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Football

football

Simonstown keen to strike while iron is hot

Padraig McKeever

Padraig McKeever

By John Harrington

Simonstown Gaels have come a long way in seven years.

Back in 2010 they had to win a relegation play-off to preserve their senior status, now they’re back to back senior football champions in Meath.

Team captain Padraig McKeever has been central to the club’s rising fortunes and admits it’s been quite a journey.

“Yeah, in my second year we were fighting relegation,” he says. “I've tasted the highs and lows of senior football now, which I think has given lads that bit of experience as well.

“It's great to be at the top of the pile now rather than the bottom of it. There's a core of lads who've been there since that relegation match and we've obviously blooded some new guys in as well along the way.”

Last year’s county senior title was the first ever in the history of the club, and there was a determination among the players to retain it rather than rest on their laurels.

“It being our first last year, guys really got the taste for a bit of success. Look, they came back this year with the right mindset,” said McKeever.

“We had some tough games and had to dig ourselves out of some quite large holes, especially during the quarter-final (against Dunboyne) this year.

“At half time we were 10 or 11 down. We thought if we could get a quick goal or two it would give us a bit of a chance. So we went out and threw everything at them and I think we scored four goals in the second-half.

“We were just delighted to get out of there with the win. It was a great turn-around in the second-half, lads showed a bit of steel which is what's required at that time of the year.

“I think guys have that winning mentality in them now and have learned from last year. So, look, happy to be still out training at the moment.”

Simonstown Gaels players celebrate following victory in the Meath SFC Final at Pairc Tailteann.

Simonstown Gaels players celebrate following victory in the Meath SFC Final at Pairc Tailteann.

Simonstown fell at the first hurdle in Leinster last year when they lost by three points to a Rhode side that would go on to contest the Provincial Final. This year they were keen to go further in the province.

“I think definitely coming out of Rhode last year we said we'd love to give this a good crack again next year,” said McKeever.

“I think we maybe could have been forgiven for taking the eye off the ball a bit last year, it being the first year we won our own county championship.

“Definitely this year you can see it in the mindset that the guys are ready for the task. We were ready for the first game down in Starlights and we're focused and ready to go again for this weekend coming.”

With reigning champions St. Vincent’s and perennial contenders Portlaoise already knocked out of the competition, all of the four teams left in the Leinster Championship will feel they’ve a great chance of winning it now.

McKeever isn’t getting too far ahead of himself though because he knows Westmeath champions St. Loman’s of Mullingar will be a formidable obstacle in Sunday’s AIB Leinster Club SFC semi-final.

“Some of the teams that have been there for the last couple of years have been knocked out but there are still some very good sides in it at the moment who have knocked out those so-called big names,” he said.

“We're taking it one step at a time and St. Loman's are our next game. They're a good outfit so we'll be ready for what's to come.

“Funnily enough, we've actually played them in two friendlies already this year. So they're well accustomed with us and we are with them. I think it was one-all.

“We know what they're about and they know what we're about. We're looking forward to it.”