A full house in full voice greets new county champions

It has always been a tradition in Ireland to compose a song to commemorate a momentous occasion or event in history. From the rebel-rousing ballads of bands like the Wolfe Tones, to the songs that accompanied Jack Charlton and his team to Italia '90, words and music have marked many achievements. It was no different around the Navan O"Mahonys clubhouse and grounds on Sunday evening after the defeat of Summerhill in the county senior football final. The members of the Navan O"Mahonys team had an anthem in salute of their captain, the popular Paddy Smith, known as 'The Bear". It went something like this: 'When the Bear Goes up To get the Keegan Cup, We"ll be there, We"ll be there!' And they were there. The Navan town club marked its 60th anniversary in style when 'The Bear" climbed up the steps of the stand in Pairc Tailteann to lift the Keegan Cup in its third attempt in as many years. From early in the game in the spiritual home of Meath GAA, it was obvious that the young pretenders from Summerhill were not going to stand in the way of the town side intent on making sure that The Bear would be there. Misquoting Oscar Wilde, to lose one final may be regarded as a misfortune, to lose two carelessness.....to lose three could not be considered. And wasn"t. Navan O"Mahonys made headlines last week when its coffers were boosted by €4 million after it sold part of its grounds for development. But that pales into insignificance with an even greater treasure that will sit with pride at Brews Hill, the Keegan Cup, back in the club that won the inaugural trophy back in 1953. It was a short trip from the steps of the stand to the back of the goals, but it took a while as fans and players alike savoured the moment and took the opportunity of being photographed with the silverware. Paddy Smith had called for supporters to show humility as he hoisted the cup earlier. It was not that his call fell on deaf ears, but after waiting over a decade to welcome the old trophy back to Brews Hill, there was to be no stopping the townsfolk from enjoying themselves. On the big screen in O"Mahonys, the Offaly SHC final was TG4"s second match offering, but the arrival of Team Navan with the trophy was timely as the TV switched to showing Henry Finnegan"s sharp penalty conversion and the DJ blasted 'We are the Champions". The boys in blue were joined by a full house in full voice. The function room was packed to capacity and bedecked in blue and white balloons and bunting as the celebratory meal was served up, followed by words of wisdom. The notoriously poor PA system meant that chairman Jarlath Fitzsimons" speech was almost unintelligible, but his players knew what he was saying, cheering at every opportunity and mention of players, management, selectors, sponsor, and the statistician! Paddy Smith paid tribute to selector Finian Murtagh for his influence as his fellow players jeered him for 'plámasing" his boss. Smith becomes the third Keegan Cup-winning captain to work with Finian Murtagh"s painting and decorating business - joining Murtagh himself and Colm Ratty. Then, another rendition of 'We"ll be There". Talk of drinking bans had come to a shuddering end as lads let their hair down and released the tension, frustration and disappointment of so many troubled years. Nothing was going to get in the way of these celebrations and to ensure a free flow of customers, the crested double doors separating the bar and lounge were taken off their hinges so there would be no obstructions. However, Liam Kerrane was very proud of one thing - not a drop of alcohol made it into the cup, in line with new GAA regulations. The bars were packed with plenty of past championship-winning medallists, now looking decidedly older, who were quite happy to have passed the mantle on to the new crop of players. A Navan O"Mahonys" legend, Paddy O"Brien, who put generations of underage lads through his hands, including many of Sunday"s heroes, arrived to savour the celebrations. Joe Cassells was in pride of place. The last winning captain, Alan Reilly, from 1997, and many of his team mates were there, too. 'Waller" Shields also made an appearance. Robbie McCormack, whose father Tony was the first O"Mahonys captain to lift the Keegan Cup in 1953, flew over from New York for the final. Across the road, Peter McDermott, recently turned 90, will have heard the cheers from his Brews Hill home. Another past hero of O"Mahonys, Ben Tansey, Keegan Cup-winning captain in 1981, who has been in ill-health in recent times, was there, too, to see the team experience success once again. Two sports journalists who are normally supposed to have a neutral view when two teams meet were not worried about showing their colours - goalie and sports reporter Mark Brennan found himself the other side of the camera lens and in big demand for photographs, having to fight off some new female admirers, while Shane Cassells was also unashamedly sporting his hoops scarf. Sponsor John Byrne of Commons Hardware was delighted to see his support was worthwhile, while Louise Kiernan of the main street sports store decided that the gloves that they had presented to the team were a secret factor in the success. And Meath players from other clubs joined their Navan colleagues in celebrating - Peader Byrne from Ballinlough and Brian Farrell from Nobber, who has O"Mahonys" blood through his grandmother, a sister of Jim and Paddy Fitzsimons, both of whom lifted the Keegan Cup in the past. Celebrations went on through the night until it was time to head down the street to Mick Ryan"s new-look establishment for a special breakfast menu created by Damien Clarke. The trophy itself started off life as a cup for a horse show in London, which was discontinued, and Syddan GAA bought it in a silversmiths in Dublin in memory of player Tom Keegan. Appropriately enough for a cup from a horse show, it will see its fair share of high jinks this week.