Two-thousand-and-six is a defining year for the gaels of Shandonagh. Intermediate semi-finalists for the past three seasons, the Sky Blues will aim to finally make the long-awaited step up to the senior plate. They've never looked better positioned to pull it off and the club's 1995 All-Ireland hero Kevin Hickey is hopeful that he and his team-mates are on the verge of working a major oracle. Shortlisted as likely intermediate football championship winners for each of the past three seasons, Shandonagh have thus far flattered to deceive. The Mullingar satellite outfit breezed through to the last four on all three occasions, only to lose to Ballymore, Bunbrosna and Killucan respectively. Two-thousand-and-six could be a make-or-break season for the men in sky blue. It may not be a case of 'last chance saloon' for Shandonagh in '06, but there is definitely a feeling that if they can't do it this year then they might never make the ascension to senior fare. The team has never looked stronger and the addition of Dublin legend Tommy Carr (who now lives and works in the area and lined out for the club last year) to the management team represents a major boost. This will be full back Kevin Hickey's 13th intermediate campaign (Shandonagh have been ensconced in the middle grade since capturing the 1987 JFC) and the 1995 All-Ireland minor medalist is hoping this could prove a lucky numerical omen. They've been knocking on the door for a while; maybe zero-six will be the year when said metaphoric barrier is forced off its hinges… Having narrowly lost their 2004 IFC semi-final to competition surprise packet Bunbrosna after a replay, Shandonagh went into the '05 campaign determined to go a couple of steps further. They'd topped their group in successive seasons but failed to reach the county decider. The semi-final was proving a difficult hurdle - and so it proved again last term. Cormac Davey's charges got off to a good start in the IFC with a 2-9 to 2-5 victory over Killucan and followed up with a facile 0-20 to 0-5 saunter past Castletown Finea/Coole/Whitehall. A surprise 2-6 to 1-7 defeat to promoted St Joseph's was followed by narrow victory over Caulry (1-12 to 2-8) but defeat to Ballynacargy effectively ended any prospect of Shandonagh going straight through to the last four. They'd have to negotiate a more scenic route. A draw with Moate meant a play-off clash with the All Whites, which the Sky Blues won by a goal, 1-8 to 0-8. The knockouts had been reached. Kilbeggan Shamrocks provided opposition at the quarter-final phase and Shandonagh prevailed with five points to spare. However, there was no repeat of the opening day victory over Killucan at the penultimate stage as Shandonagh fell to a very disappointing 0-15 to 1-6 defeat. That was it for another year. One couldn't help escape the feeling that Shandonagh had underachieved again, but the truth is that they were comprehensively outplayed on the day and could have no complaints regarding the sealing of their '05 championship fate. Expectations will be high again in the coming months, but this is unlikely to affect the players unduly. They crave that senior berth passionately and their hunger and determination should rule their senses. There's a big buzz about the club these days and the mood emanating from Kilpatrick is a distinctly positive one. It's going to be an interesting season. Reflecting on the unsatisfactory '05 odyssey, team stalwart Kevin Hickey notes: "We were disappointed in the end, but we didn't play well in general over the course of the year. We weren't as good as we had been in 2004 and we were probably lucky even to get to the semi-final in the first place. "Once we got there, things just didn't go right for us. We lost Colin Galligan to suspension and that was a major blow because he's a big influence around midfield. "To lose three semi-finals in a row is heart-breaking, but 2005 certainly wasn't the most disappointing. In the replay in '04, we felt we threw it away to Bunbrosna, but this time the fact of the matter is that we didn't perform on the day and we could well have lost by 14 points. Our form throughout the year was patchy and that'll never be enough to win a championship." There exists every reason to believe that Shandonagh can turn things around in 2006. The team that takes to the field this year could be an entirely new proposition and - on paper, at least - the Sky Blues look better equipped than ever to clinch IFC honours. "Tommy Carr has agreed to train the team and we have big plans," Kevin enthuses. "Tommy had his choice from a host of clubs and the fact that he has chosen us is a major vote of confidence. We'll be putting in a huge effort. We've been close for two or three years - now it's time to go out and do it. "We definitely have the players. Cormac Davey, who trained us for the past two years, has transferred to Shandonagh and will play for us this year. Cormac played in two SFC finals with Kilcock and played full back for Kildare, so he will be a big addition to our playing panel. "We should have a very strong midfield pairing in Colin Galligan and David Duffy. Colin isn't making himself available for Westmeath this year but David is with the county U21s and will push for a place on the senior team. We're also hoping to have Jimmy Kiernan and Tommy Boyle back from Australia and England respectively." Add in men with the talent and county experience of Michael Boyle, John Rushe, Johnny Maher and Kevin's brother Alan Hickey, who won a Leinster minor championship with the Lake County in 2000, and Shandonagh clearly have the player power to compete at the highest level. "We think we have the makings of a senior side at the moment," confirms Kevin, who was 16 when he made his debut at corner back against Ballycomoyle in 1994 and has figured regularly since. The Shandonagh clubman featured on Westmeath's first ever All-Ireland winning team when the 1995 MFC was garnered and went on to wear the maroon jersey at all grades. Shandonagh scooped their first ever intermediate trophy by beating Killucan in the 2002 Intermediate Cup final and retained that title with victory over Maryland in the '03 decider Now they're gunning for the intermediate championship. "Trying to get out of Division Three will also be a big thing. Our league form in 2005 wasn't good enough," Kevin adds. The former county man is under no illusions as to the enormity of the task facing his club in the main competition this year. "There are six or seven teams all capable of wining the intermediate championship," he insists. "Ballynacargy, Ballymore, Rosemount, Maryland, Moate and Kilbeggan could all do it. It's going to take a massive effort. "But training has been very good for two years since Cormac took over and hopefully Tommy will now take it a step further. Tommy is in big demand and we're delighted to have this opportunity to work with him. "We tend not to play that well against our more local teams because those games get built up so much, so that's something we'll have to get out of our system. We seem to perform better against the likes of Moate or Kilbeggan when we're underdogs. We need more consistency." Kevin pays tribute to a number of individuals whose selfless contribution to the everyday welfare of Shandonagh GFC gives the players an opportunity to go out and express themselves on the field of play: "Our chairman Tommy Carey does great work within the club. We're hoping to officially open our new pitch soon and we have extended our facilities to include four dressing-rooms. The facilities are fantastic, which is probably why the county team has trained here for the past two years. "Mick Gordon, who was secretary for years, is another great club servant and Martin Maher does a tremendous job looking after the pitch. Ned Tynan and Tom Smith did a lot of work as selectors in '05 and the minor chairman Eddie Moran is another good man who deserves a great deal of credit. My father Gerry does a good job as treasurer too. "The ladies section of the club is going well, and they won county finals at U14 and U16 levels last year, which is a fine achievement and worthy of mention. "The club was greatly saddened by the untimely passing of Majella Scally last year and her late mother Margaret did a lot for Shandonagh over the years. We remember them both fondly and it would be lovely to win something in their memory in 2006." Tweet

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