The strong sense of camaraderie and team spirit that permeates Geraldines GFC has been a huge source of comfort to Brian Farrell during the most trying period of his life. As goalkeeper, Brian has served the Gers magnificently for the past two decades. Here, he tells Gerry Robinson how, in turn, the club was there for him in his darkest hour. When Geraldines took to the field for their 2003 intermediate football championship clash with Sean McDermotts at Louth village on July 5th, it was a bitterly emotional occasion for goalkeeper Brian Farrell, a stalwart of the team and traditionally one of its bubbliest characters. This was a distinctly sombre occasion, however. Exactly one year earlier, the Gers clubman's private life was torn apart when his beloved partner Joan lost her life in a road accident, leaving him behind along with their two children, Mary (now 14) and Kurt (6). Under such tragic circumstances, it would have been easy for Brian to give up on life altogether and spend the rest of his days wallowing in self-pity. Indeed, nobody would've blamed him had he chosen to do so. But each time he looked at Mary and Kurt, Brian knew he wasn't alone. There was still purpose to his life ... so much to live for. Besides, when you've two young children to consider, you don't get a lot of time to think about yourself anyway! The scars of what happened in July 2002 would never heal completely - how could they? - but Brian was determined to put a brave face on things, to accept the cards so cruelly dealt to him, and to somehow get on with his life. By focussing on what he has, rather than what he has lost, Brian Farrell has so far managed to come through his nightmare at least partially intact. There is no greater endorsement of one's strength of character and sense of responsibility. Had the Gers No.1 opted out of the McDermotts game - or, for that matter, football altogether - nobody would have batted an eyelid. Typically, he decided to soldier on. It's difficult to imagine the torrent of emotions that must have flooded through his mind as he ran out onto the St Mochtas pitch that night in July or how he must have struggled to keep his concentration in check through those 60 minutes of championship action. Both Brian and the team came through unscathed. A 0-16 to 2-6 victory was secured and the Gers' championship challenge was back on track (following the surprise opening round defeat to O'Raghallaighs). Poignantly, considering the occasion that was in it, those were the only two points the Haggardstown/Blackrock men picked up in the '03 IFC campaign. The 34-year-old goalkeeper's determination to tog out for that match despite the difficult circumstances encapsulates his loyalty to the local GAA club. He recounts how the Geraldines helped him through his darkest days (and continue to do so) and says he owes the club - and all associated with it - a huge debt of gratitude. Playing on was the least he could do ... and is something he fully intends to continue doing: "It's great to be involved with the likes of the lads here at the Geraldines and I feel truly privileged to be part of this club. They have been there 100% with me and the kids through everything. It was a very hard year for us but the club showed great compassion and consideration. At times it hasn't been easy but there's a great bond up at the club and they rallied around me in a big way, from committee level through all the players on the panel up to No.25, and that helped take my mind off things..." Considering that they had reached the intermediate final the previous year (only to lose to Naomh Malachi), 2003 was a disappointing season championship-wise for Geraldines, who failed to progress beyond the initial group stage of the competition. The Green & Whites never got into their stride, winning only one of their four championship outings - and that against Group B whipping boys Sean McDermotts! The 2002 finalists started off with a 1-9 to 1-6 defeat at the hands of O'Raghallaighs at Stabannon on June 19th. After beating the McDermotts, they faced Oliver Plunketts at Ardee on July 27th but lost a low-scoring encounter by four points, 1-7 to 1-3. Geraldines completed their programme with another narrow defeat, 1-11 to 1-8, against Naomh Fionnbarra at Dromiskin on August 7th. Alas, promotion to senior ranks would not be secured in 2003. (As Geraldines had slipped from Division 2A to 2B, the league did not offer a potential route to the top table.) "Everything just turned pear shaped," Brian reflects. "The first game against O'Raghallaighs was tight and we were missing both Aidan Thornton and John Sands that night. They're two main cogs right up the middle of the team at midfield and centre forward and we missed them badly. Those two injuries told a tale. "We got our win against Sean McDermotts, but still and all... It was a difficult match and we had to fight. The Plunketts were really up for it this year and they deserved to beat us on the day. We were already out of it by the time we played the Finbarrs in our last game." Though originally from the Nicholas Avenue part of town (Clans territory), Brian has lived in Haggardstown since he was a youngster. He's played with the club from U16 level, winning an U16 championship with the Furseys under Pat Darcy in 1985 and playing in the county minor final the following year. He broke onto the first team in '86, as a seventeen-year-old, and has been a permanent fixture between the Geraldines posts ever since - something like 18 seasons! The pony-tailed custodian muses: "Looking at the 2003 team, I'm the longest serving player at the moment. It's very hard to believe, but the likes of Paul Reneghan and Nicholas Browne aren't there now, which leaves me as the old man of the team!" Brian's still only 34, a young age for a goalkeeper. And he carries the years well. When it's put to him that he could probably play well into his forties, he enthuses: "To be honest, I can't see myself ever stopping. I'm dreading the day I have to hang up the gloves because this has been a huge part of my life. I'm going to be here as long as they need me, until a younger lads comes through and puts pressure on me for the jersey. If I felt someone else was better than me, I'd gladly step aside for the sake of the team." Brian is one of the most experienced goalies in the Wee County - and also one of the most dependable. He's played his fair share of senior football with the Gers over the years (he was captain last time they played senior) and was on the side that famously beat Mattock Rangers after a replay to win the intermediate championship in 1995. He has appeared in numerous other finals, but surprisingly selects not a decider but a first-round victory as the clear highlight of his career to date: "Without any doubt, the highlight was beating the Clans in the first round of the championship at Knockbridge in 1989. The feeling we had after winning that game was unbelievable and nothing has ever matched it. "Shaking hands with Niall O'Donnell after that game and saying 'Hard Luck' was a massive thing to me personally, especially as I had lived in Nicholas Avenue when we were in town and grew up across the road from the Clans. It's ironic because if we'd stayed in Dundalk, I'd probably never have played football and I'd definitely never have played in goal for the Clans with Niall around, so moving out to Haggardstown was probably the best thing that ever happened to me. "I've always thoroughly enjoyed playing for Geraldines and hopefully there's a few more years left in me." Where do Geraldines go from here? Can they bounce back from the disappointment of their 2003 championship performances? "We hope to go at it again next year and make a real push for senior football. "Terry Sloan was in charge last year and he built a great spirit and discipline in the team. Jimmy McDonnell had us this year and he carried on where Terry had left off, so we can have no complaints on that score. I know it's a lame excuse, but we were crippled with injury. Also, Barry Reneghan was away, Shane Thornton was in Germany for a couple of months and John Neary was in Mexico, so we were never at full strength. "Our main aim at the start of the year was to concentrate on the league and to push for a return to Division 2A. Dropping a division was a blow and we wanted to set that straight. We decided that was the way to go and it went quite well for us all year. The season's not just over yet but we're top of the division at the moment and looking quite good. "We started the year with a good win over Sean O'Mahonys in the Grogan Cup at the Point Road. They're a fast and hard-hitting team, so we felt good after beating them. After that we won a few friendlies and everything was looking good. We suffered our first defeat to the Gaels and that knocked us back a bit but we were training hard and kept plugging away. Our league form was pretty good all year, but unfortunately we never got going in the championship. "But we'll be there again next year and, if we have the full team available, we should be a force to be reckoned with." Brian Farrell has learned the hard way that nothing in this life can be taken for granted. But please God he'll be between the posts again as Geraldines make a concerted push for senior football in 2004. Tweet

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