Batty McEnroe is a living legend in Oldcastle football circles. As man and boy he has given more than 60-years service to the club. In recognition of this service the club nominated the octogenarian for a prestigious Sean Gael Award, which was presented by Meath County Board Chairman Fintan Ginnity at a function in Simonstown in September. After the event Batty talked football. The Sean Gael Awards were first introduced by Meath County Board in 2000 to mark the achievements of members in the autumn of their years who had given a lifetime of service to the Association. The awards were targeted at individuals who had worked tirelessly both on and off the field on behalf of the Association. To be eligible for the award the candidate must be over the age of 70 and have given sterling service to the Association. Each year every adult club in Meath is invited to nominate a suitable candidate for the award. Batty McEnroe was never one for presentations and awards, so when he was informed that Oldcastle had nominated him for the Sean Gael award, he was more than a little reluctant to step into the spotlight. "To be honest I didn't feel I should be honoured in that way, but it was nice of the club to nominate me. We all received a lovely scroll and a copy of Mick O'Brien's book and we had a very enjoyable night," Batty recalled. An encyclopedia of football knowledge Batty has fond memories of Oldcastle's exploits both on and off the field stretching back for more than 60 years. The 1944 Junior final "victory" over Walterstown is still vivid in his memory. "We won the final on an objection. I was playing a half back that day. I hadn't met a fellow all year that I couldn't play, but I couldn't get near the fellow I was marking that day. It turned out the fellow I was playing on was illegal," he recalled. Former Oldcastle and Meath star, Kevin Devin was secretary of the Sean McDermott's Club in Dublin at the time. Fortunately for Oldcastle he was at the match a spotted a number of players from two Dublin clubs playing for Walterstown. On his evidence Meath County Board awarded the 1944 Meath Junior title to Oldcastle. "We were beaten by six points (2-6 to 0-6) on the day, but when the craic about the illegal players came out we were awarded the game by the county board," Batty chuckled. The following year Oldcastle plied their trade in the senior ranks putting in many notable performances. On their way to the final they beat reigning champions Navan Parnells by a 12-point margin. However, Skryne easily accounted for the North Meath outfit in that final, scoring a comfortable 3-17 to 2-4 victory. "There was no intermediate competition in those days so when we won the junior, we went straight up to senior. Skryne were too strong for us on the day. Skryne were a top notch team in those days and they still are of course but we fought them all the way. The game was a lot closer that the score suggested," Batty confirmed. Oldcastle remained in the senior grade in 1946 and 1947, but were regraded in 1948. They "won" the Junior final that year by beating Ballinabrackey, but later lost the game at a Meath County Board meeting for fielding illegal players. During that period Oldcastle also made it to a Feis Cup final against Syddan, which they eventually lost after a replay. Batty recalled "We were winning six points to five when Connie Kelly ran out to collect a ball. He fell on the ball in the wet conditions. Paddy Ratty was the referee and he gave a free against Connie. Paddy Meegan put the ball over the bar to draw the match." He continued: " Some time after that I put out my knee, which was a common thing in those days, and I wasn't able to play in the replay. Syddan beat us well the second day." During his playing career Batty played with distinction in defence and at midfield. One of the toughest opponents he faced during his career was Syddan's Eamonn Meegan. "Eamonn was a big lump of a man, he must have been 15 or 16 stone. He used to play full forward. He was hard to handle because he was so strong and so heavy. We used have some desperate tussles." he recalled. Batty finally hung up his boots in 1957, a year after Oldcastle won the Junior Football title when they beat Nobber in the decider. Nobber's Larry McGuinness was another difficult opponent, according to Batty. "Larry was on the county team at the time. He was no angel, I can tell you that. He drew blood the first time the ball came in near us, but that was the way the game was played in those days." In later years Batty became chairman of the club, a position he held for three years. He also managed the team for a year. He has fond memories of a match played in Kells while he was at the helm. "In those days you gave the team to the secretary the night before the game and he put it up on the door of the dressing room. On my way to the dressing room I met one particular man whom I won't name, coming out with his boots under his arms. He wouldn't tog out because he wasn't playing. Needless to say I didn't play him again." Batty laughed. Since Batty's playing days the game has changed beyond recognition. "We used to play with a leather laced ball. On a wet day it was impossible to kick it out when it got wet. In our time it was catch and kick. There was no hand passing or the like. You just caught it and kicked it as far as you could." One of the best exponents of the catch and kick game in Batty's time was Crossdrum man Kit Lynch who later moved to Kilskyre and who lined out at half back for Oldcastle. "He was a big strong man and had a pair of hands like shovels. If you couldn't catch a ball over your head in those days, you weren't picked. Kit was great under a high ball." While the game has evolved over the years Batty isn't sure all the changes have been for the best. "There is no tackle nowadays. Long ago if a fellow came running in with the ball toe to hand, you could run out and crash into him. That is illegal now, but how else can you stop him?" Training in Batty's time consisted of a kick about in the park. "I used to be running round after cattle all day, so I didn't agree with a lot of training and to tell you the truth I don't agree with it now. I feel lads expend too much energy in training rather than keeping it for the match." In Oldcastle Batty needs no introduction as the father of brothers John, Leo and Bart and he has gained immeasurable pleasure from their exploits on the field down through the years "John played this year at the age of 41, Both John and Leo played for the Meath minors in their time. If I'm not mistaken they won a Junior All-Ireland with Meath in the 1980s," he elaborated. He concluded: "I still love a good game of football. I have grandsons playing now and I go to watch all their games. I love to watch them and I go all over the place to watch them. Packie Kevin They won't be particularly sorry to see the back of 2003 around Oldcastle. The year brought its fair share of disappointments and its fair share of troubles. By Gordon Manning. The sporadic and rugged hills that dominate the north Meath parish are the personification of the club. And Oldcastle's location as Meath's premier northern club has created an impenetrable spirit, but on the field there was more pain than joy in 2003. The club failed to win promotion from the intermediate championship and must contest the middle grade once again in 2004. For talented corner-forward Packie Kevin, the year was particularly difficult. His father, Matthew, sadly passed away during a match against Moynalvey in which Packie was playing back in March. His death shocked not only the club, but all people associated with the GAA throughout the county. Matthew was a hugely popular Oldcastle Gael - a man who had devoted much of his life to the cause of the GAA in the north Meath area. In his playing days he lined out for Ballinlough and St Brigid's. From talking to various club officials around the county, it is impossible not to notice the high esteem in which he was held. Matthew was doing linesman at the time of his death. "The club were very good after dad died and they helped us out in any way they could," says Packie. "My father was the person who really got me involved in the club, and he used to bring us to games at underage and everything. He really put a lot of effort into the club. He loved being involved and helping out." The 20-year-old, who is studying computers in Cavan, is the only boy in the family, and lives with his mother Elizabeth (a native of nearby Ballinlough) and his two younger sisters. Packie has been one of the clubs finest footballers in recent years, and at such a young age is already a key player for the intermediate side. His talent has not gone unnoticed at county level either, and he received a call-up to the Meath seniors for a challenge match in the summer. Sean Boylan was bringing a team to face Louth for the official opening of St Fechins' new pitch at the end of August, and Packie was requested to attend. However, fate would have it that he had already booked holidays in Tenerife and couldn't be there. "It was very unfortunate the way it all worked out because I would have liked to play, but the holidays were booked and I couldn't really pull out," he recalls. "I didn't get the phone call myself, but the club got word that I had been asked to go with the Meath seniors. It was a great honour when I heard, but just the date of the game made it impossible for me to play because I was flying out on holidays." But all is not lost and Packie is likely to get more chances in the future to become the first Oldcastle player since Ronan Farrelly to make an impact with the Meath seniors. Packie has already played minor and under-21 with the county. "It has been great to play with Meath and hopefully I will get another chance with the seniors at some stage in the future. I haven't really won anything with the minors or under-21s but we have been unlucky on a number of occasions." Another Oldcastle man, Terence Farrelly, a brother of Ronan's has also played alongside Packie with the Meath minors. Packie admits that 2003 was an unproductive year for the Oldcastle intermediate footballers and that a bad start to their championship really set them back. "It was a disappointing year because we would have set our sights on getting promoted back up to senior. "We set out with that intention, but early defeats really put it up to us and we had left ourselves too much to do. We didn't play as well as we could have in some of the early games so that was disappointing too." However, Packie believes the Blue and Whites can prove their doubters wrong in next year's intermediate championship. "Navan O'Mahony's victory this year has shown us that we can also get back up to play senior football. They have worked hard to win promotion after getting relegated and we must do the same now. Senior football is where we want to be playing. "I think we have a great chance next year, and with Navan getting promoted it means that one of our big rivals are now gone for next year. The likes of Carnaross and Duleek will be there or thereabouts again next year but I believe we can go a long way. "We have got a good strong team and we are quite young also, so this year will hopefully have brought us on. We should make a good go of it next year." Oldcastle maintained their Division 2A status, with some impressive results throughout the campaign. They went under to O'Mahonys at the quarter-final stage of the championship, playing for most of the game with only 14 players. Some O'Mahonys' officials believe that the north Meath club offered the highest standard of opposition they encountered during 2003. Oldcastle also enjoyed a terrific run in the Feis Cup competition. That O'Mahonys result was reversed and only some poor finisher let them down against Skryne in the semi-final. On a bitterly cold late October night in Simonstown the experience of the Taramen was vital as Oldcastle after dominating long spells of the play still went under by the minimum margin. However, the championship is the one they have their eyes on next year. At the time of going to press, new Meath under-21 boss Benny Reddy was considering taking over the coaching duties at the club for 2004. Should the highly regarded Kells native take charge, there is little doubt that it would be a huge benefit for Packie as regards playing for the Meath under-21s. However, the affable student should still get a call-up even if Reddy does not take charge at Oldcastle. He has never looked out of place in a Meath jersey. "I am just trying to concentrate on doing well with the club next year. The aim is once again to win promotion. Obviously on a personal level, hopefully I can get a chance with the Meath under-21s, but we'll just have to wait and see what happens." The www.hoganstand.com website carried a message the day after Matthew Kevin's death which finished up by saying - 'Rest in peace Mattie Kevin of Oldcastle, a man who gave his all for football, who lived and sadly died for football yesterday.' Football was put into perspective for Packie Kevin and all Oldcastle Gaels this past year. There is no doubt that Oldcastle lost an irreplaceable servant in 2003, but the Kevin name will remain an integral part of the club for many years to come. Tweet

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