Oldcastle's due reward
November 30, 2009After getting to the semi-finals in 2007, the side in blue and white from the north-west of the county finished bottom of their group with just one point last year before a victory over Ballivor enabled them to stay in the middle grade.
But what a transformation in 2009 as new manager Seamus Kiernan, a former Cavan senior selector from Munterconnacht, appeared to give the side a new lease of life. Oldcastle were well down the betting lists and were available at odds as high as 12/1 before defeating Nobber in their last group game to finish top of the table, Before the semi-final against championship favourites Dunderry, they were the outsiders of the four teams left at a still generous 5/1. After toppling Dunderry, Oldcastle could still be backed at odds against in the final against Kilmainhamwood but they again revelled in the role of underdogs when romping to a 2-11 to 0-6 triumph.
In one pre-championship preview it was suggested that avoiding a relegation play-off was the best that Oldcastle could hope for. However, the team captained by Terry Farrelly had other ideas and got off to a promising start with a 1-14 to 1-6 win over Syddan in Athboy.
An early goal from teenager Nicky Galligan was a boost and it was 1-7 to 0-4 at the halfway stage. The lead of six points was maintained in the second period and Paddy Gilsenan, Patrick Rahill and Niall Mangan also showed up well in attack.
After being idle in the second round, Oldcastle suffered a setback in round three when Clann na nGael defeated them by 2-8 to 0-9 in a Saturday evening clash at Moynalty. After trailing by three points in the early stages, the Athboy side recovered to lead by 1-6 to 0-4 at the break.
In the second half Oldcastle rallied to reduce the arrears to two points. However, they conceded a second goal and went down to a five-point defeat. They hardly looked title winners in that game but they would not lose another championship game.
Then there was a long gap before the next batch of IFC games and Oldcastle returned to the winning trail with a 2-10 to 0-8 victory over St Colmcille's at Rathkenny. Goalie Seanie Fox saved a penalty before Ronan Farrelly and Paddy Gilsenan netted the goals.
Oldcastle claimed top spot in Group C with a 0-13 to 1-8 win over previously unbeaten Nobber in a Thursday evening tussle at Ballinlough. A good start proved half the battle in that game as the eventual winners raced into a 0-7 to 0-1 advantage.
Their opponents rallied to trail by just two points (1-3 to 0-8) at the break and they managed to keep their noses into front in the second half and their last score, put over by Niall Mangan, left two in it at the finish.
Oldcastle needed extra-time before seeing off the challenge of neighbours Ballinlough in a quarter-final played in Kells. It was 0-13 to 1-10 after the hour and then the side in red and white failed to score during the two additional periods as the Blues finished up with 1-16.
Ballinlough had the better of the opening half hour and were ahead by six points (1-7 to 0-4) at the first break. But they only managed to add three points after that as Oldcastle got out the spades with a pointed free by Paddy Gilsenan levelling matters at the end of regulation time.
It was 0-16 to 1-10 at half-time in extra time and then a Nicky Galligan goal was the only score during the last 10 minutes. Niall Mangan took the individual honours with seven points and Rory McHugh, Eoin Gilsenan and substitute Robbie Pakenham were others to show up well for the winners.
That put Oldcastle in the last four for the second time in three years and they atoned for the 2007 defeat by Castletown with a 0-14 to 0-11 win over the championship's hot favourites, Dunderry.
In that Saturday evening outing at Pairc Tailteann Seamus Kiernan's side made a similar start to the bright beginning against Nobber and led by 0-7 to 0-1 after 19 minutes. They had one foot in the final when ahead by 0-10 to 0-3 at the halfway stage.
Oldcastle served up some sparkling football in that penultimate round tie. Their most senior player, 36-year-old Vincent Reynolds, put them into an early lead when sending a free from beyond the 45-metre line sailing between the uprights. That was followed by converted frees by Niall Mangan and Patrick Rahill beyond the opposition raised their first flag.
Although Dunderry improved in the second half and got the deficit down to two points, another converted free, this time by substitute Ronan Farrelly, left three in it at the final whistle. Although nine of the winners' scores came from placed balls, it was still an impressive showing.
The form was emphatically carried forward to the final in which Kilmainhamwood were demolished to the tune of 11 points. Predictions that it would be a close contest were a bit off the mark as Oldcastle again sprinted away from the starting blocks to lead by 0-3 to 0-0 inside the opening five minutes.
Niall Mangan kicked the first score from a free and Paddy Gilsenan and Nicky Galligan followed up with fine efforts from play. Full forward Galligan also put over the fourth point and made an impressive contribution with 1-3 from play.
The first goal came after 22 minutes with Paddy Gilsenan firing a penalty kick to the net. Alan McCann was taken down and 'Wood midfielder Ray Madden, who went into goals instead of Michael Clarke, was given no chance as the lead was increased to 1-6 to 0-1.
It was 1-8 to 0-1 at the break and this time Oldcastle did not allow their opponents make a comeback in the second half. Three minutes after the restart Vincent Reynolds made the difference 10 points from a long-range free.
Although supporters of the men in blue and white had to wait a quarter of an hour for their next score, it was the second goal which left the large attendance in no doubt as to which direction the Mattie McDonnell Cup was going.
That score arrived on 48 minutes with a move started by 'keeper Sean Fox going down to Paddy Gilsenan, who placed Nicky Galligan to fire to the net to leave the board reading 2-9 to 0-4.
Eoin Gilsenan, who impressed at midfield, became the winners' sixth scorer and Galligan put the icing on the cake with his side's 11th point just before referee Gerry O'Brien signalled the end of the 2009 Meath IFC.
Vincent Reynolds, Ronan Farrelly and full back Sean Rahill were survivors from the team which reached the SFC final in 1998 only to lose to Dunboyne. Manager Seamus Kiernan, who had Brendan Halpin, Michael Kavanagh and Liam McPartland as selectors, lauded the contribution of Reynolds, saying, "He is tremendously fit and he is a great example in training with the encouragement that he gives."
Ronan Farrelly, another long-serving player who was on the Meath senior panel a few years ago, had a lot of injury problems over the last few months but came on and got vital scores in some games.
Corner forward Niall Mangan is another member of Oldcastle's second IFC winning squad (the club's first intermediate title was gained in 1988) to have played senior football. He said the ambitions early in 2009 were more modest than gaining promotion back to the premier ranks.
"The aims were to gain promotion from Division 3 of the League and to reach the quarter-finals of the IFC. We were without a few players because of injuries, Packie Kevin, Thomas Farrelly, John Paul Farrelly and Enda Garrigan, and others retired. However, a few younger lads came on to the team and they showed great confidence," said Mangan.
"The defeat by Clann na nGael was a bit of a setback but then there was a break, we knuckled down and in our next championship game we scored a win over St Colmcille's to reverse a result of last year.
"Wins over Walterstown and St Ultan's in the Feis Cup boosted our confidence. The younger lads who came on to the team were not fazed by any opposition, they had played in a number of big games at schools level and that was a big help to them," he added.
Oldcastle were 12/1 outsiders before they faced Nobber in the last round of group games. However, Niall Mangan said none of the players backed the team and they appeared to be in trouble in the quarter-final against Ballinlough.
"We were six points down in that game but the young legs gave us the advantage in extra-time. We weren't given much of a chance by some people ion the semi-final against Dunderry but the good start was important for us that day.
"We were confident enough going into the final, we had beaten them by seven or eight points in the league. We tried not to get too wound up in the excitement that was going on around us, most of us had only seen that as kids before the 1998 senior final.
"Everything went well for us on the day and we got a great welcome on getting back to Oldcastle. There were great scenes of excitement in then town, it's something we'll always remember," said the 26-year-old.
Mangan acknowledged the contribution made by team manager Seamus Kiernan. "He brought about a hue improvement in the team, when he came to us at first most of us didn't know him but he installed a big belief in our own ability.
"We didn't have much time to celebrate with commitments in other competitions - we were back training two days after the intermediate final - but we'll celebrate more later in the year.
"I played senior for two years before we were relegated in 2002 and I'll be looking forward to the return to the SFC. It'll be a bit of a step-up for us and hopefully when the draw is made we'll avoid some of the big guns. That would help us settle back in, I'd be hopeful of us doing reasonably well," concluded Niall Mangan.
Oldcastle team and scorers in the 2009 Meath IFC final: Sean Fox; Shane Farrelly, Sean Rahill, Thomas Rahill; Barry Curran, Rory McHugh, Colm Caffrey; Eoin Gilsenan (0-1), Vincent Reynolds (0-1, free); Paddy Gilsenan (1-2); Terry Farrelly, Patrick Rahill (0-1, free); Niall Mangan (0-3, 2 frees), Nicky Galligan (1-3), Alan McCann. Subs - Ronan Farrelly for Caffrey, Cian McPartland for S Farrelly, Robert Pakenham for McCann, Darren Hawdon for P Rahill, Richard Kellett for Mangan.
Ladies make it a memorable year
The Oldcastle men made the headlines in a big way during the autumn of 2009 when they made their way through the knockout stages of the Intermediate Football Championship, culminating in a polished performance which overpowered Kilmainhamwood in the final.
But the year was also hugely successful for ladies' football in the club, highlighted by a fabulous double of championship and league titles annexed by the junior team.
It demonstrated the rewards that can be attained with plenty of hard work and dedication and what made this an even more noteworthy achievement was the fact that the adult section of the club has only been in existence for three years.
The big double was achieved with a very young panel of determined players who had experienced the winning feeling at under-age level and now that Oldcastle have made the breakthrough at junior level it will be interesting to see how they get on in the more demanding environment of the intermediate grade.
The Oldcastle junior mentors were former county player John McEnroe, a man who gave outstanding service to the club as a player over many years, Pat Grey, Pat Plunkett and John McNamee, with Helen Curran acting as administrator, and the first leg of the double was achieved back in May when they won the Division 3 League title with a hard earned victory over Navan O'Mahonys in a thrilling final at Carlanstown.
It was a particularly noteworthy success because it was Oldcastle's first title annexation at adult level and it took a big effort to achieve it against a talented O'Mahonys' team which provided stern opposition. And it had also taken a mighty effort to get past the semi-final hurdle as Oldcastle made an amazing recovery to come back from a seemingly impossible position against Ratoath at Duleek.
Oldcastle trailed by 11 points (2-3 to 4-8) at the change of ends and when the Ratoath advantage stretched to 16 early in the second half there appeared to be no possible way that the players from the north west of the county could make a successful recovery.
But it says a great deal for their fitness, determination and self belief that they achieved it, battling back brilliantly to win by three points on a 7-9 to 5-12 score line. The highly talented Bridgetta Lynch made a very significant personal contribution by scoring four of Oldcastle's goals and Sinead Coyle and Stephanie Caffrey were also particularly impressive.
The final produced less in the way of scores, as Oldcastle and Ratoath had tallied a massive 12-21 between them at the penultimate hurdle, but it was another really entertaining encounter which Oldcastle won by four points on a 2-8 to 1-7 score line. The success was build on a solid team effort, with the substitutes who were introduced also playing their part in the hard earned victory.
Left half-back Deirdre Mangan had the added satisfaction of captaining the victorious team and five different players shared in the scoring, headed by Bridgetta Lynch who once again underlined her scoring potential by putting her name to 2-2. Midfielder Sinead Coyle and centre half-forward Stephanie Caffrey both rowed in with a brace of points and Elaine Plunkett and Jordan Grey both contributed a point.
Lynch's goal helped Oldcastle to lead by 1-4 to 0-5 at the interval, but O'Mahonys were in front early in the second half after Lizzie Oakes had found the net. However, Oldcastle responded positively and Lynch's second goal was followed by three points which helped to open up a commanding advantage.
O'Mahonys had their chances, but they missed too many of them, including one from a penalty. But they were still too close for comfort as far as Oldcastle were concerned, before Lynch sealed victory and the title with a late point.
The Oldcastle panel was: Shauna Coakley; Emma Higgins, Niamh McEnroe, Eimear McEnroe; Patricia Cadden, Gemma Galligan, Deirdre Mangan (captain); Eileen Rahill, Sinead Coyle (0-2); Elaine Plunkett (0-1), Stephanie Caffrey (0-2), Aileen Curran; Jordan Grey (0-1), Helena Reilly, Bridgetta Lynch (2-2). Subs - Kellie Allen for Cadden, Karen Kevin for Curran, Lorna Tuite for Grey, Helen Morris, Karen Connell, Alison Tuite, Aoife Maguire, Eire McNamee, Grainne Sheridan, Niamh Kingston, Niamh Plunkett, Nicola Maguire, Nicola Cadden, Rachel Maguire, Laura Kevin.
Oldcastle completed the big double of championship and league titles in early September when they defeated Clann na nGael by 4-12 to 3-5 in a very entertaining JFC final at Ratoath. They must have felt quite confident going into the decider because they had already beaten the Athboy/An Ghaeltacht combination by 4-13 to 0-11 earlier in the competition.
Deirdre Mangan again had the added honour of captaining the victorious team, though she didn't start the decider, and Bridgetta Lynch once again demonstrated her importance to the team when picking up the player of the match award.
The opening half was close and Oldcastle led by just 2-4 to 2-2 at the interval. But they pulled away after the restart with five points on the trot which left Clann na nGael playing an unsuccessful game of catch up. Kellie Allen took the scoring honours with 2-2, Lynch got 1-1 and the other goal came from Helena Reilly. There was also a significant contribution of four points from Sinead Coyle.
The Oldcastle team in the championship final was: S Coakley; E Higgins, N McEnroe, H Morris; E McEnroe, G Galligan, N Plunkett; E Rahill (0-1), J Cadden (0-1); K Allen (2-2), S Coyle (0-4), S Caffrey (0-3); H Reilly (1-0), B Lynch (1-1), J Grey. Subs - N Kingston, D Mangan, A Curran, K Kevin, A Foley, P Cadden, A Maguire, E Plunkett, K Connell, E McNamee, N Maguire, G Sheridan.
The Oldcastle under-14 girls enjoyed a memorable run in the All-Ireland Division 2 Feile na nGael and while they ultimately lost out to a strong Kilmoremoy team from Mayo in the final at St Conleth's Park, Newbridge, getting to that stage of the competition certainly represented a fine achievement by all concerned.
The experience of playing in tournaments like this will surely stand to these young players in the years ahead and greatly enhance their development. Their qualifying group at Feile also included St Brigid's from Dublin, Geraldines of Louth and Athy from Kildare and the Oldcastle girls came through to contest a semi-final against Eadestown from Kildare which they won very comfortably by 10 points (2-5 to 0-1).
That victory set up a final meeting with Kilmoremoy and Oldcastle did well to hold their Mayo opponents scoreless in the first half, during which Sarah O'Reilly notched three points from frees for the Royal County girls. However, goals have a habit of winning games and Kilmoremoy struck for two of them in the second period which inflicted serious damage on the Meath girls' prospects of winning the title.
When the final whistle sounded Kilmoremoy were in front by 2-1 to 0-4 and while Oldcastle were undoubtedly disappointed they had achieved much in getting to the final.
The Oldcastle team was: A Phillips; E McDermott, C McKenna, C Farrelly; G Hawdon, J McCann, L Farrelly; C Delaney (0-1), A Bennett; N Foy, L Gilsenan, E Healy; S Caffrey, S O'Reilly (0-3), A Fitzsimons.
This was a year to remember for the ladies' game in the Royal County as a result of the magnificent achievements of the Meath under-16 girls who won Leinster and All-Ireland titles to demonstrate that the sort of talented young players are being produced who can secure a very bright future for the county at adult level in the years to come.
And it was good to see that there was a very healthy representation from the Oldcastle club on the victorious panel which completed the job in style when beating Donegal by 4-8 to 3-9 in a highly entertaining All-Ireland final at Tarmonbarry in August. Bridgetta Lynch, Kellie Allen, Stephanie Caffrey, Sinead Coyle, Eimear McEnroe and Aine Bennett were members of the Royal County squad, while Mary Coyle was part of the backroom team.
Lynch had the added satisfaction of captaining the victorious team and was a hugely influential player in the All-Ireland decider when she made an impressive personal contribution of 2-1 to the narrow success against a talented Donegal team. Sinead Coyle rowed in with a very important tally of five points and Allen scored one of the goals.
Meath had earlier clinched the Leinster title in very impressive fashion when they scored a comprehensive 5-15 to 3-5 victory over Dublin in the final at Athy where Lynch picked up her first cup of the campaign as team captain. That was followed by a hard earned 4-8 to 4-5 All-Ireland semi-final win over a strong Cork team at Toomevara.
It was a tremendous representation from one club and a further indication of the fantastic work being undertaken towards the promotion of ladies' football in Oldcastle. It also clearly augurs well for the future of the game in the club with so many talented young players coming through the ranks. Tweet
