On paper, Maryland possess one of the strongest squads in the intermediate football championship. But they have constantly flattered to deceive, a fact acknowledged by vice-chairman and former county star Tommy McCormack. Maryland's quest for intermediate championship honours continues after another year of underachievement. Semi-finalists in 1998 and 2000, and runners-up to Ballynacargy after three epic encounters in 1999, the Drumraney side made their exit at the quarter-final stage last year. They could have few complaints about their defeat to Rosemount who won more comfortably than the 1-15 to 2-9 scoreline suggests. "It was another frustrating year," admits vice-chairman Tommy McCormack who was also a selector along with Ambrose McGowan (trainer) and Matt McCormack last season. "We went into the championship with high hopes but a couple of early defeats knocked some of the confidence out of the team. We won a play-off against Tang to reach the quarter-finals but that's where our interests ended. It would be fair to say that patience is wearing thin at this stage," he adds. A virtual ever-present on the Westmeath senior team between 1978 and '88 when he formed a formidable midfield partnership with Willie Lowry, McCormack is convinced that the current Maryland team is good enough to win the intermediate championship. What has prevented them for doing so thus far, he feels, is their apparent inability to perform on the big day. "Performing on the big occasion was our biggest problem again last year. The Rosemount game seemed to pass us by and it was a similar story in the previous few years against Ballymore and Ballynacargy. "Training sessions were well attended throughout the year but that didn't seem to count for much when it came to the Rosemount game. We just never got going." Maryland's frustrations are compounded by the fact that the club has made a handsome contribution to Westmeath's recent underage successes. David Martin won an All-Ireland minor medal in 1995 while Richie Browne starred in the All-Ireland under 21 victory over Kerry in '99. In 2000, Damien Reynolds garnered a Leinster under 21 medal while Eoin Farrell and Tom Browne were important members of Ambrose McGowan's Leinster minor championship-winning side. Conor Farrell, John Cunningham and Ronan Moran are members of this year's county minor panel. "There is no doubt about it, there is great potential in Maryland but it hasn't been fulfilled yet," Tommy laments. "A number of our players have won medals at the highest level but they have yet to do the business at club level. I was part of the last Maryland team to win the intermediate championship in 1980 and I can safely say that it wasn't as talented as the current team. They have got to prove themselves." Maryland made a poor start to last year's championship, losing their first two games to Shandonagh and St. Loman's. Shandonagh, who were unlucky to go down to the blue and whites the previous year, exacted revenge with a 0-12 to 0-9 victory at Castletown-Geoghegan. Against St. Loman's, a Sean Kelly goal helped Maryland to establish a 1-9 to 1-4 at half-time. But the Mullingar side scored an unanswered 1-4 in the second half to claim a 2-8 to 1-9 victory. Maryland couldn't afford to lose to Tubberclair in round three and they emerged as deserving 1-11 to 0-9 winners. Ollie Moran scored 1-3 while David Martin weighed in with 0-6. The Drumraney side boosted their qualification hopes with a 1-12 to 0-10 victory over Tang on July 8 at Moate. Ollie Moran scored the only goal once again. But then came another setback when neighbours and bogey side Ballymore defeated them on a 1-9 to 1-10 scoreline. In their final group game, Maryland secured their third victory, this time at the expense of Mullingar Shamrocks (2-13 to 0-7). However, they faced an anxious wait to see if they would qualify for the knock-out stages. If Tang were to win their two remaining games, they would secure a quarter-final place. Fortunately for Maryland, Tang dropped a point against Tubberclair after beating Shandonagh so a play-off was required to determine which team would progress to the knock-out stages. Played at Cusack Park on September 1, the clash of the neighbouring clubs proved to be a real thriller. Maryland enjoyed the better of the first half exchanges with points from Ollie Moran, Richie Browne, David Martin and Stephen Martin giving them a 0-9 to 0-7 interval lead. Tang, who had county star Paul Conway back in their line-up after missing the earlier meeting between the sides, improved substantially in the second half and had edged into a one-point lead with less than five minutes remaining. Then, with Maryland battling to stay in the championship, a free from Ollie Moran was brilliantly fisted to the net by corner forward Vinnie Browne. Tang managed a late point but it wasn't enough to save them from a 0-15 to 1-13 defeat. And so to the quarter-final. Maryland were pitted against a Rosemount side who were widely fancied to make a quick return to the senior ranks. The Drumraney men got off to a sluggish start and were 0-5 to 0-11 in arrears at the break. Rosemount had extended their advantage to a massive 11 points with 15 minutes remaining but then came a tremendous Maryland fightback, spearheaded by David Martin. Eight points were shaved off the Rosemount lead in that final quarter but Maryland still bowed out of the championship. "We left ourselves with too much to do in such a short space of time," McCormack says. "Rosemount had dominated for third-quarters of the game and on that basis, you would have to say they deserved to win. Cathal Keane was a real thorn in our side. He was on top of his game that day and we failed to find a way of stopping him." While the Maryland/Tang underage amalgamation has produced a string of talented players in recent years, Tommy laments the fact that they will be unable to field an under 16 team this year. "Maryland/Tang has been a success but I don't know if the numbers are there to keep it that way. It's very worrying that between the two clubs, we have only 11 players at under 16 level this year. Both clubs could be in trouble for numbers in a few years' time." The coming year provides Maryland with another opportunity to deliver on their rich promise. Last year's management team has made way for Malachy Buckley (trainer), Mick Reynolds and Paddy Martin, all of whom have played for the club. "Malachy was in charge when we last won the intermediate championship in 1980 so that might be a good omen. We've been drawn in the same group as Ballymore, Tang, Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall, Tubberclair, Athlone and St. Loman's and I think we are well capable of coming out of it. "As I've already said, the talent is there to win the intermediate championship. But the team has to be able to perform when the big day comes around," McCormack concludes. Tweet

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