Kingscourt's apparent demise has been well documented. However, Brendan McCormack is keeping the faith. He insists that 'the blues' aren't too far away from once more being the finished article. Kingscourt netminder Brendan McCormack believes the Stars aren't exactly a million miles away from rediscovering their glory days. The former Cavan 'keeper insists that it's not inconceivable that the town side will win a SFC within the next two to three years. To back up this argument, he points to their knack of reaching the latter stages of the premier competition. True to form, Kingscourt progressed to the knock-out stages of the 2001 Cavan senior football championship before coming a cropper at the hands of would-be champions Cavan Gaels (2-12 to 1-7) in the quarter-final. Playing out of Section B, they recorded a comprehensive 1-13 to 0-5 victory over Ballymachugh as well as draws with both Killinkere and Crosserlough, to finish second in the group. They went into the last eight full of confidence and determination, but it just wasn't to be: "We simply didn't perform on the day against Cavan Gaels," Brendan reflects. "We had played them in the semi-final in 2000 so there was a bit of history to the game and we were really up for it, but failed to hit form. "We'd had a chance of avoiding Cavan until a later date in the competition. If we'd managed to beat Crosserlough instead of drawing with them in our last outing in the group stage, then we'd have been playing Mullahoran in the quarter-final instead." All in all, then, it isn't exactly a year that holds an abundance of fond memories for the Kingscourt men. "It was a poor enough season overall," Brendan admits. "We finished mid-table in the league but we were down near the bottom at times and had to win a few games towards the end to ensure safety. We've just about been surviving in the league and I think it's imperative that we start doing better and aiming for a semi-final place at least." The experienced goalie feels it's high time Kingscourt won a senior trophy and points out that eight years since their last major success is too long for a club of such rich tradition . . . and one that still has no shortage of talent at its disposal: "It's been such a long time since we collected any senior silverware," he shrugs, somewhat bemused. "Even though we still have a very good team, we haven't won anything since the senior championship in 1993. "The players are here. There's no doubt about that. We got to the senior final in '99 and haven't lost many of that team. There are also some very good players coming up through the ranks from under 16 and minor levels, so we can do a lot better." A decade ago, nobody would possibly have predicted such lean times for Kingscourt Stars, who were very much the dominant force in Breffni and during the late 'eighties and early 'nineties. When Brendan emerged onto the team, they were a force to reckon with not just in Cavan but in Ulster as well. He scooped three county medals in his first four years on the team and could've been forgiven for thinking his club career was going to be one big picnic. But it never works out like that - "We won a lot of honours in the 'eighties and early 'nineties and we were very much the team to beat. We just need some little spark or something to get that back again. Maybe reaching a league semi-final would be as good a place to start as any. I think it's crucial that we make a good start in the league next year. We've been struggling near the bottom, with our backs to the wall, and it's not good enough. If we could start well and get the momentum going early in the year, perhaps that would make a difference." There'll be a change of management as well, which should freshen things up and put an added spring in the collective step. "Sean Kelly, who played for Dunderry and Meath, was here for four years and he did a great job. He got us to a county final, a semi-final and two quarter-finals but ultimate honours eluded us. It didn't work out for us on the day and we couldn't seem to take that extra step. But we're not too far off the pace. "Cavan Gaels look like the team everybody else has to beat at the moment. They're now doing what Kingscourt and Gowna did in the past. It's them we have to measure ourselves against. We know we're in the top four or five clubs in the county . . . we just have to get off to a good start in 2002." Brendan has been first choice Kingscourt goalkeeper since 1990. He was only 17 when he played in his first county final that year (against Mullahoran) and Kingscourt went on to meet the might of Lavey in the Ulster club championship final. McCormack garnered further SFC souvenirs in 1991 and '93, following final victories over Crosserlough and Gowna respectively (although he missed the '93 decider through injury). He wore the county jersey at every level from U16 up, and was actually an outfield player with the under 21s. He made his senior county debut in 1992 and was outstanding as Cavan took Donegal to a replay before Brian McEniff's charges prevailed en route to All-Ireland glory. He also wore the No. 1 shirt for the county's 1993 and 2000 championship campaigns. He's been a member of the panel for most of the years in between and collected an Ulster championship medal as sub goalie in 1997. He wasn't involved in 2001, however. Would he like to be there in 2002? "Mattie Kerrigan has just come in so there's a window of opportunity, but it has all become so professional and four or five nights a week is an awful lot of commitment. It's very difficult to find that kind of time. I suppose we'll just see how the club year goes first and then see what happens." And what might happen next year? "Hopefully we can do something. We have young blood coming through now. We got to the under 16 final this year and a good few of them will be coming through soon. Our under 21s [amalgamated with Shercock] also got to the county final against Cavan Gaels. "The people in the town are fully behind us and they know we do the best we can every time we take to the field. We still have a tremendous support and there's a great interest in all our teams, from underage up." Brendan says he'd like to get involved in some underage coaching within the club himself at some point in the not-too-distant future, preferably starting with the under 10s and taking it from there. It's a task that certainly wouldn't prove beyond the goalkeeping stalwart - he's already done a lot of coaching in the county's schools. Now going into his 13th season as Kingscourt 'keeper, Brendan has no intention of hanging up the boots for quite some time: "I'm going to keep going for as long as I can. The hunger is still there for more honours and I enjoy playing for the club. I'm still only 28 and they say you can go on as a goalkeeper until about 40, so perhaps I'm only halfway through my career!" Brendan is a member of a well-known GAA family, which has been prominent both sides of the Cavan/Meath border over the years. His father Padraig played for the Royals and won an All-Ireland junior medal in 1964, while his uncle Sean was goalkeeper on Meath's 1967 All-Ireland winning team. His brothers Glen and Ryan play alongside Brendan in the Kingscourt colours. Glen is also a former Cavan goalkeeper and, ironically, it was his place Brendan took when he first emerged onto the senior intercounty stage back in '92. Tweet

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