Lynch and Gilroy Kildare Men by Accident 1956 was a fortunate year for Kildare football. Not only was it the last year in which the county won a Leinster Senior crown, it was the year that Pat Lynch from lovely Kells on the Ring of Kerry came to teach in the Parish of Clane. Pat played a fair bit of football for Clane Seniors from 1967 to '74 and junior up to 1980 in fact. He subsequently settled in the village itself and became Principal of the local B.N.S. He and his Mayo born wife Mary have 5 children, Brian, Maureen Martin, Sinead and Ciara. On the 17th of June next Martin Lynch will "come of age" as they say, a born and reared Kildare man. Yes indeed, 1956 was a lucky year for Kildare football. Martin's first introduction to football came under the paternal eye at Clane B.N.S. Martin recalls an unlucky schoolboy career. "We seemed to be always losing finals," he muses. Secondary days in the local community School saw the dark-haired "ciotog" youngster come under the tutelage of former Longford senior Pauric Carberry. 1988 was a big year as the Clane lads took the Leinster and All-Ireland and Colleges 'B ' Football titles, beating St. Fachtna's, Skibbereen in the final at John Moloney's Bansha. The club scene with Clane wasn't all that rewarding medals-wise. But the Lynch star was in the ascendant at inter-county level with Leinster U16 medals being picked up in '85 and '86 on teams which included Jarlath Gilroy. Martin played Minor for the county in '87 and '88, being part of the unfortunate '87 crew which lost the All-Ireland semi-final to Down. He made his senior debut in the League against Roscommon in Dr. Nua in 1988 on the same day as Gilroy. The following spring he hit the headlines, scoring 3 goals against Mayo in the same N.F.L. campaign. He has held down a fairly regular spot since between midfield and the half forward line. Apart from the Leitrim game, his most memorable display for Kildare was in the 1989 O'Byrne Cup Final against Meath in Dr. Nua which earned rave notices from Sean Boylan, no less! Three unsuccessful seasons with Kildare ('89-'91 incl.) at U-21 level were a frustrating experience for both Gilroy and Lynch but since the arrival of Micko both seem to have a very bright future with Kildare. For March the same season, 1971, was a notable year for Kildare. That was the year in which Eugene Gilroy from Manorhamilton and his wife, Joan from Tuam settled in Ballymore-Eustace. The Gilroys have 6 children, Jarleth, Alan, Michael, Eileen, Vincent and wee TJ. Jarlath showed early promise as a footballer and athlete. Seeing a need to encourage his own and the other "gasuns" in the Wicklow-border village Eugene, himself a former Leitrim Minor footballer and senior hurler (he played with Tommy Riordan), hurled himself into Bord na nOg activity in Kildare. Jarlath had a more rewarding under-age career than his future team-mate from Clane. Medals came at U-10 and U-ll Primary School grade, U-14, U-16 and U-21 championships were won with Ballymore and St. Oliver Plunketts. At school in Naas C.B.S. an U-16 Leinster Colleges "A" title was won under the guidance of Liam McManus and Michael Butler. The County minors had Jarlath on their line-out in ' 86, ' 87 and '88 and the U-21 side made use of his talents in '89, '90 and '91. Like Lynch he was also a member of the side which failed to Down in that Minor semi-final. His U-21 experiences in '89, '90 and '91 were not happy ones but on the club front Junior and J.F.C. titles were won with Ballymore in '85 and '86. With the senior team Gilroy has played most of the forward positions but seems to have finally made the No. 15 shirt his own of late. A talented athlete the Ballymore man has won something like 22 national titles at various levels, most of them for shot putt, at which he had represented Ireland once at senior level against Scotland. Since teaming up at Athlone R.T.C.Gilroy and Lynch have had considerable success at Higher Ed. level, winning Div. 2 and losing the Sigerson semi-final to the eventual winners, Jordanstown, earlier this year. That Athlone squad had a strong Kildare flavour with Kenny Doyle, Ronan Quinn, Eddie O'Loughlin and Martin Fitzgerald aboard. Its been a long road for Gilroy and Lynch since they first teamed up for Kildare 10 years ago at Under-11 cross country running - would you believe! Now with their wagons firmly hitched to O'Dwyers star, two modest young men who say they owe a lot to their fathers and the other unsung heroes of Clane and Ballymore-Eustace Clubs would seem to have the world at their feet. Taken from Hogan Stand 19th April 1991 Tweet

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