Michael Glaveys won the Roscommon and Connacht Intermediate Football titles in 2017.
By Cian O’Connell
Hope fills the air around Ballinlough once more. Michael Glaveys are beginning to stir again with Sunday’s AIB All Ireland Intermediate Championship Semi-Final against Kilanerin the next exciting chapter for the proud club.
Throughout the decades Glaveys have produced capable footballers and administrators, but they delivered on the pitches of Roscommon and Connacht in 2017.
Titles were secured and the locals left encouraged and a trip to Croke Park is the mighty prize at stake this weekend.
Chairman Gerry Coffey has been thrilled by Glaveys journey in the west. “The whole lift it gives to the area, it is just an experience,” Coffey admits.
“Whether you are from a Junior, Intermediate or Senior club, it is all about your club and remembering that. I remember these young lads coming through at Under 12 and 14 and 16 and minor, this is their day now.
“The enjoyment they have given to the people of our parish and the surrounding areas is fantastic. Because we are based on a border as well, the influx of Mayo people coming in to support us, a lot of Mayo and Galway people live in our area.
"We had a fundraiser last Saturday night, Ollie Turner from Galway Bay FM was doing a race night for us. It was the best fundraiser we ever had.
“When people won prizes for their horses, they said to keep it for the club. That was the generosity and goodwill from the people, who had won their few pounds on the horse.
“We sold nearly 600 horses, but they wanted to give it back to the club. It is a proud moment for me to be Chairman of the club at this time and I've a great group of people working with me.”
That graft means Glaveys are on the right path, but one magical memory sticks out in Coffey’s mind from the winter. It captured the beauty and meaning of sport.
Former Roscommon and Michael Glaveys footballer Paul Earley.
“Hurling wouldn't be too popular around here, but Tooreen are only down the road from us,” Coffey explains.
“There was a great moment a couple of months ago, we were coming back after meeting the Mayo champions and they were coming back from Athleague after beating the Galway champions.
“We met in Ballinlough, there was a great scene. Our cars on one side of the road beeping and their cars on the other side. Everyone went across then congratulating each other, great scenes.”
Back in 1996 Glaveys contested a Roscommon Senior Final losing to the aristocratic Clann na Gael. Since then tough days have been endured with Glaveys climbing from the Junior ranks during the past decade.
Glaveys invested in youth. “I suppose we had a good team and the main thing is we held most of them together,” Coffey acknowledges about the struggles which continue to exist.
“Luckily some of them got work locally and they were in college, while we can hold them together we have the nucleus of a good team, but you know what it is like in small rural clubs trying to hold them together because they have to travel outside to get work.
“We train on a Tuesday night in Garrycastle in Athlone where one of our former clubmen is based. They come from Limerick, Dublin, Galway, and Sligo and from home as well. Athlone is a central location because we have lads scattered all over.”
Those who left Glaveys have made their mark elsewhere with the club taking immense satisfaction from what the Earleys and former London manager Paul Coggins have achieved.
Paul Earleys' father, Peadar, was one of the founder members of our club back in 1956. The Earley name is synonymous with our club, Dermot was a regular visitor to our club, both Dermot and Paul played for our club.
“Our grounds are called Peadar Earley Memorial Park, there has been many events to celebrate them. Even after the sad death of Dermot Earley we had a massive crowd gathered in our complex for a mass.
Peadar Earley Memorial Park in Ballinlough, home of Michael Glaveys.
“People came from all over Connacht, people representing Galway football, Mayo football, the officials came to show the respect in which he was held.
“We have a big complex down there and there was about 800 people at that mass a couple of weeks after he died. That showed the significance of the Earley name in our club.
“Paul Coggins was a former player, he has brothers involved in the club. Their kids are playing and one of them is involved in management in the club.”
Around Ballinlough Glaveys flags ripple in the wind the dream of running out at GAA headquarters is still very much alive.
“Where our club is located, there would be an influx of Mayo people in the area so they are well used going to Croke Park,” Coffey says.
“It is all about the club, even look at Colm Cooper, he had won so many All Irelands and All Stars and everything, but the one medal he was missing was the club medal.
“Everyone has respect for their club and it is all about club. That is where it is, we are so proud of the lads, the whole parish is. It is great, even today we struggle at underage and we are co-operating with our neighbouring club at underage, but we are strong at Intermediate.
“We are one game away, we will do our best, we will give it a rattle, the lads will do themselves proud, we won't be found wanting on Sunday. Whatever the next stage it has been a fantastic year for our club.
"The aim at the start of the year was to win a County Final, any year you beat teams from Mayo and Galway in the province, it says a lot about your team.” Can Michael Glaveys take one further step?
