BOYLAN TALKS SPORT: Small and mighty often does the trick

While forever mindful that repetition is one of the greatest foibles in this business, the stance will be maintained that if a point or subject area remains relevant, it merits mention again. So please stay with me here, writes Brendan Boylan.

A few short weeks ago, homage was paid to the Dunsany club when they pulled off what in fairness to them often looked like the most unlikely of triumphs.

Winning the Meath JFC and thus claiming the Peter McDermott Cup, having lost at the final hurdle of the same competition on eight separate occasions before reaching the Promised Land. Going back to a time when teams therein competed for the Matthew Ginnitty Cup. The shortcomings listed above don’t take into account quarter or semi final losses either.

When their day of deliverance was heralded in this space a short time ago, focus was, perhaps naturally, mainly on those who had actually engineered the exorcism of generations of ghosts. However, developments in the interim, as well as a depth of knowledge of the story of the club acquired from some treasured friendships therein.

The first such stop on the journey which will follow hereafter being one of the founder members of the club, Des Collier. But also over the years, people such as the Cummins, Flynn and Smyth families. Who have represented both their club and county with distinction both on the playing fields and administratively.

Going back as far as the late Jack Cummins who was a county footballer of note in the 1930s and whose son Brendan has served in a number of roles on the Meath Co Committee over the years as well as being a pillar of the local sports media for decades.

As well, as that, Brendan’s brother Pat is one of the many stalwarts of the Dunsany club whose friendship and assistance have been invaluable to yours truly going back decades.

Beginning with Mick Costello. Mick was the electrician when the office in which what you are reading is being produced was under construction by another great Gael from the same locality, Cyril Maguire.

Mind you, a few different occurrences lately brought Mick in particular back into my thoughts. Most obviously, the club at last landing the county title for which they had striven so long. But also a piece spotted in another local media outlet pertaining to the silver anniversary of Meath’s All Ireland win of 1999. Within said piece, there was another article quoted, written prior to the ‘96 All Ireland.

You see, not only had I seen the pre-’96 piece previously, an original copy thereof is still in the Boylan Talks Sport archives. Not only that, but, as the lads were still here at the construction of my flat/office, I decided to have a little bit of fun at my sparky’s expense.

The article in question was basically a profile of/interview with Jimmy ‘Boots’ McGuinness and, having spotted a number of factual inaccuracies therein, I strategically left the publication open at the centre page spread right beside where my mother had seated Mick for his 4 o’clock tea.

When the piece began “Next Sunday, Jimmy McGuinness will make history when, for the first time, he will prompt the name of his club, Dunsany GFC, to appear in the match programme on All Ireland Final day”.

To say there was steam rising off more than the kettle would be an understatement. You see, none other than Mick was sub goalie with the Meath team who reached the All Ireland Final in 1970. Where they were beaten by Kerry. That was without mentioning the fact that (I think) Jack Cummins was part of the Meath team which also took on The Kingdom in the Sam Maguire decider of 1939.

Anyway, from the time club’s Pairc Na nGael was officially opened in what I think was 2001, yours truly and my late father became very regular visitors to the home of the red and white, where friendships with those mentioned were properly cemented. Even after my life circumstances changed, whenever wheels ferrying yours truly hither and tither docked in Dunsany, the welcome has always been the same.

So too has the tradition of the club’s representatives serving the county on and off the field. From ‘Boots’ to Conor Brennan, Sean Stephens, Declan Smyth and Eoin Harkin. In terms of off the pitch, that has meant club members Brendan Cummins, Francis Flynn (though now affiliated with Seneschalstown) Richard Harrahill and, most recently, Ciaran Flynn - son of Francis.

However, as is often the case in these situations, when their moment of glory did arrive, thoughts automatically turned to those from the club who had not been around to see the day they had yearned for over so many years.

Personally, that meant recalling the likes of Michael and Francis Smyth and other members of their family whose names escape me, May and Andy Lynch, Liam Cahill and members of the Donnelly and Horan families.

Of course, having broken their duck after so many near misses, the next goal for Kevin Cahill’s side has to be to make winning a habit. They’ve certainly made a decent attempt at doing so to date, judged by Saturday’s conquest of Aughrim in the Leinster Club JFC.

The sides going point for point early on before a converted penalty from the exceptional Jack Cottrell put daylight between them on the call of halftime.

Shortly after the break Cottrell added to his personal tally, thus leaving the home side leading by 1-7 to 0-7 with the clock very much in their favour. Having said that, given the presumable difference in demographics between the sides, it was difficult to see how the odds compilers could consider the tiny Meath parish to be that far ahead of the literal home of Wicklow football. Especially when the latter got themselves back to parity with a rocket of a shot from rangey full forward Alex Kavanagh. You suspect, though, that, having finally crossed the Rubicon, Dunsany are, in the words of the old Star Trek ditty, ‘only going forward ‘cos we can’t find reverse’.

Thus, the outstanding Niall Flynn got another laser-like kickout away. Which itself promulgated brilliant link up play between the Cahill brothers, Harry and James, before the latter blasted to the net.

Thereafter, points from Cottrell, Harkin and impressive sub Kris Gorman sealed the deal, but, not before, fittingly, netminder Flynn had the final say when smartly pushing away a late Kavanagh penalty. Dunsany are living proof that small and mighty can still often do the trick. In fact, if you look at cases like Padraig Pearses (Roscommon), Doon (Limerick), Feakle (Clare) and Tinahely (Wicklow), it must be the year for it.