Ok, that's a more irristable than factually correct heading. The truth is Donie Flynn is as enthusiastic as ever for the Baconstown cause as Royal County found out. For the footballers of Baconstown 1998 was a year that began suffused with hope and expectation. Indeed since 1994, when they reached the Junior final, the dawn of each season has been greeted with abundant optimism - the hope that maybe this time they will make the breakthrough into the Intermediate ranks. Alas and a lack, this year came to a rather unspectacular end - an early and unsatisfying departure from the Junior championship group stage. So it was a disappointing campaign, indisputably, but despite it all - the obliteration of promise, the premature exit - the footballers of Baconstown remain ever hopeful that in the future they can make the breakthrough they so ardently crave and, many would argue, the breakthrough their talent deserves. Many would also argue, albeit flippantly, that as least they have God on their side. Well, as we all know, God is on everyone's side, but at wing forward for the rural south Meath club is Reverend Donie Flynn who is in his final year at Maynooth seminary. That must surely be a bonus! Donie was very disappointed that Baconstown didn't live up to expectations this year, but he remains both pragmatic and hopeful. "We played seven games and we won four and lost three. Unfortunately that wasn't enough to see us through," he says. "It's very very tight and competitive in the junior ranks. I would say that there are 10 or 12 teams every season who fancy their chances. The standard between those teams is fairly even; there wouldn't be more than a kick of the ball between each side. When it's that competitive, it's difficult to be the team that comes out on top." At the moment Donie is as busy as a springtime bee. A difficult man to get hold off. His whole week is taken up. I got him on a November Thursday, just after he had returned from visiting the schools in the Batterstown/Kilcloon area. With Blackhall Gaels fresh from their victory over St Pats in the Intermediate final, they were all in great form he says. "South Meath has had a triangle of success this season with Blackhall Gaels, Dunboyne and Drumree. It's great to see our neighbours enjoy such success. We're all close rivals in south Meath but when a neighbouring club wins something it's great to see, because it can act as an inspiration too." This year is Donie's seventh and last in Maynooth. All the exams are over and, as a deacon, he's mostly occupied now with practical work. Being a Deacon is the final step before becoming a priest. You can't hear confession or say mass, but you can preach, baptise, marry and do funerals, or 'hatch, match and dispatch' as Donie says. He will be ordained in June and he is really looking forward to it he says. Just one thing; what if he's sent to a parish some distance away, making involvement with his beloved Baconstown almost impossible? "That's a question a lot of the lads have been asking me," says Donie. "I don't really mind where I'm sent but it all depends on Bishop Michael Smith. Wherever I go, I'll do my best to keep playing with Baconstown. If I'm sent to south Offaly that might make it nearly impossible to come back, but we'll have to wait and see. "Whatever happens, I think Saturday night games will be ruled out," he adds with a chuckle. Currently undergoing extensive pitch re-developments, Baconstown is a dual club and indeed Donie was midfield on the side which won junior hurling championship in 1996. He loves both games and has played Sigerson and Fitzgibbon cup for Maynooth college. Although he doesn't manage to train with the club on Tuesdays and Thursdays, he maintains a rigorous fitness programme for himself during the week. Usually the only time young seminarians are allowed home is at Christmas, Easter and Hallo'ween, which is why Donie feels indebted to both Bishop Michael Smith and Baconstown. "The Bishop has been very good to me. He's a football lover himself so he understands what it means to be part of the club. "It's great coming home on a Sunday to play football. It's a break from the routine and it also allows you to stay in touch with family and friends. There's is a great atmosphere at the club - everyone looks after each other and there's always great banter." Donie is regarded as a vital forward for the club, a well-built player who'll never shirks from the uncompromising challenge, which brings us nicely to the point that the football pitch is an arena more associated with beastly behaviour than priestly behaviour. "Yeah, the lads often slag me a bit when I go in for hard for a 50:50, saying that as a holy man I should be more compassionate. But I suppose you have to do what you have to do." They rate him highly in Baconstown. He's being playing with the Juniors since he was 17, which is about seven years now. He fondly remembers 1994 as his best year when the club made it to the final in Pairc Tailteann. "I was over in London for a bit of experience that summer and the club brought me home for each game. I will never forget that. They have treated me very well and I will always be in debt to them." As for the final: "We met St Brigids and I remember we let a seven point lead slip. We ended up losing by a couple of points. That's the closest we've come to getting out of the junior ranks. The next year we made it to the semi-final where Drumconrath beat us and since then we haven't qualified from the group stages. We still have the majority of that team from 1994 so we know that we are capable of achieving success." Well, a good start is that they are a close knit club, full of brothers - the McCluskeys, the Dohertys, the Fagans, the Flynns, the Hanleys and the Kirbys. Perhaps an even better one is that next year, they'll have a father too. Clan na Gael on the up Clan na Gael were beaten in this year's U14 division 3 league final by Boardsmill. However, it is probably fair to say that if they had got the rub of the green that evening they may well have been victorious. The opposition scored a couple of goals at vital times and a late disallowed goal by Clan na Gael was the crucial difference between the teams. The team was also beaten in a close match by Ratoath in the championship semi-final. Clan na Gael was set up in 1992 and has enjoyed moderate success since then. Like all clubs nowadays it is very difficult to find people to look after teams. This is exasperated by the fragmented structure of gaelic games in the parish it serves. There are three adult football clubs (Enfield, Baconstown and Rathmolyon) and two hurling clubs (Baconstown and Rathmolyon) in the parish. It goes without saying then that resources are very stretched! However, hope springs eternal! There are a dedicated few who work tirelessly in the cause for Clan na Gael, and there is a feeling that the structures are now being put in place which will harness the huge natural talent available to the club and bring the parish to the forefront of Meath football sometime in the future. Children are being coached regularly from the age of 8 upwards. A number of our coaches have successfully completed foundation level and level 1 coaching courses organised by the Meath County Board. Since its conception the club has entered teams in all grades from U12 to minor every year. Much hard work has to be done in the years ahead and the charge is being ably led by our Chairman Jim Queeney, secretary Charlie Flattery, Eamonn Dargan, Matt Coffey, Jim Barrett and others. The future looks bright for the club when they can produce players of the calibre of Niall Dixon. Brian Queeney, Ray Mooney, Michael Monaghan, Mark Coffey, Alan Smyth and others who starred for our nearly successful U14 team this year. U14 team mentors: Jim Queeney (Manager), Paddy Monaghan and Timmy Gorman. Clan na Gael GFC Tweet

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