Rory Byrne on the Straffan family and Championship wins

A GAA club is at the heart of so many communities across Ireland and for Straffan’s Rory Byrne it was in his back garden. The 2022 Junior Football Championship winning captain grew up in Lodge Park and for many years, and to this day, he and his brother have donned the blue and white of Straffan.

As the old saying goes, they didn’t lick it off the ground, Rory and Alan had uncles and many family members involved in the club within playing capacities and beyond.

Rory broke onto the senior team in 2012, the now wing-back first operated as a corner-forward under Clane man Eddie McCormack, who still informs him from time to time that it is where he should have stayed. Regardless of role however, it was far from an easy start to senior action for the young forward.

“We got relegated in my first year and in my first Championship match I was marked by Emmet Bolton. I just bounced off him,” Rory laughed.

There was little joy to be had matched up against a county star and even less in getting relegated. Straffan reacted well after going down a level by immediately reaching the 2013 Junior county level. The recently relegated side were beaten 0-15 to 0-13 by future All-Ireland Junior Football Champions Two Mile House in the decider.

A year on, Straffan would prove worthy 2014 Kildare Junior Champions with a 2-12 to 0-6 win over Castlemitchell and proved to be provincial contenders too.

Rory recalled, “You were living for it (Leinster Championship). We lost to a decent Moate team in Mullingar and it was probably the coldest day I have ever played football. It was December 7 and I got sent off for two yellows, but it was an unbelievable run.”

Straffan were beaten in the 2014 Leinster Junior final by Moate All-Whites 1-11 to 0-10 in Cusack Park.

“It was tight. They had some decent forwards on the day and looking back, lads might kill me for saying this, but I’d say our 2022 team was probably a little bit stronger than our 2014 team. Our fitness is a lot better now especially. I think part of what happened that day was us not having played in front of a crowd that big before. The stadium wasn’t full, but that whole stand was and the occasion got to some of the lads. I even saw that as a 20 year-old and noticed some of the senior lads getting a bit nervous. It stood to us as younger players later on and it is probably something that still stings for some lads,” Rory said.

Straffan had a strong Intermediate stint before being relegated in 2021 following a play-off final defeat to Milltown. A far from ideal scenario for the club, but one that presented another opportunity at a trophy and a clear sense of purpose for the team. It also became a campaign with extra personal motivation for Rory when he was made captain at the start of the 2022 season.

“Our manager that year was Paul Drewitt and he was absolutely brilliant. He brought so much confidence into a lot of players that maybe had a little bit of self-doubt in them. We were a close group as it was but he even brought us closer together. His backroom staff had some Straffan lads and he brought some with him too and they were all super. That year was brilliant for us because we know how hard that Junior Championship is to win,” Rory explained.

“We knew if we didn’t get out in 2022, the first year back down, how hard it would be. Some lads have stepped away since and if we were in the Championship last year I’m not sure if we’d have had the man-power and the depth to even win it. It is not all about luck, but we had a lot of things going for us when we did win it.”

After a two-point win over Robertstown to reach the final, Straffan faced Kill in a chaotic decider in St Conleth’s Park. Straffan would end up 2-15 to 0-13 winners, but that game turned on one moment of magic from another veteran of the side.

A misplaced Kill kick-out fell into the waiting arms of Rob Kelly who was 45m out and seemingly posed little threat based on the goalkeeper's lack of urgency in returning to guard his net. Kelly beautifully sliced across the ball with the outside of his boot, his effort bounced just before the line and into the net. The ball spun agonisingly away from the then scrambling goalkeeper and Straffan’s final ignited from there.

“Things like that we feel always go against us. When that happened, it happened at just the right time because Kill were really coming at us. It was far from the nail in their coffin, but it gave us a massive boost and it drove on some of the younger lads to go forward. There was a great Straffan crowd there and that lifted them of course too. That goal was probably the turning point,” Rory recalled.

“I was standing behind him and all I was thinking was ‘what are you doing? Don’t shoot, don’t shoot’ and then it just kept dropping and dropping. I couldn’t believe it when it went in. Then later when the final whistle went, it was just pure relief and excitement.”

Straffan also owed plenty to goalkeeper Matthew Duggan who had an exceptional game in the 2022 decider as the club restored their Intermediate status.

“It meant so much to my family. My Dad and Mam were really proud and for me it was incredible. I feel kindof silly sometimes talking about it so often, but in the house we have pictures up and my Dad has pictures of me, him and my brother. It was a special day and they are the reasons why you play. If I can get one more day like that in my career, I reckon it will have been a decent one with three Championship medals,” Rory explained.

“I’m good friends with Rob Kelly now but I remember being in school when they brought around their 2009 medals and looking up to them. I’d like to think maybe I am after doing the same with going into the schools and bringing the trophy around.”
Straffan have remained in Intermediate since and Rory remains a firm part of the outfit moving forward as they look to build on that momentous occasion two years ago.

“It was always something that I wished would happen without ever thinking that it would. In terms of being captain of the club and winning a Championship and then, I know it's cliche, but getting to bring the trophy back to everyone in the village,” Rory explained.

“Bringing it back to everyone that you know, the older people that you have known since you were young. Your childminder, your school principal, your neighbours and bringing it into the school, it was really special. It is something that I will remember for the rest of my life. I remember when I was in school some Celbridge teams came in because one of my school teachers was from Celbridge. We didn’t have a Straffan team come in so I’d like to think a few of us going into a Straffan school at the time would have inspired some of them to do the same thing in the future.”