. (Under 10 Camogie reviews)   At under 12 level the footballers made the county semi-final but lost out to a strong Shelmaliers outfit while the hurlers having made the final with some very impressive performances were very unlucky to lose out to St Annes in Wexford Park.  These disappointments were made up for somewhat when St Aidan’s took the Rackard League football title however. (U12 football; U12 hurling)   Our under 14 hurlers made the county semi-final which, to be honest, exceeded all expectations.  They fell to a strong Oulart combination at that point but impressed all at the club with their strength of character.  In the football stakes we didn’t make the knockout stages but put in one or two good performances on the way, just lacking any sort of consistency.  A lot of this team are underage again next year so hopefully we can go a step further then.  The camogie girls never really got going at this grade and failed to register a victory. (U14 Camogie ; U14 Hurling ; U14 Football )   Our juvenile footballers told a similar tale, outstanding one day and wretched the next.  We could have qualified for the knock-outs up until the last few minutes of the final game against Tara Rocks when a missed penalty by ourselves allowed the opposition down to score at the far end. (U16 Football )   In the hurling however we qualified for the county final against our old rivals at this level, the Harriers.  It was a very close game but in the end it was the Wexford Town men who got the breaks and went on to win the game.  This is a young team and will be back in 2005. (U16 Hurling )   The juvenile camogie team qualified for the county semi-final but were beaten by St Martins.  They had however put in some good exploits up to this. (U16 Camogie)   At the minor grade our hurlers disappointed after many in the club felt we had a strong combination.  We got good results against what we would have seen as the stronger teams but then just didn’t perform against others and bowed out at the group stage.  It can be hard to explain when this happens because the team had been training well. (U18 Hurling)   At minor football level our league results were a very mixed bunch, depending on who turned up on the day.  We made the semi-final in the championship (in a very strangely structured competition it has to be said) but were well beaten. We have a good bunch of players coming through this year though and I think with the right commitment from the team, we can make an impact at this level in 2005. (U18 Football)   In Minor Camogie there was better news with the girls triumphing in the county final against Cloughbawn. (U18 Camogie)   At adult level performances have been dominated by the Senior footballers who won the county final and went on to do us proud in the Leinster Championship and the all-conquering Junior B Camogie team.   Our only adult camogie team operated at Junior B level this year and won a magnificent league and championship double.  This is testament to the hard work that has been going on in the camogie club over the last number of years and it’s great to see the girls coming through getting an opportunity to test themselves at a higher level next year. (Junior Camogie)   At Junior B level in the mens’ competitions we performed well in both codes, reaching the district final in football and, shall we say, doing a lot better than expected in the hurling.  We relied heavily on minors coming though at this grade and they performed admirably throughout.  It will be a question of getting a better blend of experience into the pot for next year (and perhaps a dollop of training wouldn’t go astray!) {Junior B Hurling; Junior B Football}   At Junior A level we always have the problem of never playing a uniform team as players move up to the senior squad.  Nevertheless there were some fine performances but we just struggled to come up with any type of consistency. (Junior A Hurling; Junior A Football)   In the Senior ranks our elite hurling troops had, it must be said, a bad season.  A very poor league campaign gave way to a championship run that we hoped would come to life but just never did.  A first round win over Monageer (after a replay) was followed by a second round encounter with eventual champions, Oulart.  This was a tight game and we really could have won it and were unlucky on the day.  This closeness gave us hope for the future and made a dismal dismissal at the hands of Cloughbawn all the harder to take.  We have to rethink our strategies in hurling to try and come up with what we never seem to have: a scoring forward. (Senior Hurling)   A scoring forward is certainly what we do have on the football fields however as John Hudson matured this season into one of the top strikers in the county.  Kilanerin seemed destined to complete a two in a row of county titles but fell to a determined and skilful Sarsfields contingent in the semi-final while we quietly crept past Gusserane after a replay.  In what was a disappointing final we outplayed the Wexford Town men for a fine victory.  Huge credit is due to all concerned.    In the Leinster club games we beat Rathvilly of Carlow after a drawn first encounter in Dr Cullen Park.  On the second day in Bellefield it looked like the Carlowmen were going to squeeze through until our forwards clicked and Man of the Season John Hudson slotted away not one, but two penalties.   An historic Leinster semi-final beckoned against Skryne who included Meath legends John McDermott and Trevor Giles in their setup.  We kept with the stronger Royalmen for most of the game but in the end they just had too much for us but it has to be remembered that no Wexford team has gotten beyond this point in the past so the team should still be proud of themselves. (Senior Football)   We were well represented on the county teams with Adrian, Declan and Tomás serving on the hurling team (Adrian and Skippy both being nominated for All-Stars) while John Hudson and Tom Wall represented the club on the senior football panel.    Off the field, we have finally started the long-needed redevelopment of the clubhouse and this is continuing apace.  Hopefully we will have a venue to reinvigorate the social side of the club which is in need of some renovation itself.   We ran a “Dad’s Match” in September to allow some of the hurlers on the ditch to prove their mettle in the heat of battle.  This was a very successful night and raised over €1,000 for St Patrick’s Special School. (Dad's Match)   Finally, we launched our website earlier this year and have had over 4,000 hits in the first year (but quite a few of those were bad spellers looking for information on Snoop Doggy Dog and Puff Daddy I think!).  Nevertheless it is going well and we look forward to making more improvements to the club and welcoming more new members in the coming year.