Kilmainhamwood achieved an unusual treble when defeating Ballinlough at Kells in October to again preserve their senior football status. It was their third year in a row to win the final SFC relegation play-off. Since relegation was introduced for the 2000 championships, Kilmainhamwood have played in such a game on four occasions and managed to find the survival formula each time. In 2003 they put Ballivor just one season after the men in maroon had tasted intermediate success. Then in 2005 and 2006 Dunderry and Cortown were sent down and this year it was the turn of Ballinlough to take the drop as the men from the very northerly outpost look forward to a 14th consecutive year in the top grade. They eventually secured safety with eight points to spare after losing to Walterstown in a preliminary play-off. The 1-12 to 0-7 success over Ballinlough was their only win from six SFC outings in 2007 with their best effort in the group games being a 3-4 to 1-10 draw with defending champions Wolfe Tones in a second round clash at Nobber. Perhaps the 'Wood were unlucky to be drawn in very tough five-team group which also included the previous three outright winners, Tones, Dunboyne and Skryne as well as championship favourites Navan O'Mahonys. Larry McCormack had replaced Raymond Cunningham as manager and club PRO Henry Corbally remarked that while many people would be expecting them to finish at the bottom of the group, he said they would be hoping to spring a surprise or two. They sprung one and were very consistent in the other three outings, losing each of them by eight points. In the opening game against Skryne at Walterstown the north county side managed to keep things tight enough in the first half which they finished just three points (0-6 to 0-9) off the pace. But then they only managed to add one point, from Ray McGee, and hit six wides in the second period with McGee off target with a couple of frees. The margin of defeat could have been wider but for three fine saves from 'keeper Michael Clarke six minutes after the restart when the scores were 1-10 to 0-6. In the second round tussle with Wolfe Tones the expected script appeared to be taking shape when the defending champions went into a lead of 0-4 to 0-1 in the opening quarter. After 19 minutes Ray McGee blasted a penalty kick high and wide after Colm Gilcreest was taken down. Despite that miss, the 'Wood were only the minimum margin (1-2 to 0-6) in arrears at the break. While Wolfe Tones were below their best, their opponents were given credit for a gritty display and the first of their goals arrived after 26 minutes when Paddy Carolan latched on to a long delivery from Kieran Shankey to finish to an unguarded net. Carolan netted two goals that evening and within 30 seconds of the restart the team captain and centre forward sent a long ball into Gilcreest who finished to an empty net to put the 'Wood into the lead for the first time. With Ray Madden and Liam Shankey showing up to good effect at midfield, they held their own in the second half. After Carolan netted his second goal midway through the second period, Tones replied with 1-1 to lead by two points and why it looked as if they were going to justify the tag of favourites, Kilmainhamwood finished well with the two Rays, Madden and McGee, sending shots over the bar to earn the draw. Although they returned to their losing ways in the third round against Dunboyne at Pairc Tailteann, they again competed well in the first half, at the end of which they trailed by 0-5 to 1-5, before the 2005 champions ran out winners by 2-14 to 1-9. After falling 0-0 to 1-2 in arrears after only five minutes, Larry's lads picked themselves up for Ray McGee, Paddy Carolan, Aidan Crosbie and Colm Gilcreest to raise flags and hopes. Carolan provided the main threat up front and he netted his side's goal at the start of the last quarter following an assist from Stephen Kiernan. Kilmainhamwood's next eight points loss was inflicted by O'Mahonys at Carnaross with the Navan side finishing up as 3-8 to 0-9 winners. Ray McGee put over seven of the losers' points with five of them being kicked from frees. There was only two points in it around the half hour mark before Stephen Bray netted the town team's second goal and it was 2-3 to 0-5 at the break. Two weeks later it was on to Kilberry for the first of the relegation play-offs against Walterstown and Kilmainhamwood were level after an hour for the second time in their campaign. It was 1-13 to 2-10 before the Blacks added five points to one during the additional 20 minutes for a 2-15 to 1-14 win. Extra-time did not look a possibility when the 'Wood trailed by 0-5 to 2-8 at the first break. But then at the start of the second half Michael Clarke made a fine save from Ronan Barry and that seemed to lift his outfield colleagues as they reeled off five points in succession. Then Colm Gilcreest fired a shot to the net on 54 minutes and Aidan Crosbie forced extra-time when driving a long-range free between the uprights. However, the 'Wood failed to score in the first of the additional 10 minute periods and a Sean Mulligan point was all they managed after that. Before the 2007 SFC started Ballinlough and Kilmainhamwood would have been the main fancies in the relegation stakes with the former the favourites. They lived up to that rating by falling into arrears of seven points (0-1 to 0-8) in the first half with seven different 'Wood players getting on target before the break. Long-serving midfielder Aidan Crosbie and Ray McGee put over spectacular points and the lead was increased when Stephen Kiernan pointed shortly after thee restart. Their opponents enjoyed a little bit of a revival but, boosted by a massive point from a free by Crosbie Kilmainhamwood were 0-11 to 0-4 to the good at the three-quarter stage and senior football was assured for at least one more year. With eight minutes to go Paddy Carolan found the net following a neat flick by Michael Shankey to leave the board reading 1-12 to 0-5 and Kilmainhamwood will again be in the hat when the draws for the 2008 SFC are made next spring. "The highlight of the year for Kilmainhamwood on the playing pitches was the draw with Wolfe Tones, we played very well in that game and could have won it. In the other SFC games there were some respectable performances and after surviving again it would be nice to avoid being in such a position next year," said club PRO Henry Corbally. "The biggest disappointment for us in 2007 was being relegated from Division 2 of the A League. For a club which won the Division 1 title twice, that is a big drop, perhaps not enough emphasis was put on league football this year and the number one priority next year should be to gain promotion from Division 3," he added. Of course, Kilmainhamwood have a small pick of players and they did remarkably well to reach two Keegan Cup deciders in the mid '90s, losing to Dunderry in 1995 before beating Seneschalstown to take the title the following year. "I was reading that Donaghmore/Ashbourne had reached the intermediate final for the first time since 1959. They beat us that year and despite not having near as big a pick as them, we have won it three years since then as well as the senior successes. We are punching above our weight but we have done very well," remarked Corbally. Henry picked out Stephen Smith and Paddy Carolan as the top performers on the senior side this year and gave special mention to 17-year-old Philip Moran who did very well in his debut season. Corbally was a selector along with Alan Shankey, Michael Clarke and Paddy Carolan with the seconds who did well to reach the semi-final stage of the Junior C FC where they lost to Ratoath. Among .the promising performers on that team were the Russell twins, David and Damien, Harry Corbally and Alan Carolan. During 2007 the Kilmainhamwood club installed a new 50 x 25 metres Astroturf playing pitch close to the full sized pitch. Development officer Frank Corbally did Trojan work in getting this venture completed and brother Henry remarked, "it's looking fantastic and will be a big help for under age training while the adult players could use it in the spring when the big pitch is not playable." In August there was a reunion and presentations to the team which won the IFC 25 years ago in 1982, defeating Harps by 1-5 to 0-7 in the final at Kells. That was held in the local Keogan's pub to coincide with a visit home by one of the stars of that triumph, Martin Gilsenan, from Australia. The 1982 winning team was: Dan Breen; John Farrelly, Percy McKeever, Aidan Bennett, Jimmy Clarke, Dominic Keogan, Martin Gilsenan; Martin Shankey, Noel Shankey; Seamus Reilly, Henry Corbally, Brian Stafford; John Clarke, Michael Clarke, Paul Clarke. Subs - Martin O'Connor for John Clarke, Pat Clarke for Jimmy Clarke. Tweet

Most Read Stories