The rags to riches story of the Bective Club should act as an inspiration to others throughout the Royal County. And now that they've sampled the sweet taste of success they're hungry for more as Royal County discovered when we talked to Juvenile Committee Chairman Dessie O'Brien. Perseverance brings success. If you have any doubts just ask the members of Bective Gaelic Football and Hurling club and they'll confirm it. Since 1964 they've struggled to carve a niche for themselves in the lower echelons of Meath GAA, but of late it seems as if they can do no wrong. They've discovered the ingredients of a winning formula, and look set to exploit it further in the years that lie ahead. Dessie O'Brien has been Chairman of Bective's Juvenile Committee for the last two years now so who better to ask what the future holds in store for the 1997 Meath Junior Football champions. After all there's hardly any better qualified. Although initially the Tara Mines employee was reluctant to talk to Royal County '98. It's not that he didn't want to help us out, I must add, but understandably didn't want to appear to be hogging all the limelight. "You'd be better off talking to the likes of John Moran, Mickey Morris or Joey Geraghty," was his reply when I contacted him. "They have been involved a lot longer than I have," he declared modestly. Thankfully, after much persuasion he relented and we got down to the serious business - Bective in the years ahead. "The future is extremely bright for Bective GFC," he states enthusiastically. "We have some very good underage players coming up through the ranks and I would fully expect us to be up challenging for major honours within the next couple of years." Indeed the club's performances at juvenile level over the last couple of seasons would appear to lend credence to Dessie's opening statement. In '97 they reached the Under 12 Div. 4 FL final before bowing out to Ballinabrackey - that was the first time an underage team from Bective had contested an underage decider going solo. In 1994 Minor Division 3 honours were garnered, but on that occasion they were in cohorts with Dunderry. In the year just ended, the green and white's brave bid for Under 12 glory met it's waterloo at the quarter-final stage with Kilmainhamwood proving to be the rock on which their championship aspirations perished. "Against Ballinabrackey in '97 we were holding our own up until the final ten minutes when they got a goal. Our heads dropped and we ended up losing by seven or eight points. The same year we also got to the final of the Under 10 blitz which was run by the County Board in Pairc Tailteann but unfortunately Curraha beat us. We were unlucky against Kilmainhamwood this year but we're extremely confident about our chances in '99". He continues: "We should have a very strong team next year and we would be expecting to do as well - if not better than in '97." Dessie is eager to point out that it's by no means a one man show he is running. He's only one of a number of men who sacrifice their time to cater for the juvenile end of things at Bective. People like Cannistown N.S. teacher Jerry O'Grady, Gerry Keating, Vino Keating, and Jason Cahill also chip in with their fair share of help. This is not the first time the affable O'Brien has been involved with a GAA club trying to establish itself as a force to be reckoned with. In fact you could say it's a case of deja vu for the Cannistown resident because when Bective's town neighbours Simonstown were in a similar position in the late seventies and early eighties, Dessie donned the sky blue and was also a Committee member. Subsequently Dessie's former club exploded onto the Meath scene, accumulating underage titles at their ease. Can Bective follow in the footsteps of the north Navan club up the Meath GAA ladder? "There's no reason why we can't," he replies assuredly. "As I said earlier we have the talent, it's just a matter of everyone working hard and pulling together. But the future is very bright. Emulating what Simonstown have achieved is certainly not out of the question." The high profile of both Simonstown and Navan O'Mahony's has left Bective fighting a losing battle when kids decide where to place their loyalty. The lure of the more attractive senior club has more often than not proved irresistible for the promising young ten year old, but Dessie reveals that measures have been put in place to ensure a fair share of the spoils for the Cannistown club in the years ahead. "Obviously it has been tough for us with the majority of young lads opting to go for the more fashionable clubs. But the Junior Championship win of '97 has placed Bective firmly on the map and we now have facilities which are excellent. Anyone who has been at our pitch will tell you that," he remarked. The last year and half has certainly been eventful for the gaels of Bective Gaelic Football and Hurling club. First there was the historic Junior Championship win at the expense of Skryne and then in May of this year a challenge match between Meath and Clare marked the Official Opening of their splendid new playing pitch and facilities. Dessie reflects back over the prosperous period. "The Junior Championship success was most definitely the highlight. I knew the team were going places under the excellent training of Martin Barry, but I must admit I didn't expect them to win the championship so soon. Even when they were in the final I felt that the occasion might get to them but you have to hand it to Martin. He had them prepared well and everything worked to perfection. "It was fantastic to see the smiles on the faces of men like Mickey Morris, John Moran, Liam Dunne, Joey and Tony Geraghty - men who have been there from the start. "The Official Opening of the pitch was another memorable occasion. For the months leading up to the big day it was a case of all hands on deck. On a lot of occasions we weren't finished until 9.30pm or 10.00pm at night but we got there in the end and it was well worth it. God must have been on our side too as we had a rare sunny day!" How does Dessie assess the green and whites debut season in the intermediate grade? "I think it was a learning process for the team. It will take a couple of years to settle in at this level but they have the ability to make a big impact. They were unlucky in a few of the games which cost them in the end but an intermediate win is definitely achieveable," he answered. "All in all it has been an exceptional twelve months. There's a big buzz around the place at the moment and most people are still on a high. At the end of the day it's great to be involved and please God we'll have plenty more to cheer about in the years ahead." THE SUN SHINES ON A GREAT DAY FOR BECTIVE FOOTBALL AND HURLING CLUB The dreams of men like Mick Morris, John Moran, Joey Geraghty and all Bective gaels became reality on Sunday the 10th of May when the ever burgeoning club officially unveiled their impressive new playing field and grounds. Meath and Clare provided an entertaining tussle for the 3,000 supporters who turned up - and all present gave the Navan club's fine facilities their seal of approval. The hard working Bective gaels' energy and vision has been rewarded with a clubhouse and playing field which are the envy of many clubs in the Royal County. Founded in 1964 by a group of local men under a tree, they had no permanent home for their first twenty-five years. Training and games took place in fields rented from local farmers with a railway carriage used for changing facilities. In 1989 they took the courageous decision to purchase land at Cannistown and major development has taken place over the last nine years. A playing pitch was laid on an extensive drainage system, making it one of the best surfaces in the county, and that in turn was augmented by a modern clubhouse, a spacious dug-out and a large car park. The official opening came seven months after the club's greatest ever day on the playing field - the junior championship win at the expense of Skryne. The cup took pride of place on display on the sideline, and to add to the celebrations their championship winning captain, Ruairí Russell, came on for the Royal County as a replacement for Tommy Dowd. Indeed, the home clubman's attempts at goal during the half-time kickabout were greeted with loud cheers of approval! Ironically, the growth off the field of play has coincided with progress on it. This year they competed in the intermediate championship for the first time ever, and in 1997 a 70 year gap was bridged when a junior hurling team was fielded. It is also hoped to affiliate juvenile hurling teams in the future. If coaches were depending on ultimate success in the championship and leagues as a reward for their endeavours, many of them would have decided to throw in the towel by now. But, at Bective the nurturing and development of a young players talents takes precedence over all else. The underage section of the club was formed in 1978, and thanks mainly to the efforts of Jerry O'Grady of Cannistown N.S., and others such as Bobby Swatman, John Moran and James Russell, Bective have provided football to the youngsters of the area ever since. Perseverance brought success in 1994 when, after a sequence of near misses, a Minor Division 3 title was garnered along with Dunderry. In '97 they reached their first juvenile decider on their own steam, but unfortunately Ballinabrackey proved too strong at the final hurdle. Since the development work was completed, Bective has become a regular venue for Meath championship games, Leinster colleges matches and training sessions for the county minor, under 21 and women's teams. In the souvenir programme County chairman Fintan Ginnity stated; "I would like to place on record Coiste na Mi's appreciation of the co-operation it has received from the club down through the years and especially in recent times when the pitch has been used for various challenge matches involving county teams". And the ambitious club have no intention of resting on their laurels. Founding member Micky Morris informed the crowd at the opening that this was just the beginning - further development work is planned at the Cannistown venue. This new initiative, it is hoped, will eventually allow Bective compete on an equal footing with neighbours Simonstown and O'Mahony's for the minds and hearts . . . and skills of the aspiring young footballers and hurlers of Navan. Under the dynamic leadership of chairman Paddy O'Connell and secretary John Moran, the executive commitee's track record proves that they have the organisational expertise, commitment and enterprise to see the further development to it's completion. Well done and the best of luck in the future to all concerned. Name: Ruairí Russell Date of birth: 9th December 1976 Height: 5'10" Weight: 10 and a 1/2 stone Club: Bective Honours (Gaelic): Captained Bective to 1997 Meath Junior Championship, 1994 Division 3 Minor Championship, U13, U14 and U16 hurling championship medals with O'Mathuna. (Other) Underage Leinster rugby medals Club debut: In the league against St Colmcilles in 1992 Toughest opponent: Fintan Lawlor of Dunsany Favourite Grounds: Croke Park, Pairc Tailteann Hobbies: Supporting Glasgow Celtic and a lot of socialising Favourite Position: Centre half forward Favourite Players: Trevor Giles, Tommy Dowd and Paul Curran Influences on your career: My parents and the various coaches who have trained me The high point of your career to date: Captaining Bective to the junior championship in 1997 Biggest disappointment: Not playing in the Leinster junior club championship due to injury Worst person to train that you know: Probably myself or Jeremy Allen. People put more effort into going asleep Most embarrassing moment on or off the football field: Playing on the same Bective team as Tomás Rafter. He thinks he's as cool as ice! Other players with a promising future: Robbie McCormack, William Tormey, Brian Hogge, Damien Cahill, Noel Moran (if he tries) Ways of improving the game: The death penalty for off the ball pulling and dragging of forwards Dislikes about the GAA: Having to stay in the night before matches and crap referees Relatives involved in gaelic games: My brother Matthew and a couple of cousins play for Bective Person you would most like to meet: A good looking woman but she has to have plenty of money and obviously not be too fussy Person least likely to be welcome in your home: Any Rangers player or supporter for that matter Phrase that you are least likely to use: Run on and I'll give the pass Pet Hates! Training in January and February, Monday mornings and my hair being out of place Favourite Music and Film: The Bee Gee's and Shawshank Redemption Ideal date: Liz Hurley What would you do if you won the lotto? Quit my job How would you like to be remembered: As a decent sportsman who liked a good laugh Tweet

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