New Meath camogie manager appeals for return of stolen Man-of-the-Match award

Anton O'Neill and his family the victims of thieves - jewellery also taken

The newly appointed manager of the Meath camogie team, Anton O'Neill, has made an appeal for the return of a precious memento from his hurling career that was recently stolen from his house.

O'Neill won the RTE Sunday Game Player of the Match award after a five-star display he gave for the Royal County against Offaly in the Leinster SHC in the summer of 1996.

Meath lost the game but O'Neill, who played as a wing-back, was in outstanding form against an Offaly side that had won the Liam MacCarthy Cup just two years previously.

As a recognition of his display O'Neill received the Man of the Match award - a watch.

The time-piece which is of sentimental rather than monetary value, is engraved at the back with the words: 'Anton O'Neill 1996 Sunday Game Man of the Match.'

""It was very annoying to say the least, to have the award stolen was particularly disappointing, " he siad today.

"It was one of the few honours I had from my years playing for Meath. What can you do, once no-one was hurt or injured that's the main thing. What can you do it's the way life has gone," said O'Neill.

"The watch has brown straps and carries the Festina brandname," he added.

Other items taken from the O'Neill household during the recent robbery which took place during the day when no-one was in the house also included items of jewellery.

The house alarm wasn't working at the time of the robbery.

The former Meath hurler accepts that the chances of getting the jewellery back are remote but he still harbours some hope the RTE Man-of-the-Match award can be returned as it's of little value except to him and his family.

O'Neill was appointed manager of the Meath Camogie team for the 2025 season with the announcement made earlier this week that he would be the new boss replacing previous incumbents Gary Cole and Thomas Maloney.

A winner of eight Meath SHC medals with his club Kilmessan, O'Neill was part of the Meath Camogie backroom team during 2023 under the then manager Brendan Skehan.

Now O'Neill has taken over the managerial reins. His backroom team will comprise of Brian O'Reilly, Richie McCabe, Thomas Duignan, Ed Riordan and Georgia O'Halloran.

Meath Camogie wished O'Neill and his team the very best of luck for the upcoming season.