Gerry McKiernan is a stalwart member of Swanlinbar GAA. He's also one of the club's most optimistic officials. Gerry McKiernan has been around the block more than a few times and one wonders just how worse off Swanlinbar would have been over the years without him on board. Some people involved in the GAA in Cavan are synonymous with their clubs and the instantly recognisable McKiernan is one such person. It seems that he's been part of the Swad GAA landscape for ever. That ain't so of course but he's been so busy in his time at the coalface, that it appears as such. One always feels that it must be much easier to be part of the mechanics of a well decorated and utterly prize-spoiled club than one always striving for greatness. Swad haven't always hit the high notes at blue riband level but the faithful - like our man Gerry - have remained faithful to the cause, whatever the climate. For instance, in 2005 the proud west Cavan club found itself on the slippery slope at adult level but there was never any chance of the local gaels losing the faith. "We were in trouble for a good part of the year and relegation in the championship was a big blow which the lads found it difficult to come to terms with," Gerry admits. "But everyone pulled together towards the latter part of the year and the players turned things around to avoid relegation from division two of the league." In reviewing the club's disappointing innings at adult level over the past 12 months, Swad's long-serving official cites the loss of the retired Damien Prior as a key aspect. In such a small, rural club, players of the quality of Prior are very hard to come by and replacements aren't always on tap and so it was in '05, Gerry contends. And then there was the not insignificant matter of the handing over of the management reins from Declan Maguire to Ciaran McGovern and Sean Gilheany at the outset. "Unfortunately, Declan didn't feel he was in a position to train the team and the two other lads had to step in and take over just a week or so before the start of the league. "The management thing was a bit of a hiccup that wasn't expected but the loss of Damien (Prior) and a lack of self-belief among the lads seemed to be bigger problems." Gerry makes no secret of his disappointment at the way things panned out for the blue and whites last year, especially given the pre-season targets set by all concerned. The popular club officer was at one with most of the Swad club members in expecting their favourites to make a bold bid for championship honours in 2005. "Expectations were high for the year but we fell well short of getting to where we wanted to go," Gerry laments. "The intermediate championship title was the main target and after that we were looking to stay in division two but things didn't work out on the championship front for us. "For the third year in a row, we were involved in a relegation championship play-off which isn't good for any club and there was pressure on us every year." And the league campaign? "The league could have went a lot better for us but losing the first four games was a blow because you always want to get off to a good start to get the confidence going. "The team made a good recovery to win the next three games and then draw with Cootehill which got us back on track," the stout-hearted mentor/administrator added. Like many another club official in the county, Gerry bemoans the fact there remains a lengthy break in club fixtures during the summer while Cavan hunt championships. In that regard, Gerry feels that it is really high time that a decision is arrived at by the county board which will be much more club-friendly. "We were on a bit of a roll up until the break in fixtures in the Summer and it was very frustrating for everyone at the club, especially the players and team-management. "Seven or eight weeks is a long time to go without a competitive game and it's very disruptive for every club and no good to anyone really. "I'm very much against such a long break during the Summer and the club put in a motion at the start of the year to try and do away with the need for such a break. "What we wanted as a club was that teams with county players would have to play their fixture and if they won they would get three points and one point for a defeat. "I can understand why clubs with county players wouldn't agree with such a motion and we'd feel the same if we had two county players but the big break is a disaster." Gerry believes that while the Swanlinbar players didn't do themselves justice in 2005, he insists that they did redeemed themselves by avoiding the drop in the league. The club swept to victory over Cootehill Celtic in a play-off match, but only after a nail-biting draw which saw them come back from four points down with ten to go. "We beat them well in the replay; the lads rolled up their sleeves and played more like we know they can with a very good second half performance in particular." Gerry believes that that victory over Cootehill combined with displays earlier in the year against Ballinagh, Drung and Drumlane represented Swad's better outings in 2005. A seasoned observer of Swad's pedigree over the years, Gerry says the character and spirit shown by the intermediate players at the tail end of the year is heartening. He believes that the club's run-in to the end of the '05 season augurs well for the coming year: "The players showed a lot of grit and determination at the end of the year and they've definitely the ability to win the junior championship next summer. "The panel will be that bit stronger with the addition of a few, new, young lads and if they put in the work they should do very well in the league and the championship. "I think they've every chance of winning the championship and retaining their position in division two - it would be great for the club if they could do well on both fronts." Certainly those from outside looking in on matters of a blue and white hue couldn't but be impressed by the raft of young talent which is making its way up the club's ranks. Over the last five years or thereabouts, Swad have won a handful of juvenile level at under 12, under 13 and under 14 levels. "There's a good crop of young fellas coming through which makes us optimistic about the future for the seniors but we're taking nothing for granted. "We had a few very good girls on those under 14 winning teams and they'll be lost to us at under 16 level so we'll have to compensate for them in some way. "This year things will be very tight for us at under 16 and minor levels in terms of fielding teams and that's where the amalgamation with Corlough comes into play." In those circumstances, would he like to see the rules changed which would allow girls play on the boys team at under 16 level? "No, it might be good for our club, it would benefit us, but, overall, I don't think it would be a good thing or even practical. "Lads get a fair bit stronger when they move from under 14 to under 16 level and from a purely physical point of view, it wouldn't be practical or fair." Gerry is one of a strong team of mentors involved at underage level in Swad and is also the club's county board delegate and treasurer of the county juvenile board to boot. Along with Roly Curran and Michael McGovern, Gerry was in charge of the Swad/Corlough under 16 team that reached the division three county final last Summer. Unfortunately defeat was the order of the day at Kingspan/Breffni Park. "Redhills were the better team," says the father of promising youngsters Gearoid and Bhreifne. Gerry is optimistic that, combined with Corlough in the guise of Dernacrieve Gaels, matters at minor level in 2006 could turn out to be very rosy. He believes that, long term, Swanlinbar should have a really strong crowd at adult level. "It's been 2003 since we were in division one but I'd say in the next two to three years we'd have a good chance of getting back up there and staying there too. "Winning the intermediate championship would be a big target for us as well "We've got our own pitch, having just settled into it last year and if we win our first four or five games of the new season, we could go on and have a good year." Tweet

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