So, there we were entering October and needing victories to avoid relegation, strange days indeed for Kingscourt. First up, was a trip to Drumlane. Actually, first up, was to find out where Drumlane was, then we could head of. With Drumlane joint bottom alongside us, the losers knew that defeat spelt relegation. A laboured victory was eventually ground out with a late scoring burst.
Next up was our final home match against Crosserlough. The visitors were gunning for a league semi but we tore into them and were well clear at half-time, only for an all too familiar second half disappearance act which left us hanging on at the end. A single point victory was obtained, but only after an almighty injury-time scare, when an initial penalty awarded to the visitors, was overturned by the referee following discussions with his umpire, and a little persuasion from Benny in the nets. A free out was given, the heartbeats of the Kingscourt bench reverted to somewhat close to normal, and the victory was obtained.
Two down, one to go, and as ‘luck’ would have it the final match was away to Lacken. With both sides level on points, the scenario was simple, win and you’re safe, lose and you’re down. A large and vocal Kingscourt crowd made the trip to cheer on the lads and in as frantic a game as you could ever imagine, both sides played out a nail-biting draw, meaning a play-off the following week in Virginia. Eh, we lost that one, and I don’t think anyone will be too upset if I just leave it at that!
So there you have it, Division Two football for 2008, for the first time in over 30 years. To say it was a disappointment is to put it mildly. Towards the latter half of the year, the true form of this side was shown, although even then it was only in patches. Cavan Gaels were relatively comfortably winners of the league and championship in 2007, and failed to win only one match in the whole year, against us, and it was no weak Gaels side. That only makes relegation even tougher to swallow, as the potential is clearly there.
As plans for training start to be made, the focus is solely on a prompt return to the top table. However, it will not be easy, with any number of local derbies to be played, victories will be hard fought. We will also face an up and coming Killeshandra side along with the Gaels reserve side. Already, the teams are lining up for a pop at the fallen giants. Everyone will be looking to gain the scalp of Kingscourt, so determination and aptitude will be needed from the start.
If the right attitude is shown, and lady luck deals us better on the injury front, then confidence should be high that we can follow Killygarry and make a quick return, but if the right attitude is not there, then it could be a long year…..
