In some areas of the county, the numbers game is all-important. At times, it's a case of all hands to the pump in gathering together a full quota of players at underage level. But thanks to the likes of men like Eugene Tormey, the Knockbride club invariably makes the best use of its crop of youngsters. While most attention these past few years has been focussed on Knockbride's annual attempt at fulfilling its potential at senior level, the work, meanwhile, at nurturing and developing a crop of future senior stalwarts continues unabated, year in, year out. The 'from small acorns do large oaks grow' adage could be said to have been conjured up with Knockbride GFC in mind. From east and west of the parish, a group of mentors come together each year to work beaverishly to make the most of the talent exhibited by whatever number of lassies and gasuns that are of an age to kick a ball, Gaelic-style. Well-known underage coach and referee Eugene Tormey is one such willing and able mentor. It's over ten years now since Eugene put his shoulder to the wheel at underage level in Knockbride. Ten years on and his enthusiasm and commitment to the cause is as strong as ever. "I get a lot of enjoyment from my involvement with the underage section of the club and even though we mightn't always get within striking distance of a cup, the fact that we're helping to introduce new, young talent to the club is the important thing. Today's underage players are tomorrow's seniors, after all," Eugene explains. As someone who has been at the coalface of juvenile affairs at Knockbride GFC for more years than most, Eugene is only too aware of how important the 'numbers' game is in determining the success, or otherwise, of the drive for honours: "We seemed to be particularly thin on the ground over the course of the past year and, apart from the under 10s, the panels were on the small side at all grades. We had only 13 players at under 14 and that figure included three girls. "The numbers that are available to us varies from year to year as does the numbers of players who turn up from east and west of the parish. For instance, twelve of our under 14 players in 2001 came from west Knockbride. Usually there's a balance in the numbers that turn up from west and east Knockbride but you nearly don't know from year to year how you're going to fare out with the numbers at underage. The numbers available goes in cycles as most other clubs would tell you too." The difficulties experienced by Knockbride with regard to limited numbers in personnel in 2001 at various underage grades was reflected in the lack of silverware which wafted its way to the east Cavan club. Eugene reports that the under 10s boasted an unusually strong contingent of some 30 footballers in 2001 and he personally has high hopes for their progress in the coming years. Meanwhile, the long-term club mentor reports that the club's under 12s showed a lot of promise in reaching the quarter-final of the Roinn D championship. "They should really have beaten Shannon Gaels that day in Redhills although with all of them eligible again next year, the team will have the chance to progress another few steps in the same competition." Similarily, Knockbride's outgoing panel of under 14s showed excellent commitment and dedication during the year despite losing out in the early rounds of the championship and falling at the penultimate hurdle in the league. Part of an excellent underage committee at Knockbride, Eugene is hopeful that the club can continue to produce the sort of talent that saw the red and greens triumph at under 14 Roinn D level in 1999 and prior to that when a John Tierney-led squad came good at both under 12 and under 14 levels in Roinn D and Roinn C. And given the massive progress that Cavan Gaels have made in recent times, one can expect the current Knockbride teenage brigade to lead a charge to the winners' enclosure sooner rather than later. After all, Tierney and co. were just narrowly beaten some years ago in the Feile na nGael county competition by a Cavan Gaels crew which included a number of players who featured on the county town panel that contested the Ulster club championship last Autumn. There's little doubt but that the Knockbride mentors at underage level down the years have done their very best to maximise the return from their oftimes limited resources. With the underage coaching underway each year on the first Saturday following St. Patrick's Day and continuing right through to season's end, there is plenty of football practice afforded the young boys and girls of Knockbride. Eugene - father of up and coming under 16 player Stephen - says that the talent emerging up through the ranks at the club is very encouraging: "I'd be surprised if we don't have at least three lads in the running for Fr. Manning Cup under 16 places this year and with the likes of Seamus O'Brien, Shane Reilly and of course John Tierney that bit older, the senior panel should be well strengthened with good young players in the next year or so." Certainly, the outgoing senior team-management of Hugo Reilly, Tom Traynor and Michael Sheanon could have done with all the talent they could have mustered for the league and championship campaigns of 2001. The annals of Cavan football will show that Knockbride seniors underachieved somewhat - at least in the eyes of the majority of football fans in the county. "I wouldn't disagree with anyone that said the seniors underachieved. I suppose expectations have increased since we won the intermediate championship a couple of years ago but unfortunately things haven't gone to plan at senior level yet. "Getting to the league semi-final in 2001 would be a good achievement for a lot of other clubs but when you have five countymen on your team, you'd be hoping to go a lot further. "Club supporters have been looking to the team to make a big impression in the senior championship over the last couple of years but we've made no headway there and that's been disappointing and frustrating for everyone at the club." So what's the missing piece(s) in the jigsaw? "It's hard to know but I think the players will have to give that bit more commitment in the coming year if they're to achieve what they're capable of achieving. "Being beaten in every championship match since we went senior isn't what people at the club would have expected after the intermediate championship win over Drung. "The team is a lot better than it showed in the past year. They shouldn't have had to rely on a win over Laragh in a relegation play-off to keep them up senior. But the players didn't put in enough effort during the year and that's why they found themselves in the predicament they did." Certainly with the likes of the three Reilly brothers, Ronan Keaskin and John Tierney in their ranks, Knockbride are capable of mixing it with the best there is in the county and acquiting themselves well. There is the suspicion though - and Eugene doesn't begin to disagree - that the current Knockbride team is on the cusp of reaching its peak as a team and if it is to make club history and win the blue riband title in Cavan then that win will have to be achieved within the next three years, at most. "There's no doubt but that the current panel is strong enough to go the distance in Cavan but all the players will have to put their shoulder to the wheel for the senior championship to be won." Still, Eugene reminds us that, win lose or draw, Knockbride GFC can count on the loyal support of one of the county's most hard-core group of fans. And anyone who has ever taken a right turn on the Cootehill-Bailieboro road down to the club's pitch on match day will testify to the passion and vibrancy of the Knockbride supporters. "The club's support most be the best in the county. I don't know any other club who can count on the kind of support that Knockbride can. Nearly everyone in the area has some connection with someone involved in the club." For his own part, you can take it as read that Eugene Tormey is in for the long haul where Gaelic football is concerned. Having played with the club in his younger days, Eugene has done the club proud on the refereeing front since taking up the whistle in '93. And over the last eight years, Eugene - husband of Margaret (nee McCabe) and son of current club vice-President Ownie - has performed admirably as the man in the middle at both underage and adult levels. So what prompted him to take up the whistle? "I just had an interest in refereeing over the years and decided to volunteer in '93 and so far I haven't regretted my decision even though the job is getting that bit harder as the years go on because players are becoming more and more outspoken on the field. "It's strange but it's the better known, more high-profile players that tend to talk back most. They are inclined to question your decisions more than other lesser known players. "In enjoy refereeing though. It helps keep me fit and I've met an awful lost of people through refereeing. That's one of the good things about being involved in the GAA." Here, here. Tweet

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