Southern Gaels are something of an enigma given the large catchment area that the club has to choose from, but they still find it difficult to make the breakthrough to the senior grade. In 1986, the Athlone based club won the intermediate hurling championship for the one and only time in their history, which is a remarkable statistic for a club of its stature. Honours have been more frequent at underage level with the minor premier title being annexed in 2007, to add to the sole championship win in same grade 16 years earlier. Southern Gaels is renowned for its hard working clubmen and names like Frank Young, Arty Pike and Kevin Jordan are known throughout the county and further afield. The work is certainly being done within the club as the minor win two years ago proves and many feel that it is only a matter of time before the club finally makes an impact in the senior grade. However, in a pre-dominantly football area, it is a constant struggle to promote the game of hurling, but it is one that Southern Gaels are willing to continue for as long as it takes and they will definitely deserve their time in the limelight when it comes around. The 2008 campaign promised so much for their intermediate hurlers as it was felt that with the right attitude and discipline, they could make a real impression on the championship. Southern Gaels kicked off their campaign against a Cullion outfit that have been a formidable intermediate side for the past few years and indeed contested the senior final in 2001, so this was a tough opener for the South Westmeath outfit. A good start is always important in any championship as it gives a side the confidence to go on and make an impact on the remainder of the campaign. Played in early May, the game was a tight affair and scores were hard to come by as defences were on top for long periods, but it was Southern Gaels that proved to be that bit sharper in front of goals as they ground out a win by the narrowest of margins, 0-11 to 0-10. It was the perfect start for the yellow and maroon charges and really set them up for their next match against another side with genuine designs on winning the title. Turin has contested the last three consecutive semi finals and will feel aggrieved that they have not reached at least one final. However, the Gaels had nothing to fear following their opening day win over Cullion and approached the game with a renewed confidence. If their first game was a tight affair, then the same could be said about the clash with Turin with the only difference that both sets of forwards showed their skills on front of goal. The impressive Tony O'Keefe and former county footballer Joe Fallon were in inspirational form as they pushed Turin all the way at Lakepoint Park, but the old saying that goals win matches was proven right as the red and whites managed to score three compared to the Gaels' two as they ran out 3-12 to 2-13 winners. It was a cruel blow for the Athlone based outfit as they certainly did enough to win the match, but it just wasn't to be on the day and they had to regroup quickly. The next outing pitted them against favourites for the title Brownstown and the Archerstown blues were hotly tipped to take the two points here. In the early stages it looked as if that would be the case as the north Westmeath outfit raced into an early lead, firing over some fine scores and leaving Southern Gaels trailing by seven points at the break. However, their battling qualities came to the fore in the second half as slowly they chipped away at Brownstown's lead and in the dying minutes they took the lead only for their opponents to draw level from a free with virtually the last puck of the match to leave the scoreline Brownstown 2-13 Southern Gaels 1-16 at the final whistle. There is no question that the Gaels would have taken a point before the start of the match, but the feeling in the camp afterwards was that it was a point dropped more than a point gained. This was arguably Southern Gaels' best performance of the year, particularly their second half showing and if they had gained confidence from other games, then they should have been brimming after this one. Clonkill's second string were next on the list and this is a game that should have been won. The Loughegar outfit struggled throughout the majority of the campaign and a win for Southern Gaels would have almost certainly guaranteed them a place in the semi finals. Nonetheless, a second consecutive draw was recorded as both sides served up an exciting contest, but the Gaels will certainly be the more disappointed of the two teams. A resounding victory over St Oliver Plunkett's put the south Westmeath side back on track as the race for the top four was finely poised at this stage of the championship. However, two defeats in their remaining two group matches ended any hopes Southern Gaels had of reaching the penultimate stage. Firstly, St Brigid's ran out five points winners and then with little to play for Delvin recorded a convincing victory to end the year on a dismal note for the yellow and maroons. Despite the disappointment, there were many positives to take from the campaign and the team can use these to build on this year's championship. An added incentive for the side is that the four semi finalists in the intermediate championship will contest the senior B championship in 2010. The winners of which are to play in the semi final of the senior proper and with a bit of luck that seemed to be missing last year, it could be Southern Gaels that are mixing with the big boys next year. Tweet

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