Starting from scratch
November 30, 2008
In their second year back in the ranks of junior football, Slane failed to build on the promise shown in 2007 when reaching the quarter-final stage. This year they failed to get out of their group when only winning one of their four outings in the Lynch's Pharmacy JFC.
After being mainly in intermediate ranks since the junior championship success of 1952, Slane slipped down to the third tier ranks for the first time in over 50 years when finishing up on the wrong end of an IFC relegation play-off in with Na Fianna in 2006. That demotion resulted just four years after they got to the last four in the middle grade when losing a semi-final to Ballivor.
After a defeat to Moynalvey in a last eight tie in 2007, hopes were high that further progress back up the ladder could be made in 2008. Manager Gerry Gough, who had cousin Colm Gough, Eamonn Gibney and Damien Greene as his selectors, was so optimistic about the future that he suggested that if the commitment was as good as in his first year in charge after replacing David Beggy, they could go all the way and claim the Matthew Ginnity Cup.
However, it did not turn out that way as ground was lost instead of gained. As in 2007, the east Meath blue and whites began the JFC on a winning note, scoring a minimum margin victory over the second string of Navan O'Mahonys, 1-8 to 0-10 being the final score at Rathkenny.
As has been the case in so many Slane games over the last few years, Declan Kearns was again the top scorer in this opening encounter, contributing 1-6, including a long-range winning point, with the Harding cousins, Alan and Keith, sharing the rest of their total. The Navan side led by 0-7 to 0-3 at the break before Kearns brought Slane right back into contention when finishing to the net following good work by Alan Harding early in the second half. That score atoned for an earlier miss by the sharpshooter who drove a penalty kick outside an upright in the first half.
Both sides finished the game with 14 players on the pitch, Slane's Colm Wogan having been dismissed and opponent Davy Byrne also seeing red in a separate incident. Slane had reason to feel mildly pleased at having negotiated the first hurdle but they did not have many bright spots in a less than satisfying summer.
The second round opponents were Kilbride at Duleek and Slane 'failed to show up' in the first half when allowing their opponents build up a 2-5 to 0-1 lead by the interval. Strangely the pacesetters did not raise a flag in the second period and while the Blues finished up with 0-9 on the board, it was not enough to take anything from the tie,
Slane also tasted defeat in round three of Group B when Dunsany had five points to spare over them, 2-8 to 1-6 at Walterstown. In their final outing in the 2008 JFC Slane were involved in a controversial draw with Kildalkey in a Monday evening clash with Kildalkey at Simonstown.
A late Slane goal which was disputed by the opposition and left the scores Slane 2-6, Kildalkey 1-9 was not enough to keep the Boynesiders in the title race as Kilbride and Dunsany snatched the two qualifying places from the section.
Slane finished with three points and their game against the other team in the group, Ballinabrackey, was not played as it would have been of little relevance. The previous year the Blues topped their section with nine points from four wins and a draw and the slump was disappointing for them. .
Slane also failed to make an impression in Division 3 of All County Football Leagues with defeats in each of their first four games putting them well out of the running for promotion.
In their first outing at Donore St Mary's defeated them by 2-6 to 1-6 with Declan Kearns getting all of the losers' scores. The Boynesiders probably depend too much on Kearns for scores and he got 1-1 in the 2-2 to 1-6 loss to Na Fianna with an early goal from Maurice McWeeney not providing inspiration as Slane only managed four scores for the hour.
The losing run went on as Gaeil Colmcille inflicted another defeat, by 0-11 to 1-4, before Longwood made it four losses in succession for the Blues with 11 points to spare, 3-8 to 1-3. Slane did eventually get into the winners' enclosure in the league at the fifth attempt when defeating Moylagh by 3-5 to 0-13 before they lost to another side from that neck of the woods, Oldcastle, 1-4 to 0-9.
Although Slane's second side won the Division 2 FC (equivalent of junior B) back in 1983, the club has been only putting out one adult championship team in recent seasons.
In 2008 the Boynesiders had a new chairman in Wexford-native Jim Mullery who stepped up after filling the position of secretary for a few years.
"We'd have to consider 2008 as being a disappointing year. After being relegated two years ago, the main priority was to get back up to intermediate ranks as soon as possible. We were disappointed to lose the quarter-final to Moynalvey last year and there were good expectations that further progress could be made this season.
"It's difficult to pinpoint why we were unable to get further than the group stages of the JFC. There was no shortage of commitment on the part of the players and the management team'
"The results in the league were not as good as would have been expected with the team unable to put together a winning run. Even a winning start in the championship with a victory over Navan O'Mahonys was not enough to lift them and defeats to Kilbride and Dunsany meant there was an uphill climb after that,'' said Mullery.
"We have tended to lose some games by narrow margins and that is perhaps something which should be worked on for next year. Losing matches which could have been won can add to the frustration. The forwards tend over depend too much on Declan Kearns for scores," the secretary added.
"Like a number of other rural clubs, we have been struggling as regards the number of adult players and we have been unable to field a second team in the championships, putting our full concentration on the one side.
"However, a lot of work has been put in at underage levels over the last few years, we have been joined up with St Mary's under the umbrella of Bru na Boinne. That has been going very well with a number of past players giving a lot of their time to help out with the young footballers.
"We have had some good results in the under 12, 14 and 16 grades and hopefully in the coming years some of those youngsters will graduate to play adult football with Slane," said Mullery.
Slane GFC have been holding Sunday morning coaching sessions for youngsters from as young as six years up to 12 at the Rossin pitch with up to 70 young enthusiasts being involved from March to the end of September.
The playing field at Rossin was purchased in 1987 and was officially opened with v Meath versus Down challenge game in 1994. There are plans for extra development as regards the improvement of dressing-room facilities while it is also hoped to secure extra playing pitches on the Collon Road out of Slane over the next few years.
These are lean days for Slane football but the current crop could be inspired by the team which won the IFC title 40 years ago with the 1968 title being won with a 1-9 to 1-7 final victory over Bohermeen.
The Slane team which won the IFC in 1968 was : Nicholas Kealy; Eamonn Harding, Anthony Harding, Jim Conmy; Kit Doggett, Frank Conmy, P. J. Mooney; Larry Kearns, Brendan Hand; Dermot Wogan, Billy McMenamin, Tony Johnston; Kevin Harding, Thomas Harding, Dessie Moore. Subs - Jimmy Mooney for Moore.
That success atoned for Slane's defeat in the 1961 IFC final which Drumree won by 2-7 to 1-3 and they went to the SFC semi-final stage in 1969 only to lose to Skryne.
Kevin Harding was also on the team when Slane won their second IFC title in 1984 with a final victory over St Colmcille's. That success was also followed by a last four place in the SFC in 1967 when Navan O'Mahonys needed a replay to put them out of the race for the Keegan Cup.
Sadly two of the successful '68 side, Larry Kearns and Thomas Harding, passed away in recent years. The club grounds are named in memory of Thomas and the cup for the county junior B championship, is named in memory of Larry.
The heroes of 40 years ago are being honoured at a presentation night at the end of 2008 and perhaps the current crop of wearers of the blue and white can earn a place on the roll of honour in the coming months.
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