Pride in the Parish
December 31, 1998
Bellewstown's Alex Collins talks to Royal County about the ongoing struggles facing a small rural club and his own personal loyalty to the cause.
You'd think small rural clubs hadn't enough on their plate to worry about, but the perennial problems such as lack of finances or a small population pale into insignificance against the threat of one of their star players being poached by a bigger and better club.
Take Curraha for instance. John McDermott's abdication left an immeasurable void in their prospects of climbing the Meath GAA ladder. Would they have had to wait until 1997 for a Junior B championship success if the All-Star midfielder had pledged his future to their cause?
There are numerous other cases we could mention but unfortunately we don't have the space.
It's a situation which must be addressed immediately by the County Board or else the reality of extinction looms menacingly over the horizon for a large number of our junior clubs.
Since his elevation to the Meath junior squad, Bellewstown's Alex Collins has been at the centre of speculation linking him with a move to a more illustrious club. Refreshingly, the 20 year old is anxious to set the record straight.The lure of the more attractive club has proven irresistible to others from the Bellewstown area, but Alex has no intentions of switching his allegiances.
"Since I got on the junior panel people have been coming up to me and asking if there was any truth in the rumour that I was leaving," Alex reveals. "But I've never been tempted to go to another club. Why should I? I'm quite happy where I am."
He continues: "Stamullen, and to a lesser extent Duleek, swallow up a lot of the underage players from the area.
"True, we haven't enjoyed the best of times recently but there is a good spirit in the club. I'd never dream of leaving Bellewstown."
At the root of Bellewstown's problems is the fact that they field no juvenile teams, but plans are in the pipeline to remedy that minor indiscretion.
"As far as I know they are trying to get juvenile football up and running in the club. I do see Gerry Moore up at the pitch with a group of kids. They would have to start at the very bottom with an U10 team because there isn't enough numbers to start, say an U16 team.
"But it's definitely an ambition of the club to start juvenile football. That is the way forward."
1998 will not hold too many fond memories for the members of the east Meath club. Ardcath's Brian Carberry and selectors Jack and Robert Power were at the helm as Bellewstown suffered yet another mediocre championship campaign in the junior grade. Although, according to Alex, some fine displays in the league maintained a longer than usual interest in the eventual outcome.
"I suppose you could say that we were unlucky in the league," the apprentice bricklayer remarks. "We had a couple of draws and only lost two games and ended up missing out on a spot in the play-offs by a solitary point.
"Compared to the last few years we actually did ok. Brian Carberry did a lot of good work with us. But at the end of the day, unfortunately we weren't really good enough to do better in the championship."
What does the future hold in store for the yellow and blacks? "The average age of the current junior team is quite old but there are some good young players in the club," he replies. "In the last few years we have reached a couple of U21 semi-finals on our own so hopefully things will get better."
Bellewstown's run of bad luck, which stretches back for more years than they may care to remember, can in no way be attributed to their promising young midfielder. A late developer (he only started playing four years ago), his performances with his home club attracted the attention of the Meath junior selectors and he was rewarded with a place on the county panel.
It was a pleasant surprise for Alex when he got the nod from manager Eamonn Barry, because he admits that he attended the trials more in hope than in confidence. Reaching the final cut surpassed his wildest expectations.
"I went to a couple of trials and played a few games but when I was named on the team to play Laois I was very surprised. Approximately 52 players attended the trials and the majority of last year's panel was still available so it came as a shock to me when I got picked."
Offaly terminated the Royal County's interest in this year's provincial championship at the quarter-final stage. Alex was introduced at midfield as a replacement for Duleek's Karl McDonnell but was helpless to stop an impressive Faithful County side which subsequently went on to the All-Ireland decider.
"Offaly were extremely strong," Alex recalls. "I don't think there was anyone expecting them to be as good as they were. We played against the wind in the first half so we thought we would do better in the second half, but it didn't happen. They just slipped further and further away.
"But it was great to be involved while it lasted. I really enjoyed it. It was great for the likes of me who would never get the chance to represent the county at any other level, and it was an honour to wear the Meath jersey."
Alex's first cousin Brendan Reilly knows a thing or two about wearing the green and gold. Reflecting back over the Royal County's seniors campaign, during which his cousin was captain, Alex (like the rest of us) was disappointed with their Leinster final exit at the hands of the Kildare . . . although he didn't begrudge the Lilywhites their long overdue success.
"I don't really know what went wrong in the Leinster final. I suppose Kildare were the hungrier team, they appeared as though they wanted to win more than we did. Any ball the Meath forwards won they had to work really hard for and scoring chances were few and far between.
"Still they could have won it, but Kildare got that bit of luck which usually goes Meath's way and they ended up getting their hands on the cup. Fair play to them, they deserved it."
Calls for the resignation of Sean Boylan has come from some quarters, but Alex staunchly defends the Dunboyne herbalist.
"There's no way that Sean Boylan should be allowed resign. The man is a magician. He has worked wonders for Meath football and should be let continue in the job for as long as he wants," the midfielder argued.
Whatever happens, it won't quash Alex Collin's determination to return Bellewstown to it's former glory. The youngster is a vital cog in their plans for the future. Fingers crossed, one day he'll savour the success his loyalty deserves.
Bellewstown Ladies GFC
While the club did not enjoy much success during 1996,- our first year of existence. 1997 saw us reach the semi-final of the Under 16 championship. St Ultans beat us by 4 points in that game and they went on to win the championship. Our Junior team won the Skryne Tournament, beating Simonstown in the final. This year the team was unbeaten in both championship and league up to the junior final, where Simonstown beat us by 7 points. In the league section of the championship we beat Simonstown by 12 points.
The 13 weeks break from our last championship game against Kilbride on the 29th June, to the final on 11th October did not help preparations for the final. Also the loss of star midfielder Grainne Farrell through injury was a severe blow to our aspirations.
Committee in '98 was:
Chairperson: Bridie Brannigan
Vice Chairperson: Karen Reilly
Secretary: Ann Collins
Assistant: Sandy Brannigan
Joint Treasurers: Ann Collins and Patricia Lenehan.
PRO: Carmel White
Committee: Bridie Duffy, Patricia Power, Dianne Brannigan, Viveene Brannigan, Michael Collins and Peter Reilly.
Selectors: Michael Collins (coach and trainer), Peter Reilly and Bridie Brannigan.
The club held a successful race-night at the end of the summer. We would like to thank anyone who sponsored a race, horse, jockey or trainer.
Our appreciation also goes to the club's main sponsors Nature's Best and Paudge Howard. We would like to congratulate Bellewstown Girls School team who won the Fingal Schools League in June.
In '98 the club was represented on all county teams from Under 12 to senior level. Catriona Cunningham and Emer McAuley were on the senior team, while Emer McAuley, Fiona Kearns and Lorna Collins represented the county at minor level.
Grainne Farrell was our representative at U16 level while Niamh Brannigan was on the county U14 side. Clodagh Naughton and Tracy O'Halloran completed the representation at U12 level.
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