July 30 th. 2013 was a beautiful summer's evening in Trim and our lads took on Blackhall in the Final.I have a special interest in this team as I gave a hand last year with these lads,trying to supplement the considerable effort being then put in by Jim Mitchell and Darren Yourell.. Darren didn't play much and would not deny it.Jim spent many years gracing the playing fields of Meath with Robinstown.I played a bit with Brigids of Blanchardstown and Dunderry,although my football career with Dunderry was brief after 1986 as Father Heaney who was in charge then had a massive clean out the pensioners of which I was one.
Notwithstanding this I spent the guts of twenty years with juvenile and adult football teams here and threw in my twohalpence worth with the two lads after a walkover was given in the championship.I was given a huge welcome by the two boys,much to their credit and the team was not beaten afterwards last year.
The stronger lads from last year have graduated to the next grade up and the guys who were underage again this year formed the backbone of the this year's team.They are supplemented by much younger troops from down the age time line to make up the numbers.
In an effort to get the juvenile teams away from the depths of the lower divisions where they have laboured these few years back it seems that a bigger effort is being put in to improve coaching of the lads at this level.In general it is needed and it is great to see the likes of Con O Neill taking on the under 8's and vowing to take them through to minor level.That is the type of commitment needed.And Derek Hickey and Stan are having a go with the under 16's.There are many other good labourers in the vineyard.
Timber Leavy and his troops have in place a great system in hurling these years back which plonks us in the premier competitions mainly.This is now being replicated in football.Not before time.
Anyhow myself and last year's lads got the old heave ho and have been replaced by Sean Kelly ,John Brady and Stephen O Rourke.I don't mind really.Sean and John have sons playing.All three played for Meath ,Sean is a current Meath selector and ,if I am not mistaken all three have All Ireland medals .Certainly all three have played with Dunderry as boys and men and in the case of Sean and John are the fourth or fifth generation to so do.Stephen is making his own legend.All have managed or selected the premier football teams in the Club.
The team is young but had'.t been going well I had heard.So with a timely reminder from Juvenile Sec.Orla I ventured forth to judge for myself what progress was made.
A good crowd from Dunderry was there.Oisin Martyn ,a son of Gerry was hurt and didn't play.He is a class player,the polychrome of the team last year.A dreadful loss.
The selected team was( for the benefit of our emigrants, of which there are legion,I have placed the names of their fathers where they used play with Dundery in brackets after their names):-
1.Ronan Brady (son of John a.k.a. Bunny)
2.Adam Kelly (son of Marty)
3.Colum Flynn-- a fine footballer.
4.Donagh O Loire (son of Eoin and camogie player Freda)
5.Simon Lynch.(grandson of Joe Rowntree,whose Cavan genes are showing through and who Joe adores)
6.Adam Keenan.(Tommy's son and Breda Gough of camogie fame.)
7.Dermot Kelly (Sean's son )
8.Shane Heffernan -another fine footballer.
9'Jack Feeney (son of Tommy and grandson of Tom )
10.Diarmuid o Curraoin (son of Colum a great prospect)
11.James O Neill (son of Donal ,a nice guy)
12.Jamie Leavy (son of Tommy and grandson of Paddy Kavanagh the only Dunderry man to referee an All Ireland )
13.Cian Eginton whose grandfather Ned O Reilly played for Longford in his day.)
Subs .Cormack Brady (son of John)
Luke Hill--a grand young lad.
Michael Garry (son of the Bear.)
Eoin Wilson --a man on fire.
Conor Leavy ( Timber's son)
Ciaran Brady.
This was the Summer League Final.If memory serves me correctly I got into a frenzy last year at such a match.There are rules for this competition that are not in accordance with the rule book.Last year frees were given because some moves were too "soccerrey".Whatever that means.It may be that such rules departures were in vogue again at this match.I don't know.Nor did the attendance in general, who on more than one a occasion howled protest at at some of the refereeing decisions.On both sides.If I am wrong and normal rules did apply then a rethink is in order.
Referring is a lonesome occupation.I kept sthum.He didn't influence the outcome actually .And was fair by his own lights.
There was a noticeable maturity gap between the teams.Some of the Blackhall lads were on the cusp of shaving ,whereas the bulk of our lads were as far from it as could be.They were bulkier and bigger on balance.And outnumbered our big men about three to one.Good footballers too.
We had a few sweet footballers and little ball was wasted.By dint of effort,skill and pure determination we kept in touch until fifteen minutes from time,but they inevitably pulled away to win by 4-12 to 2-8.A fair result on the day.
Our lads did well.I can see a good future for these lads.They are a credit to us and themselves.
The gauntlet is down to the management to produce silverware.I assume that they are there for the long haul.The goods are there waiting to be harvested.Should be a good crop.
I hope the present crew stick with it.
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