Young and able
December 31, 2003
St. Colmcille's club was formed in 1971 and in 1973 they captured their first success at under-14 level. Thirty years later the sons of some of the panel of 1973 returned the compliment, delivering an U-14 Division 1 title to the club.
The management team of Colm Hilliard, Andrew Towell and Michael Levins had suffered a narrow defeat in 2002 in the final of the Feile against Dunboyne with this squad of players and were committed to coaching these lads to a more successful end to their under-14 campaign in 2003. The team responded positively and the results are self-explanatory.
The league commenced on 15th March, 2003 with a victory away to Kells and the following Saturday a draw against Yellow Furze was a realisation that this league was not going to be easy.
The next three outings saw a defiant St. Colmcille's panel take the points against Duleek, Simonstown and Trim, and victory over Dunboyne secured a semi-final place for the Seasiders on 7th May. The 'semi' against old rivals Dunboyne led to high levels of expectancy from both panels of players and they didn't disappoint the large attendance at Donaghmore.
St. Colmcille's defence was excellent and gave no quarter on the night. The Cille's won after a tough and exciting game by 1-12 to 1-6. Eoin Woods scored three points from the centre-field position and only two of the forwards got on the score sheet, Peter Collins with 0-3 and Cathal Hilliard with 1-6.
Collins competed in the Leinster schools' track event in Santry earlier in the day and won a Leinster title and set a new provincial record in the process.
It's worth noting that other players had success at other codes in 2003. Graham Reilly played in the under-13 All-Ireland soccer final for Drogheda Boys, Eoin Woods received the athlete of the year award from St. Mary's Diocesan School, Kevin Collier won a Leinster title in the high jump and Cathal Hilliard was captain of the under-12 Boyne rugby team which won the North Leinster title for the first time.
The league final was fixed for 25th May against Simonstown at Ardcath. By this time St. Colmcille's lost full-back John Levins when he suffered a broken shoulder during the county under-14 trials. With the reshuffle in the back six, Graham Reilly reverted from the No. 11 to the No. 6 slot and proved to be as effective here and scored a point.
The other five backs of McCloskey, Madden, Collier, Towell and Walsh played outstanding football on the night. When we talk of goalkeepers it's usually because they have erred and cost a valuable score. However, in the case of Donal O'Sullivan, he kept St. Colmcille's alive in the first 10 minutes with some outstanding goalkeeping skills, something he demonstrated in most matches this year.
Mark Eagleton led by example as captain and Eoin Woods was brilliant, as usual, in the middle of the field, contributing 1-2. However, Domnic McDowell was the big hitter in the forwards, the No. 14 accounting for 2-1 of the tally for the 'Cille's.
Peter Collins played havoc on the right half-forward spot, adding 0-4 and contributing to most of the other scores. Lorcan O'Sullivan added a point to finish off a great year at centre half-forward and he is also the twin of goalkeeper Donal.
Carl Mullen at left half-forward was immense on the night, covering an incredible amount of space, as did James Gaffey at left corner-forward. Cathal Hilliard contributed 0-3 from the right corner-forward spot, which he made his own for the season, and was the captain of the St. Colmcille's under-12 squad for 2003.
Dean Collins, Danny Meylor, Stephen McCann and Billy Gavin were introduced to the team and Billy scored a magnificent point to finish off the scoring for Colmcille's as they ran out winners by 3-12 to 2-4.
St. Colmcille's weren't satisfied with the one final appearance and continued on to the Division 1 Championship final against Donaghmore-Ashbourne on 25th June.
The 'Cille's dispensed with Drumconrath-Meath Hill and Duleek, before meeting Dunboyne in the semi-final. This time the 'semi' was one-way traffic for St. Colmcille's as the old holiday season bug hit Dunboyne and some familiar and very good players were missing.
To the final and this time St. Colmcille's were hit by the holiday bug, losing Eoin Woods and Mark Eagleton, the two formidable midfielders for the club and Woods for the county under-14 squad.
However, a few changes, with Dominic McDowell moving from the No. 14 spot to No. 8, proved positive in the first-half and Colmcille's were well in the hunt at half-time. The second-half saw the Ashbourne lads hit the net once and this changed the course of the match and saw Donaghmore-Ashbourne win the championship on a 1-10 to 1-5 score line.
St. Colmcille's contributed four players to the county under-14 panel - Eoin Woods, Graham Reilly, Kevin Towell and John Levins (when he recovered after injury), and their coach/manager Colm Hilliard was appointed a selector for 2003.
Woods and Reilly maintained a very valuable presence in the middle of the field and held onto these positions for the season. Towell started off in the half-backs and finished off with a spell in the forwards and Levins continued to make his presence felt in the defence.
Graham Reilly was selected as captain for the Offaly tournament. These lads contributed to a marvellous year for the county under-14 team as they won the Louth tournament, the Offaly tournament and the Fr. Bannon tournament at Kilberry.
In 1973 when St. Colmcille's won their under-14 title, it is ironic to note that their opponents were Donaghmore and the final was played at Pairc Tailteann. Colm Hilliard, coach/manager of this year's St. Colmcille's under-14s, was one of those who played in the backs in 1973 and continued with a junior title in 1983 and captained the club for intermediate honours in 1988. His son Cathal is a foraging forward in 2003.
Paul 'Sam' Madden played at centre-field in 1973 and on the county under-14 team. His son Robert Madden is a rock steady back on the 2003 team. John McCloskey, who was on the 1973 team as a forward and represented the county in the 1977 All-Ireland Minor final, won junior and intermediate titles. His son Frank is a very reliable defender in 2003.
The cousins Eoin Woods and substitute goalie Danny Meylor - their uncle Paddy 'Bottles' Byrne was on the 1973 team and on the county under-14 squad also.
Mark Eagleton's dad Tom and his uncle John were club players and Carl Mullen's dad Malachy played for the club also and enjoyed a spell Down Under in Australia for a time.
It is very enjoyable for the club to look back and reflect on the past glories and see that the present day heroes have a link with the past and continue to build a very proud tradition that this club and county is very proud of. The success of 2003 should be a platform for success in the minor and adult teams of the future.
Under-12s & 13s
2003 was the year of the under-14s in St. Colmcille's, but the efforts of the under-12s and 13s must not be forgotten.
The under-12s, 13s and 14s all competed in Div. 1 and could hold their own with all the big clubs. Not only that, they fielded reserve teams in all these ages.
The under-12s missed out on the same finals by one point. The reserves fielded a completely separate team and praise must go to Tony Rooney for all the work he has done in putting them together.
The under-13s also had two teams. The first team was very young, with 10 of them under-13 again next year. But size was against them in most games and it proved very difficult for them. But they played their games with great spirit and hunger. The 13 reserves were the actual under-12 team and they improved with every game, so there will be high hopes for the first under-13 team next year.
The under-14 reserves played some great games and made it to the semi-final. There were some very young players on the team. In fact, at some games there were two players as young as 10. But Dunboyne proved a bridge too far and too big.
St. Colmcille's under-12s and 13s played all their games with endeavour and good manners and much credit must go to the parents. But the most praise must go to the mentors - Denis Meagher, Jerome Jones, Colm Hilliard and Michael Garland.
Colmcille's have a great number of players at under-age. It is only scratching at the surface.
The under-12 panel was - Connor Quinn, Cillian Hilliard, James Nealon, Jake Moore, Joe Messiah, Edward Jones, Ben Brennan, Cathal Hilliard, Kevin Garland, Andrew Garland, Donal Meagher, David Levins, Darren Carthy, Scott Carthy, Ciaran O'Brien, Michael Hennessy, Gerard O'Donoghue, Terry Trinder, Michael Myles, Mark Maxwell, Sean Rooney.
The under-13 panel was - Dan Myler, Cillian Hilliard, James Nealon, Edward Jones, Kevin Garland, Francie McCloskey, Ben Brennan, Cormac Pentony, Billy Gavin, Kevin Collier, Cathal Hilliard, Shane Campbell, TJ Dixon, Domnic McDowell, Conor McDonald, Stephen O'Neill, Ciaran O'Brien, Jake Moore, Declan Moore, Andrew Garland. Manager - Michael Garland.
U-10s - East Meath League
The under-10 team showed great potential in the East Meath League this year and can look forward to the future with great confidence. For many of the squad this was their first experience of competitive football and, as the league progressed, their confidence clearly grew, resulting in much-improved performances.
Each member of the squad should make the move to under-12 level next year quite easily. The team had excellent victories against Curraha and St. Patrick's in the league and went down narrowly to Ratoath and St. Vincent's where they could count themselves very unlucky not to have been victorious. With a number of the squad under-age again next year, the club should be close to challenging for the title.
Team mentors Lorcan Murphy and Keith Loughman were very impressed with the commitment shown by the squad and their never say die spirit. A special mention should go to the many parents who followed the team this year, offering great encouragement and support and making Lorcan and Keith's job much easier.
Special thanks, in particular, to Michael Garland, Greg Mitchell and Niall Sweeney who all assisted with team training throughout the year. The club is very fortunate indeed to be able to call on a ready supply of much committed individuals.
The squad included Jack and Joe Reynolds, Ethan Bradley, Cian Kelleher, Joe Sweeney, Andrew Gallagher, Adam McCann, Enda Murphy, Jamie McDonnell, Chris Mitchell, Andrew Garland, Niall Kiernan, Javin Thomas, Jack Woods, Owen O'Neill, Peter Moloney, Alan Morris, Paul Crickley, Thomas Reilly, Ciaran Brennan, Graham Garland, Rory Hennessy, Richard Culhane, Michael O'Shea and Craig Brady.
St. Colmcille's U-10 Blitz
The club's annual U-10 Blitz took place on Saturday, 30th August, bringing the curtain down on summer football and the club's most successful Summer Camp ever.
Participants included Navan O'Mahonys, Ratoath, Simonstown Gaels, Gaeil Colmcille, St. Peter's, Dunboyne, Curraha and, of course, St. Colmcille's. Once again, the competition was blessed with superb weather and a wonderful day was had by all.
The 'A' division was won by Ratoath, beating O'Mahonys in a final of impeccable quality, while in the 'B' division, the O'Mahonys' second team had some measure of compensation, beating a strong Simonstown selection.
The 'Cille's went very close to making the 'A' semi-final, going down to a last minute goal to Navan in what was the best game of the tournament. Unfortunately, a sluggish performance against St. Peter's in their first game ultimately proved the 'Cille's undoing.
Many club members were involved in making the day such a success, but particular thanks should go to Sam Madden for wonderful organisation that made the day pass off so well.
Coaching
The very successful Sunday morning coaching sessions for children between six and 11 continued to grow this year, with attendances often being upwards on 40 to 50 children. The future of the club certainly looks secure, given the wonderful talent and dedication shown by all children and session co-ordinator Keith Loughman hopes that next year's sessions will continue to grow with, hopefully, more girls attending.
Coaching will recommence in March, with plans already being made for the new year, including a number of competitive under-8 matches, mini-leagues, etc.
These sessions again emphasise the importance of parents and club members and Keith would like to give a special thanks to the many, many people who assisted him throughout the year.
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