The Simonstown club's motto is 'mol an oige agus tiocfaidh si'. It's a motto which has served them well in the past and they should reap further rewards in the coming years. Simonstown held their third annual All-Ireland 'Super Leagues' this year and, like previous ones, it proved to be a resounding success. Over 160 children - from Navan parish who play or would like to play with Simonstown - participated in the event which reached its conclusion on the Sunday prior to the All-Ireland senior football final. The kids were split up into two age groups, U9s and U11s, with twelve teams at U9 level and six at U12. Down, Offaly, Cork, Kerry, Dublin and, of course Meath, were some of the teams taking part. The aim of the 'Super Leagues' was to ensure that 7, 8, 9, 10 year old players have fun and enjoyment and that players develop their full football potential. A unique structure was put in place to help achieve this; all teams remained in contention for Cup or Shield or Trophy as the League developed. The competition took place within a framework of total supervision and was staffed by qualified coaches and caring officials. Sean Barry, Colm O'Rourke and Colm Brady were the three main co-ordinators who oversaw the smooth running of the event. The games were played on Monday and Wednesday nights from Monday the 23rd of August to finals day, Sunday 19th September. 'Most Improved Player' awards were handed out each night with all participants receiving t-shirts and baseball caps. There was even a prize for the most vociferous parent! We'll not embarrass the winner by revealing their name! As you can see from our pictures a huge crowd turned out for finals day and each participant was presented with a medal. Simonstown Juvenile secretary Eric Brady said: "Once again the All-Ireland 'Super Leagues' were a tremendous success. The club would like to thank the three co-ordinators, Colm O'Rourke, Colm Brady and Sean Barry, for all their work. We would also like to thank all the managers of the various teams as well as the referees, everyone who contributed in any way to the success of the competition, especially the parents and sponsors EXCEL Print." Club chairman John Howard echoed those sentiments: "On behalf of the Simonstown club I would like to say a special word of thanks to our sponsor, mentors, parents, supporters and players." The internal mini-leagues continued as normal every Saturday morning before and after the 'Super Leagues' so there was plenty of opportunities provided for local kids to kick ball. Simonstown's U12s reached the semi-final of the championship this year but were unable to book their final ticket against St. Martins. They did enjoy success, however, when they beat the host club St. Vincents, 5-5 to 3-7, in the final of the prestigious Des Foley tournament on the morning of the All-Ireland final. Eight teams took part in the competition and Simonstown eventually got the better of Naas in an exciting semi-final. The sides were level at half-time, the end of normal time and the end of extra-time before Simon Goodwin sent over a 'golden point' to decide it. Des Foley junior, son of the famous midfielder, presented the cup to winning captain Mark Gaffney. Simonstown panel M. Gaffney, R. McGivney, J. Browne, M. O'Rourke, C. Barrett, J. Galvin, J. Walsh, D. Curran, M. McCabe, J. Byrne, S. O'Rourke, C. Tobin, J. Callaghan, D. Moran, G. Haughton, A. Byrne, S. Goodwin, S. Campion, M. Rogers, B. Lorton, C. Togher, J. Halpin, M. McGuirk, C. Duffy, An unusual occurance during the year was the U12 Reserve FL meeting of the Simonstown Bs against the Simonstown Cs. The club's supporters loyalties were torn as the Bs overcame the Cs by 1-10 to 1-7. The north Navan club organised a new U11 Football League county competition, the first of its kind at this age level. The competition began on Saturday 18th September. The clubs which took part were O'Mahonys, Round Towers, Blackhall Gaels, Dunboyne, Skryne, Donaghmore/Ashbourne, Dunshaughlin and, of course, the home team. Simonstown emerged with the trophy thanks to a 6-8 to 4-7 final victory over Round Towers at Simonstown in late November. The Gaels led by 11 points after a dominant first half display but the Kells parish club fought back in the second and they narrowed the gap to three. Simonstown sensed the danger and late points from Paul Maguire and Shane O'Rourke ensured they held on for victory. O'Rourke, Maguire and Garry McDonagh bagged a brace of goals each and Rory O'Connor, Darren Tolan and Conor O'Donoghue were others to impress. The clash of the ash made its debut on the Simonstown's fields during the past twelve months. Monday the 26th of April 1999 will go down as an historic date in the club's history, for the first time, a Simonstown team contested a game of competitive hurling. Gibbstown was the venue for the U11 HC Div.B clash with Wolfe Tones. Unfortunately, the result didn't go the north Navan club's way but with a bit of luck they could have snatched the points in the closing minutes. Trailing by three points, the team in sky blue mounted a late rally but were denied by two goal line clearances. Bryan McKeever opened Simonstown's account with a goal early in the second half and substitute Paul McGurk added another to set up an exciting finale. Others to have played well include James O'Dywer, Kevin Smith, Conor O'Donoghue and Shane O'Rourke. Pat Roche and Donal Madigan are the men behind the fledgling juvenile hurling section and they invite anyone who wishes to get involved to come along to the clubhouse on Tuesday evenings where indoor games take place over the winter months. Any girls wanting to play underage camogie are also catered for on Tuesday evenings. Simonstown's hurling history makers were: James O'Dwyer; Sean Fitzsimons, Bryan McKeever (1-0); Conor Clarke, Kevin Smith, James McConnell; Paddy O'Reilly, Shane O'Rourke; Conor O'Donoghue, Conor Carthy, Niall Boland; Gary McDonagh, Michael Madigan. Subs - Cormac Dullaghan, Paul O'Reilly, Conor Barrett, Darren Rattigan, Paul McGurk (1-0). Not to be overshadowed by their male counterparts, the Simonstown U14s girls also got in on the act when they represented Meath in the annual Feile na nOg which was held in Clare this year at the beginning of June. They scored runaway victories over Clare sides Ballyea (11-15 to 0-0) and Newmarket (11-15 to 0-0). Unfortunately, Mayo outfit Moy Davitts edged them out at the quarter-final stages on a scoreline of 2-1 to 1-1. The panel which made the trip to the Banner County was: Joy Booth, Sarah Egleston, Jane Brady, Caitriona Farrelly, Lauren Gavin, Grace Brennan, Andrina Fitzsimons, Jackie Shiels, Kerry O'Brien, Celestine Keaveney, Fiona Feeney, Madeline Hand, Shauna Hand, Alison McMahon, Laura McMenamin, Linda Gorman, Sarah Breen, Niamh McGuinness, Michelle O'Brien, Pauline Flanagan, Elaine Booth, Karen Kennedy Sinead Flanagan, Rachel Tully. Reserve league title for Simonstown 1998 was a year in which silverware was at a premium in Simonstown, but the club's second string gained some measure of consolation when they gained outright success in the B F.L. Div. 1 competition at the expense of Skryne. Colm Keys had an outstanding game for the winners who won the final - which was played in Rathkenny - on a scoreline of 1-13 to 1-10. It was all square at the break, 1-4 to 0-7, with John Lunney scoring the Simonstown goal. Others to played well for the winners included Lunney, Gary Lynch, Graham Cooke and Shane Kennedy. Liam Buggy was manager of the side while Gerry McDonagh and Fergus Dungan were his selectors. Simonstown - G. Lynch; A. Brady, P. Powderly, F. McKeever; J. Smith, P. Reilly, S. Kenny; S. Kennedy (0-1), C. Keys (0-1); I. Murray, G. Cooke (0-4), A. Kavanagh; D. O'Brien (0-3), P. Traynor, J. Lunney (1-4). Subs - C. O'Brien, M. Flanagan. A never ending success story for Simonstown ladies It appears as if Simonstown ladies teams can't stop winning these days. At the end of 1998 it was the turn of the U16s to sample the sweet taste of championship glory. St. Ultan's were the team's victims in the final which was played at Carnaross. At the final whistle the scoreboard read 7-3 to 3-10. The sides were level at 3-1 to 1-7 at half-time but the John and Geraldine Moroney trained side pulled clear in the closing stages. Jackie Shiels and Lisa Lyons impressed in the winners attack. Eve Wardick was the team's captain. The Simonstown U16 ladies team which captured 1998 U16 championship honours was as follows; L. Moroney; J. Munnelly, A. McGrath, F. Feeney; E. Wall, G. Harrington, D. McMahon; E. Wardick, D. O'Neill (1-0); K.A. McMenamin, J. Shiels (3-3), R. O'Brien; C. Keaveney (1-0), L. Lyons (2-0), K. O'Brien. Sub - S. McGrath U14 title for Simonstown girls Simonstown captured the girls' football U14 championship for the very first time thanks to a 3-4 to 0-2 win over Seneschalstown in a replayed final at Walterstown in early November. It was 2-2 to 0-0 at the interval and top scorer Jackie Shiels, Celestine Keaveney, Fiona Feeney, Michelle O'Brien, Sarah Breen and Jane Brady impressed most for the winners. Simonstown - S. Flanagan; C. Farrelly, F. Feeney, A. McMahon; L. Gavin, C. Keaveney, M. Hand; M. O'Brien, L. McMenamin (0-1); J. Brady, J. Shiels (2-2), S. Breen (1-0); J. Booth, G. Brennan, K. O'Brien (0-1). Subs - S. Hand, A. Fitzsimons. Seventh heaven for slick Simonstown Goals win matches. Its not often a team contrives to score seven, but thats exactly what the Simonstown under 16 girls managed in an absorbing encounter late last year with St. Ultans. Time and time again the town forwards were able to breach gaps in their opponents defence and duly punish them with goals. Jackie Shiels was once again in fine form and she along with teamates Celistine Keavney and Lisa Lyons managed to account for 6-3. However it still took a late goal to clinch the U-16 title on a scoreline of 7-3 to 3-10 The winning Simonstown team was - L. Moroney; J. Munnelly, A. McGrath, F. Feeney; E. Wall, G. Harrington, D. McMahon; E. Wardick, D. O' Neill(1-0); K.A McMenamon, Jackie Shiels(3-3), R. O' Brien; C. Keveney(1-0), L. Lyons(2-0), K. O' Brien. Sub-S. McGrath Shiels points the way Simonstown ladies continued on their upwards spiral, defeating Bellewstown in the Division 3 League Final by seven points at Dunboyne last March. The difference between the two sides was the accuracy of Jackie Shiels who notched 1-9 of her sides 3-16 tally. Others to shine for the winners were Eve Wardick, Kathleen McCabe, Sinead Dooley and Kathleen Doohan The winning Simonstown team was-J. Munnelly; E. Wall(0-2), T. Ruane, A. McGrath; K. McCabe, S. Dooley, M. Moroney; E. Wardick, K. Doohan(0-1); K.A. McMenamin(0-1), G. Harrington(0-2), Jackie Shiels(1-9); F. Feeney(1-0), C. McLarney(1-0), P. McCullagh(0-1). Sub- K. O' Brien for McLarney Tweet

Most Read Stories