In Swanlinbar, they dream about senior football. It's something the club's footballers have yet to achieve, but an objective that's currently closer to being realised than it has been at any point previously. Long-serving midfielder Damien Prior explains to Gerry Robinson why Swanlinbar is now better equipped than ever to sustain a senior team. By all accounts, Swanlinbar are headed in the right direction. They've now established themselves as a steady intermediate side (since winning the junior championship in 1998); they have at their disposal a panel of players with an abundance of talent; they've a successful juvenile policy in place . . . a strong committee, excellent facilities and the back-up of a strong management team for the forthcoming season. Is it any wonder the optimism is almost tangible in north Cavan these days? Their target is the worst kept secret in Breffni County GAA: senior football, nothing less. It's well within their grasp at the moment, as back-to-back intermediate championship semi-final appearances confirm. It's just a matter of getting it right on the day, fine-tuning the team, harnessing the undoubted talent at their disposal, maximising application and commitment. Sounds easy, doesn't it? In fact, it's anything but. However, Swanlinbar are currently closer than most to working the oracle. At the age of 28, Damien Prior is one of the team's true stalwarts, now heading into his 14th season on the first team. A lot of water has passed under the bridge during that time. A lot of football has been played. A lot of players/teams have come and gone. Few are positioned in a better vantage point than Damien to rate the present Swanlinbar side. Interestingly, he says it's as capable a XV as he's played on. Damien - who is joined on the Swanlinbar team by older brother Kevin, younger brother Thomas (Cavan full back in 2001) and four cousins who also brandish the Prior surname - was 15 when he broke onto the first team in 1989. Nineteen-ninety-nine was his first full year on the starting side and it was one he'd never forget as promotion from Division Three to Division Two was gained. The floodgates didn't exactly open thereafter - no further silverware was garnered until 1998 when Swanlinbar annexed the county JFC. Well and truly on the way up, the club would immediately set about knocking upon the door of senior football. And, encouragingly, they now boosted strength in depth that had hitherto been non-existent. As Damien explains: "I never got to play any underage football with Swanlinbar because we never had the numbers so I played all my underage with Corlough. It's great to see that this has changed. The club is doing really well at underage now and there's great organisation -Swanlinbar has never been in a better state." They contested the last three intermediate championships, reaching the quarter-final in '99 and losing to Drung at the semi-final stage for each of the past two seasons. There're getting close. So close they can almost touch it! One significant 'first' has already been achieved by the current side: two years ago, they were promoted to Division One for the first time in the club's history. Playing out of Division One in 2000, they were at an all-time high but, unfortunately, they were unable to hold that status and slipped straight back down to the middle grade. Significantly, however, they've become a solid Division Two outfit and have never been in any great danger of slipping back to the bottom division since it was escaped in such dramatic fashion in 1990. League-wise, 2001 was another decent year. Swanlinbar finished mid-table, without ever challenging for promotion but without being at any risk of travelling in the opposite direction either. The coming season will see a new structure in place in Cavan, whereby the league and championships will be linked and a team's championship status will determine which division of the league they play out of. Therefore, Swanlinbar's priority will be the intermediate championship. Can they win it? "The team is essentially a young one," notes Damien Prior. "The nucleus of the side is between 22 and 25 and we're really hopeful of doing it with this team. It would be great to go senior, particularly as there's no other club in our neck of the woods playing senior football at the moment, so we'd certainly like to go there if possible. "Every new year is always a big one and this one is no different. We'll be going all out to make it into senior football. From a personal point of view, it's something I'd dearly like to do before hanging up the boots. "I think the new structure is a positive move as it makes the championship all-important. It'll make for a more competitive championship and eliminate a lot of the meaningless matches. More big games will be played in the summer, when conditions are better for good football. Every club will be guaranteed extra championship matches and there'll be more to play for, which has to be a good thing. "Potential-wise, this is the strongest Swanlinbar team I've played on. The potential is there and with the likes of county minor Michael Cunningham as well as Seamus Kerrigan and Tony Cullen coming through, we are getting stronger. We're cautiously confident about 2002." It would certainly appear that Swan' are pulling out all the stops in a concerted effort to capture this year's intermediate championship. Ciaran McGovern - who led the club to JFC and Division Two honours in '98 and '99 respectively - has been re-appointed team boss. Ciaran, who played with the first team for years and is a well-known referee within the county, is well acquainted with the players and is guaranteed to get the best out of them in the months ahead. He is joined at the reins by selectors John Gilheany (who played for the club for 20 years) and Noel Gilheany (winner of numerous SFCs in Leitrim with Aughawillan). "Having Ciaran in charge is a real boost," enthuses Damien. "He came in around the middle of last year and immediately brought about a change in our fortunes. Things hadn't been going great but he guided us to a championship semi-final." Therein, Drung proved victorious by a handful of points. "We just didn't perform on the day," reflects the midfielder. "It was a disappointing end to our championship. A lot of our players will feel that they didn't do themselves justice that day . . . but Drung deserved to win." As reported elsewhere in this very tome, Swanlinbar did have success on the playing field during the year, courtesy of their juveniles. These wins were warmly welcomed by the club's more senior playing members: "It's great to see them doing so well and to know that there will be more strong players coming through in a few years' time. For us, it's a great boost to see the young lads playing with so much conviction, winning competitions and moving up to higher levels all the time. These lads are the future of the club and great credit is due to the likes of Roly Curran and Gerard McKiernan for the work they do with the juveniles." It hasn't always been the case, but Swanlinbar now have facilities in place that could comfortably support senior football. As Damien Prior points out, the facilities have improved beyond all recognition since he first laced a boot: "We had an infamous pitch that wasn't exactly renowned for having a flat surface but it was developed about ten years ago and dressing-rooms were added for the first time. Further development is also planned. A stand will be built this year and we'll also be adding an all-weather training pitch and car-parking facilities as well as carrying out some work on the existing pitch." Things have changed a lot in Swanlinbar - and they continue to change. Senior football is next on the agenda. Swad add to title haul Mid-September and it's all Swad as the west Cavan under 13 troupe canter to a tremendously impressive 4-16 to 2-4 victory over Redhills at Breffni Park in the final of the Roinn C Championship. In what was a great year for underage football for Swanlinbar GFC, last September's fantastic win over Redhills fairly embellished the club's juvenile pedigree. Swad led from pillar to post as Redhills struggled to get to grips with the movement and intelligent interchanges of the winners-elect. A move involving Mark Cunningham and Ryan Maher saw Swad get off to the best possible start as Gearoid McKiernan was on hand to fire the ball to the back of the Redhills net. Redhills remained under the cosh thereafter with the aforementioned Cunningham breaking through for a fine point to stretch his side's lead even further. Redhills were to prove worthy finalists though and a swift goal by them on the counter attack served to keep Swad on their toes as the end of the first quarter approached. Swad weren't long about regaining the initiative though and points from Padraig McManus, Mark Cunningham and Michael Curran had Redhills backpeddling furiously once again. Soon after a goal by Ryan Maher had Swad virtually on easy street and although Redhills again came back in determined fashion to grab a goal and two points, there was no stopping the west Cavan lads as they stormed back with score after score. With the midfield pairing of Michael Curran and Christopher McVitty getting on the scoresheet, there was no respite for Redhills. Like true champions, Swad finished with a flourish and points from Mark Cunningham, Aidan Gilheaney and Ryan Maher helped to seal the issue in emphatic and stylish fashion. The following is the all-conquering Swanlinbar team which lined out against Redhills: S. O'Brien, Niall McGovern, Cathal Martin, Anthony McGoldrick, Christopher Curran, Ciaran O'Brien, Michael Curran, Christopher McAvitty, Aidan Gilheany, Mark Cunningham, Padraig McManus, Ryan Maher, Gearoid McKiernan. Bright future Swanlinbar's quest to make good some excellent coaching at underage level in recent times reap the ultimate dividend in years to come is certainly bearing fruit - at least on the evidence of the club's brilliant success at under 12 level in 2001. A great year was pot-marked by successes in the under 12 Roinn C league and championship, the former being captured initially in early July. A fancied Drung side formed the opposition in the league final in Breffni Park and after an exciting and high quality clash, the west Cavan crew triumphed by 3-11 to 2-4. Ironically it was the red and whites who began the game in the most impressive fashion as they sprinted into an early two point lead. It wasn't long though before Swad settled down and began to find their best form and a goal and a point by Mark Cunningham followed by points by Christopher Curran and Ryan Maher helped copper-fasten a hard-earned 1-4 to 0-3 lead for the blue and whites. The second half saw Swad really hit top gear with the team's defence really putting up the shutters, the midfield gaining an increasing share of possession and the forward line looking lively and dangerous. In specific terms, Swad were very sharp in the last third of the field where the flying forwards Mark Cunningham and Ryan Maher stole the show by accounting for 2-7 of their side's total score. Final score; Swanlinbar 3-11 Drung 2-4 Swanlinbar lined out in the league final as follows: M. Cunningham, P. McManus, R. Leydon, C. O'Brien, A. Gilheany, C. Martin, G. McKilrane (1-0), C. Curran (0-4), J. O'Brien, R. Maher (1-2), S. McGoldrick, S. O'Brien, M. Cunninham (1-5). Subs used; D. McGovern, D. Gilheany, A. Martin. Thereafter things just got better and better for the newly crowned league champions as they careered their way to the championship final which was played in mid-September. In perfect conditions at Breffni Park, the match favourites were quickly off the mark against Redhills with a great move involving Mark Cunningham and Ryan Maher ending with Gearoid McKiernan flashing the ball to the back of the net. Swad continued to heap on the pressure and a point by Mark Cunningham added to Redhills' woe. A goal for the beleagured team though helped relieve the siege somewhat but Swad soon regained the initiative and points from Padraig McManus, Mark Cunningham, Michael Curran and a goal by Ryan Maher had Redhills back-peddling furiously. Redhills weren't too anxious to roll over and die though and a point from Mark Kelly and a 1-1 tally from colleague Ruairi Dunne kept their hopes up. With Swad' backline leak-proof and adding impetus to their attack, Redhills were again under pressure with further scores coming from Michael Curran and Christopher McVitty as Swad powered forward. Swad proceeded to race forward with increased momentum and points were swung over with aplomb by Mark Cunningham, Aidan Gilheany and Ryan Maher to securely wrap up the spoils. The championship-winning Swad team was as follows; S.O'Brien, N. McGovern, C. Martin, A. McGoldrick, C. Curran, C. O'Brien, M. Curran, C. McAvitty, A. Gilheany, M. Cunningham, P. McManus, R. Maher, G. McKiernan. Tweet

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