Ballinabrackey chairman Jimmy Coyne has made a fantastic contribution to Meath GAA as a juvenile coach at both club and county levels. Away from gaelic football, he serves the local community as one of the directors of Blue Dolphin Properties. Under Jimmy Coyne's watchful eye, Ballinabrackey emerged as an unlikely force at juvenile level during the last decade. The club's carefully-harnessed talent also seeped through onto various Meath teams and Jimmy gave a hand at county level coaching. It was refreshing to see such a strong and vital contribution from the Offaly border club, who emphatically proved that they are no longer a GAA outpost. 'The Bracks' demonstrated that, with the correct structures and requisite application in place, they too can produce and nurture players who can hold their own against the best of the rest in the Royal County. As current club chairman, Jimmy is hopeful that the young players who served the club so well at juvenile level over the past ten years can assist the perennial quest for JFC glory. A decade ago, Ballinabrackey recognised the need for a concerted effort at underage level. This realisation coincided with Jimmy Coyne's return to his home club as well as the genesis of a gifted crop of nascent talent. Jimmy immersed himself in the juvenile section of the club and was on board as a trainer/selector as unprecedented juvenile success was attained in the form of an U14 championship as well as U15, U17 and minor league successes. In 2003, when his son James made the Meath U14 team, Jimmy himself was part of the county management triumvirate that also included Pat Flynn and Gerry Morgan. That U14 team actually went through an entire nineteen-match campaign without losing once. Quite an achievement! Jimmy and co. were involved with that team again at U15 and U16 intercounty level and many of those same players were on the Meath side that won the 2006 Leinster minor football championship. As Jimmy reflects: "One year we had ten lads from the club on the four different Meath teams from minor to U14. And it wasn't anything to do with my involvement - those lads were all there on their own merit." How did Jimmy get involved in underage activity in the club/county? "After I came back from Australia ten years ago, James started to play and I became involved. I really enjoyed it and have met a lot of people from all over the country. It has been good for James too, as he made a lot of friends through the football. The club is going well now in a lot of ways and many of our players have worn the Meath jersey at juvenile, minor and junior levels, which is encouraging." In 2005, Ballinabrackey's own annual U16 intercounty competition - the Sean Neary Tournament - was won by Meath, with Jimmy as selector and Ballinabrackey clubman Gerard Crehan as team captain. James and Barry Coyne also starred on that side. Ballinabrackey, captained by Thomas Glennon, also captured the county junior 'B' league that year. One would have thought that Jimmy had enough on his plate as club chairman in 2006, but he was also a selector with the junior team and trained the minors. Born and reared in Ballinabrackey, the chairman has simply immersed himself in club affairs since returning to Ireland and feels that a solid juvenile structure is vital if 'the Bracks' are to entertain realistic hopes of future success. Off the field of play, Ballinabrackey are determined not to lose ground. Fundraising is important in any club and, to this end, 37 signs have been erected around the pitch, which will bring in almost 4,000 euro in additional revenue each year. Plans are also in place for new dressing-rooms and Jimmy says he hopes to see floodlights in place by the spring of 2007. Clearly, it's All Systems Go. "I'm very lucky to have a great team around me," Jimmy says. "Ballinabrackey is served by hardworking committee members at both adult and juvenile levels and these people do an unbelievable amount of work behind the scenes. We also have an excellent lotto committee, who do a tremendous job brining in much-needed funds." Though the GAA takes up a lot of his time, Jimmy still has to put bread on the table. He is a partner in one of the region's most progressive auctioneering offices. In conjunction with Castlepollard lady Christina Devine, he established Blue Dolphin Properties in Edgeworthstown in April 2005. To date, the business has been a resounding success. Specialising mainly in residential properties. Blue Dolphin also provides a top class service in industrial units, shops and shopping centres etc. Over 250 units were sold in the first year after inception and this figure should rise steadily as the company's stellar reputation spreads. Covering south Meath and south Offaly as well as parts of Westmeath and Longford, Blue Dolphin operates across a vast catchment area where the building boom is as apparent as anywhere else in Ireland. With a second office due to open in Kinnegad, the business seems sure to continue on its impressive upward trajectory. Returning to GAA matters, the chairman of Ballinabrackey feels that the national sporting association provides a priceless service to the people of Ireland and argues that clubs should be entitled to a small financial return from the members it serves so well: "As far as I'm concerned, the GAA is the only place where you can get your kids looked after morning, noon and night for nothing. The service is given without any questions and you couldn't put a price on it. I think the Association deserves all the support it can get. "If you compare it with the value for money you'd get if you took your kids to the swimming pool, a theme park or the zoo, there's simply no comparison. The service is completely free and sometimes the clubs are taken for granted. "GAA clubs are providing an excellent service and parents can rest assured that their kids are being looked after properly for two or three hours at a time. I can't understand why people aren't paying a small annual fee. "Ultimately, it's all about trying to build up your club and that's what I'm trying to do." As long as there are people like Jimmy Coyne on the scene, Ballinabrackey GAA is in safe hands. Tweet

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