Once again it was a case of what might have been for Simonstown Gaels as they fell at the penultimate hurdle in their latest attempt to lift the elusive Keegan Cup. However, there was a consolation prize as Des Lane's charges took outright honours in the Division 2A League. By Noel Coogan. Slane-native Lane, who was a member of Meath's All-Ireland winning squads in 1987 and 1988, took over from Colm O'Rourke, the former ace forward having brought the north Navan club to the SFC finals of 2003 and 2004 and then bowing out at the quarter-final and semi-final stages in the next two years. Although there was a tame exit to Wolfe Tones in 2006, selector Alan Kavanagh suggested that Simonstown had as good a chance as anyone of winning out and added that the players were putting in a good effort under the new manager. Those comments were made before the opening round clash with Blackhall Gaels at Kilberry and the repeat pairing of the 2003 final again went the way of the south county side who had five points (1-14 to 1-9) to spare at the end. Simonstown, who had lost former Dublin forward Robbie Boyle from their 2006 team, were behind by two points (1-4 to 1-6) at the break with Shane O'Neill netting their goal. It was level pegging at 1-8 each as the game went into the last quarter and then Blackhall put over six points in a row before captain Paul Meade completed the losers' total. But despite that losing start, Simonstown managed to put a promising run together by winning three group games and drawing one before defeating Skryne in a quarter-final tussle and losing by three points to Seneschalstown in the second of the semi-finals. They were involved in a remarkable Friday evening second round encounter with Dunshaughlin at Pairc Tailteann in which they led by 3-0 to 0-0 after nine minutes and around an hour later the board read 3-7 to 0-14 when Donal Smyth sounded the final whistle. John Lunney netted two of the goals with the first of them being shot after two minutes when Wayne McCarthy gave the pass following a delivery from Alan Meade. Six minutes later Shane O'Rourke, who was operating at full forward, gained possession from Shane O'Neill and beat Ronan Gogan with a shot which dipped under the bar. The cheering for that score had hardly died down when Lunney got to the ball before the advancing Gogan following a centre from O'Rourke. With 13 minutes gone Lunney increased the lead to ten points and a rout looked on the cards. Although it took the men in black and amber 17 minutes to get their first score, they then started to play a bit and there was only four points in it at the break when the board read 3-3 to 0-8, O'Rourke and Seamus Kenny having added points for the eventual winners. Although Dunshaughlin continued their strong comeback in the second half, Simonstown earned plaudits for holding out to take the two points. Their full forwards did not get much of the ball after the switching of ends but O'Rourke struck a brilliant point from the left wing in the third quarter and McCarthy relieved the pressure with three converted frees. In one of the best SFC games of the year, the Navan side's netminder, Gary Lynch, also played a significant part in the success with a couple of smart saves. With those two points in the bag, Simonstown had cause for optimism. Lane's lads had to settle for a draw in the third round outing at Dunsany as they finished with 0-10 to 1-7 for Summerhill. The sides were also on level terms (0-6 each) at the break and overall Shane O'Rourke kicked four points. With outings against the two struggling teams in the group, Ballinlough and Duleek, to follow, prospects for a place in the last eight were looking good for the sky blues. Simonstown scored their expected win over Ballinlough, 0-14 to 1-2 being the score in the Athboy encounter. Wayne McCarthy put over nine points and his side led by 0-8 to 0-1 after Shane O'Neill twice raised the white flag from distance. This was not much of a test against opposition on their last senior legs. It was a similar story when Simonstown defeated Duleek by 1-16 to 1-9 at Skryne to clinch third place in Group A. The first period was close enough with the Navan outfit just two points (0-7 to 1-2) ahead at the break. But with Shane O'Neill, who scored 1-4 from play, and centre forward Seamus Kenny putting over four points, the gap became a bit wider. Former Wicklow county player O'Neill also found the net in the 1-11 to 0-10 quarter-final success over Skryne at Seneschalstown. Another key ingredient in the win were five points from play from Shane O'Rourke, who had blossomed into such a fine forward after making his mark with Meath in the championship. Simonstown led by 0-6 to 0-5 at the break before O'Neill's goal following a pass from John Lunney early in the second period put them on the road to the last four. Charlie McNulty, Paul Meade and Seamus Kenny also made notable contributions. Des Lane's charges were shaping as if they could, at long last, end the SFC title drought and numerous followers of the championship were thinking in terms of an all-Navan final. However, Seneschalstown had other ideas and the concession of two goals at the start of the second half left Simonstown with a big hill to climb and it was 3-6 to 1-9 at the finish. It had started brightly for Simonstown as they dashed into a lead of four points in the opening quarter with Shane O'Rourke pointing three times before Wayne McCarthy slotted over a free. But then a penalty was conceded and Joe Sheridan blasted to the net. That score divided the sides at the break when it was 1-4 to 0-4. Simonstown fell eight points in arrears as Joe and Brian Sheridan inflicted further pain. John Lunney and Wayne McCarthy were withdrawn as Stephen Moran and Ned Kearney were sent on and the Navan side began to get more of the ball up front. However, the road back was a difficult one. Evan Kelly was fouled for the game's second penalty and O'Rourke fired the kick low and into the net. When Seamus Kenny reduced the arrears to three points, there was ten minutes left. However, Shane O'Neill had frustrating attempts to add another goal and the end product was another disappointing exit. Apart from their championship campaign, Simonstown made their way to the Division 2 League and Feis Cup finals. The league opposition was mainly provided by intermediate sides with Kilmainhamwood, who were relegated, and Rathkenny the only other seniors. It was a record of played 11, won 11 before Dunderry proved best of the rest to earn a final place and on the day before the drawn county final. Simonstown outpointed Barry Callaghan's men by 0-11 to 0-9 at Walterstown to take the Gaughan Cup. The seniors started slowly as Dunderry went into a 0-6 to 0-1 lead in the opening 19 minutes. But with Seamus Kenny switched from attack to centre back, it was 0-6 to 0-4 at the break when the Navan side could have been ahead for late in the first period Wayne McCarthy had a goal chance but blazed wide at the end of good build-up. With Shane O'Rourke and John Lunney showing well in attack, Simonstown edged into the lead for the first time early in the final quarter. O'Rourke edged his side into a 0-9 to 0-8 advantage before leaving two points between the sides from a free. Wing back Shane Carr could have had a goal but for a brilliant save by substitute netminder David Jennings but with O'Rourke and Lunney both putting over three points from play, the Gaels kept their snouts in front until the finishing line was reached. "Our record in finals has not been good and that is something we have to put right, hopefully this is the start of putting it right," said winning manager Des Lane who stressed the importance of getting back up to Division 1 in the league. "That is extremely important for us. We got a few lessons in Division 2, it's tough, it's physical, the pace maybe is a bit slower than in Division 1. Obviously for championship aspirations, you want to be playing in Division 1. That should bring on the younger lads a bit," added Lane. "We were very disappointed after the Seneschalstown and we took a few days off after it. We left ourselves with too much to do and it was hard to come back. But the fighting spirit that the lads have shown is unbelievable and they showed it there (in the league final). They didn't panic after going five points down. "People have been saying that Simonstown are an old team. There are a few old heads about but there are a lot of young lads around too," the manager concluded. The Simonstown Gaels team which won the Division 2 League final was: Gary Lynch; Michael O'Rourke, Hank Traynor, Niall McMahon; Ciaran Kenny, Charlie McNulty, Shane Carr; Eanna Donoghue, Paul Meade; Stephen Moran, Seamus Kenny, Shane O'Rourke; John Lunney, Shane O'Neill, Wayne McCarthy. Sub - Ronan Brady for McCarthy. Tweet

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