Come what may for Killeevan Sarsfields, the club has always been guaranteed the loyal support of brothers Brian and Eamonn and the entire McGurk clan. The family may be largely based in England these days but their Killeevan ties are as strong as ever. The McGurk brothers Brian and Eamonn and their family have done well for themselves since their late father, also Eamonn, left the native sod and started a new life in Gloucester. Across the Irish Sea, the McGurk family business - KEYWAY Gloucester Ltd - is doing extremely well and it's with a great sense of pride that the McGurk's note that Killeevan's footballers aren't doing too badly either! The Sarsfields came close to clinching promotion during the 2003 calendar year and Eamonn and Brian are hopeful they can work the oracle in '04. Certainly, on the evidence of the fine performances witnessed in the 2003 Monaghan junior football championship, Killeevan are ready to take their place at a higher table. The club's year started in celebratory style when their annual dinner dance took place on Sunday April 20th and former player and coach PJ 'Sonny' Smith was inaugurated into the Hall of Fame...a poignant occasion for the McGurks as Eamonn and Brian's great uncle was the first person to enter the Killeevan Hall of Fame. However, there was less celebrating done in the area five weeks later when KIlleevan lost their JFC first-round tie with Currin, 3-7 to 1-8 at Scotstown on Sunday May 25th. But the Sarsfields quickly got their championship quest back on track via the back door and went on to reach the last four, before losing to eventual champions Monaghan Harps in a difficult semi-final. Killeevan got the show on the road with a 0-8 to 0-5 defeat of Blackhill at Clontibret on Sunday June 29th. On the day, Killeevan were a model of efficiency - Blackhill enjoyed the lion's share of possession but the winners demonstrated more economy and composure in front of the posts. Killeevan were on a roll and two late points from Ian Larmer secured an excellent 0-13 to 0-12 victory over fancied Clones at Clontibret on Saturday July 12th. Corner forward Noel Smyth scored seven points in the Clones game, six of them from placed balls. Quarter-final opposition was provided by Killanny ... Killeevan romped to an impressive eight-points double-scores victory, again at Clontibret, in late July. Sarsfields led by 0-7 to 0-5 at the break and went on to dominate the second half. The 2003 JFC semi-finals took place on Sunday August 17th and Killeevan locked horns with previously-unbeaten Monaghan Harps at Scotstown. Unfortunately, Killeevan failed to hit form on the day and were well beaten, 0-14 to 1-4. Thus, their brave JFC bid ended as it had begun - with defeat at the Scotstown venue. The McGurks were interested onlookers and the Gloucester-based businessmen admit they were impressed by Killeevan's endeavour over the course of the season. As they say: once a Killeevan man, always a Killeevan man. In the case of Brian and Eamonn - and, indeed, the entire McGurk family - this certainly holds true, Brian and Eamonn run KEYWAY Gloucester Ltd. Their wives - Jackie and Sarah respectively - are also involved in the family business, as is mother Anna and sister Geraldine. Some of the next generation are also included, namely Eamonn and Sarah's daughter Kelly and son Eamonn. True to form, the McGurks have always offered various sponsorships to the Killeevan Sarsfields club (including a substantial contribution towards the building of the club's stand), and this remains very much the case today. Prior to his untimely passing, their late dad, Eamonn, wished to be buried in his native parish and when the family came home for his funeral in 1992, they immediately fell in love with the place, rekindling the strong bond that exists between Killeevan Sarsfields GFC and the McGurk name. Though they're based in England, the McGurk clan's homeplace is very much a home from home. Their home - in rural Gloucester, close to Cheltenham Racecourse, boasts landscape, scenario and terrain that could amost be described as more Irish than Ireland. It's a place some Irish folk like to call their own ... particularly for a few days in March of each year! Reflecting on Killeevan's attempt to escape junior football in 2003, Eamonn notes: "It was a gallant effort and they played some good football, but it just didn't quite work out in the end. "In fairness, though a club like Killeevan is up against it. The population in the area has never recovered from the effects of the famine and the club struggles with numbers. But the GAA is a very important part of Irish tradition and they're doing a great job flying the flag. It's something local and something for the local people to associate themselves with and attach themselves to. "It's not all about winning. No matter where you go in the world - and here in Gloucester is no different - there's always strong Irish ties and a great Irish tradition. And the football club in Killeevan is an integral part of that. We're all very happy with the work the club is doing." The McGurk family has been an intrinsic part of the Killeevan club over the years. Their late father Eamonn lined out for the club and, even though the next generation of McGurks - Fionnuala, Angela, Eamonn, Jennifer, Brian, Geraldine and Karen - all grew up in England, they've always offered plenty of support to the Sarsfields. Eamonn takes the story up: "My uncle Peter played a lot of football for the club and has always been very active on the Killeevan committee and still is today. Peter's a builder in the area and is one of the main driving forces behind the Killeevan football club ... as well as the main link between the club and the McGurk family. My dad's uncle James also put a great deal into the club and is remembered as one of their finest footballers." Indeed, former player and treasurer James McGurk is remembered as a legend in the area. He won senior championships in 1927 and '29 and was on the team that won the first ever Owen Ward Cup in 1930 as well as another senior league medal seven years later. James was also the first winner of the club's Hall of Fame award and a plaque dedicated to his memory adorns the changing rooms at Sarsfield Park. "Our family has always had a strong connection with the area and the GAA club. Those ties are as strong today as they've ever been. In fact, we're probably over and back to the area now more than we've ever been, with so many weddings and various other major functions taking place all the time. "We just love it over there and it always gives us a great lift to hear that Killeevan's footballers have had a positive result. They had three great wins in the championship this year and we certainly enjoyed hearing about those! "The ties seem to get stronger as we get older and everyone gets attracted back to their roots. Time seems to draw everybody closer together. It's good to see. The next generation is coming of age, too, and even though they're all born in Gloucester they have a great interest in Killeevan." The genesis of the McGurk business empire goes back to 1966 when the late Eamonn put his building expertise and strong work ethic on the line to set up a company that has since evolved into a tremendous success story. Under the watchful eye of Brian and Eamonn, the various strands of the family business continue to go from strength to strength. Today, this includes three petrol stations, a pub, shops, housing development and, of course, KEYWAY Construction, which employs over 200 people and specialises in such areas as waste control, crushing and recycling as well as plant hire, aggregate, tipper and general construction work. In the past, the McGurks have provided sponsorship to the local GAA scene in Gloucester, including the St Patrick's club. Eamonn concludes: "There's also a great Irish club over here - the Gloucester & District Irish Society - which is celebrating its 40th anniversary next year. "We've always been involved in the Irish club and there are a lot of very active GAA people involved. No matter where you look these days, there seems to be a strong GAA connection..." Tweet

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