Shandonagh are in danger of becoming the nearly men of intermediate football in Westmeath as yet again they failed at the penultimate stage of the championship, although they did not finish 2003 entirely empty-handed as 'Maroon and White' reviews. A win over Maryland in the Intermediate Cup final went some way to making up for their heartbreaking championship exit to eventual winners Ballymore in the semi-final. But this rural club's ambition is to reach the senior ranks and with such a young talented side emerging from the area they may not have to wait much longer before they reach their goal. However as has proven their downfall in recent years, their failure to put away teams in the closing stages of matches is a problem that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later. In last year's championship, Shandonagh were placed as group favourites when they were handed a favourable draw with Killucan, Castletown Finea/Coole/Whitehall, Bunbrosna, Tang, St Loman's and Milltownpass. With the top three teams in each group qualifying for the knock out stages of the championship, qualification was almost a formality for the Sky Blues. But with top spot guaranteeing a place in the semi-finals, it was a major bonus to win the group. In their first outing in the championship in May, Shandonagh faced near neighbours Bunbrosna at St Loman's. Shandonagh started the first half brightly and scores from Alan Hickey, John Maher and Ray Smyth gave them a three-point lead at half time. Bunbrosna aided by a strong breeze in the second half held the lion's share of possession and they put the Shandonagh defence under increasing pressure. Goalkeeper Frank Finneran and backs James Kiernan, Keith Gallagher and Kevin Hickey performed heroics in the second half to keep the Bunbrosna forwards at bay but they couldn't prevent the Bun securing a draw right at the end of the match. Shandonagh secured maximum points in their second match against Castletown Finea/Coole/Whitehall when they scored a ten-point victory over the North Westmeath side. Once again Alan Hickey was the danger man for his side as this young forward further enhanced his reputation as a top class footballer. A five-point win was secured over Tang next in Moate. The former senior champions were expected to give the blues a tough encounter but it finished rather one sided as the 1-11 to 1-06 scoreline would suggest. It was a top of the table clash when Shandonagh met Killucan in their fourth outing. The game was played in superb conditions at Cusack towards the end of May. Shandonagh had the better start in the first half with their forwards moving particularly well and they deserved their three-point lead at half time. Killucan came more into the game in the second period and when they scored a goal midway through the half, the match was set for a tense final few minutes. Points by Michael Boyle and Padraic Lynn put Shandonagh in front but Killucan pulled level as the game entered injury time and although both sides had chances to win, a draw was probably the fairest outcome. Shandonagh know had four points from four matches with three games left to play in the group stages of the championship and they were well on course for the knockout stages. A 1-18 to 0-4 win was secured over St Loman's, while Milltownpass were also rather easily disposed of on a score line of 2-10 to 0-7 to leave Shandonagh winners of the group and guaranteed of a place in the semi-final, where they would meet Ballymore. Ballymore had come the long route to the semi-final via a play-off and quarter-final but they are a side that can never be taken too lightly and had sampled senior championship football in recent years. Shandonagh got of to the better start as Gerry Fitzgerald and Alan Hickey gave them a 0-2 to 0-0 lead in the first few minutes, but Ballymore soon took control of the game and were level after 13 minutes. They then went a point in front before Eddie Gallagher replied for the blues. Ballymore now looked the more purposeful and they went on to score three unanswered points in the remainder of the half to give them a 0-6 to 0-3 lead at the interval. If Shandonagh were to get back in this match they would have to up their performance ten-fold and whatever manager Cormac Davey said at half-time seemed to have the desired effect as the Mullingar border club came out fighting in the second half. It was ten minutes into the second half before Shandonagh really hit top gear and they were five points in arrears at this stage. Hickey was fouled in the small rectangle by Ballymore full back Pat Connaughton and the resultant penalty was coolly slotted home by wing forward Andy Fox. Despite having the lion's share of the possession, Shandonagh failed to convert their chances and although they narrowed the gap to just one point, Ballymore's experience was to prove the difference between the sides and they held on for a 0-9 to 1-5 win. The defeat was a bitter blow to Shandonagh who had high hopes of winning the intermediate title but the experience of defeat will stand to them in the future. The year was not a complete loss though as they were still involved in the Intermediate Cup and following a 1-16 to 0-7 win over Ballynacargy in the first round, Shandonagh met Killucan in the quarter-final. When the sides met in the championship, the match finished all square and another tight affair was expected. As they had done on so many occasions in the championship, Shandonagh started the better with Roy Smyth and Michael Boyle combining well in the forwards. A point by Alan Hickey on the stroke of half time left his side with a one-point lead at the break. The sides exchanged scores throughout the second half but Shandonagh held on to their slender lead and advanced to the last four. Their semi-final opponents were Castletown Finea/Coole/Whitehall and Shandonagh ran out easy winners on a scoreline of 2-11 to 0-4 with notable performances from Gerry Fitzgerald, David Duffy, Kevin Hickey, Tom Carr and Alan Hickey. In the final their opponents would be Maryland who also fell at the penultimate stage of the championship when Rosemount narrowly beat them and with both sides eager for some silverware, a competitive match was in store. Playing only a week before Christmas did not detract from the standard of football played in Drumraney with both sides eager not to finish empty handed. Maryland raced into early lead and following the opening exchanges it looked very bleak for Shandonagh as they trailed by five points after just seven minutes. Having beaten Killucan in last year's Intermediate Cup final, Shandonagh were keen to retain their title and a late surge before half-time cut the deficit to two points. The switch of James Kiernan to full back from centre back proved a masterstroke as he immediately shored up a leaky defence. Former Dublin player and manager Tommy Carr who transferred to the club during the year used his experience to settle his team mate's nerves and his calming influence particularly at the start of the second half proved instrumental. A goal by John Maher three minutes after the interval put Shandonagh in the lead for the first time in the match and at this stage they looked like they would coast to victory. With 15 minutes remaining the blues were leading by 1-10 to 1-06 but disaster struck as the influential Carr was forced to leave the pitch with a leg injury. Immediately, Shandonagh seemed to lose their shape as Maryland came back into the match with a point straight away, substitute Tommy Brennan did restore the four point lead when he fired over a point but Maryland narrowed the gap to two points with ten minutes of the match remaining. Then in the space of as many minutes midfielder David Duffy caught two attempted frees by Maryland that were sailing just over the crossbar before Kevin Hickey set up his younger brother Alan for an insurance point. Both sides were reduced to 14 men in separate incidents late on but Shandonagh held on for a merited win. Having won this competition for two years in succession and reaching the latter stages of the championship, Shandonagh have proved to be one of the top sides in the Intermediate grade, although they will be left with the tag of nearly men if this talented side fail to win a championship in the next couple of years. For the record the Shandonagh side that won the 2003 Intermediate Cup were: Frank Finneran, Andy Fox, Keith Gallagher, Martin Scally, John Maher (1-0), James Kiernan, John Rushe, David Duffy (0-1), Gerry Fitzgerald (0-1), Tommy Carr, Kevin Hickey, Paddy Duffy, Alan Hickey (0-8), Roy Smyth (0-1), Tommy Brennan (0-1). Subs -Vinny Hewitt for T Brennan, T Brennan for T Carr, Enda Carey for G Fitzgerald, P Tynan for P Duffy. Tweet

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