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Gaelic Football in Kingsland N.S. 

In the past ten years (1984-1994) there has been an exciting improvement in the footballing fortunes of Kingsland N.S. Having soldiered for many years in the 1/2 teacher championships without much success, the breakthrough was finally made in 1984 when the school reached the county final in Hyde Park. The honours went to Granlahan N.S. on the day but a precedent was set which subsequent teams were set to follow. Two years later with a completely new team Kingsland brought home their first county title. In the same year Ballinameen GAA. club won the Garda Cup U-14 title with a team containing many of those who had played in '84 and '86 with Kingsland.This group are still together eight years on and in the interim have won a county minor title in '89 and a Northern Junior Championship in '91. Another county final appearance for Kingsland in 1992 was instrumental in Ballinameen winning the county U-12 championship that year. A U-12 League title was secured in 1993 with much the same team, a team which should go on to win many more titles over the next few years.

The talents of former Kingsland footballers have been recognised further afield too! Stephen Drury (1989) and Sean Casey (1992) both won Connacht Minor medals with Roscommon. It was a source of great pride to the school to see these lads playing in Croke Park on All-Ireland semi-final day. Other former pupils to wear the Roscommon jersey in recent years are Padraig Cregg, Kieran Keaveney, Fintan Kennedy, Brian Costello, Anthony McDermott and most recently Adrian Cregg.

Some of these players have also seen action in the Sigerson Cup (Universities competition) and in Second-level colleges competitions with St. Mary's and St. Nathy's. Perhaps the most successful footballing graduate in recent years is Eimear Casey. Eimear played for Kingsland in the '92 county final and has since gone on to represent Roscommon Ladies footballers at all levels, right up to Senior. The contribution that Kingsland N.S. has made to these and countless other young footballers in Ballinameen G.A.A. club is immeasurable. Off the field one name has been associated with the football fortunes of the school throughout this period. - Mickey McGarry. His contribution over the years has been immense. Fr. Martin Mulvany provided assistance in the early years; a role being filled over the last few years by Tommy Cryan. These men have been responsible for introducing the children to Gaelic Football at a young age and the success of Ballinameen GAA. club is testament to their work. The success of the footballers in recent years has put the school on the map which can only serve to benefit the school as a whole. Apart from launching the careers of many promising footballers it has given the pupils past and present a sense of achievement and pride in their school. This is more important and significant for Kingsland N.S. than any trophy or set of medals could ever be. 

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