Between the early '70s and the '80s Nobber rose from the humble abode of junior B ranks to become one of the top senior football sides in Meath. When this writer started covering the GAA scene in the Royal County tin 1972 they were in the lowest of all the adult grades but four years on they got to the JFC final only to lose to Curraha. Then the junior winners and runners up were both promoted to the intermediate grade and Nobber made an immediate impact in the IFC, reaching the final only to lose to Dunshaughlin. But the black and ambers from the north of the county were not to be denied their place among the elite and clinched that at the expense of Harps in 1980. Gerry McEntee was Nobber's 'main man' in those years and with other stalwarts like P. J. O_Halloran, Jim, John and Tom O'Reilly, James Bradley and Dudley Farrell to the fore, the last four in the SFC was reached three times, in 1983, '86 and '89, as well as gaining outright honours in the Feis Cup with a final victory over Skryne in 1983. Following those heady years, Nobber went back down the 'slippery slope,' eventually returning to junior ranks. But their exciting JFC triumph on the second Sunday of November last suggest that another spell in the top grade might not be too far away. Another reason for optimism is the fact that three members of the 2002 Meath minor football squad, Brian O_Reilly, Brian Farrell and Andrew Hayes, starring in the club's best day in 22 years. One of the trio, Brian Farrell, son of the aforementioned Dudley, was the brightest star, contributing an impressive 1-5 in the 1-15 to 2-7 final victory over Dunsany. The big sign that the club was one of the serious players at junior level came in 2001 with Dunsany being defeated by 1-8 to 0-10 at the quarter-final stage before the two-game tussle with eventual winners Curraha. The first clash ended all square at 1-9 each before Nobber were edged out on a 1-10 to 0-11 scoreline in the replay. Nobber showed up enough promise in those Pairc Tailteann clashes to suggest that they would be one of the main contenders for the Matthew Ginnity Cup in 2002. But they were far from impressive in their division, being held to a draw by Gaeil Colmcille's second string and only scraping victories over St Brigid's and Kilbride. Things were going to get bad before becoming really good for Nobber. When they lost to Navan O'Mahonys (another second string) and 'repeated the act' in a play-off, prospects of there being a crock of gold at the end of the rainbow did not look bright. In the first of the two clashes with O'Mahonys the town team scored a surprise 3-10 to 2-12 victory at Kilberry. Five days earlier Brian Farrell had scored his side's entire total in the 1-9 to 1-7 victory over Kilbride. Brian O'Reilly missed that game because of an ankle injury but was back in action for the first tie in the three way play-off as O'Mahonys again defeated Nobber on a 0--14 to 0-10 scoreline at Rathkenny. Although Brian Farrell did not seem to be affected by the disappointment of losing to Derry and sent over six points, Nobber were going through a very bad patch and also lost league games to St Mary's and Kilbride around that time. Dunderry were the other team in the three way play-off and they travelled to Nobber for a Thursday night clash under lights. With Andy Hayes, who was in his second year at the helm, and selectors Gene Smith and Philip Clarke making changes and switches, the home side returned to winning ways with a 1-15 to 2-7 victory with Farrell again pointing the way with eight efforts between the uprights. Wolfe Tones, beaten finalists in 2001, were Nobber's next opponents at Castletown and what a dramatic encounter that turned out to be. The men in black and amber started slowly, conceding a goal and a point in the early stages. However, helped by 1-3 from Gordon Weldon, they edged ahead by 1-4 to 1-3 at the break. Nobber were four points to the good with seven minutes to go before Tones rallied to get on level terms. Then the latter were awarded a penalty but Alan Fox opted to put the kick over the bar. But that score was not sufficient as Weldon levelled and then Gavin Farrelly sent over the winning score. The semi-final against Ballinabrackey was played on a dreadful day at Dunderry and again Nobber needed a late score to gain the victory. This time it was a goal from a penalty by Jackie Maguire as a 1-6 to 2-2 success was achieved. Nobber were behind by three points with five minutes left and Brian Farrell pointed before Maguire stepped up to be the match winner. Ballinabrackey netted at the start of both halves and their opponents led by 0-5 to 1-0 at the break. On the strength of their 2-13 to 0-7 'semi' success over O'Mahonys, some may have fancied Dunsany in the final but there was really only one team in it and that was Nobber, who took the title for the first time since 1946 on a 1-15 to 2-7 scoreline. Once again Brian Farrell was the star of the show with the full forward contributing 1-5 with the goal coming in added time at the end of the first half when a free from Jackie Maguire was left-footed to the net. It was 1-7 to 0-3 at the interval and Nobber had one hand on the cup. Although Dunsany resumed with the first two scores of the second half, there was to be no stopping Nobber. The north county team soon reasserted their dominance with Gavin Farrelly, Jackie Maguire, Brian Farrell and Gordon Weldon finding the target. Nobber suffered a blow before the final with full back Paul Clarke unable to take his place after being shown a straight red card in an under 21 game against Carnaross. Michael Owens filled the breach in his first game in the grade and did well. With Brian O'Reilly impressive at centre back and veterans Sean Carolan and captain Michael Reilly doing their stuff further upfield, Nobber increased their lead before conceding two late goals after making three substitutions. On receiving the Matthew Ginnity Cup, Michael Reilly, who was a Meath minor along with Sean Carolan when Leinster honours were annexed back in 1985, remarked that Nobber had some talented young footballers and also some talented not so young footballers. Another of the latter group to share in the success was goalkeeper Declan McMahon. When Nobber gained their only previous JFC title, the final was not played until April, 1947. Later that year one of the stars of the success, Larry McGuinness had the distinction of captaining Meath to their first All-Ireland title in any grade when junior honours were annexed. The full forward was a member of the All-Ireland senior winning squad in 1949. For many years Larry McGuinness was Nobber's most famous footballer. But Gerry McEntee took over that mantle in the '80s and the former midfield ace was among the attendance at the recent JFC final and he joined in the celebrations afterwards. Another McEntee, Larry, brother of Gerry, spearheaded the club's under age drive during the mid '90s with PRO George Kellett saying that Larry put in tremendous work. As well as the three county minors of 2000, others like Paul Clarke, Gavin Farrelly, Peter Olwell, John and Thomas McCormack and Philip McEntee came up through the ranks. While Nobber are looking forward to participating in the IFC, George Kellett would like to see them moving up from Division 4 of the All County League. In 2002 they just missed out on promotion. Nobber will be hoping that the three veterans of the junior triumph, Michael Reilly, Sean Carolan and Declan McMahon, will be part of the intermediate campaign in the coming year. They will be looking forward to the possibility of having a crack at local rivals like Castletown, Syddan and Drumconrath and are well capable of giving fine account of themselves in the higher grade. The team which brought Nobber the Meath JFC title in 2002 was : Declan McMahon, Peter Olwell, Michael Owens, John McCormack; Philip McEntee, Brian O'Reilly, Enda Carolan, Sean Carolan, Gavin Farrelly, Thomas McCormack, Jackie Maguire, Michael Reilly, Andrew Hayes, Brian Farrell, Gordon Weldon. Subs - Padraig Fox for T. McCormack, Thomas Tierney for Hayes, Alan Clarke for E. Carolan. Also on panel were Christopher O'Reilly, David Condra, Shane Kellett, Darren Lambe, Conor Halpin, Andrew O'Brien, Brendan Heffernan, Brian Kelly, Sean Olwell and Paul Clarke Tweet

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