St Paul's were all set to enjoy life after breaking out of the junior ranks in 1999. But in just their second year as an intermediate side, they could not evade the dreaded drop, and will be back as a junior side next summer. Despite the mishap, long-serving pair, Richie Gibbons and Michael Fox, are optimistic that the future holds better days for everyone involved with the small club on the Dublin border. Honeymoon period? No such thing. Since the remorseless new system in Meath club football, incorporating automatic relegation and promotion to the championships, was introduced in 1999, clubs in the top two drawers can no longer afford the odd cushy summer without putting their status in serious peril. In bygone times, when clubs had to apply for demotion, the championship had stagnated, leading to the non-fulfillment of fixtures as the competitions meandered to their conclusions. Unfortunately for St Paul's, the junior champions of two years ago, that they made the big breakthrough the year the rule changed, and this year they suffered the full rigours of its wrath. Not even the most hardened of followers, though, could argue that the championships could have sustained the former system, and most within the club are confident they can redress the state of affairs in the future, starting with bouncing right back to the intermediate grade next summer. Both Richie Gibbons, the Mayo native who has been a fixture in the Clonee side's midfield for the best part of a decade, and goalkeeper Michael Fox embody the optimism that exists within the club, emphasising that with the necessary commitment and organisation, and a scattering of luck, St Paul's can regain the junior title, which they won in 1999, at the first time of asking in the coming year. "We should be alright," says Fox, who doubles as the club's secretary. "A lot of the younger players came into their own this year, and they'll be a lot better for the experience. We don't have the biggest squad at the best of times, and we were crippled with injuries to some key players this year. A lot of lads got injured at an important stage, just when we needed to come into a bit of form; it was so bad that we were never able to name the same team for two games in a row, which is always going to put a strain on things." Fox points to the loss due to injury of St Paul's' Meath senior panelist, Anthony Moyles, as a key moment in the spectrum of the club's year, while he also emphasises the detrimental effects of injuries to other players at various stages during the year. Moyles' brothers, Sean, the club's centre back, and Barry, who normally lines out at full back, were both unavailable at certain points during the year, Richie Gibbons suffered a hamstring injury, while Michael himself also endured a spell on the sidelines, through a series of knocks and strains, including elbow, shoulder and groin trouble. While the effects of such a lengthy injury list to key players on what was already a relatively small panel of players was undoubtedly the greatest single cause for Paul's disappointments during the summer, Fox also cites the onset of the Foot & Mouth scare - "It really knocked the arse out of us, to be honest" - just when the GAA season was about to break into stride. Outside of injuries and national agricultural emergencies, though, it is not difficult to pinpoint the key game in St Paul's year, the 60 minutes that, more than any other, contributed to their downfall. Both men agree that the defeat to Donaghmore/Ashbourne was the low point of the year, and a look at the final table will confirm their thoughts. Paul's finished the year three points behind their fellow strugglers from south Meath, and had the result in the match between the sides gone the other way, the identity of the demoted team would have been different. "They beat us by two points; it was robbery, a disaster," recalls Fox. "Nothing went right for us, I suppose it was the way it went for us all year in the championship, which was a bit cruel. We held our own in Division 2 of the league all year, so it was very disappointing that we couldn't get it together in the championship." Gibbons holds the same acute sense of regret with the manner the year turned out for the club. "It was very disappointing, alright. After last year, when we avoided relegation fairly comfortably, we had higher expectations this year. But after getting injuries to a few players, we struggled early on, and from then on we were stuck in a relegation fight. "In the intermediate, with so many games in each group, you can lose your first one or two and still pull it together to get yourselves out of trouble, but we could never manage to get the win that might have put us safe. You have to keep looking ahead, and take every game single-mindedly, because things can change. St Colmcilles had a great start, winning their first two games, but they struggled a bit after that, and didn't win another game. Blackhall started badly, and ended up winning it out! So we always had a chance of getting ourselves out of it, but we could never pull ourselves through." Originally from Louisburgh in County Mayo, Richie has been lining out with St Paul's for nine years and, having already won one junior championship, he remains convinced he can claim another next summer. "I don't think we're as downbeat as we might have been, to be honest. Things are definitely looking up, and while it would have been better to stay in the intermediate, we have to be positive. There's a chance we may have one or two extra players joining us, and if we can get the numbers up again, the competition for places will get better. If that happens, it's enough to keep you looking forward." Tweet

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