It’s a far cry from 1999 but the stakes are just as high for Killererin and An Cheathrú Rua this Sunday.
They contest the Galway Junior Football final in Tuam Stadium having fallen from grace dramatically since 25 years ago, when they played out a pair of memorable senior deciders in the same grounds.
Killererin took the spoils after a replay, kickstarting a glorious period for the club as they claimed four Galway senior championships in the space of twelve years, competing in six finals.
It was the other end of the stick for An Cheathrú Rua, failing to make it back to a senior decider since but eventually, the clubs have found a common ground.
It’s not where they want to be, a long way from past glories but a win this weekend would at least amount to a step in the right direction.
Carraroe’s Seán Óg De Paor and Killererin’s Tommie Joyce have gone from rivals back in ‘99 to good friends now, though they’re still trading jibes to this day.
1 August 1998; Tommy Joyce of Galway. Sportsfile.
“It will be a battle and a half on Sunday,” says Joyce.
“I’d be in regular contact with Tommie and he will not let me away with anything,” laughs De Paor, “So I have to be careful with what I’m saying here.”
Two-time All-Star De Paor was one of the driving forces as An Cheathrú Rua enjoyed a period of unprecedented success in the late 90s, reaching the only three Galway senior finals in their history, all in the space of four years.
Winning the club’s first and last title in 1996 remains one of his proudest moments but on the same note, losing to Killererin in ‘99 is one of his biggest regrets.
“I’m sure if you asked anybody from Carraroe, the ‘99 final the first day against Killererin is a regret,” says De Paor.
“I think we had an above average number of wides.
Sean Óg De Paor. Sportsfile.
“They were there for the taking in a sense that day and we didn’t take them, so it felt like one that got away from us.”
“Certainly the second day, Killererin deserved it for sure,” he concedes.
Both An Cheathrú Rua and Killererin had a number of brilliant players in their ranks, with many of Galway’s All-Ireland winners from 1998 and 2001 spread across the two teams.
But Tommie’s brother Padraic Joyce was the one who drew spectators from different counties and, ultimately, he made the difference with five points in the replay.
“The Killererin team were very very good,” says De Paor.
“That was their first for that particular group of players, and their tactics were very simple.
“‘Get the ball to Padraic’ That was their game-plan, and they did it so well.”
“Obviously Tommie had a big role in that. The cousin Nickie Joyce had a big role.
28 October 2007; Killererin captain and and Man of the Match Padraic Joyce holds his daughter Ava and celebrates with his father Paddy on winning the County Football Final. Galway Club Football Championship Final, Miltown v Killererin, Pearse Stadium, Galway. Picture credit; Francis Stockwell / SPORTSFILE
“They had some other very good players as well, Tommy and John Wilson.
“But once Padraic had the ball, it was impossible to dispossess him.”
“He was obviously very good for Galway you know,” says De Paor, “ten points in an All-Ireland final, but Padraic would have been even more effective as a club player if that’s credible.
“Some of the performances he gave in the years after that final were off the charts altogether, and you would have people coming across the border to watch him playing for Killererin in Tuam Stadium to see some of the stuff he’d get up to.”
They had contrasting emotions in ‘99 but Joyce and De Paor have a shared sense of frustration - that their clubs never kicked onto win a Connacht club title.
“It just wasn’t for us,” Joyce says.
“Brigid’s caught us with a late goal in 2010 to send the game to extra-time when we had it as good as won.
“Ballina beat us in 2005 as well and it’s probably the biggest disappointment we’ll all ever have, these things happen.”
With Pearse Stadium closed, Tuam is the destination as Killererin and An Cheathrú Rua meet again this Sunday, and De Paor can’t help himself.
“Once again Carraroe play Killererin in Tuam, about six kilometres down the road from Killererin - you can put that into the article as well and hope Tommie Joyce reads it. It’s about 70 kilometres for us,” laughs De Paor.
Joyce responds quick as a flash by referencing a 2002 clash between the sides which eventually led to Killererin being controversially thrown out of the championship as they failed to emerge for extra-time due to the fading light.
“I could answer him back by saying we could have gone to Carraroe to their own home pitch in 2002 and they wouldn’t even do that for us! So they can suffer it out. Pearse Stadium is closed!”
Hostilities will resume on Sunday and though neither club are the force they used to be, football remains at the heart of their respective parishes.
Both of them were relegated to junior level last year, with An Cheathrú Rua having experienced back-to-back demotions in the last two seasons.
“When I was playing, I would suggest the parish pulse was dictated by the football team. If the team is going well, everyone is in good form, that type of thing,” says De Paor, who now lives in Oranmore.
“Times have changed a bit, but football still is very high up on a lot of people’s agenda in Carraroe.
“At senior level, a lot of the senior teams are from big population areas, Salthill, Tuam, Claregalway, St James’ - population might have a bit to do with it.
“Every club goes through ebbs and flows, especially rural clubs. Our time was like a golden age for Carraroe but the interest has always been, and still is very strong in Carraroe, and that’s the most important thing” he reflects.
Joyce has been the secretary of the Killererin club in recent times, as well a coach for their underage teams with two of his sons involved.
“We had players going away. We had four county under-21s around the 2010s, Colin Forde, Daniel Mannion, Tommy Fahey and Micheal Boyle,” says Joyce who was player manager back in 2010.
“For different reasons, they just weren’t around and we struggled to stay up in 2013 and ‘14 and eventually went down.
7 November 2010; Killererin player manager Tommie Joyce celebrates at the end of the game. AIB GAA Football Connacht Club Senior Championship Semi-Final, Killererin v Ballintubber, Tuam Stadium, Tuam, Co. Galway. Picture credit: David Maher / SPORTSFILE
“Then last year, ourselves and Carraroe went down in the one year. We’re both striving to get back now but the problem is only one of us can.”
“In fairness to Tommy Hughes, who won a few county titles with us, he took on the mantle as manager. He’s brought on younger lads and brought back lads who haven’t played for a few years.
“Hopefully it will go well for them on Sunday, and hopefully they will get straight back because it’s hard enough to get back to finals.
“The one thing that will make a bit of a difference is that it’s on in Tuam not Galway. Carraroe won’t fear Tuam but surely Tuam might be a couple of points advantage for Killererin.”
Sean Óg is laughing!
