Williamstown and Claregalway meet in the County Intermediate Football Final On Saturday Afternoon in Pearse Stadium at 1pm.
This is only Williamstown's Second ever County Intermediate Football Final and their first final at Adult grade since winning the Junior A League in 2005.
At Junior level, the big breakthrough was slow in coming but in the mid-1970s, a very good team was taking shape. A number of local tournaments were won and then in 1978, the team captured the North Board League title, beating St. Gabriel’s, Kilconnell in the final. Pat Kenny was the manager of the team. In 1979 Williamstown retained the North Board League title, this time defeating Corofin in the final. Pat Kenny was again the manager and Paddy Geraghty was now the captain. No major honours came the way of the club in 1980, but this was followed by the most successful year ever in the club’s history at adult level as in 1981, the team, now playing in the Intermediate grade, or Division 2 as it was then known, brought off a unique double, winning the North Board League title again, defeating neighbours Glinsk in the final and also capturing the county championship, beating Clifden in the final. Pat Kenny was still the manager in 1981 and the captain in this historic year was John Timothy.
One of their greatest successes was in 2010 where their minor team went on to win the treble, the league, championship and the county championship. With the short numbers in the team most matches consisted of 16 or 17 players playing for Williamstown as Williamstown itself is a small parish. The member of the panel were: Kieran Mitchell, Martin Flanagan, David Mitchell, Tomas Smyth, Daniel Kirrane (captain), Stephen Nee, Luke Murray, Sean Smyth, Tomas Comer, Niall Conneely, John Noone, Declan Nee, Tomas Flynn, Michael Smyth, Dara Conneely, Joseph Dolan, Declan Gannon and Gary Kelly. Kelly scored 0-9 in their 1-10 to 1-9 win over Clifden in the Final.
Ahead of Saturday's Final, Kevin Dwyer made the trip to Williamstown and spoke to some of the players and supporters as they prepare for the biggest day in the Club's History.
Kevin first spoke to the Williamstown manager Sean Keaveney
https://download-galwaybay.sharp-stream.com/SEAN%20KEAVENEY%20WILLIAMSTOWN%20MANAGER.mp3
Kevin then got the thoughts of Williamstown Captain Kieran Flatley
https://download-galwaybay.sharp-stream.com/KIERAN%20FLATLEY%20WILLIAMSTOWN%20CAPTAIN.mp3
Next to speak to Kevin was Hubert Deane, Michael Gannon and John Barrett
https://download-galwaybay.sharp-stream.com/HUBERT%20DEANE%20MICHAEL%20GANNON%20JOHN%20BARRETT%20WILLIAMSTOWN.mp3
Oliver Lennon is the PRO of Williamstown. He then spoke to Kevin
https://download-galwaybay.sharp-stream.com/OLIVER%20LENNON%20WILLIAMSTOWN%20PRO.mp3
Finally, Kevin spoke to Declan Geraghty and Noel Finnegan
https://download-galwaybay.sharp-stream.com/DECLAN%20GERAGHTY%20AND%20NOEL%20FINNEGAN%20WILLIAMSTOWN.mp3
Williamstown's Route To The Final
Saturday 13th May 2017
Williamstown 0-10 Menlough 0-11
Sunday 18th Jun 2017
Williamstown 3-12 Ballinasloe GAA 0-13
Saturday 26th Aug 2017
Williamstown 0-10 Glenamaddy 0-8
Saturday 9th Sep 2017
Williamstown 2-7 Oranmore-Maree 1-9
Sunday 1st Oct 2017
Williamstown 0-12 CLG Oileáin Árann 0-12
Sunday 8th Oct 2017
Williamstown 4-13 CLG Oileáin Árann 2-18
Saturday 4th Nov 2017
Williamstown v Claregalway - 1pm