THE Killarney Cutters BRL Premiership win last Saturday was more than just a football game on many levels.
The Cutters struggled for numbers after the closure of the Killarney Meatworks and many wondered if the club could survive.
Under the guidance of coach Neil Parfitt, the team has done more than survive – they have thrived.
The 40-16 win over Inglewood marked the Cutters first premiership in the Border Rugby league competition and their first A Grade premiership in 54 years.
They had done it the tough way coming from fourth on the ladder. This all made it a remarkable win.
However, there was a lot more going on both off and on the football field and behind the scenes.
BRL bylaws allow for a squad of 22 players in the final. Because of the ruling, coach Neil Parfitt was forced to make the agonising decision to cut Kent Wallace from the squad in the preliminary final.
Wallace, now in his early twenties, almost lost his life to Meningococcal disease as a youngster. It has left him with a badly damaged left eye and serious problems with his feet.
The club had specially designed head gear made to protect Wallace’s eye and he has suffered much too merely be able to play football. Early in the year he had painful surgery on his foot and endured a lot just to get back on the paddock.
This young man’s determination to play football has been an inspiration to his team mates.
Parfitt felt so strongly about it that he made an impassioned plea in writing to BRL Chairman Casey O’Connor.
He asked that the BRL consider relaxing the rule on this occasion and allow each side an additional bench player to give Wallace the chance to play in a grand final.
It took only minutes for Parfitt to get a reply from O’Connor as he quickly put the wheels in motion.
The Inglewood captain coach Matt Gainey and President Tony Stevenson were contacted and when alerted to the situation, Gainey and Stevenson immediately agreed to the change on compassionate grounds.
So on Saturday, a gutsy young man was able to experience all the thrill and excitement of a grandfinal win and was on the field when the full time siren sounded.
At the presentations following the game, O’Connor explained the circumstances surrounding the additional players and introduced Kent Wallace to the cheers of the big crowd. You could not wipe the smile off his face or that if his very proud coach.
For Killarney co-captains and brothers Michael Marshall and John Trindall, winning the grand final was fullfilling a promise to the memory of their younger brother Xylon Smith who tragically took his own life midway through the season.
In an emotion-charged salute Marshall raised the premiership trophy declaring, “This is for you little brother”.
As a mark of respect Killarney had retired jersey no 12, Xylon’s jersey and throughout the final series “No 12 Xylon Smith R.I.P” was included in the official team and in all programs. Players also played with Xylon’s name embroidered on their jerseys.
BRL Chairman Casey O’Connor said it was one occasion when rules were meant to be bent a little.
“We are an amateur league with blokes who play for the love of the sport and their town, not for money,” he said.
“They (players) often wear their heart on their sleeve and the hopes and expectations of their small communities on their shoulders.
“Common sense prevailed here and I am proud and pleased to have played a small role in a wonderful story.”
Country football is often about much more than the football game itself. It brings together communities and gives them a sense of pride and sometimes just sometimes it allows people to live their dreams.
And they will be partying hard in Killarney all this week – there is no doubt about that.
