Still focussed, still on track
November 27, 2011The question is posed in innocent fashion. Perhaps, in hindsight, a tad in ignorance too. Either way, Benny Corby would be entitled to take umbrage.
The perception abroad in some parts of the county that Belturbet's seniors underachieved in 2011 illicits a matter-of-fact response from Benny.
"We got to the semi-finals of the senior championship and that was the target the team-management set for the players at the start of the year.
"As far as we're concerned we achieved our first objective which was to make the last four so we're happy enough with the way things went."
The long-time club PRO was also a senior selector in 2011, assisting team-manager Cathal Murphy (Kinawley) along with fellow selector Paul Reilly.
So it's not difficult to imagine why talk of underachievement was a bit too close to the bone for the Rory O'Moore's club stalwart.
The feeling from talking to Benny is that Belturbet's achievement in making the semis of the SFC will fever their ambitions for the coming year.
The post-mortems around the town in the wake of the Rories' semi-final defeat to Castlerahan were immersed in a flood of disappointment.
The common consensus in the club was that Dame (mis)Fortune out-biffed and wore down Belturbet as much as the Ballyjamesduff-based crew did.
"You have to bear in mind that we lost Eoin McGuigan with a back problem after hardly 20 minutes and then we had a man sent off five minutes before half-time so they're two key aspects of the semi-final which worked against us and undoubtedly gave Castlerahan a lift," Benny explains.
Belturbet would have had their work cut out to win the semi-final with a full hand but without McGuigan and Paul Reilly, the task was mountainous.
Castlerahan were well organised, putting a lot of men behind the ball in the first half when the onus was on Belturbet to make use of the wind.
When Belturbet only managed to steer their way into a slender 0-3 to 0-1 interval lead, they seemed to fall prey at bit to fear and tension thereafter.
Even an inspired 2-6 tally from Brendan 'Bud' Fitzpatrick proved an insufficient fulcrum to stave off Belturbet's agonising exit from the championship with too many of the Rorys' best approach work ending up being slaughtered on the altar of rank bad finishing and, at times, over-elaboration.
The Belturbet attack may have suffered a power loss in the first half in particular but they hadn't much luck either with Jason Reilly testing the timber with a trademark rasper and the aforementioned Fitzpatrick examining the solidity of the crossbar with an equally powerful drive that cried out 'goal'.
At the other end of the field, Castlerahan experienced no such ill-luck, going onto kill off the Rorys with the smotherer's pillow rather than the rapier.
Belturbet enjoyed a good innings in the SFC. They travelled quite a distance in '11 and showed that resilience and ambition are imbued in their DNA.
What other team would have shown similar mettle in rebounding from losing their opening four matches in the ACFL to get to the SFC semi-finals?
"Considering the start to the year we had, I think the lads turned things around very well. You wouldn't have bet too much on us after four games.
"After the shaky start, the players pulled together and worked hard and had a very good run of form mid-season to ensure survival in division one.
"Not making the county final was a sore one in the end but Castlerahan were deserving winners despite everything that went against us on the day."
Belturbet's improved form in the league came at an opportune time, just ahead of the championship season and a difficult string of group games.
Gowna, Redhills and Castlerahan went head to head with Belturbet in the group but couldn't prevent the last named crew from topping the group.
Victories over Castlerahan and Redhills secured Belturbet's passage into the quarter-finals before a draw was their lot against Gowna in the last tie.
Quarter-final opponents Denn were fancied to follow up their recent county final appearances and nick a place in the semis but Belturbet said NO.
With seven of the Class of 2011 under 21, an inspiring vista rather than a despondent one colours all that Belturbet GFC is about these days.
Considering that the club reached the U21 Division One final just a couple of years ago, one must imagine that Belturbet will come again next year.
"There's quite of young talent on hand but a lot will depend on how long more the likes of Jason (Reilly) and Gareth (McDonald) hang around.
"You need that bit of experience and extra know-how to steer the younger ones on the right path but we're hopeful that next year will be a good year."
Doubtless Belturbet will head up the queue to topple a Cavan Gaels team that some pundits reckon are ripe for toppling.
The clamour to at least cement a position as the second ranked senior team in the county continues unabated. Belturbet have been roused by '11.
"I think getting to the semis this year will give the lads that bit extra self-belief and confidence which, hopefully, they'll take with them into 2012.
"Anyway, there's not the same gap to be made up now between the Gaels and the rest of the teams as there was a few years ago.
"I'm not sure whether the Gaels have fallen back a bit but I'd say the rest of the clubs have improved a little but, overall, there's little difference in quality between all the teams as results in division one of the league and the senior championship would illustrate."
A SFC medallist with Annagh (Belturbet-Redhills) in 1973, Benny has been an ever-present at the coalface of affairs at the Rories for more years than your average club supporter in Belturbet can rightly remember.
His love for the club is unbridled yet is modestly stated. You always know though that railing against the deities is not Benny's modus operandi.
"I think you make whatever success comes your way, especially long-term success. Luck might have something to do with turning the game in your favour or against you but, overall, you make your own luck by working hard at what you do and getting things right from the bottom up."
Benny is content in his assessment of the work that is going into nourishing the grass roots of Belturbet GFC. New additions look like helping too.
The arrival of former senior county selector and Cuchullains luminary Niall Lynch to St. Bricins Secondary School as Vice-Principal is a great boon.
Lynch will join forces at 'Bricin's with long-time Ballyhaise ace Stephen Smith. Such transfers cannot be quantified in GAA parlance.
Belturbet boasted a particularly fine under 14 squad in 2011, a squad that has leaped two divisions from division four to two in the last two years.
Elsewhere, the honesty and workrate of the under 16s had to be seen to be admired and their future progress will be carefully watched at the club.
The minors, meanwhile, reached the division four decider, only to lose out to Cuchullains. Their day will surely come, Benny and co. intimate.
While quite a few clubs in the county have been making pessimistic noises about emigration, recession and even lack of interest among their numbers, the good burghers of Belturbet have no such gripes as yet.
The Celtic Tiger may not have enhanced the playing numbers in Belturbet but it didn't negate the innate conviction and cohesion in the club either.
The gaels of Belturbet are a sound lot, as sound as the structures in the club. Tidy, efficient and economically run, the Rories have a lot going for themselves.
A few months ago, the club ran a Strictly Come Dancing fundraiser - in conjunction with the local ladies football club - and made a packet.
With bags of support from neighbouring gaels, the fundraiser was a terrific community affair with over 1,200 people turning up at the Slieve Russell Hotel for the extravaganza.
So plenty of funds then to fuel a crack at winning a first ever SFC title in 2012! Tweet
