Killeshandra celebrate their centenary in 2003. Though the club has fielded under a number of different names since its original inception as Killeshandra Sons of Erin in 1903, the GAA has been going strong in the area for a century now. What are the chances of them marking the landmark anniversary with a JFC triumph? Though they didn't make the impact they had hoped for in 2002, Killeshandra are looking to the future with a fresh outlook. With an energetic and progressive young chairman in place, they go into the '03 season full of hope. Killeshandra's prime objective for 2003 is to put the disappointments of '02 behind them and move forward purposefully and impressively. Returning to junior ranks for the first time since 1991, the Saffrons were expected to at least compete for honours. But they never quite built up a head of steam and the anticipated challenge never materialised. Without wishing to put too fine a point on it, their season was largely a non-event. There were some fleeting moments of encouragement - most notably towards the latter stages of their Division Three league campaign - but in general the Leaguers flattered to deceive. There are mitigating circumstances, however. Luck was clearly never on their side in '02 and they were forced to endure the long-term absenteeism of a number of key players due to a variety of reasons. Not once during the season ended did they field at full strength. Against such a backdrop, it's hardly surprising that Killeshandra failed to fulfil their potential. Bearing in mind too that they got off to a nightmare start in the JFC and were henceforth playing catch-up, one can readily understand Killeshandra's plight. Furthermore, with a new backroom team in place and all their key men back in the fold, Killeshandra are more than capable of making an impression in the current year. At the club's AGM on Sunday January 19th, Ollie Sheridan was appointed club chairman. The appointment marks a brave move forward by the Leaguers . . . their new chairman is only 27! He may have a young face, but Ollie has a wise head. He previously served the club as secretary in the late 'nineties and is also a former youth officer. In addition, he is also a playing member of the Killeshandra first team. Reflecting on the events of 2002, the new man in the chair notes: "It was a disappointing season on the field of play. We were back in junior for the first time in eleven years and we didn't managed to win any of our [four] games in the junior championship, which probably tells its own story. "But we have a number of players coming back from long-term injuries, as well as some lads who were away last year, so we are fairly upbeat at the moment." Training was going exceptionally well when I spoke to Ollie in early February. The chairman revealed that Killeshandra had a panel of 40 players, with an effective training programme in place. As more than half of those players are based away from home during the week (16 or 17 are in Dublin, for example), Killeshandra organise one midweek training session for the remaining players and then hold collective training twice at weekends. Everyone associated with the famous club (which has existed under a variety of handles since 1903) is hoping they'll improve considerably on their '02 showing. Just how disappointed was Ollie with the performances last year? "We expected to do a lot better," he admits. "We started badly in the league but then came with a late burst and won our last three or four games to reach the quarter-finals. We were on a bit of a roll but came up against a very strong Cavan Gaels side in the first round of the championship. Eight of their team had played in the senior championship final two years earlier and they were far too strong for us. "Needless to say, we lost heart after that and the heads went down. That game against the Gaels was the defining moment of our year and we never managed to turn the corner thereafter..." Killeshandra were in Section B of the JFC. They went on to lose their remaining three games to champions-elect Butlersbridge, Munterconnaught and Crosserlough, all of which was hugely disappointing. But it was without doubt the first game that set the tone for the remainder of the Saffrons' season: "A lot of the year went downhill after that result," Ollie confirms. "The lads were demoralised in the wake of that match and they couldn't pick it up again." After a hiatus of sorts, the league resumed and Killeshandra took their place in the last eight. Unfortunately, they had lost their momentum by now and were beaten by Cornafean. But at least their league campaign had provided some rays of light ... the occasional glimmer of hope. Victories over the likes of Butlersbridge, Munterconnaught and Mountnugent demonstrated quite clearly what the Leaguers were - and are - capable of. The club chairman concurs: "We know we're not a bad team and that we under-achieved last year. The Gaels game did all the damage, that's what knocked the stuffing out of us. "We now have a lot of lads back, though, and will be a different proposition entirely this year. Aidie Burns, Seanie Mahon, Raymond Burns and Gary Fay are all back in the fold. None of those guys featured last year and they were a big loss to us." Of course, it goes without saying that 2002 was no more disappointing than 2001, when relegation was suffered to the bottom grade. (Four years earlier, they were senior.) "That was a blow too," Ollie agrees. "But we're building a new team and will have to do so from scratch. We have lost a lot of players through injuries and retirements since winning the intermediate in 1996. In fact, none of that team is left now but we do have some decent young players coming through from a good under 16 team - Sean McKiernan and Ciaran Owens were both on the successful St Pat's panel last year." Indeed, Killeshandra are pretty strong at underage level right now and have been busy nurturing young talent from as young as U10 level for a number of years: "Although we haven't quite managed to win one yet, we have been contesting major underage finals these past few years," Ollie notes. "We have been building from U10 level up and are putting the right structures in place, beginning at the bottom. All the work is starting to show and our underage teams are looking a lot stronger. For example, the U10s won two of the three tournaments they entered last year and we are already starting to see marked improvements at U12 and U14 level, with some of it even filtering through to the U16s." Returning to the adult team, what are Killeshandra's goals for the present year? "We're aiming for the Top Three in the league and hope to get to a championship semi-final or final at least, if not win it. We are well capable of that. We're good enough to go all the way, there's no doubt about that. Whether it happens or not remains to be seen. But we're back close to full strength and so far everything is looking good..." And what about Ollie's personal ambitions for the club? What does he hope to achieve during his term as chairman? "Our main aim is to return to intermediate, definitely within the next two or three years. Everything else is in place, as regards finance, camogie, ladies football and the Scor is in a healthy state too. We also have our underage in order and work is ongoing on Pairc Phadraig Ui Dhuibhlin, so the senior team will be our main focus for the next two or three years." A lot has changed over the past 100 years but through it all Killeshandra GAA club remains as focussed and determined as ever. Expect them to pick it up in 2003... Tweet

Most Read Stories