Senior football returned to the ever-expanding town of Dunshaughlin in 1998. How did they adapt? Royal County finds out. With the number of housing estates being erected in every available nook and cranny and its ever burgeoning population, concerns were voiced, at County Board level in recent times, about the failure of Dunshaughlin to achieve senior status. A large town of it's kind should be competing at the top level it was argued. That little indiscretion was remedied in '97, when after years of underachievement, they finally realised their potential to get their hands on the Intermediate Cup. The question then was could they comply to the high standards which the premier grade set? The general consensus was that they were a predominantly young team and would require time to mature into serious title contenders. That line of thought still holds true today. A year of mixed fortunes is the best way to describe Dunshaughlin's return to the premier grade in 1998. True, they failed in their bid to qualify for the knock-out stages but some fine performances augurs well for the future. When the draw was made in early March, the reaction was positive. Simonstown and Skryne would provide stern opposition, but there was no reason to fear Moynalvey, Ballinlough or Kells. As events transpired, Section B of the BCR Press sponsored Senior Championship proved to be as unpredictable as the summer weather during which it was played! The Black and Ambers opened their campaign with a clash against 1997 semi-finalists and championship favourites Simonstown in Pairc Tailteann. It was to be an unhappy debut for the Dunshaughlin players with the Navan side grabbing maximum points on a scoreline of 1-7 to 0-6. If there was an award for the dullest encounter of the year this would have been high amongst the list of nominees, and the statistics lend credence to this view. In the first half the small attendance was treated to four scores and seventeen wides. Included also was a twenty minute period during which neither team managed to raise a flag. The fact that the eventual losers only scored once from play suggested that a lack of potency up front could cost them dearly in future games. But it wasn't all doom and gloom for the newcomers. Colm Bracken got the better of the midfield exchanges against Louth captain Gareth O'Neill, and Francis Darby and Dermot Kealy impressed in defence. A second round date with Kells was next on the agenda. At that stage the Dunshaughlin contingent believed they needed, at the very least, a draw to maintain their interest in the competition, so when they lost by 0-11 to 0-8 it was a subdued traffic line of Dunshaughlin supporters which made their way back up the Dublin Rd. But as word filtered through of results in the other group games they realised they had been thrown a lifeline. Ballinlough overcame Skryne, while Moynalvey created arguably the biggest shock of the championship when they defeated Simonstown. With an unenviable 100% record, the reigning Intermediate champions were pitted against undefeated Ballinlough in the third round. Despite the early loss of inspirational midfielder Colm Bracken the new boys on the block championship aspirations were well and truly revived with a impressive 1-12 to 0-9 victory over their north Meath rivals. Bracken sustained a broken collar bone shortly after the throw-in which forced a complete reshuffle which brought substitute Padraig O'Dwyer into attack, Dermot Kealy moved to midfield to partner Colm Naughton and Richie Kealy took over at centre forward. A Dunshaughlin victory didn't look on the cards at half-time when they trailed by 0-4 to 0-2 at the interval, having squandered 10 good scoring opportunities. County junior star Richie Kealy was the sole Dunshaughlin player to trouble the scoreboard operator in the opening period. On the resumption, Ballinlough resumed where they had left off by notching another point. But out of the blue Dunshaughlin clicked into gear and five unanswered points from Stephen Claire and Dermot Kealy (two each) and Richie Kealy placed them in the driving seat. Claire and Dermot Kealy struck again before the end of the third quarter and all Ballinlough could muster was a solitary point. They were forced to make some switches which had a positive effect when they reduced the deficit to the minimum, substitute O'Dwyer, who made a big impact when introduced, steadied the Dunshaughlin boat with a point. Ballinlough restored parity with six minutes remaining but a strong Dunshaughlin finish, which yielded points from Graham Dowd and Dermot Kealy (free), put the issue beyond any doubt. Moynalvey were next in the firing line. In what was essentially a winner takes all scenario, Dunshaughlin enjoyed a reversal of fortunes coming out on top on a scoreline of 0-10 to 1-5. Graham Dowd opened the winners' account with two frees before adding a brilliant third from play. Moynalvey replied with a brace of points, but Dunshaughlin fullforward Tiernan O'Rourke was causing all sorts of problems for the Moynalvey defence and he rounded off an excellent move in the 15th minute with a point, before David Tonge stretched the lead to two. The team in maroon and white received a boost when Dunshaughlin goalkeeper Brian O'Rourke uncharacteristically fumbled a shot, which was directed straight at him, into the back of the net. Stephen Claire replied for Dunshaughlin to leave it all square at the interval, 1-3 to 0-6. The second half took a similar course. Dowd and Colm Naughton pushed their side two points ahead but Moynalvey had fought back to square things up by the three quarter stage. Dunshaughlin kept their composure however, and two points from Aidan Kealy and Dowd was enough to see them cross the finishing line ahead. By the time the final group games came along, Section B was delicately poised. Dunshaughlin required a win against Skryne to secure a play-off spot alongside Ballinlough, Simonstown and Kells. But similarly, nothing less than two points would be sufficient for their opponents to progress. Sadly, it was Dunshaughlin who lost out, by 0-12 to 0-10. Yet, with 38 minutes played they led John McDermott and co. by 0-10 to 0-7. But the Tara side's greater experience was the deciding factor in the end. The intermediate champions had marginally the better of the exchanges in the first half and deserved to go into the break, 0-8 to 0-6 ahead. Aidan and Denis Kealy, Niall Kelly and Stephen Claire in particular, excelled during that period and the lead would have been greater but for five poor wides in the second quarter. They looked to be cruising after a brace of points from Dermot Kealy established that three point lead eight minutes into the second half, but Skryne upped the tempo to shatter Dunshaughlin's dream of further progress in the 1998 Meath senior football championship. Reflecting back, Dunshaughlin gaels have every reason to be satisfied with their year's work. Encouraging wins over Ballinlough and Moynalvey coupled with their near losses to Simonstown, Kells and Skryne is a clear indication that they were by no means out of their depth. The Meath Chronicle headline following the Ballinlough game read 'Jekyl and Hyde Dunshaughlin'. That basically sums up their year. But it should provide a tremendous boost to the town to have them back amongst the big boys. The Dunshaughlin team which contested the last group game against Skryne was as follows; B. O'Rourke; F. Gogan, K. McTigue, K. Kealy; R. Yore, A. Kealy (0-1), C. Byrne; C. Naughton, N. Kelly (0-1); S. Claire (0-4), R. Kealy, Denis Kealy; D. Tongue, Dermot Kealy (0-4), T. O'Rourke. Sub - G. Dowd Byrne sees many bright points Dunshaughlin captain Ciaran Byrne says that the club's first year back in the senior ranks was an invaluable learning experience. Words: PAUL O'KEEFFE. More than a year now has unfurled since that famously overdue victory; the one that was greeted with a thousand exhalations of relief. In that time, critical experience has been acquired. As has perspective. Dunshaughlin captain Ciaran Byrne appraises the difference between the senior and intermediate ranks succinctly: "We thought it was going to be difficult and we were nervous," he declares, in reference to his team's promotion. "But it wasn't as difficult as we thought at all. Half way through certain games we realised that we were well capable of holding our own. But sometimes we were losing by that stage - and it was here that we found the big difference between senior and intermediate. "Last year, in intermediate, we could be playing poorly in the first half and still come through. But not in senior. In senior, you had to be on the ball from the start. But in some games nerves really got to us and we were caught out." Five games Dushaughlin played in their heralded return to the senior ranks. They won twice and lost thrice, but that skeletal statistic allows one too draw an inhibited conclusion only. Their aggregate score, for and against, paints a clearer picture. Through the lens of wholesale hindsight, one sees they suffered a narrow one point defeat, 1-46 against 2-44, in a group that included Simonstown, the club widely tipped for outright glory, and Ballinlough and Skryne whose own lofty aspirations could be depended upon to offer pitiful charity to the senior newcomers. In all, then, it was a debut display the footballers and officials of Dunshaughlin can feel justifiably proud of. The Captain, who has high standards and an authorative presence on the pitch, has time to say, however; "Our aspiration at the beginning of the year was to get out of our group, have a good run in the league and have a good run in the Feis Cup." So basically, he's inferring this: that they achieved none of their objectives. In the cold light of print, such an appraisal appears harsh. At another angle though, it alludes to the positive attitude Byrne personally, and the club in general, adopt in their quest to make Dunshaughlin one of the strongest teams in the Royal County. "We're looking to the future optimistically," Ciaran states. We've a very young team. In one of our championship games, our oldest player was 28. A lot of guys are still playing U21 and if we can keep everyone together for the next couple of seasons, then I'm sure we can start achieving some of our objectives." How about a Keegan Cup? "Within three to five years, I think that is a definite possibility." Arduous Trek At 27, Ciaran Byrne is around long enough to chronicle the good days and bad. It was a long and arduous trek to the summit of senior football. Perhaps, though, one courts comeuppance for even saying that. Or saying it like that, in such understated terms. At times, the climb must have appeared Himalayan, purely unforgiving and cruel for the footballers of Dunshaughlin. Had you looked up, only two years ago, the picture dictionary definition of the word 'underachiever' you would unq uestionably have found the team shot of Dunshaughlin, looking unspeakably lugubrious. In their five seasons prior to clinching the Intermediate cup, Dunshaughlin contested six championship semi-finals (including two replays) and were unsuccessful in every one of them. They brought underachievement to new, unchartered extremetities; reduced the prophecies of the majority to rubble. How could a town the size of Dunshaughlin, a town that was expanding at dazzling speed, not have a senior football team? "It was the semi-final," reasons Ciaran. "That was our stumbling block. Once we got over the semi-final, which we did in '97, we knew we would win it. Over the years, we had put a lot of pressure on ourselves by losing in so many semi's. It had become a major psychological barrier. Once we got passed one, the pressure was off." Indeed, in the final, Duleek were dismantled with swagger. Last season's preparations began in January. The manager Tagdh Fallon brought down his old pal from Dublin to train them, Dave Foran. When they were fit and ready, Foran left and they contemplated Simonstown. It didn't quite go as planned, as Byrne - who doubles up as a team selector - explains: "It was our first senior game as a team and we were playing Simonstown who many regarded as favourites for the championship. A lot of our guys were very nervous. In the first 20 minutes we struggled and, in the end, probably two defensive mistakes cost us the game. They were conquered by Kells, as well, which seemed to be curtains for their championship hopes. But it wasn't. "Everybody seemed to be beating each other in our group," says Byrne. "No one team seemed capable of taking a grip on things. In our last game against Skryne, we were basically fighting for a place in the semi-final." Such a tantalising culmination came courtesy of two spirited victories - firstly over Ballinlough, who were high flying at the time, and then Moynalvey, the weakest team in the section. Their maiden win resulted from their best performance of the year and appropriately it threw them a lifeline. "Ballinlough only needed to beat us to secure a place in the semi-final. I remember they were bitterly disappointed after that game." Dunshaughlin, however, were equally, if not more, disconsolate following their narrow loss to Skryne in the critical, final encounter. At the interval they led 0-8 to 0-6 and when they went three points up early in the second half they appeared to be on their way to a semi-final play off against Ballinlough. But it wasn't to be. Experience proved to be Skryne's most valuable asset and they fought back to win by 0-12 to 0-10. "We were absolutely gutted to lose out. We really thought that we going to do it, but we had huge number of wides - 13 in all. And Skryne had four. "I suppose," he reflects ruefully, "its just one of those things." So it was an up and down year; a priceless year in terms of experience. "We have got over the fear of the unknown now," Ciaran says. "Perhaps mentally last year we weren't quite right. In some games we went to sleep and paid for it. But I don't think that will happen next time." Tweet

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