If all belonging to Swad had withdrawn into a collective sulk last summer, nobody from afar who was clued in would have begrudged them their self-indulgence.
Such was the ravages wrought by injuries to key players in the club that even the most blinkered of their rivals couldn't but have had some sympathy for the blue and white brigade.
And yet, the west Cavan behemoths got within 60 minutes-plus of capturing the JFC title; imposing themselves against all-comers, bar the 'bridge, way beyond expectations.
Ultimately the blue riband junior decider proved a bridge too far against the 'bridge. But club stalwart Greg McGovern is under no illusion as to how well the premier team performed:
"It was a good achievement to get to the final considering the amount of injuries that we had during the year. There's no doubt we punched above our weight," McGovern opines.
"I would say we had only about one-third of the team fit by the time the (junior) championship final came around. And then Gerry (Scollan) got injured at a vital time in the game."
There's absolutely no doubt but that injuries were the bane of the new 2009 management team of John Joe Stewart (Belcoo), Brian Treacy (Enniskillen) and local Ciaran McGovern.
John Joe's man-management skills; Brian's physical training nous and Ciaran's organisational skills were tested to the full during the past year as they sought to guide their charges.
From the get-go, the Swad players were up for the challenges set down by the new management regime. The need to take on the hard graft of pre-season work was fully accepted.
Even allowing for the honest efforts of preceding team-tanks, it was fairly well acknowledged at the outset of 2009 that the players needed to improve their general fitness levels.
The incoming management team took up their positions just three weeks prior to the commencement of the league season but they quickly went about their work.
Along with tending to the players' fitness levels, Swad's 2009 selection team also set about ratcheting up the players' commitment levels, ambition and desire to play to their potential.
Swad had a disappointing league campaign in division three, winning just four games all told but, as mentioned earlier, there were mitigating circumstances, including suspensions.
In addition, due to the scarification of the club pitch in '09, Swanlinbar played their 'home' games from July onwards on neighbouring pitches in Corlough,Templeport and Kinawley.
Over the course of '09, key players such as Gearoid McKiernan, Michael Cunningham, John Cunningham and Gerard Scollan were sidelined; the last named the most high profile.
"Gerard was very unfortunate, having broken down before the championship with cruciate ligament trouble. A week before the final, Michael Cunningham also had a relapse.
"The players knew Gerard would have trouble making the line-out for the final but it was a still a big blow when he had to go off during the game because his injury came at a vital time.
"We were four points in front and Michael Cunningham was dominating midfield. Things were looking fairly good for us but when Gerry had to go off, heads went down a bit.
"In fairness to Butlersbridge, they were very clinical at times and took their goals very well. They were the better team over the hour and, overall, deserved their victory on the day."
In 2010, it is anticipated that Swad will concentrate on regaining their place in division three of the All County Football League. League promotion will be the number one objective.
Seasoned people at the coalface in Swanlinbar - including Greg - believe that the club has the material to achieve that said objective, especially in light of their gritty 2009 season.
Former Man Utd starlet Chris Curran will again be part of Swanlinbar's plans after knee cruciate ligament damage guillotined his time at Old Trafford but re-ignited his GAA career.
Reflecting on 2009, Greg fingers Swad's JFC clash with Arva as the stand-out match of the season for the blue and whites. It was a game which was emblematic of the team's grit.
"It was a game that the lads could easily have given up on after John Cunningham was sent off after about 20 minutes. The team was already without Gearoid (McKiernan).
"The win over Cavan Gaels was another great performance, considering the team went into the match without John Cunningham and Gearoid for long spells who were both injured.
"The odds were against us in the championship but, unfortunately, you could say our luck ran out by the time the final came around. The well had run dry by then."
Stocked with some of the best young talent in west Cavan, Swad can be relied upon to ruffle a lot of feathers in 2010 at junior level, in both league and championship arenas.
The vim and vigour the club's premier team brought to the table in 2006 when the JFC title was last scooped remains on tap in Swanlinbar, club stalwarts proffer.
"There's enough material there and potential to help us make a good stab at doing something in the league and the championship in the coming year," suggests the former star player.
"After getting to the county final last year, there will be the expectation within the club that we can again at least make the championship final but a good start to the league is vital.
"Last year, the team didn't get off to a good start to the year as the team-management were just feeling their way into the job and took some time to get to know the players.
Meanwhile, the vital roots at underage level continue to be nourished which increases the chances of Swad claiming more silverware at adult level in the coming years.
At all grades, Swad have teamed up with neighbours Corlough to form Dernacrieve Gaels and the results achieved have been promising and beneficial to both clubs in the amalgam.
Even in defeat, the Gaels have impressed. For instance, the under 12s received a lot of kudos in going down to a powerful Crosserlough side in a wonderful Roinn B county decider.
"A lot of what our underage teams achieve revolves around the numbers available," Greg testifies. "We are struggling at the moment with the under 16s and minors, for instance.
"But we had a senior reserve team over the last couple of years and we fulfilled all our fixtures again last year. Our division six players will have their own manager in 2010 too.
"The underage section is well looked after in the club, always has been even though our numbers haven't been boosted like other clubs due to the Celtic Tiger simply because it (Celtic Tiger) didn't even visit us."
Swanlinbar has always been known as a vibrant club and in the past year a raft of activities has fairly showcased the 'can-do' attitude of those holding the reins at the club.
For instance, during the May Bank Holiday weekend, the club hosted a community carnival with three nights of country music, rock music and traditional music being held.
As well as being a very good fundraiser, the carnival also had the effect of galvanising the community and re-inforcing the club's influential position within the community.
Like all clubs, the cost of running its affairs each year is becoming more and more difficult for Swad and with an ever-decreasing market for its club blotto, the importance of the aforementioned carnival in boosting the club coffers is invaluable.
"Apart from bringing in more money, the carnival was a great success in heightening an awareness of the influence and presence of the club in the community," Greg explains.
"Hopefully it (carnival) will help us enlarge the GAA family by bringing more people into the club. If it achieves that, it will be well worth running again, even if it doesn't make money."
A long-time follower of Cavan teams, Greg hopes that all the money, time and energy invested by a lot of people into upskilling sides at all levels will soon reap visible dividends.
As in Swad, he believes everything is being down to aid the players' cause but that much depends on the attitude of those closest to the action.
"It doesn't matter whether you're talking about club or county (teams), a lot boils down to the attitude of the players involved and whether or not the ambition and commitment is there.
"Hopefully, those of us around Swad will have something to celebrate from a club and a county point of view in 2010." Tweet

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