The wheels on Dunderry's bid to capture their second ever Keegan Cup crown came unstuck at the semi-final stage when Dunshaughlin upset the odds to knock them out of contention. Midfielder Stephen O'Rourke looks back on a disappointing 1999 and forward to what he, and all of Dunderry, hopes will be a profitable 2000. In 1996, when Meath captured their sixth All-Ireland crown, Dunderry had three members on the county panel. Tommy Dowd, of course, had the honour of lifting Sam Maguire while Barry Callaghan played a starring role in the number 15 jersey. Both featured again this year, collecting a second Celtic cross each, the third, Stephen O'Rourke, watched the action unfold from the 'New Stand'. The 23 year old must miss the county scene because his performances for Dunderry during 1999 suggest that he's eager to attract Sean Boylan's attention again. The tall midfielder was one of the Stafford Oil-sponsored side's most consistent performers throughout the league and championship. You don't have to take my word for it, club colleague Callaghan agrees: "He played the best football this year he has played in two or three years," was his version of accounts. What has the man himself to say on the matter? "Obviously it would be nice to have been involved with the county this year but it wasn't to be. I was happy enough with my form for Dunderry. Hopefully I can continue it next year." Despite O'Rourke's best efforts, Dunderry failed in their bid to repeat the senior championship win of 1995. (Pat Duffy (coach), Jerry Callaghan and Tommy Mulligan comprised the team's management for 1999). They blazed an impressive trail in the early stages, claiming the scalps of senior newcomers Blackhall Gaels, last year's finalists Oldcastle and Moynalvey in the process. Their only group defeat came against Skryne in the final game but that result was immaterial as qualification for the knock-out stages had already been secured. Besides which, Dunderry weren't at full strength, countymen Dowd and Callaghan were rested as a precaution. Summerhill emerged as their quarter-final opponents and a replay was required to separated the two. An injury-time Billy Shaw free earned the 'Hill a second bite of the cherry but Dunderry made no mistake the second day. With Brian Newman (0-3), Keith Folan (1-3) and John Brady (0-5) in good scoring form they secured their ticket to the penultimate stage. Stephen chipped in with two points for good measure. "We really should have won the first game against Summerhill but we eased our foot off the pedal. We led for most of the game but a couple of silly mistakes cost us . Our performance was much better the second day." A recurrence of his back problems ruled Tommy Dowd out of the two games against Summerhill but the three-times All Star was available for the semi-final clash with surprise packets Dunshaughlin. Dunderry had been installed as favourties for Keegan cup success by this stage but events didn't materialise according to plan. Dunshaughlin defied the odds, winning by 1-8 to 2-2. "That was a devastating blow," recalls Stephen who, incidentally, is the proprietor of a hairdressing saloon on Navan's Ludlow St. "We just didn't perform anywhere near our full potential, that was the disappointing thing. Dunshaughlin had their homework done and played very well. Some people say we might have been a bit complacent going into the game but I don't think that was the case. They caught us on the hop and we didn't do ourselves justice whatsoever." The oft' used expression 'there's always next year' will not have offered much consolation to the Dunderry faithful since their penultimate stage exit but the facts of the matter remain that the club boasts a high percentage of talented young players, mainly around the 18 to 23 mark, and they have the ability to go a couple of steps further in 2000. Players like Keith Callaghan (this year's captain), his brother, the aforementioned Barry and their cousin David, Kevin Dowd, Colm and Seamus Harte, Keith Folan, Damien Clarke and Stephen will feature prominently in Dunderry's senior XV for many years to come. "There are a lot of underage players coming up through the ranks. For example, last year we won the U21 championship and our minors were beaten by Walterstown in the championship final. That proves that we have some good young players. Then there's older members of the team like Tommy (Dowd), John Brady and Sean Kelly who will be around for another couple of years yet. Hopefully we'll get it right at senior level within the next couple of years." If they don't get it right then, according to Stephen, no finger of blame can be pointed in the direction of the likes of Billy Bligh, Jerry Callaghan, Pat Duffy, Tommy Mulligan etc. "Those fellas put an awful amount of time and effort into Dunderry year in year out. The players owe it to them to win a championship." Stephen first began playing football with the Navan De La Salles when he lived in the town. When the family moved out to Lawless Cross on the Navan/Athboy Road, he switched allegiances to St. Cuthbert's where Under 16 and Minor souvenirs were garnered. He first donned the black and white of Dunderry as a 16 year year old and was midfield for the club's 'greatest hour', the senior championship win of 1995 at the expense of Kilmainhamwood. His performances with St. Cuthbert's and Dunderry yielded selection on the county minor team of '94. Wexford proved to be the rock on which their championship ambitions perished that year. Two years later he was midfield on the U21 side which captured provincial honours before going under to Cavan in the All-Ireland semi-final. The disappointment at that defeat was eased by the All-Ireland senior triumph later that year. In 1997 he was partnered by Drumree's John Cullinane at midfield on the U21 team which, under the guidance of present county minor coach Gerry Cooney, went all the way to the All-Ireland decider. They were bidding for the county's second ever outright success at this grade (the first arrived in 1993) but Derry threw a spanner in the works. Stephen's intercounty career has been stuck in limbo since but as long as he continues to produce the goods for Dunderry on a regular basis, a phone call from Dunboyne's most famous herbalist may not be that far away. Tweet

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