Last year, in what was his first season as manager of Kilbeggan Shamrocks, Teddy McCormack was satisfied with the club's achievement in reaching the knockout stages of the intermediate championship. But he is setting his sights higher this year and is challenging his players to bring intermediate honours back to the club for the first time since 2000. In the circumstances, Teddy McCormack was happy enough. Forced to plan without two of the best footballers in the county, the Kilbeggan stalwart believes his young side surpassed expectations by reaching the quarter-finals of last year's intermediate football championship. McCormack, who has been domiciled in Portlaoise for many years but has always maintained an interest in his home club, assumed the manager's job at a time when Kilbeggan was still coming to terms with the shock departure of star forward PJ Ward to the Shamrocks club in Offaly. And with former county midfielder John Brennan continuing his self-imposed exile, McCormack's hand was severely weakened. "I didn't tell the players this, but I was a bit sceptical about the whole thing at the start," he admits. "My biggest fear was that we would get dragged into a relegation dogfight after losing Ward and Brennan. Things like that can have a demoralising affect on a team, but in fairness to the lads they didn't let it get to them and they carried on with the job in hand. In the end, we were very unlucky not to reach the semi-finals and that gives us plenty to build on for the coming year." Under the guidance of McCormack and his co-selectors Padraig Egan and Donal Fox, Kilbeggan opened their 2007 intermediate campaign with a 4-7 to 2-4 win over St. Mary's. The Rochfortbridge side played with a strong breeze in their favour in the first half, but trailed by 1-2 to 1-3 at the interval after Kilbeggan's highly promising midfielder Jason O'Neill goaled late in the half. Kilbeggan took complete control after the restart with a brace of Emmet Dalton goals in the space of three minute killing off the weak St. Mary's challenge. County minor David Keenan added a fourth goal before Aussie Bradley grabbed a late consolation for the 'Bridge. In recent years, Kilbeggan have been guilty of showing lapses in concentration in the closing stages of games, and this problem manifested itself once again when they surrendered a six-point lead to Caulry deep in injury-time. The maroon and whites looked to be cruising to their second win until two goals in the space of a minute from Alan Carroll handed the Mount Temple men an unlikely 2-8 to 1-11 draw. Kilbeggan had led by 0-7 to 0-5 at half-time and there appeared to be no way back for Caulry when Emmet Dalton's 50th minute goal put clear daylight between the sides, but Kilbeggan's old failings would come back to haunt them before the end. It was almost a case of déjà vu for Teddy McCormack's side when they faced Tang in their next outing at a rain-soaked Cusack Park. There wasn't much between the teams in the first half, but a late Keith Gorry goal had Kilbeggan ahead by 1-6 to 1-4 at the interval. That score really spurred on Kilbeggan and, by the end of the third quarter, they were six points clear and seemingly coasting. However, their lack of killer instinct allowed Tang to score two late goals which left them just a point adrift, and they had two late chances to level it before the final whistle sounded with Kilbeggan holding on for a 1-10 to 2-6 win. Kilbeggan recorded their second draw of the campaign when they returned to Cusack Park to face Moate All-Whites on July 25. Three times in the final quarter they squeezed ahead by a solitary point, but each time Moate responded to leave the sides level on 0-8 each at full-time. The widest margin between the teams was after 18 minutes when Kilbeggan opened up a three-point lead, but Moate had regained parity by the first minute of the second half and there was never more than a point in it after that. Kilbeggan's first defeat to Shandonagh in their final group match almost cost them their place in the knockout stages. The gods were really smiling on Teddy McCormack's men who only went through on scoring difference after Moate All-Whites conceded a late goal against St. Mary's on the same day to throw away a quarter-final place. The signs looked promising for Kilbeggan after David Keenan's palmed goal gave them an early 1-0 to 0-1 lead. Shandonagh battled back before Kilbeggan were presented with a glorious opportunity to move three points clear for the first time. But Keith Gorry's penalty was saved, meaning the sides went into the break on level terms, 0-5 to 1-2. Shandonagh switched Colin Galligan from corner forward to midfield for the start of the second half and the move soon began to pay dividends. Shandonagh had opened up a 0-7 to 1-2 lead before the decisive score arrived in the 40th minute when David Duffy's long delivery found Mickey Boyle, and the centre forward finished low to the net to put five points between the sides, and there was no way back after that for Kilbeggan, who eventually went down to a 1-4 to 1-12 defeat. Kilbeggan's inept performance against Shandonagh saw them enter their quarter-final clash against Maryland at Moate on September 16 as rank outsiders. But they came tantalizingly close to upsetting the odds, with the favourites requiring two late goals to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. In a much-improved display, Kilbeggan were the better side throughout but their inability to close the deal proved their undoing. The Brosnasiders got off to a great start when Keith Gorry's attempt for a point looped over the head of Maryland goalkeeper John Murray and into the net. Gorry should have added a second goal in the 12th minute, but the Maryland duo of Murray and John Cunningham combined to deny the Kilbeggan corner forward. The underdogs were full value for their 1-3 to 0-2 lead at half-time and when they tagged on three unanswered points between the 40th and 46th minutes, an upset looked to be on the cards. With five minutes remaining, they led by 1-5 to 0-5, but then disaster struck when an Eoin Farrell shot was deflected into his own net by the unfortunate Mick Fox for the equalizing goal. Although Kilbeggan regained the lead through David Keenan, a last-minute goal from Tom Browne brought Kilbeggan to their knees, and a late free from Aidan Gorry wasn't enough to save them from a heartbreaking 1-7 to 2-5 loss. "It was an awful way to lose, especially after we had done all the pressing in the preceding 60 minutes or so. In the end, we were disappointed not to get through to the semi-final and get another crack at Shandonagh. That's two years running that Maryland have put us out of the championship and we probably owe them one at this stage," McCormack says. Teddy, who has added recently-retired midfielder Michael Ennis to his backroom team for the season ahead, is hoping for a longer championship run in 2008, but stresses the importance of having a full squad to pick from. "I know every player's capability at this stage and I also know that they are capable of doing better than they did last year. I'll be expecting a bit more from them this year and by that I mean reaching the semi-final or final. They're a good bunch of lads, but the most important thing is that they stay committed and focused. Last year, we lost Richie McMahon and Fergal Scally (who doubles up as physical trainer) at a critical stage of the season and their absence was sorely felt. If we're to be successful, we can't afford to be without anyone." Teddy enjoyed a lengthy playing career with Kilbeggan which spanned nearly 20 years (1978-96). One of the top defenders in the county in his day, he played in the 1980 senior final defeat to The Downs and was still going strong when Kilbeggan contested the 1995 intermediate decider against St. Mary's. "I had a good innings, but I had a lot of regrets as well. The biggest one was our failure to bounce back after we lost the 1980 county final. If we had won that day, I've no doubt that team could have gone on to win four or five championships. We seriously underachieved," adds Teddy, who has coached Portlaoise underage teams in the past and whose oldest son Brian was centre back on last year's under 21 team. So how does the current Kilbeggan team compare to the side Teddy played on in the 1980s? "The talent is just as good now, but what the present squad is probably lacking is strength in depth. Twenty years ago, there was a lot more competition for places and you were never sure of your place. We have a lot of young lads at the moment and it will take time for them to fulfil their potential," he concludes. The Kilbeggan Shamrocks team that lined out against Maryland in the IFC quarter-final was: Adrian Carroll; Shaun Pidgeon, David Marshall, Niall O'Brien; Chris Lynch, Alan Fennell, Paul Maloney; Jason O'Neill, Mick Fox; Stephen Conroy, Aidan Gorry, David Keenan; Mattie McCormack, Emmet Dalton, Keith Gorry. Subs used: Craig Arthurs and Mick Murphy. Tweet

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