2009, 13 years ago was the last time Blacks and Whites got the enjoy some county final success. Pat Neary was in charge at the time to see his side best John Lockes 0-17 to 2-06.
That was actually the last time the club made it to a county final, but not the last final overall due to winning the Leinster crown the same year with a victory Naomh Fionbarra. The following year, after a season at intermediate, the Skeoughvosteen club were relegated to junior once again and have been there ever since.
Now after a nervy game against Piltown in UMPC Nowlan Park, the Blacks and Whites have a chance to get to the intermediate grade once again. The Blacks and Whites were trailing by six points with just two minutes of normal time remaining, but goals from Jamie Byrne and substitute Aaron Foley brought them level before Byren got the winning point to seal a 3-16 to 1-21 win. Fighting to the end has been something manager Eddie Scally has been trying to drive into his side from the very start of the Championship;
See also: Niall Bergin praises the quality in his side after semi-final victory over Rower
“In fairness to the boys, we have harpening on about this all year, when the full-time whistle is blown, that is when the game is over. We look at the scoreboard at the end and see where we are.”
“We were caught a couple of times late in games, and we thought to ourselves we cannot let that happen again. Down in Graignamenagh earlier in the year we were five points down and going into injury time and got two late goals. In the quarter-final, we were late in the game and turned it around, and got the win. In the semi-final, there were dubious signs a few points down and you are thinking we are in big trouble.”
“But the impact of the subs, it is all about panels, 11 positional changes in the last seven minutes. they dug it out and my boys deserve this. sometimes you do not get respect at this level, but they deserve all the respect as does Piltown. I am just elated to be where we are.”
This Sunday they will have a chance to put it right by taking on two-time junior champions Windgap. The other semi-final saw Dicksboro bow out of the junior championship to Windgap on penalties in another titanic tussle. Scally feels his side will be underdogs but that won’t stop them from putting it to their opponents;
“Windgap will be roaring favourites but we will give it a shot.”
Listen back to the full interview with Eddie Scally below on Scoreline Extra.
