Keane returns from Australia to collect another accolade

Westmeath star John Keane returned to his native Rosemount a happy and fulfilled man. Keane received his second All-Star award and also selection on the Open GPA Gaelic Team of the Year, Keane was back on home soil after helping Ireland to reclaim the Cormac McAnallen Cup from Australia in the 2008 International Rules series. By Monday, the 28-year-old was back to reality, resuming his teaching duties at Ardnagrath National School, where he was presented with an award by school pupils and staff for his achievements with the Irish International Rules squad, and also for his dynamic displays for the Lake County this year. Keane played in both tests in the 2008 International Rules Series, helping Ireland to a 102-97 aggregate victory. The defender was also a crucial part of the Westmeath side which won Division Two of the NFL earlier this year and then reached the semi-finals of the Leinster championship before losing to Dublin. Speaking to the "Westmeath Independent" at Ardnagrath NS on Monday morning, Keane looked back on a hugely successful year for him personally, starting with the recent International Rules experience. 'When I first joined up with the Ireland training panel I didn"t know what to expect, to be honest,' he said. 'I wanted to give it a right go and see what happened. I was very pleased when I then got selected for the panel to travel to Australia but was determined then to make the original squad. Three players were left off the squad for the two test matches and I was determined not to be one of those. Thankfully, I got selected for the first game and really enjoyed the whole experience. The stadium in Perth was quite small in comparison to the MCG in Melbourne, but there was a great atmosphere. When you"re playing a high intensity game, it"s just like playing a close and keenly fought match in Croke Park, you don"t really notice the crowd after a while. We were determined to take a lead into the second test but let a fairly commanding lead slip somewhat in the closing stages of the first test and ended up with just a single point advantage going to Melbourne. We knew it was going to be very tight to clinch the series,' he added. But clinch the series Ireland did. A 57-52 victory in Melbourne secured the series and Ireland, managed by Sean Boylan, brought home the Cormac McAnallen Cup. John was proud to be involved with such a glorious moment. 'The whole series was very enjoyable, the experience was one I"ll never forget, but it wouldn"t have been the same had we not won the series,' said the Rosemount man. 'Our ultimate aim was to go over there and win the series, nothing else would have been satisfactory. We spent eight weeks prior to the series doing hard training, taking and giving plenty of hits, and working on getting back up after getting hit. It"s a fairly intense game, there are no breaks at all during the 20-minute periods, so it"s tough going at times. People wonder how we compete against the Australian professionals, but GAA players are pretty much professional these days in everything but title. The training, preparation and attitude of Gaelic footballers is focused and professional and that helped a lot. I"m delighted to have been involved with the panel, it was a super experience, and one I can hopefully repeat again in the future,' he added. An extremely approachable and modest person, Keane was loathe to delve too much into the personal accolades he received this year. He said it"s impossible for him to even contemplate winning any individual awards without the enormous assistance of his team-mates and mentors at club, county and International Rules levels. But he remains insatiably ambitious. 'Hopefully, I have another few years to offer Westmeath - if I"m playing well enough and get selected,' Keane said. 'We don"t know yet whether Sean is staying on with the International Rules set-up, but it"s something I"d really love to be involved with again. We"ll wait and see. But obviously I"ll concentrate on Westmeath again now.' Meanwhile, Westmeath county board chairman Tom Farrell - also chairman of the Board of Management at Ardnagrath NS - praised Keane"s contribution this year. Farrell said: 'John Keane"s involvement with the Irish International Rules team has brought great honour to his parish Rosemount, Ardnagrath National School and to Westmeath. Obviously, it rounds off a tremendous year for John after he won his second All-Star award and was also selected to the GPA Team of the Year. John"s commitment to Gaelic football mirrors his commitment to the pupils and staff at Ardnagrath National School and we are very proud of his accomplishments. It"s a great honour to have John at Ardnagrath National School and his likeable nature makes it all the better.'