REVIEW OF THE YEAR: Na Fianna achieve a rare double
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Meath players Aoife Minogue (back row left), Sophia Payne (back row fourth from right), Claire Coffey (back row third from right) and Amy Gaffney (front row third from right) received their Soaring Stars awards. Photo NPHO/Morgan Treacy ©INPHO/Morgan TreacyImage 2 of 13
The top three from the Meath Senior Cross-Country Championships were Fr Murphy AC’s Richie Bell (third), Bohermeen AC’s Kevin McGrath (winner), Na Fianna AC’s Conor Leech (second).Image 3 of 13
The top three from the Meath Senior Cross-Country Championships were Tara AC’s Leona O’Reilly (third), Dunboyne AC’s Laura Buckley (winner), Bohermeen AC’s Rose Finnegan (second) with Meath Athletics chair Michael Cornyn.Image 4 of 13
Despite heroics from Mark McCormack Kildalkey were well beaten by Thomastown in the Leinster Club IHC semi-final. Gerry ShanahanImage 5 of 13
Kildalkey’s Nicky Potterton is fouled by Clodiagh Gaels’ Kieran Coonan during Kildalkey’s first ever victory in provincial competition. David MullenImage 6 of 13
Kentstown’s former Meath All-Ireland winner Caragh Monaghan rode her first winner on the track at Navan.Image 7 of 13
The Na Fianna team celebrate with the Leinster Intermediate Camogie cup after defeating O’Moores in Carlow. David MullenImage 8 of 13
The cups continue to flow for Na Fianna as they won the Ladies Leinster Club IFC title with victory over Shelmaliers. Paula GreifImage 9 of 13
Evan Dixon scores a try for Navan in AIL Div 2A. Gerry ShanahanImage 10 of 13
St Joseph’s Rebecca Crowley was celebrating at the Meath Primary Schools finals. David MullenImage 11 of 13
Rathkenny subs and management watch on as they exited the Leinster Club IFC at the semi-final stage against Scoil Ui Chonaill. Gerry ShanahanImage 12 of 13
Barry Dardis and Summerhill’s Leinster Club SFC dream ended at the quarter-final final when they were beaten by Naas. David MullenImage 13 of 13
All-conquering Trim Celtic claimed the NEFL Challenge Cup with final victory over Quay Celtic. Gerry ShanahanWinning a provincial title is a major achievement for any club, not easily done. To win two in as many weeks is well, special and rarely done.
Na Fianna teams achieved that feat in what for the south Meath club was a golden, glorious November. First up it was the Na Fianna footballers. They won the LGFA Leinster Club title defeating famed Wexford side Shelmalier, 2-8 to 1-10 in the final in Carlow, Kerrie Cole and Sophia Payne getting the goals. A super day indeed for all concerned.
The following week the club's camogie team (containing a number of players who had turned out in football final) also won the Leinster, defeating O'Moores 1-11 to 1-9 in Dr Cullen Park, Carlow. Double delight.
In hurling also there was some joy for Kildalkey as they won their first Leinster Club IHC game defeating Offaly side Clodiagh Gaels. Then they met a slick Thomastown team. There the Meath champion's progress ended. It finished 0-12 to 4-20. Ouch.
When it comes to the men's Leinster Club SFC Meath teams, particularly at senior level, have had little joy over the years either. For them it has been something like walking through a quagmire - a lot of effort for little reward.
After winning the Keegan Cup Summerhill had kicked-started their Leinster campaign in late October with a highly controversial victory over Tullamore 1-9 to 1-7. Mayhem erupted at the end of the game when referee Barry Tiernan was shoved to the ground and then confronted by several angry Tullamore supporters after he rescinded a decision to award the Offaly side a late penalty.
He gave a free instead. Tullamore failed to convert it and Summerhill held on to win by those two points after trailing almost all the way. In the next round in early November, however, the wheels came off for the Meath champions. This time Summerhill were well beaten by Naas, 0-8 to 2-12.
Rathkenny's remarkable year continued when they defeated Kenagh in the quarter-final stage of the Leinster Club IFC. In the Junior Club FC Kilbride also booked a place in the last four with a win over Milltown from Kildare.
Meath just missed out on an All-Ireland final title in camogie in 2023 but there was some compensation for four of their players. Aoife Minogie, Claire Coffey, Sophia Payne and Amy Gaffney received Soaring Star awards at a dinner at Croke Park. Well deserved too.
Robbie Horgan and his Trim Celtic players, did it again in 2023 winning the NEFL Challenge Cup to add to the Premier title they already had in the bag. The cup was won with a cleanly struck strike from Trim Celtic midfielder Adam Fox; a Roy of the Rovers moment. It was also enough to give his side a 1-0 win over Quay Celtic at United Park, Drogheda. The Hoops keep rolling on.