2005 - A Review
When the final whistle blew on a wet and windy day in September, Walsh Island had come to within two kicks of rejoining the Senior ranks of Offaly football. The Shannonbridge and Cloughan men who play under the collective name of St. Rynaghs would instead be plying their trade alongside Rhode, Gracefield and Tullamore in Offaly's top division after that particular day in which they beat the Island men by four points to clinch the Bill Kelly Cup which carries the names of present and former Offaly Intermediate Football Champions.
Walsh Island began the 2005 football year in early February with a challenge match against Edenderry on home soil. That match was the first run out for the Walsh Island side that would eventually be challenging for a County Championship seven months later.
The real deal kicked off when Walsh Island entertained Clonbullogue in the first match of the Division 2 league. That game was a sign of things to come as Clonbullogue were on the wrong side of 2-15 to 2-07 scoreline. Walsh Island were on fire for the first few games of the year with league victories over Daingean and Tullamore (who incidentally were the Intermediate Champions of 2004) and drawing against a highly fancied Tubber team captained by Ciaran McManus.
The first blip of the year came against local rivals Bracknagh. A depleted Walsh Island team (including debutant 16 Year old goalkeeper Ian Duffy) matched a full strength Bracknagh senior side for long periods of the match until Bracknagh finally pulled away with ten minutes or so to go. A 1-14 score from Bracknagh was enough to ensure a six point victory.
The Bracknagh match was played on April 30 th but the previous weekend was Championship Weekend. Walsh Island defeated an eager Clonbullogue team by five points to get the Intermediate Championship season off to a winning start. This match against Clonbullogue was the debut of the new Walsh Island jersey incorporating for the first time, a new Club Crest. Walsh Island , in their previous 75 year history had never had a club crest. The crest was designed before the season kicked off by Niall Corcoran and Richie Connor. For a full explanation of the crest, please visit http://www.walshislandgaaclub.com/crest.htm.
Next up in the championship were Daingean, who also suffered the same fate as Clonbullogue but this time it was just by a single point thanks in no small part to a forty-five yard goal from Tom (Bombo) O'Connor. Walsh Island were through to the Intermediate Championship Quarter-Final.
The final group match of the championship ended in defeat at the hands of championship favourites Ballyfore. This match lacked the same passion that was seen in the previous two games as both teams were already through to the last eight
On the warmest day of 2005, Walsh Island played Rhode in the Championship Quarter Final. Walsh Island progressed to a Semi-Final showdown with Ballyfore after a single point victory on the back of a poor performance.
Arguably, Walsh Island 's finest hour of football in 2005 was the aforementioned semi final with Ballyfore. The start of the game however, could have made it one of the worst. With just ten minutes gone on the clock, Walsh Island were down 1-02 to no score and had lost influential full back Clive 'Del' Murphy with what looked like a very serious injury. Half time arrived and the Island players were on the way into the dressing room trailing by the only goal of the half.
Nigel O'Shaughnessy, with the first chance of the second half, got Walsh Island back on level terms with a crafty goal. It was then neck and neck for most of the second half. Clive Murphy's dramatic return to the game with ten minutes to go gave the Islanders the boost they need to snatch victory by the narrowest of margins - a single point.
Walsh Island was now in the Intermediate Championship County Final. It was the Island 's first county final in nine years and the buzz that was generated around the tiny village was immense. Everywhere you looked in the weeks leading up to the final, you could see nothing but Green & White. For most of the young players on the team, it was their first taste of a County Final at adult level. The average age of the starting fifteen was a mere 21 years of age (Only for Joe Nolan, it would have been younger). An amazing feat that might never have happened before in a County Final .
Only one word can describe the conditions for football on that September day - horrible. It was a rotten day to play a match. A swirling wind and constant rain made for very poor playing conditions.
The match itself did not turn out as planned. Walsh Island were on the end of a four point deficit and thus will be in the Intermediate ranks for the next 12 months at least.
Walsh Island were not on form at all during the first half, going in at half time 2-05 to 0-01 down. After some strong and encouraging words by trainer Richie Connor during the break, Walsh Island emerged a different side for the second thirty minutes.
Walsh Island played much more like everyone knew they could in the second half but the lead that St. Rynaghs built during the first half was just too great. 18 year old Rory Connor showed great maturity against immense pressure when he stepped up to take a penalty that Walsh Island had been awarded. Rory scored a goal from the spot and that spurred Walsh Island on until the very end. Only a small margin of four points was the difference with a final score of 3-07 to 1-09 in favour of St. Rynaghs.
There was huge disappointment among the young players of Walsh Island after the final whistle. It was a very sombre mood in the dressing room after the game but the season was not over and Walsh Island had to pick themselves back up after this defeat as there was the Division 2 league and Matt Connor cup to worry about.
Raheen came to Walsh Island for the Quarter Final of the Division two league and for the second time in as many games in 2005, left the game victorious. Walsh Island were out of the league.
The final game of the 2005 football year was against Shamrocks in The Matt Connor Cup. This cup featured all grades of football from Senior to Junior. This match was not taken lightly by Walsh Island as it was the semi final stages. Unfortunately however for Walsh Island , 2005 would not finish on a victory as some very dubious time keeping by the referee in Gracefield that night ensured that Shamrocks progressed to the final.
To everyone involved in Walsh Island , 2005 was a year of promise for Walsh Island football. While there are no trophies or cups in Walsh Island this year, it was far from meaningless. Coming out of that season, Ian Duffy, William Mulhall, Rory Connor, Clive Murphy, James Gallagher, Ross Connor and Thomas O'Connor are all involved with the Offaly setup at various levels through the early part of 2006. Out of this group, William Mulhall has also been selected to represent Ireland at the International Rules Competition in Australia during the summer of 2006.
The foundations are there for what promises to be a very good team for many years to come. Walsh Island have always been know in Offaly for producing some exceptional footballers down through the years, think Matt Connor, Willie Bryan.. and this young group of players have showed some great potential so far.
by Niall Corcoran
