The development of new playing facilities, the success of the under 16 and ladies football teams, and the senior side's championship wins over The Down and Ballinagore, were among the highlights of another busy season for Killucan. Killucan's long-standing ground-sharing arrangement with Raharney is nearing an end following the development of two new pitches on the Kinnegad Road. The development, which is taking place over two phases, is a major undertaking for Killucan, who have seen their playing numbers increase dramatically in recent years due to the population boom the parish has experienced and the formation of a ladies football club. It is hoped the new pitches will be ready for use by the end of this year or in early 2010. "This was a very necessary undertaking because of our growing population and the fact that huge demands were being placed on Joristown (which Killucan share with Raharney)," Killucan chairman Sean Brady explains. "It was getting to the stage where Joristown couldn't cope with having football, hurling and camogie played on it. So we came to the conclusion that if we wanted to cater for all our players, as well as the local Columba College secondary school and Rathwire national school, we would have to develop our own ground. "The new pitches have been developed on a green field site on the Kinnegad Road, which is centrally located between Killucan and Rathwire. It's a long time since football matches were played in Killucan and we're looking forward to returning there later this year, weather permitting of course." The first phase of the project, which involved the laying of the new pitches, cost EUR270,000. The second phase, which will see the erection of goalposts and fencing as well as the construction of dugouts and temporary dressing rooms, is expected to cost in the region of EUR170,000. "We've raised most of the money through our weekly lotto and various other fundraisers such as table quizzes, golf classics and parish draws. We've applied to both the National Lottery and the Leinster Council for grant aid, and we're obviously hoping they will look favourably upon our request," Sean adds. By and large, 2008 was a successful year for Killucan from a playing point of view. Their flagship senior team beat both The Downs and Ballinagore in the championship, but were in danger of losing their All-County League Division 1 status at the time of writing. The under 16s reached the championship and league finals, winning the latter, while the ladies team were crowned intermediate champions for the first time in their short history following a 1-8 to 1-7 victory over Moate, and have been promoted to senior level for 2009. Last season saw new Westmeath hurling manager Eamonn Gallagher return to his dual role as manager of both Killucan and Raharney. Working with what were basically the same group of players, Gallagher guided Raharney to their second senior hurling championship success in three years, while he also steered Killucan to the brink of a senior football championship quarter-final appearance. The Saffrons were threatened by relegation after losing their opening two games to St. Malachy's and St. Loman's, but recovered to beat Ballinagore and The Downs before neighbours Coralstown-Kinnegad ended their championship interests with a one-point victory in their final group match. There was little to separate Killucan and St. Malachy's in their first round meeting at Kinnegad with Alan Mangan's goal ensuring the Dysart side of parity at the break, 1-4 to 0-7. In a tempestuous second half which saw Killucan reduced to 14 men, Mangan pointed two frees late on to give St. Malachy's victory by the narrowest of margins, 1-7 to 0-9. Killucan suffered another narrow defeat to St. Loman's in their second round encounter at Cusack Park. After going into the interval on level terms, Eamonn Gallagher's charges fell behind when Conrad Reilly netted in the 44th minute and the Mullingar side surged six points clear before four points from Padraig Leavy, Danny Riggs, Niall Flanagan and Paul Greville left them hanging on for a 1-12 to 0-13 victory. Retaining their top-flight status, rather than challenging for a place in the knockout stages, had now become the number one priority for Killucan. As in their two previous outings, Killucan retired at half-time on level terms, only for Ballinagore to hit them for 1-1 within eight minutes of the restart. But inspired by the hard-working Brian Smyth, Killucan responded in the best possible fashion by scoring 1-4 in the space of just four minutes - the goal coming from former county player James Nugent in the 45th minute. Ballinagore rallied in the closing stages, but the goal they so desperately sought never materialised as the Saffrons held on for a 1-10 to 1-8 win. A second straight victory over fierce rivals The Downs at Cusack Park suddenly put Killucan back in the hunt for a quarter-final spot. Leading 0-4 to 0-1 after 11 minutes and 0-5 to 0-3 at the break, Killucan took a firm grip on proceedings seven minutes into the second half when substitute Danny Riggs scored the opening goal. There was no great response from The Downs and 12 minutes later, Alan Doyle netted from close range to give the underdogs a seven-point lead, and there was no way back for the black and ambers after that. Killucan knew going into their final group match against Coralstown-Kinnegad that victory would see them reach the knockout stages, but a wasteful second half performance, during which they kicked seven wides, cost them dearly as they were edged out on a 1-8 to 1-7 scoreline. The winners got off to a flying start when Gordon McDonnell goaled inside 40 seconds, but a Conor Jordan penalty left Killucan just a point adrift at half-time, 1-4 to 1-5. A Padraig Leavy free tied up matters on the resumption, but despite all their possession, Killucan were unable to get their noses in front as a more economical Coralstown-Kinnegad prevailed. "We were very unlucky to miss out on a quarter-final spot," the Killucan chairman ruefully reflects. "We lost three games by narrow margins and that's what cost us in the end. I don't like making excuses, but it's difficult for Killucan and Raharney to be going well at the same time. Usually one of us suffers when the other one is going well. "Also, our disappointing league form was not helped by the fact that we were without some of our best players, who were involved with the county hurlers. If we had them for every game, I'm sure we wouldn't have ended up in relegation trouble." Killucan maintained their proud recent record at underage level in 2008 when their under 16 team put behind them the disappointment of losing the championship final to St. Mary's by winning the Division 3 (13-a-side) title at Delvin's expense. Managed by David Carr and Shane Briody, the Saffrons never looked back after goals from Dean McFeeley and Sean Keane in the opening 20 minutes helped them to a 2-2 to 0-1 interval lead. Mark Glennon and Damien Keogh added further majors in the second half to put the seal on a 4-5 to 0-2 success. The Killucan team which lined out against Coralstown-Kinnegad in the SFC was: David Bryan; Brendan McKeogh, Francis Boyle, Brian Nugent; Niall Flanagan, Conor Jordan, Tony Doyle; Padraig Leavy, Brian Smyth; John Shaw, Shane Leavy, Alan Doyle; Stephen Morley, Paul Greville, James Nugent. Subs used: Danny Riggs, Cormac Boyle and Paul Briody. Tweet

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