REVIEW OF THE YEAR: Kildalkey’s remarkable feat completed
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The Kildalkey players who clinched the first of their remarkable treble by winning the JHC. Gerry ShanahanImage 2 of 12
Meath players who were honoured at the GAA Champion 15 awards in Croke Park included hurler Seán Geraghty, footballer Donal Keogan, footballer Adam O’Neill, footballer Jack Flynn, footballer Jordan Morris, hurler Jack Regan, footballer Mathew Costello, footballer Seán Brennan, footballer Conor Gray, footballer Padraic Harnan, hurler Simon Ennis and hurler James Toher. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile Matt Browne / SPORTSFILEImage 3 of 12
Drama after the Leinster Club SFC clash between Summerhill and Tullamore when referee Barry Tiernan was escorted off the pitch after he was assaulted by a Tullamore supporter. David MullenImage 4 of 12
Exhausted Kilbride celebrate following their JFC final victory over Clann na nGael. Gerry ShanahanImage 5 of 12
The Kildalkey treble winning captains Aaron Traynor (JHC), David Conneely (SHC) and Shane Reilly (IHC) with their respective cups and Hurling committee secretary Colin Brennan and chairman Martin O’Halloran. Gerry ShanahanImage 6 of 12
Kildalkey players celebrate with manager Nick Fitzgerald after their SHC final victory over Ratoath. Gerry ShanahanImage 7 of 12
Kilskyre-Moylagh celebrate with the Junior 2 HC cup. David MullenImage 8 of 12
Na Fianna players, Maire Kirby, Niamh Kirby and Annette Parkes take a selfie after winning the Meath Senior Camogie final. Gerry ShanahanImage 9 of 12
Joy for Rathkenny after their victory in the IFC final. Gerry ShanahanImage 10 of 12
Royal Gaels players celebrate following the Ladies SFC final. Gerry ShanahanImage 11 of 12
Slane celebrate at the final whistle of the Junior B FC final. David MullenImage 12 of 12
Summerhill celebrate with their supporters after their Keegan Cup success. David MullenWhat a month October turned out to be for Kildalkey. They completed a treble of championship triumphs no less. The SHC and IHC were added to the JHC already in the bag. What joy, what a feat. A golden Autumn for them.
It was also a special month for Summerhill. They ended 10 years of waiting when they claimed the Keegan Cup. For a club of its stature 10 years is an eternity.
Not that the wait ended without their supporters having to go through a nerve-shredding spell of extra-time against old foes Ratoath who had defeated them in the previous year's senior showdown. Not only that the 'Hill had also lost out in finals in 2017, 2018 and 2019 so they knew all about tarnished dreams and broken ambitions.
They led by a point going towards the closing stages of normal time. Up stepped the amazingly composed Daithi McGowan to calmly convert a late free and force extra-time.
It was in extra-time Summerhill found extra energy from somewhere to push on and win (maybe it was losing all those finals). Eoghan Frayne gave a man of the match display and finished with six points, three frees. The same weekend a litany of other football finals were played. Rathkenny showed composure and craft to overcome a fancied Duleek/Bellewstown side in the IFC decider. That too was a contest that needed extra-time. At the end of a thriller hour's of football the scoreboard read: Rathkenny 1-14, Duleek/Bellewstown 2-11. At the end of extra-time Rathkenny were in front, 1-18 to 2-14, Eoghan Heavey bagging the winners' golden goal.
Kilbride also won the JFC overcoming Clann na nGael 2-17 to 1-10, and Slane got the better of Moynalty 2-10 to 1-10 in the Junior B final.
On the first day of October Kildalkey won the Junior Hurling final. Martin Carr's side defeated St Patrick's, 2-15 to 2-11, building on a early start before powering onwards. It meant the Village club had won the first of a possible treble.
As the month unfolded the finals continued to be played, one after another. The Ladies SFC was won by Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels who defeated St Peter's, Dunboyne, 4-14 to 0-10. Clara Gorman fired home two goals while Meadhbh Byrne and Niamh Gallogly also raised white flags in the big win.
A flurry of hurling finals were staged in late October. The big one was won by Kildalkey. They defeated Ratoath, 0-19 to 0-16 in the SHC final. The Ratoath team included players who had turned out in the football final the previous week. Among that contingent was Daithi McGowan who was having a fine game until he was sent off just before half-time. It was a big blow to Ratoath. With the extra man Nick Fitzgerald's Kildalkey were unstoppable. Nicky Potterton hit eight points, five frees, two 45s while Evan Fitzgerald and Brian O'Halloran each slotted over a hat-trick of points. The second part of the treble was secured. They pushed on.
The focus turned to the IHC and that treble. Kildalkey drew with Navan O'Mahonys in the first final, youngster Matthew Cully showing the calmness of a seasoned campaigner by lofting over a last-gasp point - at the end of extra-time - from a '65' to force a draw. The Village side made no mistake in the replay, winning 1-18 to 1-10. Cully hit nine points in that replay while Ross Flynn bagged 1-3.
The historic treble was theirs. The circle was complete.