Former Meath attacker Evan Kelly may have two All-Ireland titles to his name, but he is still reluctant to rule out a first county SFC crown with his adopted club Simonstown. He spoke to Shane Corrigan about his inter-county playing days, winning an All Star and how long it took him to secure his first county junior title. In 1999, Evan Kelly's prolonged wait to be on the playing field for the winning side at Croke Park in September finally came to a happy ending. Three years beforehand Kelly had been infamously left out of Seán Boylan's side for the Royals' All-Ireland SFC final replay victory over Mayo, but has since proved all his doubters wrong by bouncing back for his county's last All-Ireland triumph over Cork and earning himself an All Star award in the right half-forward position in 2001. It was almost something he had to do, and amongst other things, it took real character and that's a department in which the Drumree native is certainly not lacking in. Picture the scene. After scrapping a draw against Mayo the previous Sunday at Croke Park with a last ditch effort that sprung over the bar, you're native county has just won their first All-Ireland senior crown in eight years at the old, glorious venue. You were there in '88 as a young lad watching and enthusing that rare October afternoon as the Royals recorded back-to-back Sam Maguire victories over the Rebels, but you almost felt more involved then than when you were sitting in the dugouts hoping to be brought into the fray against the Westerners. The call never comes, but you do get a medal for your efforts. One that the dozens upon dozens had missed out on during their unceremonious playing days, but it doesn't fill that empty gap. Something drives you on to truly earn onehunger, ambition, the need to feel like a genuine winner before you hang up your playing boots. In 1990, at the tender age of 18, Kelly made the breakthrough into a Drumree side eager to get out of the basement in Meath and win the county junior championship. In Kelly's debut year his club side suffered defeat at the hands of Simonstown Gaels in the quarter-finals of the Meath JFC, and the following year they were put the sword by Carnaross at the final stage. Seven long years had come and gone for Kelly, which included an inter-county debut, Leinster SFC title wins and two very diverse All-Ireland final experiences in the space of a week, before Drumree would reach the Promised Land and triumph to the Meath JFC with a win over St Mary's. From there, Drumree's prolonged stay within the junior ranks paid some dividends, as they went all the way to an All-Ireland club semi-final, picking up a Leinster title on the way. "I started with the club back in 1990," said Kelly. "We were beaten by Simonstown in the junior county final in my first year and the next year we were beaten by Carnaross. They were tough losses to take, but in 1998 we eventually won it against St Mary's and went on to win the Leinster junior club championship against Ballyroan of Laois." After that, an intermediate championship title became somewhat of a fading ambition for a small club that had finally made the potent leap to the second tier. The middle section of the county had proved to be Drumree's comfort zone after their championship success, and between both work and ambition, a move was on the horizon for Kelly. "I moved to Simonstown in 2003. I had been living in Navan since 1998 and it just made sense," he admitted. "Colm O'Rourke was managing the team then and I knew Hank Traynor and the likes from playing with Meath so I said I'd give it a go and see if we could win a senior championship." Unfortunately for Kelly his first pair of years with his adopted club turned out like those of his native. Simonstown Gaels lost out on the Keegan Cup at the final stage in both 2003 and 2004 to Blackhall Gaels and Skryne respectively at Pairc Tailteann, providing a huge blow to Kelly's senior title ambitions. While he had clearly bolstered Simonstown's front, the two years could almost be considered as a total write-off with no silverware achieved. Kelly had been there with Meath two years prior and admits that while it's nice to receive some acknowledgment, it's all about winning at the end of the day. Meath's last outing on the big day came in 2001, before Tyrone and Kerry would control six of the following seven All-Ireland football final dates, when Meath met John O'Mahony's Tribesmen of Galway. After disposing of Kerry in the last four, the Royals were considerable favourites against the Connacht champions, who hadn't exactly impressed against a disheartened Derry side the last day out. However, it was Galway who ran out 0-17 to 0-8 winners, a score-line that would leave most of Meath's forward blushing, but not Kelly, who, along with the outstanding efforts of Ollie Murphy during the year in the Royal front, would receive an All Star honour a month later in the right half-forward position. "It was a great honour," he admitted. "At the end of the day there are only 15 players that get picked across the country for each position and it is some acknowledgment to get. Of course, I'd have traded it for an All-Ireland that year, no question, but at the same time it's nice to get one." So where does the "acknowledgment" rank with others glorious memories? "Well there's so many good ones," says Kelly. "I remember watching Meath as a kid win All-Irelands, they were great to be at. "Of course when we won the All-Ireland in 1999, I will never forget that. I suppose it was a first experience for me, because in '96 I didn't play in the final. I really particularly enjoyed 2001 too. I know we didn't win it but we still played in some great games that year and I'll always remember that year." He's not done yet though. While most GAA players would be quite content with having two All-Ireland titles in their possession, at the experienced age of 36 Kelly yearns for more silverware. He willingly admits that he is coming around to the fact that football is a young man's game, but the chance of winning a county title is just too good to let pass. "I'll play away," says Kelly. "When I'm back fit again I can get a good run with the juniors and maybe be able to get 20 minutes or so with the seniors again." As for Simonstown Gaels' chances of overcoming the likes of Navan O'Mahony's next season? "They have a chance," he enthuses. "Despite what most people think they are not that old a team. Players like Shane O'Rourke and the likes are really starting to come through. Of course Hank Traynor is still there, so I think there is a good blend of youth and experience as well." "This year was the first in about four or five that Simonstown did not get past the qualifying stages and we will be looking to put that right next season in the championship and take it from there." For 15 years now Evan has been working as a piping supervisor with Mercury Engineering, a world class service provider for the construction industry which has been on the go in this country for 30 years now. He is currently working on a long-term project at the Corrib gas terminal in Co. Mayo, and recently got married in December of last year. Tweet

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