A glimmer of hope
December 31, 1999
The Under 14 footballers of St. Mary's generated much optimism for the club's future when they captured the Division 4 League title. Here we talk to Francis Gogarty, manager of the successful team, about beating Bective in the final, losing the championship decider to Yellow Furze and what this success means to the club.
The trophy cabinet at St. Mary's hasn't been overburdened with silverware these past few years. However, during 1999, the cobwebs were brushed aside to make way for the U14 Division 4 cup which they garnered at the expense of Bective at Walterstown in July.
The last time the Donore club experienced the sweet taste of success at this level was in 1988 but they made a return to the winners enclosure thanks to the brilliant play of the likes of Anthony Doonan (eligible for the grade again next year), Peter Watters, Jack English, Stephen Bishop, Kieran Higgins, Brian Smith, Conor Dunne and co.
Francis Gogarty - he's been involved with underage in the 'Mary's since 1980 - was the mastermind behind the success. Considering that there wasn't high expectations concerning the team's prospects at the start of the year he was delighted with how things panned out.
"It was a great year for the Under 14s because we weren't too sure how they'd do. We got things up and running at the start of the year with a few challenges and the lads got on well together and trained very hard. We were fortunate in that we had a couple of easy games early on in the League and the team got into a winning run and things just developed from there.
"We had a very small panel, with only the bare fifteen/sixteen to work with. Some of our subs were only nine/ten years of age, hopefully they'll be winning competitions in a couple of years time. They're a very good bunch and played really well all year. They got their just rewards."
En route to capturing the Division 4 title, the Donore side claimed the scalps of Moynalty, St. Brigid's, Rathkenny, Slane, Carnaross, Kilmainhamwood, Ratoath (semi-final) and, of course, Bective. The Navan parish club were also accounted for in the first round of the championship while Slane, Nobber, Blackhall Gaels' second string and Ratoath (semi-final) suffered a similar fate.
Unfortunately, Yellow Furze proved to be a bridge too far in the decider. 4-10 to 2-11 was St. Mary's losing margin at Bective. Gogarty's charges got off to the worst possible start, conceding a goal in the first minute, and they were fighting a losing battle from there on in.
With wind advantage for the second half, they did mount a late rally but were unable to pip the 'Furze at the post. Francis, nonetheless, was proud of his players.
"To be honest, we didn't really expect to win going into that game. We were delighted to get so far and it was a big bonus that they played so well. A big crowd attended the final and the team gave it their all. That's all I could have asked of them. Seneschalstown had a very good team and deserved to win but I was very proud of our team's performance."
The St. Mary's underage cause isn't helped by the fact that there is very little football played in the local primary schools.
"We've a big problem in our club in that there is very little football played in the local schools. That means when players come down to us we have to start off with the basics such as the pick off the ground, the solo etc. It's only when they reach the age of fourteen that you can see the progress being made."
This progress comes about as a result of the hard work being carried out by the likes of Peter Moore, Billy Bell, Oliver Clinton, Michael Drew, Denis Craven, Martin McCann and, of course, Francis.
Meanwhile, it was a disappointing year for St. Mary's at adult level. Twelve months ago they were unlucky to lose out to Drumree in the county junior decider and had high hopes of going one step better in the year just coming to an end. Eventual winners St. Paul's, however, proved to be the rock on which their championship aspirations perished at the quarter-final stage.
"Getting beat by St. Paul's in the quarter-final of the junior championship was a big disappointment for the club. After reaching the final last year we thought we'd at least get that far again, and once you're there you never know what might happen. Hopefully, it will be a different story next year. We're always optimistic and we've a couple of good young players coming up. Derek O'Brien and Cormac Drew were involved with the Meath Under 17s this year. Hopefully, both can make next year's county minor panel."
Another straw which Francis and all at St. Mary's GFC are clutching at is a proposed housing development in the area.
"There's talk of new housing developments in the area so hopefully that will increase the population. It's a fact that there has only been one house per year built in the parish over the last twenty years. Because of our close proximity to Newgrange it's difficult to get planning permission. As a result, our population has remained the same while the rest of the county has increased. If this new housing does come about it will give the club a big boost."
Francis lined out in the green and red jersey in his time and has also taken a very active role at administrative level. He served nine years as secretary (1980-89) and was also chairman for six (1990-96). Nowadays, all his efforts are channelled towards the underage section and they are yielding the desired results.
The St. Mary's U14 panel for '99 was: Kieran Hughes, Christopher Nugent, TP Lenehan, Conor Dunne, Eddie Madden, Jack English, Leonard Wall, Peter Watters, Anthony Doonan, Brian Smith, Stephen Bishop, Leon Madden, Peter Lenehan, David Nolan, Alan Fisher, Dean Bishop, Alan McMahon, Gary Teelan, Stuart Barnett, Sam Hampshire.
Victorious swansong for Liam Smith
The curtain came down on the illustrious career of Liam Smith late last year when he helped St. Mary's comfortably dispose of the St. Brigids challenge in the 1998 B FL Div. 4 final replay at Drumbaragh. At the finish the scoreboard read St. Marys 3-16 St. Brigids 0-7.
The All-Ireland medallist signed off in style by producing a 'man of the match' performance. The exchanges were close throughout the initial clash, but Smith's contribution ensured that it was all one way traffic for the Donore side second time around.
He finished with a personal tally of 2-7 and registered the bulk of the scores as St. Mary's opened up a 2-7 to 0-5 advantage at the interval.
A rejuvenated Ballinacree challenge was expected on the resumption, but Smith, Alan Fulham, Tom McWeeney and Paul Dunne ensured that the eventual winners continued to hold the upper hand.
St. Marys - M. Sheerin; D. Hughes, E. Lynch, D. Smith; L. Reilly, B. Hughes, E. Craven; R. Lawless, T. McDonnell; L. Smith (2-7), S. Neary (0-1), A. Fulham (0-3); M. McCann (0-1), T. McWeeney (1-1), P. Dunne (0-2).
Subs - D. Hughes, C. Drew (0-1)
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