Noel Lynch has experienced highs and lows on a football field but it's the lure of next season that keeps him coming back for more. Following the heroics of 2000, Killucan came crashing back to earth last season as their return to the intermediate ranks was filled with a litany of heavy defeats. This was all the more surprising considering the ease in which they captured the junior title the previous year. A twelve point victory over St Joseph's in the county final had suggested they were ready to make an impact at a higher level, a point graciously accepted by their most well-known player Noel Lynch. "I really thought we'd do better than we did," he admits. "I know it's a big step up but I thought we'd deal with it better than the results showed. It's hard to explain what went wrong. I guess we just weren't as prepared as we should have been." Admittedly, Killucan got drawn in a tough group, which contained intermediate champions St Malachy's, finalists Rosemount, semi-finalists Miltownpass, as well as Ballinagore and Athlone. The first real test of their mettle came when they met Miltownpass but a slow start meant they were always chasing the game and they finished up on the wrong side of a 2-9 to 1-5 scoreline. Two weeks later St Malachy's added to their woes, recording a resounding 2-10 to 0-7 defeat over a clearly shaken Killucan side. "That defeat more or less ended our chances of progressing to the knock-out stages," Noel continues. "We were playing for pride more than anything after that. We gave Ballinagore a good game and only lost narrowly (2-11 to 2-7) having led for most of the game. Although the less said about the Rosemount game the better." Rosemount's 25-point winning margin in no way reflected the obvious talent in the Killucan camp. It was just a bad day at the office, one of those games when they had nothing to lose and even less to gain. "Sometimes it's hard to motivate yourself after a very successful year," offers Noel "We had a great year in 2000 and the lads might have been a bit drained after it. But we owe it to ourselves and the management to stand up and be counted this year. Otherwise we'll struggle again." The year two thousand brought Noel Lynch his first junior championship medal and with it, a giant dam burst of relief. Having suffered the disappointment of relegation the previous year, the contours of a medal never felt better. "The manager came into the dressing room afterwards and the celebrations cranked up a gear but, generally, everyone seemed oddly composed. The satisfaction came when we brought the cup back to Killucan," Lynch reveals. With a quarter of an hour remaining in the final, the result was already beyond doubt. St Joseph's were being overun in the most merciless fashion possible. Every touch of the ball was being cheered by the Killucan supporters and in the stand, the aisles were congested with faithless St Joseph's people jumping ship. If his concentration had wandered momentarily and he diverted his gaze from the action on the field towards the exodus in the stands, Noel might have allowed himself a wry smile. Even by the lofty standards set in 1992, Killucan's display against St Joseph's was definitely one of the better days, and Lynch's contribution displayed all his old trademarks: ferocious competitiveness for possession and constant movement up and down the field in support of attack and defence. He embellished the performance by helping create Paul Briody's goal, the score that levered open the chasm between the sides. Noel Lynch's story is both tragic and heroic. He was always passionate for the game and played at all levels for club and county. "His enthusiasm was infectious," recalls former county teammate John Cooney. "Regardless of whether it was a serious game or just a training match he was the sort you'd always rather have on your side then against you. From the moment he came on to the panel first he was very competitive, very single-minded in his approach to getting the ball. If he ran into you when he was travelling at pace, with his size and power you'd know all about it." Ultimately, that drive was infectious. He was drafted into the Westmeath senior panel at the start of the '93/94 season and made his debut as a substitute in the NFL game against Carlow in Moate. He retained his place for the away tie against Carlow in Moate. He retained his place for the away tie against Limerick and soon became a regular in the side, forming a formidable midfield partnership with Cooney. "He was one of the best players I ever played with," adds Cooney. "As a midfielder he was exceptional. We worked very well together." In the space of a few months he moved from the fringes of the team to the mainstream. And with Lynch in the cockpit, Westmeath qualified for the NFL quarter-final and a joust with defending All-Ireland champions Derry. "That was a day which will live with me forever," Noel reveals. "We weren't given a prayer of beating them but we did. It gave everybody in the county a huge lift at a time when they hadn't much to shout about." At centre-field, Lynch came into direct conflict with the partnership of Anthony Tohill and Brian McGilligan, yet still dictated the game. Westmeath won 3-6 to 0-11 and in the process raised many eyebrows around the country. The fairytale came to an end at Croke Park when Meath edged them out 0-15 to 0-11 in the semi-final but the reception they received in Kinnegad that evening was worthy of a team bringing home the silverware. Lynch's flowing locks had made him a popular target for opposing team's supporters and he was soon one of the most recognisable figures in Westmeath. He was a regular in Mattie Kerrigan's team again the following year but tragedy struck that summer and suddenly, football was the last thing on his mind. An unfortunate clash in a hurling match left his needing an operation to repair his eye and his career was temporarily put on hold. Lesser men would have buckled under such circumstances but Noel was adamant that he'd play again. The resultant inactivity had given him plenty of time to think and he began to realise the importance of football in his life. He resigned himself to that fact that his Westmeath days were over but that only made him more determined to don the Killucan colours again. And last year, his dream was realised when he was the proud and popular recipient of the Junior Championship Cup. "It was a very emotional day for me," he concedes. "It was the sort of day that gave me the courage to come back. I love playing football so when you win something it's a real bonus. But I'm just thankful that I was able to be a part of it." So what does next year hold for Noel and his Killucan teammates? Intermediate championship, he teaches, is an entirely different planet. "There's a fella breathing down your neck the second you get the ball. It's a lot more intense. If you can deal with that then you'll be okay but if you can't you'll fall adrift. But I'm confident that we'll have learned from last season." Another reason why Killucan fared so poorly last year was the absence of Padraig Leavy. A serious knee injury meant the promising youngster missed the entire season and Killucan struggled without him. "He's going to be a fantastic player," Lynch insists. "He's already achieved so much and he's still only 20 years old. He was a massive loss to us last year. He's such a great all-rounder. I can see him playing senior football for Westmeath for years and years." Inevitably, comparisons have been drawn between Lynch and Leavy. Both are strong, forceful players with burning desires to win and succeed. They refuse to buckle under pressure and can match physical strength with skill and craft - virtues inherent in all great players. "It'll be great to have Padraig back this year and I'm really looking forward to playing with him again. Hopefully we'll acquit ourselves better than we did last year. And if we put a good run together that'd be great. Whatever happens, we'll give it our best shot." It was never any other way with Noel Lynch. Tweet

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