Recent times have been difficult for the ever enthusiastic gaels of Kilbride but there is light at the end of the tunnel as Royal County found out when it spoke to club secretary Pat Donnellan. There were many encouraging signs during 2000 to suggest a bright future for the south Meath club. It was a case of so near and yet so far for Kilbride who came perilously close to qualifying for the knock-out stages of the Junior Football championship this year. Going into their last group game against Drumbaragh, the green and red hoops required a win to advance but, unfortunately, could only manage a draw and so their interest in the campaign came to an end. While, obviously, disappointed at not making the quarter-final stages of the championship, club secretary Pat Donnellan says that, now that the dust has settled, Kilbride gaels have every reason to be pleased with their team's performances in the twelve months just coming to an end. "It was, in actual fact, quite a positive year for the club," Pat stated. "We just missed out on qualification for the quarter-final of the championship and enjoyed a good run in the league. We're confident about doing as well next year. "There was an air of enthusiasm throughout the club this year so hopefully that will continue in the future. Vinny Donnelly was the junior team manager and did a fine job and was ably assisted by Martin Rothwell and Val White. "One very positive development was the fielding of a second team, a very young second team at that. In the past we have struggled to consistently field a B team but thanks to the efforts of Dara O'Neill and Joe Farrelly that has now changed and everyone in the club was delighted with that fact." Pat has been secretary of Kilbride GFC for the past five years. A native of Donaghmore, he moved to the south Meath village twenty years ago along with wife Anne, who's originally from Mayo. The couple have three children, namely Kevin, Niamh and Fiona. Indeed, Pat's involvement with the local club stems through Kevin who plays with Kilbride. "I first began taking an active participation in the juvenile end of the things as most people do when they've children playing." In fact, as well as playing with Kilbride, Kevin along with other local lads, John Bruton and Neil McKeever, was a member of the St Peter's, Dunboyne U16 panel which overcame Navan O'Mahony's in the thrilling three match marathon during the summer. Indeed, young Bruton captained the successful outfit. "As far as underage football goes in Kilbride we've very small numbers to pick from so the three lads decided to play with St Peter's," Pat explained. "They were three fantastic games against the O'Mahony's and St Peter's fully deserved their win. "The lack of numbers at underage level is proving a big problem for us but there is still a tremendous amount of effort being put in by mentors at this level. Noel White and Tommy Mahon would be the two people primarily involved with the juveniles in the club and we owe them an enormous debt of gratitude for all their hard work." Pat, who, incidentally, works as the Director of Corporate Services with the Health and Safety Authority, is hopeful that the numbers at juvenile level will increase in the future. "With all the houses being built in south Meath it's inevitable that the Kilbride area will develop in the future and that will bring a big population influx with it. At the moment we're one of the smallest parishes in the county number wise but we're hopeful that will change. "From that point of view the future of the club has to look very bright." With Pat as secretary, Austin Reddan as chairman and Mena Geraghty as treasurer, the future of Kilbride GFC is in safe hands. "Austin is a fantastic chairman and we're certainly lucky to have a man of his calibre as our chairman," remarked the affable Donnellan who claims the famous Donnellan footballing family of Galway as "distant" relations. "Mena is a wonderful woman, a true gael. She never misses a Meath game no matter where they play and is also our County Board representative. "There's plenty of other people within the club who do an awful lot of work. Along with those I've already mentioned who are involved with teams, there's the likes of the Quinns, Martin and Gerry, Patsy and Anne Farrell and Gerard White." Like so many clubs throughout the Royal County, Kilbride are in the process of upgrading their facilities. A £10,000 grant was received from the National Lottery during the year and, according to Pat, that will be used to erect fencing and improve the lighting. Another source of income for Kilbride this year was the sponsorship they received from the local Sweeney's pub. "Sweeney's was taken over by new owners this year and they have been very supportive of the club in providing us with very valuable sponsorship. Vinny Battersby is the new manager there. Needless to say, we're extremely grateful to Sweeney's for all their help." Finally, a review of the year would not be complete without reference to Meath's championship defeat to Offaly. Towns and villages throughout the county reverberated to the shock of Offaly's win. Kilbride was no exception. "To say losing to Offaly was a major disappointment would be an understatement. Like everyone in Meath, people in Kilbride have a great fondness for Sean Boylan. He's a regular visitor to the club. We've total confidence though that Meath will be back next year and don't be surprised to see Sam Maguire back in the Royal County next September." Tweet

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