Meath U15 Football League Division 3 Final
In Nobber

Drumconrath/Meath Hill 0-11 Gaeil Colmcille 0-10

In a real Urban v Rural, Senior v Junior this U-15 Division 3 Final threw up an excellent game which remained in the balance right until the last kick of the hour.

It is not since the U14 Division 2 Championship success of 2005 that Drumconrath/Meath Hill have tasted success at such a high level and this was due to hard work and no little skill from a Parish that continues to punch above its weight being the only Parish in the County to see a reduction in population in the last two census's.

Gaelic Football is a big deal in Meath's most Parish and both Clubs will hope that these young lads though small in number will help to push these Traditional Junior Clubs to higher things.

The Red and Blue struck first with Cathal McEvoy earning a close in free that Dean Martin's trusty left foot ensured the 1st point of the game, the Kells lads where having none of it and took over in most sectors and pointed 4 times on the trot to lead 0-4 to 0-1 after 25 minutes.

Drumconrath/Meath Hill hung on during this time with some great defending from Daire Dunne, James Carolan and the excellent Sean Murray to ensure the team clad in White, Red and Green where kept within striking distance and when stylist Centre back Kieran Slavin lifted the siege with a fine point and this was added to as Paddy Matthews added another Drumconrath/Meath Hill got a great lift to raise their game.

With Patrick Halpin working hard on the "forty" Dean Martin added two more points from a free and a fine point from play in added time to give the Red and Blue a 1 point lead at the break (0-5 to 0-4) that looked at times during that half a very unlikely scenario.

The word is that the 3rd quarter is the Championship quarter and whatever was said to the Boys in Red and Blue saw them come out in fine form for the 2nd half as they continuously brought the game to the town lads in this quarter.

Thomas Duff opened the 2nd half account as Player of the Game wing back Sean Murray also got on the score board. Further points from Thomas Carolan and a free from Duff opened a 5 point lead.

Slavin, Matthews and the lively Jack McMahon where driving Drumconrath/Meath Hill forward at this stage with James Carolan, Cathal Marry and James McMahon all doing well the Kells lads where finding scores hard to come by as the Combination side led 0-9 to 0-4 but could have been further ahead.

Four Gaeil Colmcille points in a row left just a point between the sides with 10 minutes to go but Duff popped over a free to steady the Red and Blue. Thomas Carolan and Cathal McEvoy where proving a handful for the Kells backs. Carolan pointed late on to keep to leave it a three point game on 56 minutes 0-11 to 0-8.

Gaeil Colmcille were not for giving up and pointed twice to leave just a single point between these two fine sides and rattled the Drumconrath/Meath Hill cross bar as the Red and Blue nerves jingled big time.

Soon after that a low shot seemed to beat the Drumconrath/Meath Hill keeper Eoin Muldoon who had a fine game throughout but out of nowhere steady corner back Daire Dunne appeared to save the Day and make a goal line clearance as the Referee blew the Final whistle as Drumconrath/Meath Hill held out for a fine and just about deserved victory.

Captain Muldoon made a fine victory speech when presented with the Trophy by fellow Club man and County Board Vice Chairman Peter O'Halloran on what was a proud night for Drumconrath/Meath Hill Undeage Club.

Drumconrath/Meath Hill; Eoin Muldoon; Daire Dunne, James Carolan, Cathal Marry; James McMahon, Kieran Slavin (0-1), Sean Murray (0-1); Jack McMahon, Paddy Matthews (0-1); Thomas Duff (0-3), Patrick Halpin, Dean Martin (0-3); Cathal McEvoy, Oisin Kelly, Thomas Carolan (0-2). Subs; Conor Meegan for Kelly, Harry Corscadden for Martin and Ryan Carry.

In Stalmullen

St Patrick's 2-10 North Meath Gaels 0-8

MFC Quarter Final

In Meath Hill

 

North Meath Gaels 4-14 Walterstown 2-9

 

Byrne on Fire as North Meath Win

 

North Meath progressed to the Semi Final of the MFC Division 3 for the 2nd year running with an easier than expected win over Walterstown. When the sides met in the League back in February North Meath won with a late goal but this time round the issuse was settled far earlier in the game. Daniel Byrne had a fine game and ended up with 11 points.

 

Two early goals rocked Walterstown as Paul Carolan and Ryan Owens netted and it looked like Owens was in for a second goal soon after but the referee blew for a free when their was a clear advantage on. Anyway Daniel Byrne pointed the free.

 

Walterstown steadily got back into the game and when Brian OConnell found the net the sides were level 2-1 to 1-4. 3 North Meath points gave them the advantage as Owens, Byrne (2) pointed but a 2nd Walterstown goal had the sides level again. Two late points (Owens and a Byrne free) gave the home side a 2 point half time lead 2-6 to 2-4 but with the sizable wind favouring Walterstown for the 2nd half the game looked to be their's for the winning.

 

Not so as a 3rd quarter blitz in which they pointed 5 times before Walterstown pulled 2 points back to leave it 2-11 to 2-6 with 15 minutes to go. The sides swapped points but then two quick fire Cathal Dunne goals and 2 more Byrne points left it double scores 4-14 to 2-7 and while Walterstown tagged on 2 late points North Meath were easy winners in the end.

 

North Meath Gaels; Dominic Yorke; Conor Marry, Graham Boylan; Martin Shields, Colm McEvoy, Matthew Carolan; Ryan Owens (1-2), Cathal Bennet; Robert McEntaggert (0-1), James Mooney, Cathal Dunne (2-0); Paul Carolan (1-0), Daniel Byrne (0-11). Sub Kieran Slavin for Dunne, Dylan Dardis for McEntaggert.

 

MFC Round 2

Disappointment was the order of the Day as South Meath Gaels failed to travel to Kilmainhamwood for this do or die Round 2 game as now that North Meath will be awarded the game and progress to the Quarter Final

Minor League Final 2014

MFL4 final: honour for North Meath Gaels

28 May 2014

North Meath Gaels 3-13 - Bru na Boinne 0-8

Click here for a selection of photographs from this match.

North Meath Gaels won the latest installment of the rivalry between these amalgamated sides with a far easier than expected 14 point win. Normally no more than point or two divides these teams but on this occasion that was not the case. North Meath where missing Graham Boylan suspended and Brendan Crosby tonsillitis and were concerned that the loss of these two players would affect them but other stood up to the plate in a good all round team performance.

The early stages where close with both sides taking and missing chances as the sides where tied 0-3 each after 12 minutes, Daniel Byrne pointing all North Meath points an indication of what was to come.

John Duff did have a goal chance but was twarted by the Bru goalie but soon after corner back Matthew Carolan made an 100 metre run as he cut through the Bru defence to hammer the ball to the net for a fine individual goal.

This score seemed to spur the North Meath lads on as they went on to score 1-4 without reply although Bru did have a number of wide's. John Duff scored the North Meath goal as points from Paul Carolan, Ryan Owens and 2 more from the deadly Byrne (still an U-16 player) gave North Meath a 2-7 to 0-3 half time led.

The early stages of the second where contested well and while Byrne again pointed Bru managed 3 points of their own. North Meath received a blow as James Mooney received a Black Card but soon after the game was clearly over as a Bru player picked up a Straight Red and North Meath's Duff hammered home his second goal.

The game continued in the same vein as Conor Kiernan pointed and Byrne point 4 more to bring his total to 10 for the game 9 of which came from play. Bru did point twice late on but there was really no hope of a come back at that stage.

Daniel Byrne was clearly the outstanding player of the game but he got great support from Robert McEntaggert, Ryan Owens, Cathal Bennett, Colm McEvoy, Matthew Carolan and Conor Marry while Dominic Yorke had another solid game in goals as Duff's 2 goal where really game clinchers.

North Meath Gaels - Dominic Yorke; Matthew Carolan (1-0), Conor Marry; Martin Shields, Colm McEvoy, Cathal Dunne; Cathal Bennett, James Mooney; Robert McEntaggert, John Duff (2-0), Paul Carolan (0-1); Ryan Owens (0-1), Daniel Byrne (0-10). Subs; Conor Kiernan (0-1), Sean Gargan and Kieran Slavin

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