Local soccer league was only formed 30 years ago

Thirty years ago soccer in Meath was transformed when the fledgeling Mid-Meath League kicked-off on Sunday 23rd November with eight teams in action. Current secretary Gerry Gorman was a member of the inaugural committee and is still actively involved in guiding the fortunes of the Meath & District League. The enthusiasm for the formation of a local league was provided by members of the Kilmessan club. During July and August 1980, Kilmessan FC organised a seven-a-side soccer tournament at Ross with permission from Tara Athletic Club. The tournament was a success and encouraged participation from two Kilmessan teams in a real soccer tournament a few weeks later hosted by Trim Celtic, a club which played in the Leinster Senior League and organised an annual seven-a-side tournament. Following on from that experience, the intrepid committee of Kilmessan FC, Vincent Brennan, Gerry Gorman and Dominic Doyle, applied to the Leinster Junior League and the Louth League. The applications were rejected. Undaunted, it was decided to form a local league and the committee placed an advertisement in the Meath Chronicle on 18th October 1980 inviting applications for membership of the Mid-Meath League. The Kilmessan club fielded two teams and seven other sides applied - Moynalvey, Robinstown, Cosmos, Dunshaughlin, Skryne, Turmec and Oldcastle. The committee arrived at a democratic decision which deemed that Oldcastle was too far away and rejected them. Ground-sharing was vital and agreement was reached over the use of pitches at Shambo, Hayestown, Tara and Dunshaughlin Community College. There were few demands for evidence of public liability insurance in that era and the Kilmessan club provided the referees, with the exception of Shane Faulkner from Navan who also assisted. It was reported, many years later, that one Kilmessan referee used to move the ball forward 10 yards for any form of dissent, but the identity of that individual has been kept secret! The inaugural competition was played on a one round basis with the top two teams qualifying for the final after a series of seven games. The opening round of results were: Skryne 6, Kilmessan 2; Moynalvey 3, Cosmos 2; Dunshaughin 6, Turmec 2. The other scheduled game - Robinstown v Kilmessan B was postponed. In that era it was possible also to get a game postponed at short notice. Moynalvey won the Legaue final with a 2-0 victory over Robinstown with goals from Eamonn Regan and Richie Melia. An unusual statistic from that game was the fact that the Moynalvey manager (Eugene Lynch) was the Robinstown goalkeeper. PANELS Moynalvey - Robbie Melia, Aidan Crickley, Brendan Melia, Cyril Maguire, Richie Melia, Liam Harnan, Richie Walsh, Eamonn Regan, PJ Walsh, Peter Brien, Kevin Larkin, Denis Farrell, Gerry Walsh, Pat Brien, Peter Farrell. Robinstown - Eugene Lynch, Joe Kelleher, Tommy Maguire, Dom Cahill, Michael Cregan, Pat Cregan, Davy Cahill, Christy Cregan, Brian Dunne, John Lynch, Kevin Dunne, Declan Carty, Kieran Devine, Gerard Moore. SECOND SEASON At the annual meeting of the Mid-Meath League, which was an informal event, Gerry Gorman took over as chairman, Dom Doyle took the role of treasurer and John Holden joined the committee as secretary. Dunshaughlin did not affiliate for the second season and opted to join the Leinster Junior League in Dublin. That decision spawned a new club in the form of Dunshaughlin Dynamos and two divisions were required for 1981/'82. Div 1 - Moynalvey, Turmec, Kilmessan, Cosmos, Skryne, Shambo (formerly Robinstown), Clonee Utd, Castle Celtic, Riverbank, Trim Ramblers. Div 2 - Skane Ramblers (formerly Kilmessan B), Dunsany Rovers, Dunshaughlin Dynamos, Bailieboro Co-op, Owens' Dairies, Albion Rovers (Ballivor), Knotverie Athletic (Slane). Moynalvey won the Div 1 title ahead of Castle Celtic while Albion Rovers won the Div 2 title. During the season it was also decided to host a formal annual general meeting which took place on 17th September 1982 - it was the first and last AGM of the Mid-Meath League because the following season the name was changed to Meath & District League. Affiliation to the Football Association of Ireland through the Leinster Football Association was also a target and this was achieved with the assistance of the then LFA secretary George Briggs. * All information taken from 'Not Just Another Brick in the Wall - 21 years of the Meath & District League' which was first published in 2001.