Awards: Best performance in a football final

January 20, 2012

Summerhill's Adrian Kenny beats Dunshaughlin's Anthony Johnson to the ball during the Meath SFC final replay at Pairc Tailteann
Our main contenders are Anthony Forde, Brian Hanlon, John Crimmins, Adrian Kenny, Noel Kirby and Adam Flanagan.

Pairc Tailteann played host to some of the best club football championship finals ever seen in 2011. Clonard, Ballivor, Moynalvey and Summerhill all had the joy of raising the silverware. We take a look at some of the better performers on final day.

Brian Hanlon has been one of the best forwards at club level for awhile now. Gaeil Colmcille marched to the Intermediate final but came unstuck on the big day losing out to Moynalvey. The Kells side played some great football in the opening half and at one stage led by 1-5 to 0-1. Hanlon was central to everything good about Gaeil Colmcille that day and ended the game as top scorer with six points.

Anthony Forde has already won our minor player of the year award. If there was a man of the match award for the IFC decider Forde would have taken it hands down. The pacey defender was one of the main reasons Gaeil Colmcille were held to two points in the second half.

Noel Kirby has gotten plenty of mentions on these awards. Already our junior championship player of the year, Kirby was the best player on view as Ballivor defeated Navan O'Mahony's to win the JFC. Kirby was unstoppable that day. His high fielding was one of the highlights of the game and he was the launching pad for so many of the Ballivor attacks that day.

Over the two games between Dunshaughlin and Summerhill in the senior final and the replay Dunshaughlin's John Crimmins proved to be the most consistant player on the field. Brought back into the Dunshaughlin fold early on in the year Crimmins proved his worth on county final day(s). Had there been a man of the match award for the drawn game Crimmins surly would have been favourite for it.

Adrian Kenny set the Meath SFC final replay alight as Summerhill claimed their first Keegan Cup in 25 years. By his own standards Kenny was quiet enough in the drawn game but he put that to bed when Summerhill and Dunshaughlin took to the field for the replay. Kenny capped a brilliant display with six wonderful points. He led the Dunshaughlin defence a merry dance as he kicked three of these in the opening ten minutes and went on to give a man of the match performance.

There was great scene of jubilation as Clonard ended a forty year famine to claim the Meath JFC B title. Number 8 that day for Clonard was Adam Flanagan. Flanagan gave a masterclass of high fielding and his ball carrying abilities troubled the Ratoath defence all day. Adam who also made the Meath minor panel last year managed to get on the score sheet as Clonard won 1-13 to 0-7.

Our Award goes to Adrian Kenny.

Our previous award winners

Awards: Best performance in a hurling final

Awards: Best captain's speech

Awards: Best U21 hurler

Awards: Best camogie player

Awards: Best U16 Footballer

Awards: Best Senior Hurler

Awards: Unluckiest team

Awards: Best former county man still playing

Awards: Best Ladies Footballer

Awards: Best U21 Footballer

Awards: Best combination of referee and player

Awards: Best Minor Hurler

Awards: Best Intermediate Club Footballer

Awards: Best Club Grounds

Awards: Best Dual Player at Club Level

Awards: Club of the Year (on the playing field)

Awards: Best referee in a pressure situation

Awards: Best Intermediate Club Hurler

Awards: Senior Club Footballer of the Year

Awards: Best Junior Championship Player

Awards: Best Meath star in a club management role

Awards: Minor Footballer of the Year

Awards: Best comeback in a championship match

Awards: Best togged out team at adult level

Awards: Best display in a ladies football final

Awards: Most medals won

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