Since settling in Summerhill four years ago, Ronan Frayne has immersed himself in the local GAA club. The 2006 senior team selector is convinced that the former Royal County kingpins are on the cusp of a return to splendour and hopes to be present to join in the celebrations when the Keegan Cup finally makes its long-overdue homecoming. When you're accustomed to widespread success and things begin to go awry, you have two choices: you can either sit around feeling sorry for yourself or you get do something about it. Summerhill GFC chose the latter course of action and their investment of sheer endeavour should pay ultimate dividends at some point in the not-so-distant future. Indeed, the Blue & Golds have already enjoyed substantial glory in the form of spectacular county minor and U21 championship successes - breakthroughs that will hopefully provide a platform for the coveted SFC annexation that has eluded the villagers since 1986. With an abundance of proven talent filtering through into the first team, adopted Summerhill clubman Ronan Frayne is optimistic that the good times might be just around the corner. Ronan moved to Summerhill four years ago but was well-known in the locality for over a decade prior to that. A native of Kilcock, he is married to a Summerhill girl and has been well versed in the ups and downs of Summerhill GAA. There has been no shortage of highs during the club's illustrious past - particularly the historic four-in-a-row of the mid-seventies - and Summerhill have re-emerged as a force in more recent times thanks to some notable underage successes. The county MFC was culled for the first time in 62 years in 2004 and the minor crown was retained in '05. Summerhill also claimed the 2003 U21 title. Having retained their top-flight status courtesy of a series of relegation play-off victories in the first half of this decade, the club is primed for a senior football championship bid. A first-team selector in '06, Ronan Frayne played underage football with Kilcock and also lined out for Ballygarvan in Cork and Shannon Gaels in Roscommon, as his work in the supermarket business took him to various locations around the country. Now settled in Summerhill, he is regional manager for the Musgrave Group (Super Valu/Centra), responsible for the north east region. One of Ronan's earlier recollections of Summerhill is the drawn 1990 Meath SFC final against Navan O'Mahonys, when the midfield axis of Mick Lyons and Gerry McEntee almost scuppered the town side's four-in-a-row bid but were pipped after a replay. He finally joined the club committee three years ago and was delighted to act as a selector last year. How close are Summerhill to recapturing the Keegan Cup? "They've been going through a period of rebuilding but should be ready to come out of that now. Even though Summerhill have been in relegation battles for four years out of six, they have contested three minor finals, winning two, and also won an U21 championship three years ago. We have a very young team and the future is bright. Nine or ten of the 2006 starting team were still U21 and some of them were still minors, so time is on their side. "It's basically a young team going through a period of transition. It could take another couple of years, but hopefully not… We have a strong core of six or seven players who can backbone the team for at least five or six years and, with the talent that's coming through, I'm sure we can build a strong team around them." Summerhill have proven their potential by ruling at minor and U21 level in 2003, '04 and '05, but this could count for very little unless a senior championship is added to the haul. "That's what it's all about," Ronan agrees. "The minor and U21 championships are great when you are bringing players through but, when you look back on your career, it's all about whether or not you've won a senior championship. So that's what we're aspiring towards. It would be a great pity if these players didn't win at least one Keegan Cup." While Summerhill has thus far avoided the population explosion witnessed in other areas close to the capital city, the club is progressing well both on and off the field of play. "We have a solid base of members, though it's still very much a rural club," says Ronan. "We have good facilities but we're in need of a better second pitch to cater for the amount of youngsters we have training on Tuesdays and Thursdays. There's a huge demand on the facilities at the moment, but it's a nice problem to have. We have loads of kids, good underage coaching and the club runs a great Feile competition every year. We just need to get a good run going with the senior team…" Ronan has been working for Musgraves for twelve years and is delighted with the group's strong ties with Meath GAA (for example, Super Valu sponsors the county's underage leagues and championships). He intends to remain in Summerhill and hopes his kids - Bronagh (9), Conor (6) and Eoghan (3) - all play for the local GAA club for many years. How does he compare Summerhill to other clubs he's been involved with over the years? "It's definitely one of the better clubs. There's a tremendous pride in the club and a lot of thought goes into the image the club projects and how they're perceived in the county. "I've never seen a Summerhill player taking to the field with odd socks. I know that's just a small thing but it reflects a greater ideal. There's unbelievable pride in the club and they want to maintain a positive image at all times. Everybody in the club conducts themselves accordingly. At our first team meeting back in January, we talked at length about discipline and that is very important. We like to think we're one of the best-behaved clubs in the county and that comes from the chairman John Shaw down to the youngest players. "The club represents the local community and we aim to do that with pride and passion. I couldn't stress the great work that goes into the juveniles enough. Summerhill have worked unbelievably hard to nurture underage talent and that effort has brought the success it deserves. But, ultimately, we will be judged on Keegan Cups. We need to get back to winning ways in the senior championship." Tweet

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