Ballinagh may have underperformed in the eyes of many at intermediate level in 2001 but, nonetheless, being able to exhibit two cups at their AGM suggests progress is being made. Here, outgoing selector Brian Gumley reflects on the year just gone by with Kevin Carney Brian Gumley doesn't begin to try and gloss over Ballinagh's nightmare display against Drumgoon in last year's division two league decider at Ballyhaise. Quite a bit of water has flowed under the bridge at this stage yet Gumley's angst and bewilderment at how his club colleagues could only score two points in the replay remains vivid and precise. "I don't think the team could ever play as badly again. Some of the misses we had in front of goal were just unbelievable and were all the more surprising because we had been scoring an average of about 1-10 during the year up until that game. "The replay against Drumgoon was just a disaster and the disappointment of it all took a long time to get over. There was some atmosphere in the dressing-room after the game - it was like a morgue. Everyone was just speechless." Time is a great healer of course and like the rest of those who gave it their all for and on behalf of Ballinagh in 2001, Brian was pleased that the bitter pill swallowed at the behest of Drumgoon's vaulting ambition was sweetened somewhat not too long after the shambles of a replay. Victory in the reserve league against Ballyhaise did leave a slightly less bitter taste in the mouths of all concerned with the fortunes of Ballinagh by the time 2001 was put to bed. And there was a significant pointer to better times for the club was unearthed by that triumph too. "We had at least a half-dozen minors on that reserve team and the spirit and ability shown by the team as a whole did lift morale in the club a lot. "The manner of the win over Ballyhaise was especially pleasing because the lads were five points down with just about four minutes left in the second half when they rallied brilliantly to run out 2-9 to 2-8 winners. "The fact that a lot of the same players were part of the division two minor championship winning side says says a lot about the talent that's coming through at the club right now. "The reserves fully deserved to win the final because of the amount of effort they put in during the year - they even trained over the Christmas period. "While defeat in the league final was a big blow, the win by the reserves was a good pick-me-up for the club and, partly because of that success, the mood at the AGM was a positive, upbeat one," adds Brian who partnered fellow selector John McDermott and team-manager Dessie Gardiner on Ballinagh's think-tank team in 2001. Last summer though, there was no getting away from the disappointment of an unexpected reverse against division three side Castlerahan in the semi-final of the intermediate championship. "We would have been hot favourites to go through to the final but, fair play to Castlerahan, they deserved to reach the final. "We were lucky to draw with them the first day and although we were confident that we'd get our act together in the replay falling behind by six points after just five minutes was always going to leave us with a mountain to climb. "The lads did come back into it well after that but their 'keeper was inspired form towards the end of the second half and we simply ran out of time to snatch it." A bit of complacency too perhaps? "I don't think so. Although a lot of us would have imagined at the start of the year that Drung were going to be the team to beat, we knew that Castlerahan had been going very well in division three and that they had a good young side like us and that they were hungry to do well. "Castlerahan surprised us though with their level of commitment and their basic football ability. Our lads did let themselves down a bit because they didn't work hard enough over the two games - they tended to wait for something to happen rather than trying to make things happen for themselves . . .and that's not taking anything away from Castlerahan." Either way, the word on the ground down Ballinagh as the winter of 2001 came to a close was that the aforementioned minor and reserve league title successes provided a much-needed silver lining on an otherwise greyish cloud for Ballinagh. Perhaps just as significantly though, the achievement in having another three starlets join the county minor panel in the following spring helped restore a sound equilibrium saffron-way. The graduation of Damien McInerney, Alan Durkin and Brian's son Colin onto the county minor panel in 2000 was a fine boost in itself for Ballinagh. The selection of both McInerney and Gumley again in 2002 plus Anthony Gaynor for minor training has added to the sense of optimism around Ballinagh concerning the club's future prospects. What with the mix of a talented bunch of youngsters and seasoned seniors such as countyman Paul Galligan, Adrian Maguire, Kevin Galligan, Anthony Duffy and Willie Reilly, next year should see Ballinagh consolidate their burgeoning status in Cavan adult football circles. For Ballinagh's sake it is to be hoped in 2002 that the likes of Colin Gumley and Kevin Galligan will be able to avoid the sort of injuries which ruled them out for large periods of time in the past year. And Adrian Maguire missed a fair slice of the season too. According to team-mentor Gumley, Maguire has been a "major driving force" of the team in recent seasons. "We still have a very small panel. We can't afford to be missing one or two of our big guns and hope to beat the better teams around. "At the end of 2000, we were operating with a panel of no more than 17 or 18 but with the introduction of new, young blood from the minor ranks in 2001, the size of the panel was increased to about 23 players. "The past year was a learning experience for a lot of our younger players. It's a big step up for playing minor to playing top level intermediate football and so we'll have to be patient and hope that these lads mature a bit more, physically and mentally, in the coming year or so." Brian (father also of Brian junior and Emma) possesses a faith in the current crop of Ballinagh intermediate players which is obvious. He is convinced they have the hunger, ambition and talent to succeed in their goals in the next couple of years. Most of them have collected county medals, at one grade or the other down the years, and they want to add to their collection. No wonder then that at the start of 2001, Brian recalls that he personally felt that Ballinagh were good enough to win the intermediate championship. Not surprisingly, he reckons that the stuff is there to make amends in the coming year. "Whatever about the team's chances of winning the intermediate championship this year, I think it's very important that the team gains promotion into division one. "By the time 2003 comes around, the current panel of players should be at its peak and the minors who came onto the squad last year should be well able to give as good as they get in division one." So does Brian - a tearaway forward at his peak in the eighties and early nineties - think that Ballinagh can go one step further in the ACFL division two series in 2002? "Definitely. The panel will be a year older, wiser and stronger, mentally and physically although it won't be any easier to finish ahead of the rest. "Intermediate league football is just as fast as senior football but there's probably a more even standard at intermediate level and with the likes of Kildallan, Castlerahan, Lacken and Killinkere joining the hunt for honours this year, it could be even harder to make the final." As someone who won a barrow-load of medals including under 14, minor league, junior A and C championships, under 21 and a brace of intermediate championship (1978 and 79), Brian - grandson of former Lacken stalwart Brian Gaffney - recognises just how important winning is in generating and maintaining a sound club spirit and sound ambition. "Paddy Smith was a major figure in getting the under 10s going about seven or eight years ago and the club is reaping the benefits of that system in a big way now. "We had some very good teams in the past and reached the senior championship final in 1986 but who knows but that the current team could go on and equal or better the achievements of the teams in the seventies and eighties. I wouldn't rule it out but time will tell." Major minor win 2001 may have served up bit of a mixed bag for the Ballinagh club but the signs for the future are certainly most encouraging - at least on the basis of the potential shown by the club's minor squad in steamrolling its way to the Division Two Minor Football Championship title. In outgunning a fine Ballyhaise side by 1-13 to 3-6 at Breffni Park last October, the town team demonstrated tremendous levels of commitment, ambition and no little skill. Indeed, in all respects, Ballinagh proved themselves worthy and deserving winners. In a game which did much to embellish the reputation of underage football in Cavan, the would-be winners made the best start and were two points to the good after four minutes thanks to points by Ciaran Brady and Cian McDermott - the latter's support of his frontmen being a feature of the contest. It wasn't long before Ballyhaise were on level terms though. Indeed, it was to be a closely-fought contest throughout with the combattants level on no fewer than four occasions over the course of the opening half. In a typical, nip and tuck encounter, Ballyhaise edged into a 0-4 to 0-3 lead after just 20 minutes but Ballinagh retained their composure and direction to level matters five minutes before the interval when top scorer Alan Durkin fired over a neat point. Thereafter, the exchanges were mainly confined to a claustrophobic middle third of the field. Points were exchanged in the run-up to the interval with Cian McDermott for his part getting Ballinagh's fifth point. Ballinagh introduced Colin Gumley into the attack for the second half with Alan Durkin playing a roving role around the middle of the field to good effect. The aforementioned Gumley was on target within three minutes to edge Ballinagh in front and when Anthony Gaynor came forward from defence to convert a 40 metre free, it appeared as if Ballinagh had the bit between their teeth. It was very much going Ballinagh's way at this juncture and further points by Ciaran Brady and Damien McInerney helped catapult the eventual champions into a 0-9 to 0-5 lead after 41 minutes of play. Ballyhaise weren't about to lie down and roll over though and a opportunist goal by Eamonn Costello left just one point between the sides with 17 minutes remaining. Like true champions though, Ballinagh came bouncing back and a great goal by Alan Durkin gave his side renewed impetus . . . and a four point lead again. That lead was later stretched to six points but then a brace of goals from Ballyhaise inside the final two minutes had Ballinagh suddenly fighting a stiff rearguard action. Fortunately for the Saffron supporters, their charges held firm. They were not to be denied and a delighted Ballinagh captain Enda Brady later duly lifted the silverware to loud applause. The following is the Ballinagh team, subs and scorers, which did duty last October in the county decider: S. Beard; A. Gaynor (0-1), E. Gavin, C. McDermott (0-2); P. Reilly, E. Brady, M. McBride; D. McInerney (0-1), B. McEvoy; R. Brennan, G. Kane, K. McBride; C. Brady (0-2), A. Durkin (1-4), G. Reilly. Subs; C. Gumley (0-2) and M. Higgins best in thriller It may have been very late in the season but the joyous expressions on the faces of the Ballinagh faces suggested that the cup was well worth waiting for! Certainly there was no doubting the sense of achievement and pride among the Ballinagh football fraternity last month when captain Paul Reilly and his team-mates lifted the Reserve Football League Division 2 title at the expense of a determined Ballyhaise outfit after a tremendous tussle in Cornafean. And what a panacea the title win presented to Ballinagh! After the club's untimely exit from the intermediate championship and their heart-breaking defeat in the division two league final replay, the victory over Ballyhaise was warmly received by all concerned with the saffron and whites. Following successful raids on the silverware departments at division two minor championship and under 13 roinn B levels, Ballinagh's second string players were fully determined to make it a hat-trick of trophies in 2001 and following a gritty semi-final win over Ramor Utd, hopes were high that the Ballyhaise challenge could be dealt with in an efficient and appropriate manner. It was high drama in Cornafean on January 6th last as it seemed odds-on that the combatants would have to play extra-time after the sides were deadlocked but in a brilliant finish to the game Declan Beard held his nerve to bag a great point to give Ballinagh a thrilling 2-9 to 2-8 victory. In front of a fair-sized attendance, it was Ballyhaise who opened the game in more impressive fashion and by half-time Ballinagh couldn't really have any complaints as they trailed by the odd point in nine. However within a minute of the restart, the would-be winners nipped into the lead with a Brian Gumley goal. An exchange of points followed in the next few minutes to leave Ballinagh looking well-positioned, two points to the good. Ballinagh were soon to be rocked back on their heels though as Ballyhaise bagged a timely goal to leave Ballinagh trailing by 1-5 to 1-6. Ballinagh went two points behind a minute later and, suddenly, things began to look rather unsure for the town team. Things looked even worse for Ballinagh in the 41st minute when Ballyhaise found the Ballinagh net to leave the champions-elect trailing by five points. An exchange of points followed with Ballinagh's Colin Gumley among the scorers. A grandstand finish by Ballinagh was in the offing though with Colin Gumley and Declan Beard spearheading the team's renaissance with a brace of points to leave their side three points adrift with two minutes left to play. The real drama then unfolded in added-time when a foul on Brian Gumley in the 62nd minute ended with Declan Beard crashing the ball to the Ballyhaise net from the subsequent spot-kick. Beard's goal levelled matters at 2-8 apiece. Thereafter the dismissal of a Ballyhaise player only served to add further impetus to Ballinagh's cause and the saffrons duly launched a series of attacks from there to the close of play with Declan Beard getting on target in th 67th minute to seal a very fine and gutsy win for the Ballinagh lads. The following are the Ballinagh players, and scorers, who did duty against Ballyhaise: D. Smith; P. Reilly, T. Farrell, E. Gavin; A. Gaynor, C. Brady, E. Brady; P. Reilly, A. Durkin; E. Cullivan, N. Gumley, D. McInerney (0-1); C. Gumley (0-3), D. Beard (1-3), B. Gumley (1-1). Sub used; M. Fleming for E. Gavin. Tweet

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