2019 Club Semi Finals: Intermediate Football
Lightning strikes twice did they say? Two Mile House, four years apart. Winning Kildare and Leinster that is. 2014 and 2018. A Junior and now an Intermediate championship. But first there’s the challenge of Kilcummin. There’s stories and character round this team you wouldn’t believe! A man with a Kerry father called Caomhán Doolan, playing a provincial final and racing off for an exam still in his playing gear; an Old Timer and All Star in Peter Kelly and the inspiring words and resolute determination of Adam Burke. And what about the bizarre theatre of Didier Cordonnier, was he or wasn’t he sent off because of his name? All roads from Two Mile House lead to the Gaelic Grounds. Kilcummin await.
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Kilcummin. Bloody hell. What a year. In all honesty has the club ever had a year like the twelvemonth passed? A year to end all years for Kilcummin. A county intermediate championship. Yes. A fundraiser like none seen before in their Night at the Oskars. The catapult factor and bounce back from relegation was complete in August with promotion back into senior. Paul O’Shea and Keith O’Leary All Ireland winning Kerry minors. Ten Kilcummin men on a good East Kerry team. Then driving on to see off Kilmacthomas and Fermoy to Munster Championship glory. Every journey starts with the first steps. Next? Two Mile House.
St Enda’s winning Ulster. Bittersweet indeed. Anyone associated with club, anyone who knows the club, anyone who’s visited the Pairc on the Hightown Road knows of the late Gerry Devlin. And of Liam Canning. Colin Lundy and his mum Kathleen. Sean Fox and Gerard Lawton. St Enda’s people lost in the Troubles, from a club that was a beacon in North Belfast and Glengormley. Still is. The new Antrim Chairman Ciaran McCavana a St Enda’s man through and through. The flame never dimmed. The club now boasts three pitches, and hurling, football and camogie. What strikes you most is the spirit and sense of purpose that radiates the club. They don’t forget the hard times. But it helps them appreciate even more the good times. The words engraved on the Memorial Stone at the Club grounds speak volumes, in remembrance of all the club members and relatives they have lost over the years.
The Gael will never forget you, until the end of time
Do not feel sorry for us
For we have bravery in our hearts
And courage in our sinews
But remember, there will never be a death
That is not followed by an uprising
And on this grave and all graves that surround us,
The Freedom of the Gael will arise
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An Spidéal. A pulsating neighbourhood battle with Michéal Breathnachs. Two games to separate them. A goal from Dara Mac An Rí. The stuff of Legends from Maghnus Breathnach. Saves a penalty. Then with An Spidéal trailing he sorties up the field to win a free. Which he converts himself. Two more steps to glory in Connacht, Belmullet then Fuerty in sun drenched Tuam. A titanic contest. Five up at the break for the Galway men. A point the difference in the end. The names written into the club folklore. Finian and Antaine Ó’Laoi. Padraig Ó Curraoin. Heroic stuff. The Galway western board men now play senior Galway next season. But for now, it is the challenge of the men of St Enda’s of Antrim.
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