When they step onto the Croke Park pitch this weekend, it will be a novel experience for all but one of the Multyfarnham panel.
"None of us have played in Croke Park before, except for our centre forward Danny Loughrey, he played a Cummann na mBunscoil game at half-time of a Leinster Championship match," says Ronan Wallace.
On Saturday, the Westmeath side take on Cork's Knocknagree in the AIB All-Ireland Junior Football Championship final. The game will be a landmark stop on the club's journey.
Last November, Multyfarnham won their first Westmeath title in 61 years when they beat Ballynacargy. In 1956, the club won the county junior title. A few years later, they again dropped down to junior and remained there since.
"Ten, 15 years ago, we were probably the worst team in Westmeath at junior level," informs Wallace. "Losing matches by 30 points by 40 points, but some lads in this club, the work they’ve done with the underage structures over the last few years - it’s been absolutely incredible and that’s really stood to us."
It’s one of the best underage systems I’ve ever seen. The work that goes in, it’s unbelievable. There are teams going from under-5s and sixes to junior. They’re getting solid numbers, like 20s and 30s there. It’s unreal for a rural area. A lot of it is to do with the parents and other lads from Multy, they have the best interests of the club at heart.
Last year, their goal was to win the Westmeath junior title. A Leinster title and an All-Ireland final never entered their thoughts. Winning the Westmeath JFC was a realistic goal, they had come close in the previous three years losing finals in 2014 and 2015 along with reaching a semi-final in 2016.
"Like that was so much heartbreak, and finally, we got over the line this year. That drove us on. Lads are a lot older now and more experienced and our young lads are standing up this year and that’s what’s got us this far.
“We just keep working, the tight games are standing to us, like. In the Lahardane game, we were down by four points, we went up by four, it came back to a draw game. It was crazy stuff, and we kicked on in injury time.
“Even in the drawn Westmeath final, we were down by 8 points after 15 minutes. Then we went three up, three down and eventually we drew it. They’ve been high scoring games, our game plan is to attack, we’ve serious athletes and serious footballers, and I’m sure the Cork team will be similar on Saturday, and it’ll be an entertaining game."
Multyfarnham has a population of just 500. Wallace says the buzz in village was "unbelievable" after defeating Ballynacargy. "We all came into the village on the back of this machine, this big truck type of a thing."
Beyond Saturday, the future is bright for the club.
There’s only one lad over 30 on the starting team, there’s like 12 of us under 25 on the starting team. We all played together in primary school, for Multy in underage games from under-12s all the way up to now.
It’s great like, being with the lads you grew up with, it’ll be great if we can do it on Sunday.
Ronan Wallace of Multyfarnham ahead of the AIB GAA All-Ireland Junior Football Club Championship Final taking place at Croke Park this Saturday, February 3rd. For exclusive content and behind the scenes action throughout the AIB GAA & Camogie Club Championships follow AIB GAA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
