The Rathkenny club celebrated the capture of the Junior 'C' crown during the past twelve months. Here we examine how they got their hands on the silverware. The Junior Football Championship 'C' cup (Reilly Association Cup) will spend Christmas in the Rathkenny trophy cabinet for the second time in the space of four years as a result of their replayed final victory over Summerhill in late October. In 1996 they also required two games against Simonstown's third string before getting their hands on the title. Tony Kealy was captain on that occasion and he also played an instrumental part in this year's success. This year's captain Laurence Murray featured three years ago as did Michael Downey, Paul Weldon and Sean McAlarney amongst others. Rathkenny looked dead and buried during their semi-final encounter with Ballivor when they trailed by four points, but they refused to throw in the towel and regained the initiative thanks to points from Vincent Lenihan and Tony Kealy. In the end they won by the bare minimum, 0-10 to 0-9. The Junior 'C' was the second adult trophy of the year down for decision. In the final they led all the way but a late injury time Summerhill goal put the celebrations on hold. After establishing a three point lead from a 52nd Tony Kealy goal, Rathkenny looked odds on to get their hands on the cup, the 'Hill grabbed a second bite at the cherry, however, when Gerry Gavigan was beaten by a well placed low shot. Rathkenny opened brightly with Paul Weldon putting his name on the scoresheet with three points inside as many minutes. Emmet Martin could have extended that lead but his shot was well saved by the Summerhill custodian. Seconds later Summerhill opened their account with a point and they took the lead with a goal soon after. Gavigan was helpless to prevent the three pointer. The men in black and red didn't allow their opponents build up any momentum at this point and a period of pressure yielded four points in four minutes from Vincent Lenihan, Thomas Rowan, Kealy and Weldon for a 0-6 to 1-1 lead at the end of the first quarter. Again, Summerhill came back, notching three points, but a brace from Kealy and one from Lenihan maintained Rathkenny's two point lead (0-9 to 1-4) at the break. Derek O'Halloran put the push for home in motion with a fisted point on the resumption but Summerhill weren't in the mood to lie over and by the 49th minute they had restored parity. It was still level ten minutes later after a brace of points each were exchanged, but the Lagan Group sponsored side appeared to have put the final nail in the coffin when Kealy raised the green flag. A pass from O'Halloran found Kealy unmarked at the far post and the corner forward netted from close range. When Summerhill squandered a 21 metre free a few moments later, Rathkenny supporters would have been looking forward to the presentation ceremony but there was still time left for that injury-time goal. John McKeever had an industrious hour in the middle of the field while Kealy and Weldon were the main threats up front. Rathkenny finished the job off two weeks later, 3-4 to 0-3 the scoreboard read when referee Paddy Watters brought an end to proceedings. Eight minutes into the second half veteran Vincent Lenihan fired home his second goal of the day to leave it 3-1 to 0-3 and then the side in black and red added three more points to put the issue beyond any doubt. The fare was far from spectacular. Rathkenny emerged with the title due to good defensive displays from Laurence Murray and centre-back Gerry Kealy, who returned from America to play. Glen Carpenter and John McKeever gave their side the advantage around the middle of the field while Derek O'Halloran, Tony Kealy and two goal man Lenihan posed the biggest threats up front. Summerill had a goal opportunity early on but Gerry Gavigan came to Rathkenny's rescue with a superb display. That save spurred his colleagues into action but they struggled to convert their possession into tangible reward on the scoreboard and it wasn't until the ninth minute that they got off the mark with a controversial goal. Derek O'Halloran's 40-metre free fell short into the apparent safety of the Summerhill goalkeeper's hands but Paul Weldon challenged and the ball spilled out of his hands into the net. After 28 minutes Thomas Rowan, a midfielder in the drawn tie and centre forward in this one, carved open a chance following a good run and Lenihan applied the finish touch with a shot to the right corner of the net. Summerhill replied with a point to leave it 2-1 to 0-2 at the break. The 'Hill opened the scoring on the resumption with a point but Rathkenny's third goal arrived soon after when Lenihan pulled on a lose ball. Points from Derek O'Halloran, Tony Kealy and Lenihan put a more realistic look on the scoreboard. That last of them arrived with eleven minutes to go and proved to be the last score of the hour. It was fitting that Meath Co. Board fixtures secretary and staunch Rathkenny official Barney Allen presented the Reilly Association Cup to victorious captain Laurence Murray. "Winning a championship of any kind means a lot to a club like Rathkenny and this is a great day for the parish and the supporters," the captain said in his acceptance speech. "I'd like to pay special thanks to our selectors and our sponsors and I'd also like to give special mention to Donal Curtis. Donal came out and gave us some help in training over the last couple of weeks and his input has been very valuable, but the people I want to thank most are the players." Eddie Bellew, Sean Curtis and Paul Smith were the men who masterminded Rathkenny's latest success. Rathkenny - G. Gavigan; D. Downey, L. Murray, T. McKeever; M. O'Brien, G. Kealy, M. Downey; G. Carpenter, J. McKeever; E. Martin, T. Rowan, D. O'Halloran (0-2); T. Kealy (0-1), P. Weldon (1-0), V. Lenihan (2-1). Subs - S. McAlarney, P. Mongey, R. Califf. Rathkenny U12s annex Div. 4 FL crown Rathkenny were defeated in last year's U12 Div. 4 FL final but they avoided a similar fate this year when getting the better of Curraha. Donore was the venue as the team in red and black emerged victorious on a scoreline of 3-11 to 3-5. With wind advantage, Rathkenny completely dominated the opening half and had built up a 0-8 to 0-0 lead by half-time. Thomas Wogan and Tom Walsh - who kicked four long range points - were outstanding in defence, while Francis Allen (son of Barney) and Ann-Marie Curtis also did well. James Macken and Owen Elliott ensured Rathkenny always had the upper hand at midfield while Frankie Reilly, Ronan Martin and David Donegan caught the eye in attack. Curraha deserve credit for the spirited manner in which they fought in the second half and within a minute of the resumption had opened their account with a goal. Rathkenny's response was immediate when half-time substitute Cody Reilly fisted a James Macken centre to the net. That left Rathkenny 1-8 to 1-1 ahead. Frankie Reilly added a point and David Donegan found the net from a close range free to further increase the lead. Curraha hit back with two goals and that left only four points, 2-10 to 3-3, in it with less than ten minutes remaining. Aaron Crinion put the issue beyond any doubt with his side's third goal and late points from Sean McGeary and Michael Dowling wrapped up a memorable win for Rathkenny. Rathkenny - Stephen O'Brien; Robert Smith, Thomas Wogan, Louis Goodwin; Francis Allen, Ann-Marie Curtis, Tom Walsh (0-4), Owen Elliott (0-2), James Macken, Frankie Reilly (0-2), Ronan Martin (0-2), David Donegan (1-1), Dorothy McGuinness, Aaron Crinion (1-0), John Meade. Sub - Cody Reilly (1-0). Rathkenny U13s create history The U13 footballers of Rathkenny made history at the end of 1998 when they captured the club's first ever title in the grade at the expense of Dunderry. Played at Donore, the team in red and black emerged victorious in the Div. 5 FL final on a scoreline of 3-9 to 2-7. Goals from Daniel Timmons and John Donegan earned the winners a 2-5 to 0-3 lead at the break and they looked well on the road to victory when Adrian Hanratty increased the advantage shortly after the restart. To their credit, Dunderry refused to throw in the towel and were rewarded when goals from D. Jennings and R. Doherty threw them a lifeline. But with Bobby Farrelly, Brian Meade, David Taaffe and Timmons in outstanding form there was to be no way back for them. Rathkenny - B. Farrelly; J. Macken, B. Meade; D. Taaffe, J. Donegan, T. Walsh (0-1); C. Curtis (0-2), D. Timmons (1-3); A. Hanratty (1-0), O. Elliot (0-1), A. Timmons (0-2); K. Martin, T. Wogan. Sub - S. Carry Tweet

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