Survival is key for Slane
November 27, 2010
Slane have slipped down the Meath football ladder over the last few years and after a less than distinguished season in 2010, they breathed a big sigh of relief when avoiding dropping another rung out of the junior A ranks.
In their fourth year back in the JFC which they had not occupied since the '50s, the Blues failed to win a championship game in five outings, a draw with Dunboyne being their best result. Gaeil Colmcille, Drumconrath and Boardsmill finished bottom of the other groups and relegation play-offs were avoided by Boardsmill's desire to drop down to the junior B grade.
It's a big tumble for Slane who went so close to reaching the SFC final in 1987 when the fine Navan O'Mahonys side of the time was fortunate to snatch a draw in a 'semi' clash at Kells before winning the replay at Seneschalstown.
The Boynesiders remained in the senior ranks until 1999 when relegation was introduced in order to eventually bring the number of participating teams down to 16. Slane (who lost to Moynalvey) and Carnaross (who were defeated by Trim) were the first teams to be demoted.
Slane were in the intermediate grade until losing a play-off to Na Fianna in 2006 and reached the last eight of the JFC the following year when again failing to Moynalvey. The hopes were that further ground could be gained in the climb back up after the initial efforts in the Matthew Ginnity Cup competition but instead they went in the other direction.
In 2008 just one win was recorded in the JFC and while doing a bit better the following year with a two wins and a draw, it was not enough to enable the Blues to qualify for the closing stages.
Even the boost of gaining the services of former All-Ireland winner with Armagh and Meath SFC victor with Seneschalstown, Andrew McCann, was not enough to prevent them from having their toughest year in a long time.
Slane had Jim Harding as manager for his first term in charge with Eamonn Hoey and Fergus Woodward his selectors. The team was spearheaded by some players who had performed in the senior ranks and are coming towards the end of their careers. The most experienced included Declan Kearns, Shane Coyle, Willie Clarke and Brendan Loughran.
The 2010 JFC campaign began with a trip to Moynalty for a Saturday evening clash with Moylagh and although leading in the early stages, Slane trailed by 0-2 to 0-6 at the break and the side from the north-west of the county had a dozen points (1-12 to 0-3) to spare at the end.
Slane's only point in Group C was gained in the Wednesday evening tussle in Ashbourne with Dunboyne's second string in which they recovered from a deficit of five points to share the spoils on a 0-10 each scoreline.
It was 0-8 to 0-3 at the break before Dunboyne had a player dismissed and Slane took advantage. The comeback was completed by two points from Declan Kearns and Keith Harding, Rory Finnegan, David Gough and Alan Harding also showed good form.
But that was as good as it got for Slane in the 2010 Meath JFC, sponsored by Teach na Teamhrach, and in the third round they were hammered to the tune of 18 points by Kilmainham, who romped to a 2-14 to 0-2 success at Kilberry.
The men in blue and white did better in their fourth round outing when Meath Hill had just four points to spare over them at Syddan. Slane led by six points during the first half of that game but finished up on the wrong end of a 0-12 to 1-5 scoreline.
Kilbride leapfrogged above Slane in Group C of the JFC with a 1-12 to 1-9 over them in the final round clash at Duleek. After no wins and one draw from five starts, Slane had a score deficit of 37 points,
Slane did not have much joy in Division 4 of the All County A League either with demotion to Division 5 being the end product. They gained wins in just two of their eight outings and also gave walk-overs in two other fixtures.
They began with a minimum margin defeat to Dunsany before losing by six points to Kilmainham. The two wins were achieved at the expense of junior B teams, the first of them over St Vincent's, who finished bottom of Division 4 with no points.
Losses to St Brigid's, Curraha and Kilbride followed before Slane got the better of Moynalty by one point to finish on four points. However, they conceded a walk-over to Ballinabrackey and after failing to get the postponement of a fixture against Ballivor, they did not field and took then dropped to the bottom rung of the ladder.
Slane did not field a second adult team in 2010 and that is a big difference from some past years with the club winning the Junior B FC with a reserve side as recently as 1992.
Although Slane have been finding it a battle at adult level, a lot of work is being put in by the club with underage teams and some success was enjoyed in 2010. The under-12 side were the Division 4 winners and summer league runners-up. The under-13s were Division 4 runners-up and the under-10 took second place in the O'Farrell Cup competition.
Slane are joined up with St Mary's under the title of Bru na Boinne in some age groups and that amalgamation is going well. This year they were under-14 Division 7 victors and the same squad tasted summer league success. There was also an outright success in the under-16 Division 6 competition.
"The underage sector of the club is thriving with big numbers turning up to Sunday morning sessions at Toddy Harding Park. The work being done at this level should lead to a seriously bright future," said club chairman Jim Mullery.
Slane defeated Curraha by 2-4 to 0-5 in the Under-12 Division 4 final at Pairc Tailteann to claim a first title in the age group for 29 years. Francie Marry and Killian Gough scored the goals and Eanna Mooney and Finn Searle were in top form at centrefield.
The Slane team in the final was: Aaron Lane; Marius Galligan, Zoe Enright, Niamh Martin; Eoin Rooney, Gavin Carolan, Luke Gibbs; Eanna Mooney, Finn Searle; Robbie Hoey, Francie Marry, Killian Gough; Ralph McGuinness, Matt Tully, Johnny Daly. Subs: Jake Tallon, Thomas Wogan, Ruairi Searle, Sean Hand, Stephen Kells, Luke O'Callaghan, Dara McClean, Peter Martyn, Darragh Lane, Alison Galvin, Chloe Doggett, E Robinson, Ciaran Clarke, Luke Morgan-Doherty, C Hughes, E Loughran.
Bru na Boinne captured the Under-14 FL title with a 5-7 to 4-5 replay victory over Nobber at Pairc Tailteann, the sides having earlier finished level on 5-11 each. Daniel Forde scored three goals for the winners and Daniel Carolan netted the other two.
Eoin Gibbs, Patrick Nulty, Padraic McGowan and Eoin Og Breen were others to show up well for the winners.
The Bru na Boinne team in the replayed final was: Darren Berrill; Eoin Gibbs, John Lynch; Andrew Everitt, Padraig Marry, Eanna Mooney; Padraic McGowan, Eoin Og Breen; Liam White, Daniel Carolan, Patrick Nulty; Daniel Forde, Eric O'Brien. Subs: Tadhg Moloney for Everitt, Graham Tully for O'Brien.
Bru na Boinne captured the Under-16 Division 6 title with a final victory over Inny Gaels at Pairc Tailteann. It was second time to defeat the side from the north-west of the county in the competition.
Inny Gaels (Ballinlough- St Brigid's) had got the better of the Slane/St Mary's combination in an under14 decider in 2008. However, after overcoming Moynalty in a semi-final played at Moylagh they had the better of the exchanges in the final with lads like Ultan McAdam, Aidan Wall, Paddy Daly, Kevin Dunne and Matt McLean to the fore.
The Bru na Boinne under-16 panel included: Graham Smith, Aidan Wall, Paddy Daly, Aaron Melia, Jim Marry, David Meade, Ultan McAdam, Kevin Dunne, Matt MacLean, Jack Markey, Matt O'Brien, Ryan McGuire, Christy O'Brien, Paddy Downey, Jamie MacLean, Dean Smith.
Slane GFC is also running a nursery programme which started in 2009 and is designed towards bringing younger children into Gaelic Football. The club certainly believes in 'catching them young' with little ones between the ages of four and six taking part in these sessions.
Andrew McCann supervises the programme with a number of parents also involved. The youngsters participating are introduced to the basic skills of the game, including handling the ball and passing in a fun setting.
Players of winning teams and runners-up attended a presentation evening in Stackallen Tennis Club in November which was attended by Meath forward Joe Sheridan, who brought along the Delaney Cup.
With so many young players showing promise, Slane will be hoping that some of them can help the club do much better in adult ranks. Although teams in the Junior B FC compete for the Larry Kearns Cup (a trophy which remembers a deceased stalwart of the club), the Boynesiders will be hoping not to be one of the participants in the future.
U14 honours for Bru na Boinne
Bru na Boinne captured the U14 Division 7 league title at the second time of asking when they defeated Nobber, 5-7 to 4-5, in a thrilling replay at Pairc Tailteann.
The sides had finished level a week earlier 5-11 apiece and it was hard to believe that the replay could match that game for excitement - but it did and more as the Slane/St Mary's amalgamation held on in a thrilling finale to record a deserved win.
Having played with the strong wind in the first half, Bru na Boinne led by seven points at the break thanks to goals from Daniel Carolan and Daniel Forde.
The previous week, Bru na Boinne had also built up a lead with the wind but Nobber had fought back and the same happened again in the replay as the north Meath lads dug in and got the game level. However, Daniel Forde scored a goal for Bru na Boinne before an exchange of scores left the game in the balance going into the closing minutes.
It took a brilliant goal by Daniel Carolan from 20 yards to settle the matter and truly it was a score worthy of winning any game.
Eoin Gibbs, Patrick Nulty, the goal scorers Carolan and Forde, and the midfield pairing of Padraic McGowan and Eoin Og Breen were outstanding players on the day for the winners.
Bru na Boinne - Darren Berrill, Eoin Gibbs, John Lynch, Andrew Everitt, Padraig Marry, Eanna Mooney, Padraic McGowan (0-4), Eoin Og Breen (0-2), Liam White, Daniel Carolan (2-1), Patrick Nulty, Daniel Forde (3-0), Eric O'Brien. Subs - Tadgh Moloney for Everitt, Graham Tully for O'Brien.
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