REVIEW OF THE YEAR: All-Ireland final disappointment
DECEMBER REVIEW
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Left: Some of the Na Fianna dual stars get ready to the board the bus at Darver after the All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie semi-final to head for Mallow to play Glanmire 22 hours later in the All-Ireland Club IFC semi-final. Gerry ShanahanImage 2 of 11
The Na Fianna players get off the bus tgo play Glanmire in the All-Ireland Club IFC semi-final less than 24 hours after playing camogie in Louth. David RibeiroImage 3 of 11
Donal Keogan receives the Meath GAA Player of the Year award from Co Committee secretary Ciaran Flynn. Gerry ShanahanImage 4 of 11
Aoife Carey in action for Na Fianna during the All-Ireland Club Intermediate Camogie final in Croke Park. Gerry ShanahanImage 5 of 11
Delegates were quiet at this year’s Meath GAA Co Convention. David MullenImage 6 of 11
The newly elected Meath GAA Co Executive includes (from left): back Brian Carberry (Planning & Training), Paddy Kelly (Vice Chairperson), Joseph O’Brien (Irish Officer), Michael Bennett (Childrens Officer), Nick Fitzgerald (Assistant Secretary), Brian Kelly (PRO), Martin O’Halloran (Leinster Council Delegate), Eamonn Barry (Coaching Officer); front - Conor Tormey (Central Council Delegate), Ciaran Flynn (Secretary), Jason Plunkett (Chairperson), Gene Smith (Treasurer), Mairead Delaney (Leinster Council Delegate). David MullenImage 7 of 11
Bettystown’s Evan Ferguson was named RTE Sports Young Sportsperson of the Year. Fergal LynchImage 8 of 11
Kilmessan celebrate after winning the u-21 HC title. David MullenImage 9 of 11
Emma Regan (left) and Meabh Downey console Aoife Carey after Na Fianna’s defeat in the All-Ireland Club Intermediate Camogie final in Croke Park. Gerry ShanahanImage 10 of 11
Na Fianna’s Shauna Ennis was distraughted after losing the All-Ireland Club IFC semi-final in Mallow. David RibeiroImage 11 of 11
Walterstown players take to the field to face Skryne in the u-19 A FC final. David MullenIt was the culmination of a long, energy-sapping campaign and it didn't end the way the Na Fianna players would have hoped but what a blast they had. What memories were created along the journey.
Niall Burke's Na Fianna lost out to Kerry side Clanmaurice a week before Christmas in the All-Ireland Club Intermediate Camogie final, 0-7 to 1-7. Getting to the decider in Croke Park was quite an achievement especially when it is factored in that the team contained a number of dual players who had campaigned hard for the club's football team also over the previews few weeks and months. At times it all got a little crazy; the schedule that is.
For example in early December the Na Fianna footballers lost out to Glanmire in Cork, 24 hours after the camogie team had defeated Eglish in the Louth GAA Centre of Excellence in Darver. There were a number of times when the Na Fianna dual players had to cram camogie and football games into the same weekend. Unfairly so.
In the All-Ireland camogie final Na Fianna came up against a accomplished, astute, Clanmaurice side and lost out.
Meath GAA held their annual convention at Dunganny in December with Jason Plunkett elected to replace outgoing chairman John Kavanagh. The completion of the development work at Dunganny (which includes three new pitches) and the commencement of work on the redevelopment of Pairc Tailteann will be Kavanagh's legacy.
Re-elected secretary Ciaran Flynn echoed the sentiments of many when he said Kavanagh's tenure "was characterised by a pragmatic yet progressive approach."
Plunkett said he wanted Meath GAA to "become a leader in the country in terms of of performance, participation and promotion."
There was a reunion with to beat all reunions this month when Sean Boylan's 80th birthday party celebrations were held in Dunboyne Castle Hotel. Many former players who had turned out in Meath teams managed by Boylan over the years turned up for the event. His team's many, colourful and varied adventures certainly grabbed the headlines during his 23 years as manager.
His achievement in leading Meath teams to four All-Ireland SFC titles helped to generate the type of days, many people in the Royal County will recall as among the happiest in their lives - and he is still going strong, doing what he can for Meath football.
He helped Colm O'Rourke in 2023 as a selector and advisor. Yes, 2023 was quite a year in Meath sport all told.