Since 1999, the general consensus within the St Paul's club is that this could well be the year that they win the junior football championship, once again. However, time after time the side has failed to deliver and 2008 was certainly no different in that respect. Off the field, the club has been making strides and following the opening of dressingrooms, floodlights have been erected at the pitch in Clonmellon, while other outdoor work is ongoing at the moment. To be fair, St Paul's are a small rural club that rely on the hard work of the same few to ensure the smooth running of affairs. Frank Reid is the current chairman of the club and along with secretary Kevin Reddington and the elected committee, they continue to fight against the odds and prove that there is a bright future for the club. For many, success is judged from what is achieved on the pitch and on this front, the Clonmellon-based outfit have struggled at all levels. At underage level, teams compete at all grades, but the strength in depth is not there to try and bring 'home' some silverware. Of course, the trend is set by the adult team and in this case the junior footballers, who have become something of an enigma over the years. Since winning that junior title, 10 years ago, big things have been expected, but it has all become too much like the movie Groundhog Day as disappointment has become the common occurrence. Nonetheless, there are a core of players there that continue to train and work hard with the hope of winning that title once again. Unfortunately, it takes more than ten or 12 players to win a championship and this is without doubt where St Pauls are lacking. Working with a squad of no more than 22 or 23 players is very hard at the best of times and has left the respective management teams of recent years with little to choose from. Players should realise that their careers won't go on forever, this is something that many don't realise until it's too late. Each year should be approached with the same venom, desire and commitment of any other campaign and for all players there is nothing to compare with winning a title at any level or any grade. Some clubs find themselves in the situation that they just don't have the players to compete at the business end of their respective championships, but that is certainly not the case with St Paul's or at least it's certainly not the feeling generated. There is a genuine belief that the junior title can be won for a third time in the club's history and following the appointment of club stalwart Eugene Dolan and selectors Gavin Dooley and Cormac Davey, there is an air of optimism within the club that hasn't been around for a number of years, ten in fact! A new approach to training and a different attitude from the players seems to have breathed new life into the squad, who are currently working extremely hard to achieve their goal. However, this work ethic has to be kept up for the remainder of the campaign and cannot be allowed to wane in anyway over the coming months. This year's draw for the junior football championship sees all the top sides in one group as Pauls will have to compete with the likes of Caulry, St Joseph's, Milltown, Ballycomoyle and Loughnavalley to progress to the knockout stages. The return of David Dolan and Paul Gilsenan from Australia should bolster the squad, although the departures of Maurice Quinn (transferred) and James Henry (work) leave a massive void. It's going to be a tough campaign for the blue and whites, but the fact of the matter is that if they go into the games in the right frame of mind, they can beat anyone at this level. Players like Ray Flynn, Jimmy McQuaid, Gary Gilsenan, Kenny Higgins, Philip Gilsenan, Dara Brady and Johnny McGuinness, plus the younger contingent deserve to win the title. There are many pluses and minuses to take from the 2008 campaign. On paper, the side reached the junior championship semi final where they were defeated by eventual winners St Mary's, while they reached the junior cup final where once again the Rochfortbridge outfit took the plaudits with a narrow victory. Last year, the management team consisted of Jake Dolan, Padraig Skelly and Eugene Sheridan, all former players of the club. However, it was a case of de ja vous in many cases as the proper effort and commitment was not forthcoming. To reach a county semi final with the minimum of effort suggests that maybe with the desired determination; St Paul's could go that extra step. As stated earlier, the club competed at all levels at underage level and the work is certainly being carried out to give the kids of the area, the best possible training in both boys and girls football. Credit must go to the various mentors of each side, while the club would always appreciate more volunteers to come forward and help out. Tweet

Most Read Stories