Ginnitty loving life between the sticks for Castletown
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Just over 22 months ago Johnny Ginnitty stood between the sticks for Castletown facing the unenviable task of being eye-to-eye with one of the greatest forwards ever to play the game, David Clifford.
The meeting of the then Meath Junior champions and Kerry winners Fossa was billed as being a potential eye-opener for Castletown, but Ginnitty was in inspired form and while he couldn't prevent his side from falling to defeat he was exceptional in keeping David Clifford and his brother Paudi from finding the net.
Evan Hoey did a fine job in limiting David Clifford to just six points from play, while Paudie only scored twice and one of them was from a '45'.
It was a day Ginnitty will never forget and he is hoping to create more memories when his side take on Castletown in Saturday's IFC final at Pairc Tailteann.
"Looking back we were there to win, we showed up to win that day, unfortunately it didn't go our way," recalled Ginnitty when he reflected on that All-Ireland Club JFC semi-final in Portlaoise.
"It is great to say that you shared the pitch with the two of them (the Cliffords). So it's a nice thing to have and a nice programme to have in the draw after the match."
It hasn't been all plain sailing this year. They brought in a new manager in Kells man Justin Carry-Lynch and with work ongoing to upgrade their pitch Castletown were without a home for the early months of the year.
"Justin has kept it simple all year. He kept things fresh, I'll give him that. We had no pitch in Castletown this year up until the end of May, because we'd redone up the pitch last year," said Ginnitty.
"We were around the county training in Nobber, Drumconrath in the field behind the school.
"We were there in the winter in January in the muck and gutter, so we'd done our slogging early in the year.
"We got a good style of play going, got our confidence built in Div 4 of the league. We won the Corn na Boinne early in the year, so confidence spilled through the team from them and we took it into the championship.
"It was a bit of a challenge at the time and fair play to Denise (Farrelly) for organising pitches and everything for us. It wasn't easy in the winter when other clubs don't want to give out their pitches.
"The clubs were very good to us. Nobber and Drumconrath were very good to us, we won't forget that now after all that."
Playing in Div 4 of the league is hardly ideal preparation for the rigours of the Meath IFC, but Ginnitty believes it allowed Castletown develope their playing style and establish a winning mentality.
Going on that winning run that also saw them win the Corn na Boinne, and added to the success of winning the Meath JFC in 2022, Castletown have a wealth of experience built up in the bank.
"That was spoken about. We had to focus on ourselves and play at our intensity, play games on our terms and set our own standards, which was what we did throughout Div 4 of the league.
"We're up now to Div 3 next year, so we'll be looking to kick on from there again too.
"You need to play and perform in big games at the business end of Championships. In '22 we won the Junior, we went on and won the Leinster that year and then we went on and played Fossa.
"Last year we got to an IFC semi-final against O'Mahonys, the year before we were in a quarter-final, so it's progression over the last three years from winning the Junior to an Intermediate quarter-final, semi-final and now a final."
It is widely acknowledged that it takes a different type of character to be a goalkeeper, but Ginnitty insists that he just loves to play the game and he acknowledges that the support he gets from his family and the joy it brings them makes all the sacrifices worthwhile.
"I'm not going to lie to you, I love it. I'd be lost without a bit of football," admitted the Castletown goalkeeper.
"When you get to this stage of your career and you're getting to an odd county final, it's great.
"Words can't describe it. I have three small kids and when Daddy brings home a cup or anything like that it's the best feeling in the world and please God I can bring home one more.
"I have a very patient wife. Some evening she's kicking me out the door, but it's great for them and it's great for me. I'm just trying to enjoy it all as best I can."
Taking it one game at a time and trying to improve every step along the way is the mantra of every club, and it's no different for Castletown.
Last year they beat Moynalvey in the IFC quarter-finals, but then lost to Navan O'Mahonys in the semi-finals, so Ginnitty wasn't taking anything for granted against a Moynalvey that reached the A FL Div 2 finan and won promotion to Div 1 and were considered by most as the standout favourites for intermediate honours.
"When you get to the semi-final, every game is going to be tough. On paper Moynalvey were the favourites for the championship all year and we had a feeling that to win a championship you're going to have to beat Moynalvey at some stage.
"We prepared the same as any other game, and thankfully we got the job done.
"I got to see Kilbride on Clubber and it was an impressive performance by them. They took the game to St Michael's. It was a fairly comprehensive win.
"They've a lot of good forwards that need a lot of watching. We'll prepare the same as any other game. We'll do our homework on it and see how we go.
"They have a potent forward line that's going to take a lot of minding.
Our defenders are tough and ready for it. So please God, we do the business," who will have no fear of any forward line, especially having stared down David Clifford and survived.