WHAT’S SELDOM IS WONDERFUL
It is said that self praise is no praise. Very seldom does the opportunity to point out that one actually called something right crop up. But, thanks to the continued rejuvenation of Kilbride GFC, what’s seldom is wonderful!
Leo Turley’s team engineered a fine win over a St Brigid’s combination who themselves can be very proud of their maiden campaign at a higher grade. Kilbride’s reward for negotiating the blue and navy is a final showdown with Clan Na nGael, who have been progressing nicely under the radar throughout the season.
Green and red taking on green and gold, it couldn’t possibly get exciting, could it?!
PATS FORCED TO BOW TO LOCAL RIVALS
Mention was afforded in this space not so long ago to an old belief that the best football on the club scene is often to be found at Intermediate level. The most recent weekend’s action on the Meath club scene did nothing to dissuade the theory.
St Pat’s of Stamullen were a lot like my own club back in the day in that they strove for years to get to Meath football’s top table. Thankfully, we’ve been able to sustain our seat thence for the past 32 years and counting. Though often by the skins of our collective teeth.
The white and green haven’t been so lucky, mind you, and, like a lot more, have struggled to regain their position in the higher echelons. There’s evidence to suggest such a return is quite likely in the near future with talented performers like Jamie Murphy, Shane and Donal Landy, Oisin Black and Sean Emmanuel om their ranks. For this season though, they had to bow to their neighbours Duleek/Bellewstown and to the influence of the Bowden brothers, Alan and Tom, in particular.
Joe Sheridan’s side will face off against Rathkenny for the right to return to senior football after the red and black recorded a surprisingly comfortable 1-14 to 0-06 win over Navan O’Mahony’s.
SUBSTANCE OVER STYLE
Around this time every year, I will openly admit that there ponderings of what it might be like to be living elsewhere. Specifically, in the catchment area of what some crassly call the ‘super clubs’ – Kilmacud Crokes or Ballyhale Shamrocks or Crossmaglen or Ballygunnar or Corofin. Basically the serially successful units who perennially seem to contend at the very least.
Yes, the Dunboyne Ladies have brought us on such journeys in the past, but my gut isn’t giving me that vibe presently. Earnest hope, however is that such inclinations will be wide of the mark.
It probably boils down to a longing to live how the other half do. In this case, for example, we don’t have to look too far. Ratoath and Summerhill will once again do battle for custody of the Keegan Cup once more. The former are actually in pursuit of a Senior Championship double as, indeed, are a number of the Summerhill lads who hurl with Kiltale.
Ratoath are, of course, chasing a fourth Meath SFC title in five years while, in contrast, Summerhill will be aiming to erase several final heartaches of recent years.
There has been much talk in certain quarters pertaining to the standard – or to be more accurate paucity thereof – in Meath club football and, to be honest, having seen more of it this season than for far too long, not concurring with the glum assessment is extremely difficult.
Not that either Ratoath or Summerhill will care less. In their places, substance matters much more than style. Oh to be in a similar position!
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