The hope of every Simonstown Gaels supporter going into the 2005 Senior Football Championship was undoubtedly that it would turn out to be a case of third time lucky and that the Keegan Cup would make its way to the north Navan club following the final defeats of 2003 and 2004. Losing finals is a shattering experience, especially when you throw away a commanding lead like Simonstown did against Blackhall Gaels two years ago. Reliving the losing experience a year later against Skryne didn't exactly feel good either and with some new faces on board for this year's championship hopes were quite high that it might just turn out to be their year. However, it wasn't to be and after mixing the downright ordinary with the impressive during the group stages, Colm O'Rourke's side bowed out at the quarter-final stage when going under to town rivals O'Mahonys who were gaining sweet revenge for a hammering by the Gaels during the 2004 campaign. To accuse Simonstown of being inconsistent is something of an understatement and their SFC campaign this year was no different as they diced with death in group B, yet eventually managed to secure second place in the section behind St. Patrick's. Simonstown's group also included Skryne, the team that shattered their dream of success for the second successive year in 2004, former three-in-a-row kingpins Dunshaughlin, last year's intermediate winners Wolfe Tones, St. Patrick's, Kilmainhamwood, Seneschalstown and Walterstown. Simonstown know how to take the scenic route to the business end of the championship and their form in the opening stages of the group campaign suggested they were going to take that path. Their opening match was against Seneschalstown and a share of the spoils was the outcome at Pairc Tailteann (Simonstown 1-9, Seneschalstown 0-12). The Gaels looked to be on their way to victory when an 11th minute goal from a John Lunney penalty boosted them to a 1-3 to 0-1 lead and they were ahead by 1-6 to 0-5 at the break. Seneschalstown, with Graham Geraghty in magnificent form, battled back to level terms (0-9 to 1-6) and edged a point in front. Simonstown hit the front again, but the Yellow Furze outfit had the final say when Cormac Quinn fisted a point eight minutes into injury time. Walterstown were next up for Simonstown at Seneschalstown and with Dublin imports Wayne McCarthy and Robbie Boyle making their debuts they had to fancy their chances. However, the newcomers failed to provide the anticipated spark or inspiration and the Blacks, with Eamonn Barry at the helm, scored a comprehensive 1-12 to 0-7 victory. A goal from Christy Reynolds helped open up a 1-5 to 0-2 lead for Walterstown and they were ahead by 1-6 to 0-5 at the interval. Simonstown needed a goal to ignite their challenge in the second half, but it never came as they managed to add only two points to their tally and were eight adrift at the finish. Wolfe Tones had made a very impressive start to their first campaign back in the top flight, but Simonstown bounced back in the third round to score their first win of the campaign (3-15 to 2-11) and inflict a first defeat on the intermediate champions who sorely missed the services of ace attacker Cian Ward. McCarthy scored a first half goal for the Gaels, but Tones got two in that period and those scores boosted them to a 2-6 to 1-6 interval lead, by which time their goalkeeper David Nolan, a former Simonstown custodian, had produced some great saves. Goals proved the key for the Navan men in the second half as John Lunney and Shane O'Neill both found the net and that helped them to be seven points to the good at the end. The impressive McCarthy top-scored with 1-5, Lunney got 1-3, O'Neill scored 1-2 and Boyle played a key role at full-forward. Castletown wasn't exactly a happy hunting ground for Simonstown during the summer of 2005 and, after intermediate side Nobber had eliminated them from the Feis Cup at the north Meath venue, Simonstown suffered a big championship setback when going under to Kilmainhamwood who were to end up bottom of the group. Simonstown's use of possession left a lot to be desired and eight first half wides while aided by the wind did' t help their cause either. They twice led by four points in that period, including after 13 minutes when O'Neill got their goal, but the Wood managed to be on level terms (1-4 each) at the break, with Paddy Carolan getting their goal. Ray Magee got 1-2 for Kilmainhamwood in the second half and that helped them lead by 2-8 to 1-8. Referee Seamus McCormack played plenty of injury time, but Simonstown failed to take advantage as Evan Kelly blasted a late effort over the bar. The Wood won by 2-8 to 1-9, thus earning their only victory of the group stages. It was clear that Simonstown are far better than that showing suggested and they went on to prove it as they won their last three group matches to claim the runner-up spot in the section. They looked determined and hungry as they defeated St. Patrick's by 1-11 to 1-8 in the fifth round at Ratoath, despite the absence of McCarthy who was away on holiday. Alan Meade starred at full-back and Hank Traynor did well to contain danger man Daithi Whyte. They suffered a setback when Lunney shot wide from a penalty after 15 minutes, but Boyle gave them a significant boost when he blasted to the net after a superb passing movement involving several players and that helped them to a lead they never subsequently relinquished. They were in front by 1-4 to 0-3 at the interval and pushed ahead by six points on two occasions in the second half. However, Niall Mooney scored a superb goal for the Stamullen men 10 minutes from the end to revive their hopes as they recovered to trail by only 1-7 to 1-9. But Simonstown didn't panic and held on for the win. Champions Skryne, without a number of regulars, but with a half fit Trevor Giles in their team, bowed out of the title race when Simonstown defeated them by 3-13 to 1-10 in the sixth round at Pairc Tailteann. Lunney scored three goals in the first half and that helped them to a commanding 3-6 to 1-4 interval lead. Their was simply no way back for Skryne after that. Simonstown beat Dunshaughlin by 0-13 to 1-7 in the final round of group matches at Pairc Tailteann as both sides advanced to the last eight. The Gaels kicked eight wides in each half, but with McCarthy in magnificent form they led by 0-5 to 0-2 at the end of the first quarter, by 0-7 to 0-2 at half-time and by 0-9 to 0-2 early in the second period. However, Dunshaughlin battled their way back into contention and a goal from Conor Staunton helped close the gap to 1-4 to 0-9. They twice got to within a point of Simonstown, but the Gaels held on for victory as late points from Lunney and McCarthy secured the win. McCarthy contributed an impressive seven points. The quarter-final against rapidly improving Navan rivals O Mahonys was eagerly anticipated and Mickey Downes men had their sights set firmly on revenge after the 12-point drubbing they suffered against Simonstown in the third round of group games in 2004. And O'Mahonys got their revenge as they deservedly won by 1-11 to 1-8. They led by 0-6 to 0-4 at the interval and were boosted by a Henry Finnegan goal in the first minute of the second half which pushed them five points clear. Boyle goaled for the Gaels with 11 minutes to go, but they had lost midfielder O Neill to injury early in the second period and he was a big loss. O'Mahonys switched Kevin Reilly back to mark Boyle and that move worked well as Paddy Smyth closed out the game for the Brews Hill side with two points to secure the win. Simonstown selector Con O'Neill acknowledged that the team was inconsistent in the group stages of the championship. "The expectation was there that we were going to stroll through the group stages of the championship after reaching the final in the previous two years," he said. "I don't think anybody in Simonstown would disagree with that." And when they did get through to the last eight they were halted by O'Mahonys. "It was an awful feeling to lose the quarter-final to O'Mahonys," he added. "It was devastating, more so for the players than for me because I'm a blow in. "I suppose O Mahonys were mentally stronger than us and they wanted to get back at us for the 12-point beating we gave them last year." Simonstown were strengthened by the arrival of Dubliners Wayne McCarthy and Robbie Boyle and O'Neill feels they have a lot to offer the club in the future. "It will take them a year or two to bed in and missing so many league games didn't help them this year," he said. "But I would be hopeful that they will make a big impact next year." And what of next year? "The aim will be to get through to the last eight and take it from there," he added. "We should be well capable of doing that." Tweet

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