In winning the Feis Cup Oldcastle finally got some reward for the enormous effort exerted over the past couple of years. An amazing season in many ways for the gallant footballers from Oldcastle, which climaxed on its very last day with an exciting and deserved Feis Cup success, 0-12 to 0-7, over Summerhill following a replay. A fitting end to three years of hard slog and graft under manager Colm McAvoy and as captain Vincent Reynolds raised aloft this prestigious trophy to the blue and white hordes on a dull, windy end of November day at O'Growney Park, Athboy that sense of fulfillment was so abundant. Not alone had Oldcastle brought a major trophy back across the mountain but they had at last shown the Meath football public that here was a team capable of mixing it with the very best and most certainly very capable of winning the new Millennium's first Keegan Cup. Just look at the circumstances some minutes into the second half. The north Meath men, after battling for every ounce of possession had only found themselves 0-6 to 0-5 in arrears at the interval, and they still had the advantage of the Athboy storm to come. Matters were soon on level terms but the Hill surged back in front. Then the games most crucial happening. Following a couple of unsavoury incidents untypical of the contest as a whole, referee Jimmy Henry dismissed Oldcastle midfielder Paul Gilsenan. Now if such an occurance had happened pre McAvoy, the Blues would probably have folded, resigned themselves to the fact that there was no way that fourteen of their men could overcome a team of Summerhill's calibre. But overcame the south Meath men, the new Feis Cup champions most certainly did. That early white flag was the Hill's last as McAvoy's men dug deep, harried and hassled and yes, everybody admitted they also possessed that degree of luck, most champions do. Gilsenan's early shower also changed the style of the Oldcastle play. No longer the hefty drive, favoured by opposing backs (so prevalent in the Oldcastle style over the previous 40 minutes and for the first game). Rather the short pass and running, running, running. A two man full forward line was adopted and more and more space appeared right in front of the Summerhill goals, who were failing to position their extra man with any degree of suitability. Enter also Ronan Farrelly. His form in 1999 -injuries did not help - was disappointing, way off the high standards set in the previous 12 months. Chosen at left half forward and drafted into the inner line as the game progressed, all that extra room was just what Farrelly craved. His lazy style on the ball is so deceptive and as the county star went at the Hill backs, fouls were committed. Vincent Reynolds mostly obliged and punished such lapses with steady place kicking. Another good pointer from this year's successful campaign is that in recent years Feis Cup winners have also brought home that bigger Keegan Cup prize. During the '90s alone O'Mahonys, Seneschalstown, Dunderry and Kilmainhamwood have all scooped both Cups. Deep into the autumn of '98 who were the Feis Cup kingpins? Skrynes of course, and look what they have done in recent months. Ironically, the first Oldcastle-Hill decider acted as an appetiser to Skrynes final day demolition of Dunshaughlin. And it was a heavy hearted Oldcastle contingent who departed Pairc Tailteann. A late late opposition goal robbed the north Meath townsmen of a merited victory. Oldcaste were playing catch up for most of the opening half but a Mickey Smith goal after the resumption left them in the driving seat. They dominated for long periods of that second spell. Jimmy Smith, JP Farrelly and Seanie Rahill were cleaning up at the back. Mickey Smith, who gained a lot of possession along the stand side and aided by original full forward Vincent Reynolds and the Gilsenan duo of Owenie and Paul kept a steady supply of possession into their attackers. But here Oldcastle's good play halted. A number of excellent chances were squandered and while Owenie Gilsenan, Smith and Reynolds also got in on this squander-mania game, the Blue's attack as a unit failed to function. Not even the dismissal of opposing player Terry Lyons in the closing stages helped their cause of pulling clear and up popped young Gary Rispin to dictate another game the following Saturday. The psychological advantage had swung the Hill's way in big time fashion. That late revival and the fact that they also fielded without two of their better players, county man Mark O'Reilly and ace attacker Billy Shaw surely filled them with confidence. The intervening six days were so vital. Obviously manager McEvoy got through to his troops, however, and not even the distraction of the club's eagerly awaited dinner dance the night before could prevent a rejuvenated Oldcastle from taking the field. The Oldcastle class of '99 differed somewhat to the men who went the entire way to the previous year's championship decider. In defence the old guard of John McEnroe, Declan Mullen and Michael Kavanagh were not included on either of the Feis Cup final days. Nor was Ronan Crawley and outstanding full back Brendan Halpin, who was sidelined with a long term injury. More than willing and able deputies were found in the form of the experienced Frankie Tully, stocky Jimmy Smith (an All-Ireland minor medal winner with Meath in 1992 and who has recently returned from the States), his namesake Paul and two strapping half backs in the form of Seanie Rahill and Enda Garragan. For the Summerhill games, Jimmy Smith wore the number 4 jersey but usually operated as the full back with Paul Smith in the left full back position. A new keeper also in the form of the impressive Enda Smith. Thus to John Paul (JP as he is popularly known) went the honour of being Oldcastle's only defensive survivor from '98, a vital part of what must be the youngest senior backline in the county. If 'the town' had Brendan Halpin sidelined then Mickey Smith for so long troubled with injury himself, provided a reverse route and his contribution around the midfield zone was huge. How Oldcastle could have done with the Bishop's nephew during the Dunboyne decider twelve months previously. Vincent Reynolds, a midfielder in '98, showed again just why Sean Boylan drafted him onto the Meath panel for the '98/'99 NFL series. Vincent was perhaps his side's best player that second day out in Athboy and again his place kicking was impeccable. A total of 0-7 was the straw that broke the Summerhill back. Five points also for Reynolds the first day out. In Athboy three of those Reynolds' efforts arrived during the opening half. Ronan Farrelly hit the other two, both from play in the game's earlier moments as Oldcastle forged out a 0-2 to 0-1 advantage. This was the only occasion the Blues led during that period, as they kicked into the wind. Reynolds trio of points only left Oldcastle trailing 0-6 to 0-5 on Jimmy Henry's half time whistle. Ray Smith, a young footballer with a sweet left foot and who has blossomed considerably in '99 struck an equaliser almost from the re-throw in. The 'Hill levelled and the winners remaining scores thereafter arrived per Reynolds from a 50, a Reynolds hat trick of free kicks, one from the overlapping JP Farrelly and finally an excellent effort from his older brother Ronan. The two remaining Oldcastle players who we have failed to mention in these notes are Leo McEnroe and Niall Fitzpatrick. Leo, by now, is becoming the father figure of the side and in the replay he foraged way beyond his appointed position to gain badly needed possession. Niall Fitzpatrick may have come in for a little stick with a couple of bad misses the first day out but the attack leaders work rate is phenomenal and no Oldcastle player touched the ball more over the course of the two finals. A fitting end to a long 1999, a campaign which started so promisingly but was nearly blown apart by a first round championship hammering at the hands of Dunderry. Oldcastle claim they were robbed next time out versus the future champions Skryne. The north Meath Blues led their Tara counterparts a merry dance over the course of the 60 minutes and a longish period of extra time. It was during this spell that a couple of late, late points kept Skryne in contention. A valuable draw one might think, but the damage was done and Oldcastle were more or less out of the championship. Again, the players demonstrated strong resolve, kept their season alive via a number of tournaments and showed their determination to bring back the Feis Cup to the Cavan borders (only their second win in Meath senior competitions) for the first time since 1937. A semi-final victory over a strong Dunderry selection who were still in championship contention the week prior to the All-Ireland football decider examplified this steely determination. We said in last year's Yearbook 'Roll on 1999.' Perhaps we were just one year early. The team and scorers who brought the Cup to Oldcastle were: E Smith; F Tully, P Smith, J Smith; JP Farrelly 0-1, S Rahill, E Garrigan; P Gilsenan, M Smith; O Gilsenan, N Fitzpatrick, R Farrelly 0-3; R Smith 0-1, V Reynolds 0-7, L McEnroe. Success for St. Oliver's St. Oliver's Post Primary School, Oldcastle completed a memorable hat-trick when they claimed the Meath Vocational School's title to add to their successes in North Leinster and Leinster competitions. The North Meath school got the better of Dunshaughlin in the final on a scoreline of 6-10 to 3-4. It was a fine all round display by the Oldcastle school but special praise must go to the forward duo of Peter Fox and Sean Brady who registered a combined tally of 4-5. The Dunshaughlin defence were powerless to prevent these two from laying the foundations for the win. John Brady and captain Dane Smith also raised the green flag. St. Oliver's - G. Farrelly; G. Husband, G. Hussey, J. Mahon; E. Grall, J. Melia (0-1), T. Farrelly; S. Smith (0-2), D. Smith (1-1); R. Kenny, S. Brady (2-2), E. Boyle; D. Smith, P. Fox (2-3), J. Brady (1-1). Subs - P. Lynch , B. Griffin. Tweet

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