It is often said that you have to lose a final before winning one and that is often the case in the Meath Intermediate Football Championship. Dunderry and St Patrick's both suffered their share of disappointments before collecting the title and Ballivor finished second in two deciders before making it 'third time lucky' with that dramatic 2-5 to 0-10 victory over Navan O'Mahonys last October. After being denied by St Patrick's and Blackhall Gaels, the side in maroon and white earned a deserved place in the winners' enclosure and that could hardly have been gained in more dramatic manner with goalkeeper Raymond McKeown dashing from between the posts to send the late '45' sailing between the uprights. Ballivor have had some notable net minders over the years with Patsy McGearty (1954) and Conor Martin (1996) both being the first name on Meath team lists for All-Ireland senior triumphs. But neither received as much backslapping and hugging after a final as McKeown got on that autumn evening. The wheel had certainly turned the full circle for Raymond who was sent off in the previous year's IFC decider after conceding the penalty from which Blackhall Gaels grabbed a sensational last gasp winning goal. In 2001 it was case of what appeared to be a glorious victory turning into disappointing defeat but it was the opposite twelve months later. Ballivor was obviously one of the most fancied teams before a ball was kicked in the 2002 IFC and two of the local newspapers tipped Pat Carey's charges to go all the way. 'Ballivor to leap at third attempt' was the Meath Chronicle's headline while The Weekender suggested that it may be 'third time lucky' for the south county side with referee Jimmy Henry also opining that it could be their year. Former Seneschalstown forward Pat Carey took over as Ballivor coach at the start of 2000 and in his first year at the helm his men got to the semi-final stage. One of his tasks was obviously to lift the troops after the subsequent final losses. "It hasn1t been that difficult because on each occasion we had a good break over the winter and came back fresh. The players forgot about everything that happened in the past when the ball was thrown in and a new game started,"he said. One thing that Carey had to look forward to after the championship draws were made was renewing rivalry with Navan O'Mahonys. The fact that the aristocrats of football in the Royal County had lost their lofty perch meant that it was going to be extra difficult for intermediate teams with serious designs on joining the elite. Ballivor and O'Mahonys were drawn in the same division and one previewer nominated the two sides 'against the field.' Over the last few years Ballivor have had a number of players who represented the county. Apart from Conor Martin, who has hung up his boots, Terry Connor, Mairtin Doran, Fergus McMahon and Trevor Smith donned the green and gold. Free scoring Mairtin Doran, who has helped the Royal County to Leinster under 21 honours and gained Meath's 'young footballer of the year' award for 2000, has proved an attacking ace for his club. He achieved a fine return of 6-31 from nine games on the way to the annexation of the Mattie McDonnell Cup. That passage began with a 1-12 to 2-4 victory over Drumree at Dunderry with Doran scoring 1-3. Keith Martin did well with four points and although there was only the minimum margin between the sides inside the last ten minutes, Ballivor finished strongly with four points. That was the first of six victories from seven outings in Division B and that opening victory obviously gave Carey's charges the confidence to embark on such a run - incidentally the only game which they did not win was the drawn fifth round clash with O'Mahonys. Ballivor also finished strongly against Na Fianna in the Monday evening clash at Summerhill with five points without reply boosting them to a 1-13 to 2-7 victory after a goal from Terry Connor helped them lead by 1-5 to 1-4 at the break. Referee Eugene McDonnell ordered off five players, including Darren Davis and substitute Jamie Keogh of Ballivor in a stormy encounter at Kells as former seniors Syddan were hammered to the tune of 3-15 to 0-9. The south county side actually trailed at the half way stage but showed their teeth in the second period. Mairtin Doran scored 2-4 and James Mitchell also starred, contributing 1-5. Ballivor had one of their closest contests against St Ultan's in Athboy with the Bohermeen parish side being defeated on a 2-8 to 2-6 scoreline. It was 1-6 to 0-4 at the break with Mairtin Doran grabbing the first goal and after the deficit was got down to a single point, Trevor Smith finished to the net for the winners' second goal. Then came the clash with O'Mahonys at Trim in which Ballivor scored 0-12 to their opponents' 2-6. The men in maroon were denied by a levelling goal in the third minute of added time and Fergus McManus kicked over five of their points. There was a much more comfortable outing in the sixth round when a semi-final place was clinched with a 2-14 to 1-5 victory over Moynalvey at Summerhill. Again Mairtin Doran was the main marksman, scoring 2-4 with both goals being bagged in the second half and the first of them coming from a penalty. Ballivor clinched the top spot in the group with their biggest win of the campaign, trouncing Donaghmore/Ashbourne to the tune of 3-17 to 0-4. Calvin Ryan took the individual scoring honours with 1-6 and Damien and James Mitchell got the other goals. Ballivor were not over impressive in their semi-final in which they defeated Slane by 1-11 to 0-10 at Kilmessan. They trailed by 0-5 to 0-8 at the break and the east county outfit was 0-10 to 0-6 to the good after 37 minutes. But from then on Pat Carey's charges took over and did not allow their opponents another score. Meanwhile they added 1-5 with the goal being a fortunate score with a ball from Cormac Feeney ending up in the net. The introduction of Ciaran and Terry Connor were boosts while Brian Perry, Fergus McMahon, Padraig Geoghegan and Trevor Smith, who shot five points, were also significant contributors as a third successive final appearance was earned. Ballivor went into the decider as slight favourites and with high hopes of reversing the SFC final result of 1973. They were bidding for a first IFC title for taking the honours in 1981 with a 2-8 to 1-4 victory over Wolfe Tones. On a difficult day for football neither side managed to impress in the final and O'Mahonys, favoured by the elements in the first half, led by 0-7 to 0-2 at the break. Ballivor had reason to feel optimistic at that stage and even more so when a sideline kick from the right by Trevor Smith finished up in the net seven minutes after the restart. That left the twice beaten finalists only a point behind with Smith and Mairtin Doran (play and free) having kicked over their earlier scores. It was 1-4 to 0-9 at the three quarter stage after Fergus McMahon hit the maroons' fourth point and the deficit soon became three points. Then there was a scoreless spell lasting 10 minutes and just when time appeared to be running out for Ballivor they hit with a second goal. Keith Martin received a pass from Smith and did very well to guide a low shot to the net. Then when some were wondering when the replay would take place, enter Raymond McKeown. Earlier Ballivor had failed to put a few long distance kicks over the bar at the pavilion end and the goalkeeper took a short enough run before belting the ball between the uprights and sending Ballivor up to senior ranks. Before he completed his dash 'back to base' the whistle blew and the hero of the day was enveloped in a mass scrum as the overdue celebrations begun. "I am not surprised that he scored, he has wanted to take a kick like that for a while. At that stage we had nothing to lose and Raymond was well capable of getting the distance," remarked captain Terry Connor. "Raymond has been practising taking frees in the past but we don't like him going that far forward in case he does not get back in time. However, there was no stopping him today, he is a very good kicker of a dead ball," said manager Pat Carey, who felt that the character of Ballivor won out in the end. Now Ballivor can look forward to returning to the senior ranks and while they will be up against it, they could hold their own. Certainly the desire will be not to return to intermediate ranks for a few years. The team which brought them the IFC title was: Raymond McKeown; Damien Cunningham, Brian Perry, Tony Fox; Padraig Geoghegan, Fergus McMahon, Paul Feeney; Noel Davis, Daniel Fagan; Trevor Smith, Mairtin Doran, James Mitchell; Keith Martin, Cormac Feeney, Terry Connor. Subs - Subs - Brian Flynn for P. Feeney, Ciaran Connor for Cunningham, Damien Mitchell for Flynn, Calvin Ryan for T. Connor, Anthony Monaghan, Seamus Dunne, Clayton Keegan, Hubert Darcy, Sean Corrigan. Manager, Pat Carey; selectors, James Kelly, Terry Smith. Tweet

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