Ballivor GFC can look back on a tough year but also one which galvanised the club and ultimately showed a gritty spirit to remain in the Intermediate Football Championship as they overcame all the obstacles that were placed in their way to avoid the drop down to junior. By Paul Cantwell. The start of the season saw the formation of the Kildalkey club and with that, some eighteen transfers came in which put them on the back foot immediately. Few clubs, senior or not, could afford to lose players of the calibre of Tony Fox and Mairtin Doran and this was coupled with some players going travelling, such as Noel and Dan Davis, and with others retiring it meant from the off that 2007 would be a tough year for the south west Meath side. After losing so many players at the start of the season the first round of the championship was crucial to the club, as it would give an indication of how the year might pan out. A meeting with Gaeil Colmcille was not something Ballivor would ever fear but at the end of sixty minutes football a 3-11 to 0-7 defeat showed just what a difficult year was in store for the 2002 IFC winners. Next up was a clash with Na Fianna, a side that has had its own relegation worries in previous years. If they could grab a win all involved knew that it could turn their year around but instead a one point defeat, 2-8 to 2-9, was a bitter pill to swallow for even the most optimistic Ballivor gael. Nobber, after drawing with Gaeil Colmcille in the previous round, represented a formidable challenge to Ballivor in the third round of the campaign. Ballivor found the going tough and the north Meath side showed ten points clear at the finish. The writing was on the wall as Ballivor faced two games left and the loss of players at the start of the season was beginning to take its toll. The following round against Castletown offered little respite as the club suffered their third defeat of the season with the eventual finalists showing thirteen points clear of the maroon and whites. Relegation looked imminent as Ballivor faced Oldcastle in the last round. Anything other than a landslide win over the north Meath men would see the club fall into a relegation playoff, so the last round became a 'must win' game for Ballivor. "Losing so many players would be a struggle for any club in the county and there is no denying that we struggled early on. But we knew after a few rounds of the Championship that the main thing this year was just to remain Intermediate," commented joint Player of the Year and captain, Brian Perry. "So we knuckled down, went away for a weekend to build up some team spirit and came back, worked hard and got it together when it mattered." The last round of the championship against Oldcastle was to prove victorious for Ballivor in a hard fought battle, but they still finished bottom of the table as Oldcastle had a superior points difference. Next up they faced Ratoath in a relegation play off in order to survive in the Intermediate ranks. It was 'do or die' for the Ballivor team and their loyal following as they travelled to Dunsany to face their south east Meath rivals. Ballivor started brightest when scoring the first two points of the game. Ratoath, however, fought back into contention with a goal and two points without reply, leaving them 1-2 to 0-2 ahead. Some careless finishing by the Ratoath forwards allowed an opportunity for Ballivor to get back into the game. Ballivor duly obliged with more accurate finishing with three successive points to be on level terms (0-5 to 1-2) at the interval. In the second half, chances were squandered by both sides which saw a close, tight battle. Ballivor matched Ratoath point for point with James Mitchell excelling at right half forward, notching six points for the whole game. With the score showing Ratoath trailing by a point, Brendan Canavan extended Ballivor`s advantage with what would be a match winning point to put his side ahead by 0-10 to 1-5. In the dying minutes, Ratoath threatened to spoil the party as they searched for a goal but they could only manage a point and Ballivor's intermediate status was safe. Man of the match, James Mitchell turned in an outstanding performance with his six point haul and there were fine performance from Sean Corrigan and Joseph McLoughlin. The contribution of the substitutes was also notable with J.J. Gilsenan, Trevor Smith and Damien Mitchell turning creditable efforts for Ballivor. This relegation play off win over Ratoath in the IFC represented the highlight of the season on the pitch for Ballivor GFC this year after the club had suffered so much bad luck at the start of the season. "The good thing is that there is a bit of confidence back in the club now and with some good young players coming through, we look forward to next year's championship," said an optimistic and determined captain Perry. This relegation play off seemed like a far cry from the heady days of the breakthrough year of 2002 when Ballivor won the intermediate title and joined the senior ranks in 2003. In that year, Ballivor were out of luck with Kilmainhamwood defeating them in the SFC relegation playoff. Ballivor's determined bid to reach the heights of the early part of the decade has been met with frustration ever since. With Brian Perry to lead the team, the determined captain looks to the new crop of youngsters to carry Ballivor to greater success next year. Young Player of the Year, Brendan McLoughlin, may well find himself among the county under 21s, according to his captain. David Raleigh and Padraig Fitzsimons are also tipped to progress next season. Of course, if the IFC relegation man of the match and joint club Player of the Year, James Mitchell, shows the sort of form next season as he did in the last few games, 2008 augurs well for Ballivor. But the 77 year old club has something to look forward to long term when we look at their underage ranks which put in stellar performances in each grade this year. Ballivor can now boast the achievement of having teams representing the club from under 6s, all the way up to minor level. The underage teams had their share of success throughout the year - from the under 10s representing the club in the summer blitz to the brave minor team. The club's under 12 team reached the final in the Supervalu summer league but lost out to Blackhall Gaels in the decider. The under 14s had more luck in winning the Supervalu summer league when beating Ballinabrackey in the final. The girls teams at under 12 and under 14 levels also did their club proud this season. The minors reached the final again this year in the Aura Leisure Link Division 4 but despite battling bravely lost out to Dunderry. Off the pitch, according to PRO Pauline Grundy, hopes are high to work on new facilities and pitches at the club in the near future. In the absence of a regular sponsor, the local business community have rallied to the club's cause throughout the year and encouragement of this kind is much appreciated by the club management. This also illustrates the constant support shown by the club's loyal following. With the determination shown in the intermediates, the emergence of some star talent in the minor and under 21 levels and the potential shown in the underage ranks this year, it won't be long before Ballivor will have sponsors interested in investing in the club in the seasons to come. One man who would proud of this would be Tom Mullanney, who founded the present day Ballivor club in 1930. Tom, a shop assistant in George Irwan's Bar & Grocery (now the Greyhound Bar) was assisted by PJ Cunningham (Bertie's father) and the brothers Michael and John Bracken in setting up the club. The local Gardai at the time under Sgt. Murphy also played their role - two of them lining out for Ballivor in the club's first championship game v. Rathmolyon in Trim on Sunday, 30th March, 1930. Tweet

Most Read Stories