Strokestown were crowned County Chamions in 2002 after an unlikely year. This was the first time in 10 years Strokestown were crowned champions, and what a sweet victory it was being underdogs for the last three matches of the championship. This season was our second at Senior level since our brief spell as Intermediates two years ago. We managed to secure the services of ex-county star full back Pat Doorey of Loughlinn as our team manager. The season started well early on, we were winning, and winning well. Confidence was high, as was players commitment and dedication. For people like Damien Donlon and Luke Dolan, this would be one of the last oppurtunities to win the county title that has been so elusive since '92. All was set-up well by the time the championship came along. But in what so often happens in Football we crumbled inexplicably against newly promoted St. Aidans. A meeting was called for the next day, players and management discussed the defeat and came to the conclusion that nothing was over yet. With a bit of serious effort and commitment we came through the losers group beating Padraig Pearses in the final. This was a our first real test since the first round defeat and we were beginning to realise our potential. The semi final victory of Roscommon Gaels prved to every one (even ourselves) that we were title contenders. We knew we would have to put in our best performance against St. Brigids if we were to win, and that exactly what happened. [See match report]. Strokestown were champions again, against all odds. path to the final | team line-out & player profiles | match photos

First Round:

Lost to St. Aidans 2-9 to 0-8 points.

Scorers: 

Luke Dolan (0-3, all frees); Conor Silke (0-2); 

Damian Donlon (0-2); Pearse mcGinley (0-1)

Loser's Group First Round:

Beat Shannon Gaels 1-16 to 0-5.

Scorers:

Luke Dolan (0-10, seven frees); Conor Silke (1-3);

Shane Flaherty (0-1); Pearse McGinley (0-1);

Kevin J. Dolan (0-1)

Loser's Group Semi-Final:

Beat Kilglass Gaels 1-13 to 0-6

Scorers:

Conor Silke (1-2); Luke Dolan (0-3);

Pearse McGinley (0-3); Kenny Bosquette (0-2);

Shane Flaherty (0-1); Ronan Owens (0-1);

John Rogers (0-1)

Loser's Group Final:

Beat Pádraig Pearses 1-8 to 1-5

Scorers:

Luke Dolan (0-8, five frees); Kevin J. Dolan (1-0)

Semi-Final:

Beat Roscommon Gaels 2-7 to 0-12

Scorers:

Luke Dolan (0-4, all frees); Conor Silke (1-1);

John Rogers (1-1); Shane Flaherty (0-1, free); 

Kevin J. Dolan (0-1)

County Final:

Beat St. Brigids 2-11 to 0-11

Scorers:

Luke Dolan (0-4, 3 frees), Kevin J. Dolan(1-1), 

Conor Silke (1-1), Pearse McGinley (0-2), 

Shane Flaherty (0-2), 

Derek Hagen (0-1)

County Championship:

Scores For: 7-63

Scores Against: 3-48

For the rest of the season run-down see the season summary

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Subs:

(16) Johnathon Cassidy (Lissaphobble)

(17) Niall Owens (Annaghmore)

(18) Kenny Bosquette (Ballyhammon)

(19) Ronan Shiel (Carniska)

(20) Johnny Dolan (Cloonslanor)

(21) Leo Shiel (Bridge Street)

(22) David Parker (Aughamuck)

(23) Martin Fallon (Elphin Street)

(24) Shane Caldwell (Barefield)

(25) Ian Campbell (Vesnoy)

(26) Thomas Hanly (Bridge Street)

(27) Barry Hanly (Lisroyan)

(28) Mark Dowd (Clooneen Hartland)

(29) Ciarán Reilly (Barefield)

(30) Martin mcDermott (Doon)

(31) Michael Allen (Lisroyan)

(32) John McHugh (Elphin Street)

Donal Hanly (captain)

Position: Goalkeeper

Nickname: Percy

Age: 29

Honours: Co. Minor, Senior, Intermediate and Junior medals. Played county U-16, Minor, U-21 & Junior.

Favourite Player: Eric Cantona

Most Difficult Opponent: Tom Corcoran

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Damien Cassidy

Position: Corner Back

Nickname: Cass

Age: 21

Honours: U-12, U-14, junior B, Junior A, Intermediate county medals, All-Ireland U-14 Féile. 2 All-Ireland colleges medals. Played county U-16, Minor & U-21.

Favourite Player: Seamus Moynihan

Most Difficult Opponent: Kevin J. Dolan

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Damien Donlon

Position: Full Back

Nickname: Damo

Age: 33

Honours: U-12, U-14, Intermediate & Senior county medals. Connacht Senior Football championship medal. Captain of 1992 Strokestown County final winning side.

Played county U-16, Minor, U-21 & Senior.

Favourite Player: Anthony Tohill

Most Difficult Opponent: Padraig Joyce

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Adrien Cassidy

Position: Corner Back

Nickname: Cass

Age: 21

Honours: U-12, U-14, junior B, Junior A, Intermediate county medals, All-Ireland U-14 Féile. Player county U-16, Minor.

Favourite Player: Colin Corkery

Most Difficult Opponent: Kevin J. Dolan

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Emmet Collins

Position: Half Back

Nickname: The Rocket

Age: 24

Honours: U-12, U-16, Intermediate county medals. Connacht U-21 medal. 

Played county U-16, Minor & U-21.

Favourite Player: Keith Barr

Most Difficult Opponent: Declan Meehan

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Morgan Bierne

Position: Center half Back

Nickname: Shaggy

Age: 21

Honours: U-12, U-14, junior B, Junior A, Intermediate county medals, All-Ireland U-14 Féile. Player county Junior, Minor & U-21.

Favourite Player: Kieran McGeeney

Most Difficult Opponent: Michael Carr

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Richard Dolan

Position: Half Back

Nickname: Richie

Age: 30

Honours: U-12, U-14, Junior A, Intermediate & Senior county medals

Favourite Player: Seamus Moynihan

Most Difficult Opponent: Ollie Brennan

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Ronan Owens

Position: Midfield

Nickname: Shovels

Age: 29

Honours: Minor, Intermediate & Senior county medals, 3 Connacht league medals, 1 Connacht championship medal. Played Junior and Senior county.

Favourite Player: Pat Spillane

Most Difficult Opponent: Derek Savage

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Derek Hagan

Position: Midfield

Nickname: Daisy

Age: 20

Honours: U-12, U-14, Junior B, Junior A, Intermediate county medals, All-Ireland U-14 Féile. Player county U-16, Minor.

Favourite Player: Shane Flaherty

Most Difficult Opponent: Ronan Shiel

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Shane Flaherty

Position: Half Forward

Nickname: Fla

Age: 28

Honours: Minor, Junior B, Junior A, Intermediate and Senior county medals.

Favourite Player: Kieran mcDonald

Most Difficult Opponent: Kenneth Mortimer

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Pearse mcGinley

Position: Half Forward

Nickname: Baler

Age: 27

Honours: Intermediate county medals, 2 minor and 2 Intermediate Fermanagh county medals.

Favourite Player: Rory Gallagher

Most Difficult Opponent: Damian Donlon

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John Rogers

Position: Half Forward

Nickname: Rodgie

Age: 21

Honours: U-12, U-14, junior B, Junior A, All-Ireland U-14 Féile. 

Played County U-16, Minor & U-21.

Favourite Player: Eric Lavene

Most Difficult Opponent: Pat Scully

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Kevin J Dolan

Position: Corner Forward

Nickname: J

Age: 19

Honours: Junior B, Junior A County medals, All-Ireland vocational schools runners-up medal. Player county U-16 & Minor.

Favourite Player: Padraig Joyce

Most Difficult Opponent: Adrien Cassidy

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Luke Dolan

Position: Full Forward

Nickname: Lukie

Age: 32

Honours: U-12, U-14, Intermediate & Senior County medals. Played county U-16, Minor, U-21 & Senior.

Favourite Player: Seamus Moynihan

Most Difficult Opponent: Séan Óg dePaor

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Conor Silke

Position: Corner Forward

Nickname: The Duck

Age: 22

Honours: U-14, Junior B, Junior A, Intermediate county medals.

Favourite Player: Donal Hanly

Most Difficult Opponent: Séan Óg dePaor

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Johnathon Cassidy

Position: Goalkeeper

Nickname: Jonnie

Age: 22

Honours: Junior B, Junior A, Intermediate county medals.

Favourite Player: Shane Curran

Most Difficult Opponent: Donal Hanly

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Niall Owens

Position: Back

Nickname: Nialler

Age: 29

Honours: Minor, Junior and Intermediate county medals.

Favourite Player: Seamus Moynihan

Most Difficult Opponent: Haven't met him yet.

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Kenny Bosquette

Position: Half Forward/Half Back

Nickname: Bosco

Age: 26

Honours: Junior A & Intermediate county medals.

Favourite Player: Michael Donlon

Most Difficult Opponent: Martin 'Bomber' Shiel

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Ronan Shiel

Position: Forward

Nickname: Soapy

Age: 26

Honours:U-16, Minor and Intermediate county medals.

Favourite Player: Conal Hanly

Most Difficult Opponent: Niall Murphy

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Johnny Dolan

Position: Defender

Nickname: Jonadoni

Age: 22

Honours: Junior B, Junior A, Intermediate county medals.

Favourite Player: Donadoni

Most Difficult Opponent: Michael Colligan

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Leo Shiel

Position: Midfield/Forward

Nickname: Leo

Age: 29

Honours: U-12, U-14, Intermediate & Senior county medals. Played county U-16, Minor, U-21, Junior & Senior.

Favourite Player: Martin 'Bomber' Shiel

Most Difficult Opponent: Martin 'Bomber' Shiel

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David Parker

Position: Forward

Nickname: Dangerous Dave

Age: 21

Honours: U-14, Junior A county medals.

Favourite Player: Padraig Joyce

Most Difficult Opponent: Adrien Cassidy

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Martin Fallon

Position: Midfield

Nickname: Fozzie

Age: 33

Honours: U-12, U-14, Junior , Intermediate & Senior County medals,  All-Ireland colleges and Senior Connacht medals. Played county U-16, Minor, U-21 & Senior.

Favourite Player: Padraig Joyce

Most Difficult Opponent: Martin Garvey

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Shane Caldwell

Position: Forward

Nickname: Coddie

Age: 21

Honours: U-12, U-14, junior B, Junior A, Intermediate county medals, All-Ireland U-14 Féile. Played county U-16.

Favourite Player: Dara Ó Cinnéide

Most Difficult Opponent: Adrien Cassidy

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Ian Campbell

Position: Midfield

Nickname: Big Jim

Age: 25

Honours: Junior B, Junior A, Intermediate county medals. Played County U-16.

Favourite Player: Paddy Glover

Most Difficult Opponent: Brian Keenan (Bookmaker)

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Thomas Hanly

Position: Back

Nickname: Tom

Age: 21

Honours: U-12, U-14, Junior B, Junior A, county medals, All-Ireland U-14 Féile. Played county U-16.

Favourite Player: Seamus Moynihan

Most Difficult Opponent: John Rogers

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Barry Hanly

Position: Forward

Age: 28

Honours: Minor, Junior B, Junior A, Intermediate county medals.

Favourite Player: Dessie Farrell

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Mark Dowd

Position: Back

Nickname: Junior

Age: 21

Honours: U-12, U-14, Junior B, Junior A, county medals, All-Ireland U-14 Féile.

Favourite Player: Stephen McDonnell

Most Difficult Opponent: John Rogers

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Ciarán Reilly

Position: Back

Nickname: The Bull

Age: 18

Honours: Junior B, Junior A, county medals. All-Ireland Vocational Schools runners-up medal.

Favourite Player: Darren Fay

Most Difficult Opponent: Rory O'Connor

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Martin McDermott

Position: Forward

Nickname: Shiner

Age: Unknown (!!)

Honours: Junior B, Junior A, Intermediate & Senior County medals. Played County minor, U-21 and junior

Favourite Player: John Rogers

Most Difficult Opponent: Them All

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Michael Allen

Position: Defender

Nickname: Micko

Age: 21

Honours: U-12, U-14, Junior B, Junior A, county medals, All-Ireland U-14 Féile. Leinster schools medal. 

Favourite Player: John Conroy

Most Difficult Opponent: John Hession

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John McHugh

Position: Goalkeeper

Nickname: Magoo

Age: 18

Honours: Junior A, county medalsAll-Ireland schools vocational runners-up medal. played County minor

Favourite Player: Donal Hanly

Most Difficult Opponent: Kevin J. Dolan

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Morgan Bierne blocking  against Roscommon Gaels	Emmet Collins and Adrian Cassidy in action during this years County Semi-final
Conor Silke during the Connacht Final	John Nolan getting a closer look
Shovels during the Connacht Semi-Final against the harps	Fla during the Connacht Semi-Final
Richie Dolan against Eastern harps      [top]