Shandonagh missed out on a glorious opportunity to reach last year's intermediate football final when they lost to Bunbrosna after a replay in the semi-final. However, they are intent on making amends this season as outgoing selector Gavin Dooley explains. Shandonagh's quest for a first intermediate championship success goes on after they were beaten by surprise-packets Bunbrosna's after a replay in last year's semi-final. After topping their group section, Shandonagh had high hopes of claiming their first piece of championship silverware since 1987 when they were crowned junior champions, but Bunbrosna had other ideas and after drawing the first day, the Longford-border outfit emerged as three-point winners of the replay. "We missed our chance the first day," outgoing selector Gavin Dooley ruefully reflects. "We had three or four goal chances and when we didn't take them, we were always going to pay the price. Bunbrosna were very determined and we were never able to kill them off. It was a harsh lesson for our lads to have to learn but hopefully it will stand to them in the coming year. We're keen to make amends." Dooley, who was part of a management team which also comprised ex-Kildare full back Cormac Davey, Ned and Joe Tynan and Tom Duffy, is convinced that Shandonagh are getting closer to making the breakthrough. "We're not that far off the mark," the Mullingar-based schoolteacher insists. "For the past two years, we have gone straight through to the semi-final after topping our group. In 2003, Ballymore put us out and last year it was Bunbrosna who ended our interests. "We have a lot of talented players at our disposal and we are also a physically strong team. But we need to concentrate more and be more ruthless in the big games. We have to be able to take our chances when they come along." Shandonagh opened last year's championship campaign with an impressive 3-15 to 1-11 victory over Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall. The Kilpatrick-based club dominated the early exchanges to lead by 2-6 to 0-1 after 20 minutes. At half-time, they led by 2-9 to 0-6 and while the northerners came more into the game after the restart, Shandonagh comfortably held on for the win. The navy and sky blues suffered their only defeat of the group stages when they succumbed to Tang by 0-12 to 1-8 following the long break caused by the county team's extended championship run. Played in difficult conditions, the game was slow to come to life and at half-time, the sides were level on 0-4 each. When Alan Hickey converted a penalty midway through the second half, it looked like Shandonagh would go on to secure their second win, but Tang finished strongly to take the two points on offer. Against Ballynacargy in their third outing, veteran Gerry Fitzgerald scored a last-gasp point to earn Shandonagh a 1-13 draw. In one of the best games of the championship, Ballynacargy recovered from a 0-4 to 0-6 interval deficit to lead by 0-11 to 0-7 midway through the second half. Shandonagh fought back to level before a goal from corner back Willie Murtagh in the 58th minute looked to have broken the Kilpatrick side's resistance. But a late goal from Alan Hickey and an even later point from Fitzgerald secured a share of the spoils. Four days later, Shandonagh regained winning ways when they produced a late flourish to defeat Maryland by 1-14 to 1-10. Despite creating a host of chances in the first half, Shandonagh trailed by 0-5 to 0-6 at the interval but they showed a big improvement following the changeover and surged into a six-point lead thanks to a Colin Galligan goal and points from Hickey (two) and Fitzgerald. However, Maryland weren't finished and had reduced the deficit to the minimum before Hickey bailed out Shandonagh with three late points. Shandonagh chalked up their third victory when they edged out Killucan by 0-8 to 0-7 at Bunbrosna. After leading by 0-4 to 0-2 at the break, the navy and sky blues had stretched their advantage to 0-7 to 0-2 within 12 minutes of the restart thanks to points from Andy Fox, Colin Galligan and Gerry Fitzgerald. But just as Maryland had done in the previous round, Killucan staged a determined comeback to leave just a point between the sides. However, man of the match Fitzgerald replied with a late score to give Shandonagh victory. A blistering first half performance provided the platform for Shandonagh's fourth win at the expense of Kilbeggan Shamrocks. With Alan Hickey in fine scoring form, Shandonagh had raced into a 1-9 to 0-3 lead by half-time. Kilbeggan had cut the lead to five points with 14 minutes remaining and Shandonagh had to endure some anxious moments before a brilliant goal from Enda Kincaid in the closing stages saw them prevail on a 2-11 to 0-11 scoreline. Shandonagh booked their place in the semi-final when overcoming Caulry by 0-10 to 0-8 in their final group match at Castletown-Geoghegan. The Kilpatrick side led by 0-3 to 0-1 after 21 minutes but faded in the closing stages of the first half and trailed by 0-3 to 0-5 at the interval. Shandonagh regained the lead shortly after the restart courtesy of unanswered points from Fitzgerald, Hickey and David Duffy before Alan Carroll levelled for Caulry. But Shandonagh then stamped their authority on proceedings when three further points from from substitute Vinny Hewitt, Paddy Duffy and former Dublin star Tommy Carr put them 0-9 to 0-6 ahead. The Mount Temple men rallied in the closing stages, but Shandonagh did just enough to hold on for the win. Shandonagh made much of the early running in their semi-final clash with Bunbrosna at Cusack Park, but their problems in front of goal meant that they were just two points to the good, 0-3 to 0-5, at the interval. The Kilpatrick outfit increased their lead to three points before a fisted goal from Finian Newman brought Bun' level 16 minutes into the second half. When Shandonagh regained a two-point advantage with time almost up, they had one foot in the final. But Bunbrosa refused to throw in the towel and two late points from Newman and Padraig Tighe sent the tie to a replay on a 1-6 to 0-9 scoreline. A dominant first half display laid the foundations for Bun's 2-4 to 0-7 victory in the replay at St. Loman's. John Smyth's men led by 2-3 to 0-2 at the interval thanks to a goal from Finian Newman and an own goal by Shandonagh corner back Andy Fox. And while Shandonagh staged a revival in the second half, Bun' dug deep to book their place in the decider. Despite their semi-final exit, the year still had its positives according to Navan native Dooley. "Having Colin Galligan back on board was a big positive. He had a great year for both club and county and what you could see happening this year is him forming a very strong midfield partnership with young David Duffy, who has also been called onto the county panel," he says. "Other highlights for me was the great form shown by Kevin Hickey at centre back and the high-energy performances given by Tommy Carr. Since joining the club, Tommy has been a tremendous influence and it's great to see him still playing so well at this stage of his career." 2004 was also notable for the under 14 side's Division 1 league success which must rank as one of the club's greatest ever achievements. "John Rushe and Jimmy Kiernan did great work with that team and I know from teaching in St. Mary's CBS how good some of those players are. But I suppose it will be another four or five years before any of those lads are playing for the adult team," Dooley notes. While Cormac Davey and Ned Tynan will continue as selectors in the coming year, Dooley and Joe Tynan have opted out and have been replaced by Tommy Smyth. Dooley, whose home club is Simonstown Gaels, will instead be concentrating on reviving his playing career with Shandonagh and is looking forward to the season ahead. "Our aim is to go a step further than last year and that means getting to the intermediate final. Our other objective is to get out of Division 3 - we had a very poor league campaign last year. The intermediate championship is very competitive but I think we have as good a chance as anyone of winning it," he concludes. The Shandonagh team which lined out against Bunbrosna in the IFC semi-final replay was: Frank Finneran; Andy Fox, Roy Smyth, James Kiernan; John Maher, Kevin Hickey, John Rushe; Vinny Hewitt, David Duffy; Tommy Carr, Colin Galligan, Gerry Fitzgerald; Alan Hickey, Enda Kincaid, Mickey Boyle. Subs used: Padraig Lynn and Keith Gallagher. Tweet

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