Peter Darby a popular recipient of Meath GAA Hall of Fame accolade

The presentation of the 2017 Meath GAA Hall of Fame award to 1967 All-Ireland-winning captain Peter Darby was the highlight of the 44th annual awards at the Castle Arch Hotel, Trim on Friday night.

Apart from the Hall of Fame, individual and club awards were presented with Keegan Cup champions Simonstown Gaels talking the club of the year accolade for the third time, but for the first time in over 20 years after previous successes were achieved in 1990 and 1995.
There was also a ground of the year award for Kilmainham while the PRO of the year award was presented to Moynalvey's Paul Greene
However, the main focus was on the Hall of Fame recipient with the 1967 Meath captain receiving a standing ovation from the guests at the popular annual event.

Recipients of awards at the annual Meath GAA presentation evening (from left) were: back - Tom Lorton (Simonstown Gaels), Paul Greene (Moynalvey), Sean Newman (Kilmainham), Hugo Whoriskey (St Patrick’s), Bernard Heaney (Clann na nGael), Jordan Morris (Nobber), Mikey Mullen (Killyon); front - Jim Mullery, (Meath Co Board treasurer), Conor Tormey (Meath Co Board chairman), Peter Darby (Hall of Fame), Francis Flynn (Meath Co Board secretary), Jim Lane representing Padraig McKeever and James Kelly (Kiltale). Photo: John Quirke / www.quirke.ie

The Trim man lined out at corner back and had the distinction of no direct opponent scoring against him throughout the 1967 championship campaign.
Darby was a worthy recipient of the award and remains the only Trim man to raise the Keegan Cup, but he was also one of the best dual players in the county.
Apart from the sole Keegan Cup success with Trim in 1962 when he captained the side to victory against Ballinlough, he also won five SHC championship medals with Trim.
On the county scene, he made his senior championship debut as a 19-year-old against Dublin in Drogheda in 1958 and he was a key figure as the Royal County won the Leinster SFC final in 1964.
Meath made it to the All-Ireland SFC final in 1966 but were defeated by Galway who were completing a three-in-a-row.
Darby captained Meath to the Sam Maguire Cup for just the third time in 1967 although the custom at the time was that the Keegan Cup champions would supply the captain of the county team.
The 1966 Keegan Cup winners Gaeil Colmcille had no representative on the team and Darby was the longest serving member of the team (10th year) and was duly appointed.
He proved a great ambassador, not only for Meath, but the country during the historic tour to Australia in 1968. Meath played and won all five games Down Under.
He also served as chairman of the Trim club, was a Meath senior selector and an officer of the Co Board.

Hall of fame recipient Peter Darby with members of his family (from left): back - Evan Courtney, Shane Courtney, Emma Darby, Rory Hannon, Siobhan Courtney, Ciaran Courtney, Ann Darby, Pierce Darby, Alex Darby; front - Rachel Hannon, Peter Darby, Audrey Hannon, Peter Darby, Joan Darby and Ailbhe Hannon. Photo: John Quirke / www.quirke.ie

“I'm honoured to have received this award, it brings back great memories from 1967 and 1968, especially of that amazing trip to Australia,” he commented.
Other awards that were presented included the footballer of the year to Simonstown Gaels captain Padraig McKeever, he was unable to attend as the event clashed with his brother's wedding and the trophy was accepted by Simonstown chairman Jim Lane.
Kiltale's James Kelly claimed the hurler of the year accolade and joined an elite group of father and son combinations to have won this award.
His father (Paddy) won the award in 1984 while Sean and Nicky Horan (Kilmessan) and TJ and Thomas Reilly (Boardsmill) were previous winners.
James Kelly had a huge influence for Kiltale as they secured a fourth successive SHC title this year.
The young footballer of the year award was presented to Jordan Morris from the Nobber club, previously won by Brian Farrell in 2002.
The young hurler of the year award was presented to Mikey Mullen from Killyon.
The referees were also recognised with Clann na nGael's Bernard Heaney taking the referee of the year title and Hugo Whoriskey from the St Patrick's club was presented with the most improved award. 

Special presentations were made to Co Board chairman Conor Tormey and Co Board secretary Francis Flynn who both stood down from their positions at Monday night's annual convention in Navan due to the five-year rule.