Kilmainhamwood's objective in 2011 was obvious: to get back out of junior ranks at the first time of asking. However, despite demonstrating decent form for most of the year, the 'Wood failed to deliver their best form in the championship, the result being that they didn't progress beyond the group stage. It was disappointing, no doubt, but long-serving attacker Ray Magee is confident that the North Meath men will begin their climb back up through the grades sooner rather than later.

There is a feeling in the clubhouse that K'wood are punching below their weight at the moment. It's a hard one to dispute, in fairness, but the players know that they are where they are because of results. And results don't lie. The only talking that counts in gaelic football is that which takes place on the field of play. So next year Kilmainhamwood will be doubly determined to book their return to the middle rung. They thought they could do it in 2011 but learned the hard way that - even at junior level - championship football is championship football. There are very few easy games.

That's not to say there was any complacency in the club. But perhaps they appreciate better now the sheer enormity of the task ahead. They won't go back up to intermediate level just by playing good football. Consistency, spirit, determination and longevity must all be brought to the table in abundance. In many ways, the 'Wood are currently facing as big a challenge as they did in the mid-90s, when they were perennial challengers for the Keegan Cup and spent one season as lords of all they surveyed in the Royal County as well as contesting two more deciders.

Former county star Ray Magee - a key part of that 1996 Meath SFC-winning side - was disappointed with how 2011 panned out but saw enough in the team's general displays - particularly in defence - to suggest that they can mount a genuine challenge for the 2012 JFC: "We were very disappointed to go down junior at the end of 2010 and our aim was to go straight back up. We think intermediate is where we should be.

"We actually only lost one game in the championship this year. Defensively, we were very good but we didn't convert enough of our scoring opportunities. We missed too many chances and I was as guilty as anybody…
"We have to learn from these things and come back stronger next year. Hopefully the lads will all come back again and give it another go. I certainly think we should be up at intermediate. That's no disrespect to the junior teams - and we deserve to be down there at the moment - but we're good enough to play intermediate football. We're probably not strong enough for senior anymore, but I think we could hold our own at intermediate level. There are a lot of intermediate clubs around us and local pride is at stake - we'd like to be playing against them."

Kilmainhamwood were in Group One of the junior championship. They opened their account with a 1-8 to 0-10 victory over local rivals Drumconrath at Meath Hill on April 16th and then drew with Bective - 0-12 to 1-9 - at Nobber on April 29th. Things were still very much on course following a routine 1-16 to 0-6 win over Skryne at Rathkenny on May 16th, but the wheels came off the wagon when Navan O'Mahonys scored a 0-14 to 1-8 victory at Nobber on June 11th. The 'Wood closed out their campaign in what turned out to be a meaningless contest at against Moylagh at Ballinlough on Friday August 5th - another draw, 1-6 to 0-9. Two wins, two draws and one defeat meant a fourth-placed finish on the final group table, behind Moylagh, O'Mahonys and Bective. Kilmainhamwood would not be contesting the business end of the competition…

Ray Magee has no doubts about where the problems lay: "We weren't converting enough of our chances. The backs didn't concede a whole pile all year and we had plenty of possession in most of our matches. We played well all year apart from the championship. We only lost one game in the league, beating the likes of Ratoath and Athboy, and got to the semi-final of the Tailteann Cup."
The 'Wood beat Ratoath by 1-5 to 0-4 in their first-ever Tailteann Cup game in late May and also enjoyed a thumping 3-9 to 0-6 win over Ballivor to advance to the last eight. In their quarter-final, Steven Kiernan notched 2-5 as Clonard were beaten by 2-15 to 2-8 in Athboy on Thursday July 21st. The following team was on duty that evening: Damien Russell; D Dolan, S Russell, E Clarke (0-3); P Moran, M Shankey, P Barber; A Farrelly (0-1), F Owens; A Carolan, H Corbally (0-1), S Kiernan (2-5); R McGee (0-1), David Russell (0-4), K Shields. Subs: D Cunningham for D Dolan, S Mulligan for S Russell, R Madden for A Carolan.

In the semi-final K'Wood had home advantage against Bective. The 'Wood were two points ahead nearing full time but a couple of late points from the Navan side forced extra-time after which Bective prevailed by 0-16 to 1-12.
Hard to believe it's 15 years already since an exciting young Kilmainhamwood side won its first-ever county SFC, having been crowned intermediate champions only two seasons earlier (in 1994) and contested the SFC final in '95 (against Dunderry) and again in 2000 (against Dunshaughlin). K'wood finally lost their senior status in 2008 and reached the intermediate final in 2009 before falling to the bottom grade in 2010. There are still five survivors from that all-conquering 1996 team representing the village with distinction at junior level (Ray Magee, Francis Owens, Ray Madden, Aidan Crosbie and Colm Gilcreest), but these are clearly different times, as the first-mentioned notes.

"When things were going well, a group of twelve to fifteen lads all came through at the same time and we were lucky to have experienced men like Brian Stafford, Martin Crosbie and Larry McCormack there to help us along. There aren't the same numbers coming through now. Other clubs seem to have greater numbers and we weren't strong enough for senior anymore - but we're convinced we can hold our own as an intermediate team. We got to the IFC final in 2009 [against Oldcastle] and lost a lot of games by a point in 2010. We ended up in a relegation play-off and it should never have come to that."

Kilmainhamwood followers will be glad to hear that Magee has no intention of putting the trusty left boot out to pasture just yet: "I still enjoy playing and I enjoy the craic with the lads. They all put in the effort and it's good to be involved. I'll be long enough not playing, so I'll try to keep going for another season anyway! I'd like to get out of junior before I retire.
"We always played intermediate and senior football in the past and I still believe we could be a strong intermediate team. We'd love to move up and show that we can hold our own here in North Meath.

"Martin Crosbie was over the team this year and he put in a huge effort. The whole thing was well organised and lads were on time for training throughout the year and everybody trained very hard. We played some great football in some of our games but unfortunately we didn't always put the scores on the board when it mattered.
"I wouldn't say it was pressure because a lot of these lads have played a lot of football and they should be used to pressure. Whatever caused it, it's definitely something we can fix next year. We weren't too far off. One or two points in each game would make a massive difference. We'll be pushing on again in 2012 and we believe we are good enough to compete for the junior championship this time."

In May, Kilmainhamwood officially opened their superb new facilities with a senior intercounty challenge between Meath and Longford. A total of EUR500, 000 was invested over seven years in the three-phase completion of the state-of-the-art facilities, which included drainage of the playing pitch along with a new perimeter fence; a new set of ball stoppers; a perimeter running track and new team dug-outs; a 25mX50m all-weather, fully-floodlit pitch; two new dressing rooms; a referee's changing room and full shower facilities. Development officer Frank Corbally project-managed the development and great help was received from club sponsor Gypsum Industries, the National Lottery, Leinster Council, Meath County Council, Thorntons Recycling and Glanbia (who provided the new digital scoreboard). The facilities are amongst the best in the Royal County and the club is debt-free. Tweet

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