They may not have set the world on fire but 2003 was nonetheless an encouraging year for Killygarry. They held their senior status against all odds and performed extremely well in the league, storming through to the quarter-final stage. Eoin Smith, who featured with the county U21s, reflects on a satisfactory season and looks forward to '04 brimful of confidence. Killygarry have carved quite a reputation for themselves since stepping up to the top table in 1999 by virtue of a '98 intermediate double triumph. For three successive seasons, the Cavan town satellite outfit burst through to the business end of the SFC, proving that they have no difficulty mingling in esteemed company. However, shorn of a host of key men, they were never going to repeat the trick in 2003. With the virtual backbone of their side missing, it was a great achievement just to retain their senior status, which the Red & Blacks did by virtue of an outstanding 4-11 to 1-5 relegation play-off final defeat of hapless Lacken. Thus, Killygarry live to fight another day and, with most of the big guns set to return for the '04 campaign, they will undoubtedly be pushing hard for another SFC quarter-final date. That's the plan, anyway. There were many encouraging signs in '03. Foremost amongst these were the competent performances of the young men who were thrown in at the deep end for most of the season but acquitted themselves exceptionally. They were frighteningly consistent during the league and, supplemented by the return of some better-known names, should help make Killygarry a formidable proposition in the months ahead. Killygarry were in Section C of the 2003 Cavan SFC. They commenced with an excellent 0-9 to 0-8 defeat of Bailieboro (who went on to reach the semi-finals) but slipped up in their next two games against Knockbride (1-9 to 0-9) and Drumgoon (2-7 to 1-6). Kingscourt came out on top in the relegation play-off 'semi' (1-11 to 0-7), but the Red & Blacks saved the best wine until last, finishing their championship season with a resounding 4-11 to 1-5 thumping of Lacken to preserve their senior status for a sixth successive season. Full back Eoin Smith was also involved with the Cavan U21 and Sligo IT teams in 2003 (and '04). He believes Killygarry did well under trying conditions in ë03: "We had probably our best league campaign ever, reaching the quarter-finals, though Kingscourt proved too strong for us physically on the day. "The championship didn't go according to plan, but we were missing Ray Galligan, Jamie Coffey, Damien Keaney, Gary Bride and - for most of the year - Hugo Smith, which is basically the backbone of the team - a full back, two midfielders, a centre forward and a full forward! "Those roles had to be filled by younger players and, while they all did brilliantly, we were lacking in physical presence all year." Against such a backdrop, Killygarry did marvellously just to survive. Indeed, at one stage it looked as though they might defy all the odds by reaching a fourth consecutive senior quarter-final. Eoin takes the thread: "After the good league run, we thought we might carry that same form into the championship. Bailieboro were the strongest team in the group and we made a great start by beating them in our first game. Suddenly, a path to the quarter-finals seemed to open up. Expectations rose but we simply didn't have the experience we needed for those games against Knockbride and Drumgoon." Finishing bottom of the section, Killygarry were consigned to the relegation dogfight. Ironically, the relegation play-off final against Lacken coincided with Killygarry's best performance of the year. With Ray Galligan and Jamie Coffey back in harness, they powered to an emphatic 15-point victory. "It was very important to survive with this young team," Eoin notes. "We knew we'd have our full complement back for 2004 and we didn't want to be back in intermediate football, which can be very difficult to escape. In the process, the young lads have picked up a lot of vital experience, which is going to bring the club along, leaving us in a great position for the challenges ahead. "Last year, our juniors also won their championship and reached the league final, so we have a very strong and talented crop of players at the club at present, and things are definitely looking up for the future." Killygarry put together some excellent displays in Division One of the 2003 senior league. These included an opening round draw with Cavan Gaels and victories over the likes of Kingscourt and Belturbet. "We were very consistent and that was pleasing," says Eoin. "But we didn't have that extra bit of physical strength that makes all the difference in the championship." Gerry Brady from Gowna, assisted by Dessie Cahill, managed the team. "Gerry's back again this year and that's a big boost. He brought on a lot of young players in '03 and managed to keep us senior, so we're really looking forward to working with him again." What's a realistic target for 2004? "It would be great if we could get the whole squad together. We'd have a good blend and plenty of competition for places. Any club missing players of the calibre of the lads we were missing in 2003 will struggle, but we'll be a different proposition when we have them all back. Realistically, I think we'll be aiming for the same again in the league and the knock-out stages of the senior championship. "Last year, if we'd got out of the group we could well have made it to the semi-finals. However, this year will be tougher with just two groups. Still, if we manage to avoid Cavan Gaels and Gowna, there's not that much between any of the rest of the teams, and we could go as far as a semi-final or perhaps even the final itself. "Before last year, we were in three quarter-finals in a row, losing to Gowna, Bailieboro and Kingscourt. We learned a lot from those games and we learned a great deal from last year too, so we'd love to get back to another quarter-final and put our experience to use!" Eoin Smith broke onto the club's first team as a 16-year-old and '04 will be his fourth season as a regular. He was involved with the Cavan U21s in 2003 and still has another year left at under 21 level. With the Killygarry U21s, the club has very low numbers and, even though seven of the seniors were U21, they only had a squad of 17 and were beaten by the Lurgan combination. In most of their games during the year, Killygarry tended to dominate possession, but were lacking a bit of acumen and composure in front of the posts. The workrate of the team is extraordinary and they could have some big days ahead. Looking forward to the coming season, Sligo IT student Eoin Smith is optimistic: "Anything could happen. We held our own in 2003 and the juniors did well, and we're expecting to have the spine of the team back. We could make a semi-final and after that, anything can happen. "The pressure was on last year and the young lads responded. They had a huge weight of expectation on their shoulders and they passed the test. We were delighted with the manner of our play-off win over Lacken, though obviously we felt for them too because nobody wants to surrender their senior status. "That game was close in the first half, but we scored four second-half goals. Jamie Coffey came on at half time and we dominated midfield from there on. It shows what we can do when we have our big guns. "If we manage to get our full squad together, with Gerry Brady in charge, anything could happen. I'm very hopeful." Seems we'll be seeing the real Killygarry again in 2004. Tweet

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