Tormey toasts a great year
December 31, 2001
Donaghmore/Ashbourne will be rubbing shoulders with the 'big boys' in Division 1 of the All County Football league next year on the back of a yet another memorable promotion campaign. Team manager Conor Tormey believes that defeat in the League final at the hands of Navan O'Mahony's didn't detract from a great year.
Nobody likes to be beaten in a League Final, but the bitter taste of defeat won't linger long in Donaghmore/Ashbourne. Victory over O'Mahony's would have been the icing on the cake, an added bonus in what was already a brilliant year. The jewel in the crown - promotion - had already been achieved prior to Sunday 18th November.
The Gaughan Cup probably slipped from Donaghmore/Ashbourne's grasp in the first three minutes of the encounter. They fell four points in arrears, 0-0 to 1-1, and were always paying catch up. However, they did manage to get the deficit down to the minimum on five separate occasions.
Their cause was boosted near the end of the opening half when O'Mahony's were reduced to 14 men. By half time they had clawed their way back to within a point of the winners to trail 1-3 to 0-5.
Despite their numerical supremacy, the men in green struggled all afternoon to make an impact on the scoreboard. In the first half they squandered some gilt edged chances from frees and in the second half they only managed two points from open play. It was just one of those days when their forwards failed to deliver.
Throughout the league campaign their forward line had been in impressive form. Indeed the club's meteoric rise through the Meath All County FL ( three promotions in four years) has been built around a very potent attack and a more than efficient defence. Having gained promotion they now look capable of dealing with the demands of Division 1 football next year.
Ironically, at the start of the season Donaghmore/Ashbourne's sights weren't set on promotion. They would have been happy with a mid-table finish in their second year in Division 2. The idea was to establish a 'base camp' in preparation for launching a promotion bid in 2002. Consolidation was the word on everybody's lips.
At the start of the year, Conor, Dublin legend Charlie Redmond, Myles Prior, and Paddy Joe Moran hatched a cunning plan designed to keep them in Division 2. Conor recalled: "The idea was to start early and catch a few of the teams on the hop. We aimed to win our first three matches. We wanted to hold on to our Division 2 status at all costs. We weren't thinking of promotion. We decided our best chance was to get as many points as possible on the board at the start of the season. Charlie had the lads out training during the first week in December."
The plan worked like a dream. A fit, hungry and determined Donaghmore/Ashbourne swept aside the challenges of Moynalvey, Seneschalstown and Ballivor in their first three outings. St. Michael's and St. Paul's then suffered similar fates.
By the half way stage, with maximum points in the bag, thoughts of consolidation had dissipated. "We knew after the first five games that we were safe. At that stage we decided to keep the momentum going and see how far it would take us," Conor reflected.
They embarked on the second half of the season with a hard fought victory over O'Mahony's before dropping their first point to Carnaross. "We were very understrength against O'Mahonys and we thought we might get a hiding. We were delighted to get the victory. The Carnaross game was equally tough and we were happy with a draw."
The wheels finally came off the Donaghmore/Ashbourne wagon when they came up against Castletown in round eight. "Things just didn't go right for us on the day. We were beaten by two points but we bounced back against Trim the next time out. They were missing Darren Fay. We beat them 2-13 to 1-8. They had beaten us the previous year and we had expected a harder match."
St. Colmcilles provided the club's round 10 opposition. "We drew with them in the championship and we felt we should have beaten them. We were eager to beat them at the second time of asking. We scored a comfortable 2-10 to 1-9 victory," Conor explained.
In their final outing Donaghmore/Ashbourne were faced with the long trek to north Meath to face Drumconrath. "At the start of the year we said we didn't want to be going to Drumconrath looking for a win. The pressure was off us at that stage and we came away with the victory."
The club's form in the league was in stark contrast to their efforts in the championship. "Things didn't go well for us. We only managed to win one match. Our performances in the league kept us going. Reaching Division 1, for the first time in the club's history was a great achievement," he added.
Donaghmore/Ashbourne's aim for next season will be to consolidate their position in Div. 1 while mounting a serous challenge in the Intermediate Football Championship.
"Our first aim would be to stay in the top division. Having been promoted you don't want to drop back down. We will be coming up against all the senior teams and that should help us with our preparations for the championship."
He continued: "In the last year or so we have lost a good few championship matches by a point or two. So we will be hoping to put that right next year. We have a lot of young lads coming through and in the next year or so, we should be heading for a success in the championship."
Conor's optimism for the future isn't built on fanciful notions. "There is a great underage structure in the club and a good team of people looking after the children. We have been there or thereabouts at underage level for the last number of years. We have two or three goods lads coming through every year and all they need is a bit of coaching from Charlie (Redmond). I am confident that we can make the breakthrough."
Scoring in style
Scór may not be one of the most high-profile activities within the world of the GAA but it remains an integral part of what the Association stands for nevertheless. In this respect, Michael Cusack and his successors would be proud of the work done in the realms of Scór by the fiorgaels of Donaghmore/Ashbourne GAA club.
At the ambitious, growing Donaghmore/Ashbourne club, Scór na nOg and Scór Sinsir are given due recognition. Much more than that, both aspects of the club's GAA activity are promoted and developed in a way which would put most GAA clubs countrywide to shame.
Not that the south Meath club has always been heard singing so vocally from such a specialised hymnsheet. Indeed, even seasoned, die-hard members of the club would tell you that it's really only in the last four years or thereabouts that the club has really pulled out all the stops to give Scór its best shot. But what a shot!
Just last April at the Gleneagles Hotel in Killarney, there was great celebrations at the club as members toasted a brilliant All-Ireland success at Scór Sinsir level.
Demonstrating great dedication, talent and pride, Donaghmore/Ashbourne club members Tom O'Shaughnessy (flute), Hugh Grogan (accordion), Joanne O'Connor (fiddle) Fran Meehan (whistle) and Peter Farrell (guitar) combined to win the Scór Sinsir All-Ireland traditional music group section.
"It was a brilliant achievement but they deserved it. Each of the five are great traditional musicians in their own right but together they make for a really terrific group producing a lovely blend of music.
"The win means a lot to the club and indeed the parish. Winning an All-Ireland title is always special and last April's success was no different.
"The group prepared really hard for the competition and met religiously every week to practice, picking their tunes and getting everything just right," enthuses Donal O'Loingsigh, the club's Irish Officer.
Donaghmore/Ashbourne's success in winning the Royal County's first senior All-Ireland Scor competition was sweet to behold for Donal on a personal front for it was himself and club colleague Colm O'Mealoid who accepted the invitation from the club back in 1997 to take up the challenge of energising the Scór side of the club's activities.
"I must say that we have always received 100% support from the rest of the club members and the club executive in promoting Scór at the club.
"For instance the traditional music group which did us so proud received a lot of support and goodwill from mainstream members of the club and it was nice to see them togged out in the club colours with their own special t-shirt embroidered with the club crest.
"Achieving success like we did in Killarney was very gratifying for everyone who has been involved at the club in Scór over the years and it certainly makes all the effort worthwhile. With a bit of luck and the same hard work, we should be able to repeat that success in the coming years also. I definitely think that our senior novelty act and our set dance group have an All-Ireland title in them."
But did Donal sense that the aforementioned quintet had an All-Ireland title in them?
"Well I know they had prepared very hard and are proven high calibre musicians so I felt they had every chance.
"I was mindful though of the way sometimes the marks awarded to various acts in Scór can be questionable to say the least. The adjudication at Scór can cause confusion as happened last year.
"I personally feel that the adjudication at Scór competitions needs to be looked at with some urgency. There needs to be a lot more consistency applied to the marking of acts at Scór," urges Donal.
A man who obviously feels passionate about the value of Scór activities to the GAA, the Bailemhuirne, mid-west Cork native is pleased to say that the Scór section of the Donaghmore/Ashbourne club has seldom been stronger than it is at present.
Donal informs us that of the eight Scór competitions, his adopted club takes part in seven of them each year, namely, solo singing, traditional music group, novelty act, question time, recitation, ballad group and set dance.
"Apart from our traditional music group, the club's novelty act is also exceptionally good, for instance. The members of the novelty act show tremendous enthusiasm each year and they did well to win the county title but were unlucky to lose out in Leinster this year.
"In addition, everyone at the club was delighted to see our Scór na nOg traditional music group win both the county and provincial titles. Unfortunately they lost out in the All-Ireland final."
Principal of All Irish school in Ballymun, Scoil An tSeachtar Laoch Ball, Donal has been Donaghmore/Ashbourne's Irish Officer for the last four years but he has been associated with the club ever since settling in the area in 1991. His two children, Doireann and Fiach have been involved in the club for some years now too.
So how is his adopted club facing up to the challenges being posed to it right now?
"Very well. The population of the area continues to mushroom and there are now a lot of 'blow-ins' like me in the club although those native to the area remain the backbone of the club. We work well together though!"
And so the club is catering well for the demand for Gaelic games in the area?
"I think so. We cater well for all the activities at the club, both on and off the field of play. For instance, Scór provides an alternative to field games for club members during the winter months.
"Of course, our on-field activities remains the main plank of our work. At present we have about 30 teams competing from under 8 level to adult level."
With their own clubhouse, the Wotten - four miles from Ashbourne on the Dublin side of the town - the club is well positioned to capitalise on the goodwill towards the GAA in the area.
"If things go well though, we're planning to acquire some land within the Ashbourne town boundary to construct two full-sized pitches which are badly needed.
"Hopefully, that project could come to fruition within the next three years or so. It will be a big boost to the club."
And so we can expect Scór at the club to flourish in tandem with the expansion and development of GAA facilities in Donaghmore/Ashbourne?
"I certainly hope so. Scór has gone from strength to strength over the last four years and there are enough of us at the club willing and able to continue to put Irish culture and language in the shop window locally."
Ar aghaidh libh!
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