A disappointing year for St. Brigid's, Ballinacree culminated in relegation to the junior ranks. Team selector George Plunkett informs Royal County of the club's burning ambition to make a quick return to intermediate status in the season ahead. St. Brigid's five-year stay in the intermediate ranks came to an end on October 3rd last when a play-off defeat to Moynalty condemned the Ballinacree outfit to junior status for the coming year. It was a hugely disappointing result for Meath's most westerly club whose championship return of one victory and one draw wasn't enough to prevent them from making the dreaded drop. Team selector George Plunkett echoes the sentiments of club members when he refers to St. Brigid's demotion as being a "devastating blow". In spite of the setback, however, he believes the navy and sky blues can make an immediate return to the 'middle' grade. "Being relegated was bitterly disappointing, especially as we hadn't made the impression we had to hoped to make when we won the junior championship in 1994," he says. "Due to a number of factors, we struggled to make an impact in the intermediate championship and it finally told last year. It's going to take a huge effort to regain our place in intermediate football because there are a lot of good junior sides around. But we're optimistic about making a quick return." The first signs that 1999 was going to be a difficult year for St. Brigid's came when they were heavily defeated by St. Patrick's in their opening game of the championship. A creditable draw against Donaghmore-Ashbourne followed before Duleek inflicted a further defeat on them. Matters reached crisis point when both Moynalty and Bective took full points off the struggling Ballinacree men. St. Brigid's manager Paddy McNamee (a former Cavan and Ulster player) and his selectors George Plunkett and Michael Browne realised that defeat to Rathkenny in the final championship game would result in automatic demotion. With their backs to the wall, St. Brigid's responded to the challenge magnificently by grinding out a vital win. However, danger still loomed as the victory over Rathkenny only assured the Ballinacree outfit of a relegation play-off with Moynalty. Having lost to Moynalty in an earlier match, St. Brigid's were determined not to suffer defeat for a second time. In what was a fiercely-contested affair, Moynalty emerged victorious by two points. It is somewhat ironic then that George Plunkett regards the first defeat as the one which did most damage to St. Brigid's chances of surviving. "Moynalty were a real thorn in our side," he notes "not just because they stayed up at our expense but because the earlier loss we had against them started the rot. We had a numerical advantage for much of that game and somehow, we still managed to lose. If we had won that one, I don't think we would have gotten ourselves into a relegation dogfight." Inconsistency was stamped all over St. Brigid's year. They lost games they should have won and ultimately paid the price. Even in the league they struggled, narrowly escaping the drop to Division Four. So how do St. Brigid's intend to turn things around? George outlines their plans. "We're trying to build a team at the moment that could make a major impact at intermediate level. We've a good batch of young lads coming through but because seven or eight of them are only about 17, it could be a few more years before we get a settled team. "That's not to say that we aren't good enough to win a junior championship next year. Fellas like Martin Briody (a member of the 1999 Meath junior team), Paul and Stephen Farrelly, Niall and Fergal Hennessy, Ollie Timmons, Micheál and Ger Briody and Stephen Skelly are very much in their prime and they will be expected to backbone our challenge. Even now, we feel we have the basis of a decent team." The proprietor of the Blackwater pub in Kells knows only too well that there is no guarantee that St. Brigid's current crop of young players will be part of the scene in a few years time. He doesn't need to be reminded that when St. Brigid's captured the Junior Championship in 1994, great things were expected but never materialised. "When you're a small, rural club, you can never be sure of holding onto your best players," he remarks. "We looked to have a very bright future after winning the junior championship but due to retirements, transfers and emigration, only a handful of that team are still around. Three of our best players, Thomas Blake, Ronan Hennessy and Michael Maguire transferred to Ballinlough, Oranmore and Killygarry respectively. Obviously, we would like to see the younger lads staying around but there is never a guarantee that that will happen." While St. Brigid's have been in steady decline in recent seasons, neighbouring clubs like Oldcastle, Moylagh, Mountnugent, Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall and even Ballycomoyle have been making impressive strides in their respective championships. Plunkett and his colleagues are very much aware that football in the Lough Sheelin area is on a high at the moment and notes that St. Brigid's want to be a part of it. "We've seen many of our neighbouring clubs improve considerably over the past year or two. Unfortunately, we haven't been doing that well but at least there is an incentive there for us to match the feats of our neighbours. They say that success comes in cycles and we want to start savouring it again." Perhaps 2000 will be the year when St. Brigid's come alive once again. Under 21 win points to a bright future St. Brigid's disappointment at their relegation from the Intermediate ranks was eased somewhat by the success of their U21s in the 'Special' Grade C final. Bective was the venue as the Ballinacree men overcame Curraha's challenge on a scoreline of 1-11 to 0-6 in early November. The north Meath club last won this competition in 1993. The following year they won the junior championship. All concerned will be hoping that proves a lucky omen next year. Curraha had high hopes entering this clash. Their midfielder, Ian McManus, had made his debut for Meath in the National Football League clash with Clare the previous Sunday so they looked to him for inspiration. Despite his best efforts, St. Brigid's were never really threatened in this game and were by far the better team. Boosted by a Stephen Farrelly goal and a string of points from Fergal Hennessy, they were 1-5 to 0-3 ahead at the break. St. Brigid's continued in the same rich vein of form on the resumption and the lead was increased to eight courtesy of points from Hennessy and Brendan Gibbons. It was an outstanding all round team display by the winners with Donal Reynolds, Paul and Stephen Farrelly, Stephen Skelly and Hennessy particularly catching the eye. The St. Brigid's team which offered much optimism for the club's future was as follows: P. Skelly; B. Hussey, J. Hussey; D. Reynolds, P. Farrelly, P. Tuite; S. Farrelly (1-2), S. Skelly; B. Briody, F. Hennessy (0-6), S. Gammell; B. Gibson (0-3), R. Heary. Subs - P. Moore, H. Gilsenan. Tweet

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