‘The enormity of it all is massive’

HE stood in the middle of Hastings MacHale Park as the greatest Kilmeena party since the dawn of time broke out all around him.

Stephen Staunton had played one of his finest games for his beloved club, his 95-year-old grandfather Liam O’Toole had been there to see it and dreams had come true. But the centre-half-back was temporarily almost lost for words.

“It’s a strange feeling to be honest. I’m lost for words. The enormity of it all is massive. We dreamt of this for so long and now that it’s here, it’s almost hard to take in.

“Ballinrobe got a great start with a brilliant goal from Kevin Quinn, but we just kept chipping away. No matter what happened we were going to keep driving and our never-say-die attitude was going to be there no matter what,” Staunton explained before being asked about his feelings as time ticked away and the dream came within touching distance.

“It was cagey, very cagey. There was three minutes on the clock, two minutes on the clock and the noise was getting louder. Ballinrobe came at us and we defended well. We stayed as calm as we could and dug it out.

“Then, when the whistle went, the field was swarmed with supporters and there were people everywhere. It means so much to everyone.

“For us to be gone senior is a dream come true. We’re going to celebrate this one for a few days I think,” Staunton added before another big character took up the story.

Caolach Halligan had scored a crucial goal for Kilmeena in the second half but the Meath native wasn’t taking much credit for the score.

“I didn’t have a lot to do with it. Keith Joyce sent in a great ball and once I got my hands on it I was nearly in the net. I just had to tap it in from there.

“I’m glad I could do something right because I didn’t do a lot else right today! I couldn’t hit a barn door.”

The ace attacker is in his first season with the club and he had a special word for those with a love for the St Brendan’s Park club.

“It’s a very special community. I was at the junior final in 2021 and got involved in training last year and since I transferred down to Kilmeena the welcome has been unbelievable. They’re a special group and lovely people and it’s an honour to be a tiny part of this great journey.”