Joe Smith is the archetypal gael. He's imbued with an inherent love of Gaelic football and, in terms of service, he's given two score years and more to the GAA. Like his late father Terry, his first allegiance is to Drumbaragh though. If the truth be told, Drumbaragh would be entitled to the odd sympathy vote from the rest of the gaeldoms scattered about the Royal County. Do ya think though that those beavering away at the coalface in that part of north Meath are full-time looking for a shoulder to cry on? Not a bit of it. They're hardy, resolute souls a few miles north of Kells. An outpost of Meath GAA Inc. the Drumbaragh club would never be heavily backed to take its place in the winners' enclosure at the outset of any particular year but, according to die-hard Drumbaragh clubman Joe Smith, the closely-knit north county outfit aren't that far removed from the peleton at junior level in the county. "We're not that far off the pace. We've a good young team and we made progress this year in getting to the play-off for the quarter-finals. Even though we lost to Nobber, the club can be happy that the young lads are coming on just nicely." Looking ahead to the short-term future of the club at adult level, Joe is a man who most definitely looks at the glass as being half-full rather than half-empty. It's his nature, after all, just like his late father Terry. Matters football are in Joe's blood. His father was vice-chairman of the fledgling Drumbaragh club in the mid-seventies and for years after was an everpresent at matches, doing the 'gate' and a host of other jobs for the job. And just for good measure, Joe upped and left the family home to marry into another mad GAA family. His wife (Jean) has GAA in her blood too as her father John Caffrey was chairman of the club when Drumbaragh appeared in the county junior final of 1975. "That was also the year I got married, so I have a reason or two to remember that year even though it ended up being a good and a bad one for me," Joe recalls. Certainly on the personal front, the year 1975 was the proverbial curate's egg as far as the Smith household was concerned. While Joe celebrated his wedding to Jean, his emotions ended up being of the rollercoaster kind when the Miceal Campbell-trained north Meathmen lost out to would-be senior/junior double-winners Summerhill. A young 17-year old by the name of Mick Lyons caught the eye that day in Navan for the winners in the right-corner back berth, Joe remembers. Joe manned the goals for Drumbaragh in that never-to-be forgotten county decider 26 years ago. It took some time to get the defeat out of his system, he admits: "It was a bit of a body blow to the club at the time. Drumbaragh had only been reformed the year before and although it was great to get to the county final, it was a big disappointment to lose out in the end. "There was a great buzz about the place back then but being runners-up in the final allowed us to move up to intermediate. That was some compensation at least but in hindsight maybe things moved too quickly for us then." Joe cites the coming together of a whole host of parties in 1974 to form the Drumbaragh club as a momentous occasion for everyone with an interest in Gaelic games in that neck of the woods. "The fact that Drumbaragh came together allowed the likes of me and my brothers Mick and Sean to come back from playing with Cortown and also the likes of Joe Murphy from Kells. It was good to have a team representing Drumbaragh because everyone wants to represent their native area." Interestingly, Joe's family originally hailed from across the county border in Ballyjamesduff. Later the Smiths relocated to Balrath before settling in Drumbaragh in the early seventies. Subsequently, Cortown's loss would be Drumbaragh's gain as the three Smith gasuns lined up with the last-named club for many years thereafter. Significantly, the Smith GAA attachment continues. Joe's sons Mark (22) and John (25) are stalwart members of Drumbaragh's premier fifteen. Joe took an understandable pride in lining out with son John some ten years ago for Drumbaragh. With that achievement under his belt, Joe promptly retired a season or two later. That was circa 1992/93. By now 50-year old Joe is arguably better known as one of Drumbaragh's most longest serving administrators but, for years, he took his place on the club's first team. Indeed, the affable clubman has the distinction of having played in every position on the field for the green and reds. However, he primarily featured in the goals and his eight year stint as Drumbaragh's last line of defence saw him at his peak. Drumbaragh's time at junior level has gone on for more years than Joe and co. would like but after that defeat in '75, the club's time at intermediate level was sweet and short. So how come the club didn't build on the success of making it to the '75 final? "I don't think we had the strength in depth to quite go the distance that time. Plus the fact Summerhill were the top club in Meath around then and it was never going to be easy to beat them. "The numbers game is still a problem for us. We haven't that much of a catchment area and we're depending on Kells and Kilmainham to help give our juveniles a game as part of an amalgamation. "There's just the one national school in Drumbaragh so we have to try and make the most of the young talent that comes along although winning the Junior B title in 1999 was a big boost to everyone involved in the club and a great source of inspiration to the young lads currently coming through the ranks." Interestingly, Joe doesn't begin to underestimate the value of title win of a couple of seasons back. He says it was the club's most prized achievement of his time. "I think the club has built upon that win. We've been getting to the play-offs consistently since and the players are giving it 100 % every year. We're getting good turnouts for both the Junior A and C squads and I definitely think the players have the interest and the potential to do very well in the next couple of years." The potential to win the Junior title? "I think so although the junior title is probably the hardest championship of all to win in Meath. There are about six different teams capable of winning it every year." Joe is suitably pleased with the way things are going on the county front. Meath's high-profile performances at every grade, but particularly at senior level, has helped boost the promotion of Gaelic football in the Royal County an awful lot, Joe maintains. "Gaelic football is probably more popular than ever in Meath. More and more people are following the county team and you only have to see all the young ones wearing all the jerseys to see how much the game is in the limelight. "The game is as healthy in Drumbaragh as its ever been.We've a great chairman in Frankie Lynch and once the young lads continue to be well looked after, I think there'll always be plenty of talent there to be tapped into." And the talent in north Meath in particular? "As good as anywhere else in the county. Young players like Mairtin Doran of Ballivor and Daithi Regan from St. Michaels deserve a run with the county seniors and maybe if they were from another part of the county, they'd get a chance. Maybe with Colm Coyle being involved 'Ultans, the fellas in north Meath will be looked at more." Watch this space! Playing a part at underage level Drumbaragh plays its part at parish level with its involvement with the Round Towers. The Towers are made up of players from all three clubs in the parish. Drumbaragh, Kilmainham and Gael Colmcille promotes all groups ranging from Under 8 to minor. Drumbaragh chairman Frankie Lynch is vice chairman. Frankie has David Connolly as his co trainer with the U8s and U10s. At U12 and U13 we have long serving club man and currant secretary Tommy Carry. At U15 Barry Monaghan has come on board this year. Peter O'Higgins has been doing brilliant work for several years with the Towers and is currently working with U16 and the Minors. The aim of Drumbaragh is to keep our game alive and available to as many of our young people as possible. Its has been a part of rural life for so many people for so long, its important to that all clubs throughout the country play their part in promoting it among our youth. Tweet

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