Far from a busted flush
December 30, 2009Shane Kerrigan was in his element. More importantly, he was in the danger area. Aaron Hoey laid the foundation; Kerrigan, the hurler, applied the gloss with all the precision of a nuclear clock and Cooley were left on the slippery slope.
St. Brides' tactical nous and collective enervation strained belief among the Kickhams' partisans but the scoreboard at the death read true.
The Saints' 1-11 to 0-9 first round SFC win was an instant relaxant, an emolient. 'Brides for the Cup anyone?
The flashbulb iridescence brought to bear on proceedings by the relocated Kerrigan promised to finally light up a Saints' season which had failed to ignite via the league.
Sadly the atmosphere of revivalist zeal generated by cooling the Kickhams' ardour lasted no time. It was to become a still-birth in effect.
Round two of the championship heralded the Saints' slide from potential invincibles to unconvincing with a 0-10 to 0-13 setback.
Next time out in Castlebellingham, hope was ressurected with a 0-12 to 0-12 draw with their brotherhood from the Martins.
Rangers from along the Glyde sailed all the way to a 1-11 to 0-9 win over the 'Brides in round four and things nosedived further in round five when Mattock Rangers made their point(s) in an emphatic 1-18 to 3-5 victory.
For a club that has prided itself on being one of the most consistent in Louth at senior level over the course of the last decade, 2009 saw all belonging to St. Brides venting their spleen, stamping their feet and gnashing their teeth at season's end in fits of self-admonishment.
"It's very hard to find any silver linings from what happened in the championship," St. Brides' Secretary Tommy Brennan confesses.
"I suppose beating Cooley was the highlight of our championship season but that's splitting hairs of course.
"They beat us in the semi-final in 2007 so we owed them one but that was scant consolation really for going out of the running so quickly.
"Unfortunately, there's not a lot to be said apart from admitting that our form went downhill rapidly from the second round onwards."
Securing a tiny bit of vengeance for scars inflicted in the past was much less than what the club's team-management had calculated.
After all, they had every reason to believe that bigger fish than Cooley would be fried by their charges in the white heat of championship battle.
Sadly the potential inherent in their championship win over Cooley and their league victory over the same opposition on August 8th would not be fully realised.
Instead, for the Saints think-tank of Declan Mussen, Sean Woods, David Hoey and Eamonn Sherry, damage limitation and October made for uneasy bedfellows.
The dying embers of autumn hosted a SFC relegation play-off with Sean O'Mahony's; a game that demanded answers from excrutiatingly searching questions.
The relegation dog-fight was an epochal occasion for both of the finalists. The 'Brides bent but didn't break in the decider but, ultimately, saved face. ESB employee Brennan, with four years service as club Secretary behind him, suggests that a bit of luck went the 'Brides way.
Still, he is unashamedly pleased that the O'Mahonys ended up as the blushing Bridesmaid and not the 'Brides.
"We got the rub of the green with the goals from Pierce Murphy and Aaron Hoey but they lads deserved to pull through, in my opinion.
"It was a real big battle 'cause the O'Mahony's didn't ever lie down and the game was there to be won by either team up until the final whistle.
"We had a two point lead to hold onto in the dying minutes. It was just as well for us that the O'Mahony's went for goals earlier on 'cause if they had taken their points, we might have been in more trouble."
In the dregs of 2009, all agreed at St. Brides that their favourites had shown immense courage, pride and passion when it counted most.
Those qualities harked back to the time when the club successfully plotted their way out of junior ranks with all the rage and indignation of a diner who's just been handed someone else's bill.
"In fairness, the lads really pulled out all the stops and were very determined and focussed against O'Mahony's," Brennan enthuses.
"At the start of the year, our number one objective would have been to retain our senior championship status at the very least so to do that was a major source of satisfaction to everyone at the club."
If truth be told, Group A in the SFC was one bereft of a fixture that screamed out 'points in the bag' for St. Brides.
In soccer parlance, it would have been gifted the 'group of death' tagline with would-be champions Mattock Rangers christened the headline act.
"They say forwards win matches and in Mattock's case, that would be the case because they have players who can penetrate defences more than most and that counts for a lot," opines Brennan, a Saint for 20 years and more now and a one-time player with his Roche Emmetts club.
Of course, it didn't help the Saints that centre-back David Kettle's injury problems re-surfaced and would lay him low for the guts of two months.
Similarily, midfielder Paul Kirk was greatly hampered by a serious back injury in August and really only regained fitness in mid-October.
Likewise, county ace Aaron Hoey (ankle) and student Stephen Macken (abroad) were off the radar, intermittently, for part of the season.
All the upset felt in the club about being shorn of a full complement of personnel in 2009 pales into insignificance though when juxtaposed with the tragic deaths of two very popular young club members.
Tommy recalls with great sadness the passing of Terry Brennan (no relation) - a member of the senior panel - and loyal club supporter Paul Farrell, who both met their deaths at their workplace earlier this year.
"The lads' deaths put everything else into perspective," explains Tommy who is fulsome in his praise of the leadership shown by outgoing chairman Colm Smyth.
"The popularity of the two lads who died among the club members and the wider community was reflected in the huge turnouts at their funerals and they are sadly missed."
Both of the deceased lent a youthful exhuberance to matters happening around Pairc An Choinnigh, Tommy testifies, and he believes that the addition of more of the same from the current playing personnel can help embolden the club's premier team for the 2010 season and thereafter.
"There's quite a good few talented lads coming up from the minor ranks so it's a long way from saying there's no light at the end of the tunnel.
"Michael Keane is one of those youngsters but he suffered a bad ankle break. We'd hope that he will be able to contribute fully to the team next year."
And what of the fast-fading business of duality? Is the co-existence of footballers and hurlers in the same bed still a go?
"There are strong ties between the hurlers and ourselves and Knockbridge both benefit as far as I'm concerned.
"I know the hurlers that play with us are doubty fighters and they're great to have on your side.
"They're very committed and are always up for the games and give sterling service to the 'Brides.
"I think every club would be glad to have fellas like David Dunne, David Kettle and Shane Kerrigan available to them."
In the dregs of 2009, the advent of a new year seems ever so closer.
Our hard-working St. Brides official is already in sleeves-rolled-up mode . . .and clearly in optimistic if, realistic, mood "I think we'll have a stronger panel in 2010 with the younger lads coming through and if we can have everyone free from injury then we should do well.
"I don't think we'll have things much easier though but the aim will be to have a good run in the senior championship status and, definitely, retain our status and to have a good season in the league as well."
Meanwhile, on the periphery (literally), the Saints will push ahead with the finishing touches to the refurbishment of their car park and clubhouse thanks, in part, to their income derived from lotto and their mutually beneficial relationship with the Knockbridge Vintage Club.
Vintage 'Brides on the way in 2010?
Let's hope so.
Certainly on the basis of the senior team's gutsy victory over Sean O'Mahony's on October 20th last which saved their skins in the league and the decision to establish a sub-committee to oversee underage coaching, one can imagine the Saints having a bright year ahead of them.
St. Bride's underage
St Brides juveniles G.F.C. had another hectic year in 2009 with its under age teams taking part in the many Og Sport blitzes organised throughout the season. The club itself played host on several Sunday mornings to the county's U8s 10s and 12s and must be congratulated for the way they organised the games and the hospitality which was given to the visiting teams. The hard work put in by all underage mentors must be commended for without them these competitions would not be possible. A special thanks also to all the parents who attended matches and cheered on their teams, this encourgement is always needed, may it continue and grow in 2010. The U16 team took the Div 1 league title when they defeated St Mary's in the final, 0-12 to 0-10. Team captain Patrick Reilly was presented with the cup by chairman Brendan Carthy amid scenes of great joy and celebrations. The U18 side were narrowly defeated in both league and championship competitions at the semi-final stage. The team were unfortunate to have been plagued with injuries towards the closing stages of the season while the U14 side are improving with every game. The future looks good for underage football at St Brides G.F.C.
St Brides U16s League Champions
Congratulations to the U16s who defeated St Mary' in the Division 1 league final played in Darver in mid-September. The game itself was a hard fought battle between two very evenly matched sides. The large crowd in attendance got excellent value for money as the game produced some fine scores and displays of great skill. This was the second meeting between the sides in only six days, with the Mary's having come out on top in the recent championship clash but this time round the Brides redeemed themselves . Sterling performances from Patrick Reilly, Sean Mc Donnell, and Conor Deane and superb goal keeping by Darren Breen helped the team to a memorable victory. The final score on the night was St Brides 0-12 St Mary's 0-10.
The successful St. Bride's side was: Darren Breen, Stephen Kettle, Lawerence Steen, James Costello, Shane Carragher, Sean McDonnell, Cillian Kirk, Patrick Reilly (0-1), Cathal Mc Kenna (0-7), James Collins (0-1), Conor Deane, Frankie Steale (0-1), Ross Keogh (0-1), Kevin Hearty (0-1), Richard Halpenny. Subs - Niall Brennan for Stephen Kettle, Cillian de Rouver for Frankie Steale, Darren McGuinness, Andrew Smyth, Aran Diven, Emmet Mc Eneany. Tweet
