Following a few years in the wilderness, St. Ultan's returned to the Meath Ladies roll of honour this year after capturing the Intermediate Football Championship crown. Team manager Jim Fitzsimons relives the profitable year. St. Ultan's ladies footballers returned to the big time in 1999 when they captured the Meath ladies IFC title at the expense of Simonstown. In a keenly contested decider the Bohermeen girls emerged victorious on a scoreline of 3-16 to 1-14. Jim Fitzsimons, along with trainer Brian O'Rourke, was the mastermind behind the success and needless to say was delighted with the end result. "It was a brilliant win," he enthuses. "The final was very tough and uncompromising but we were in the lead from start to finish and fully deserved to win." The win was all the more special considering that Jim didn't rate his side's chances at the beginning of the year. "To be honest I didn't think we would do it this year. I thought Moylagh were the team to beat and was fully sure they'd do it. We went out in our first game against Navan O'Mahonys and were eighteen points up at half-time after playing with the wind, but they came back strongly in the second half and ended up winning by two points. "We couldn't afford to get beat again so the pressure was on. The girls responded magnificently however and got the better of Simonstown, Moylagh (convincingly) and Baconstown to qualify for the final. Simonstown had beaten O'Mahonys and won the rest of their games so the two of us qualified for the final. "Going into the final I was very confident. We took Elaine Duffy out of midfield and put her corner forward in the hope that Simonstown would switch Sinead Dooley to mark her. That's exactly what they did so when I saw that happening I was delighted." The Bohermeen outfit led by 1-8 to 0-6 at the interval and maintained their initiative in the second period. Nuala O'Brien, Michelle Bennett, Ciara Murray, Elaine Duffy, Geraldine Doherty and Katie O'Brien did most to ensure a St. Ultans victory. "It was a very good all round team performance. Michelle Bennett did a great marking job on Jackie Shiels while Nuala O'Brien won the 'Player of the Match' award. She had an outstanding game." Jim's daughter Linda lined out at full forward and netted a goal. She won an All-Ireland junior medal in 1994 when Meath overcame Clare at Croke Park. Linda contributed 3-1 to the Royal County cause that day. Jim's sons, Colm and Padraig, have won underage medals with St. Cuthberts while of wife Nuala he says: "Nuala is 100% behind me, without her I'd be lost." Jim and Bohermeen NS teacher Gerry Mahon established the ladies section of the St. Ultans club in 1988. Silverware arrived immediately in the form of the Junior championship. Bucket loads of underage championships have followed, including one U12, four U14s, three U16s and two Minors. They were crowned Meath senior ladies champions early this decade when beating Drumbaragh in the decider. "We won the Junior championship on our own in our first year but we didn't feel we'd be strong enough to compete at senior level. I decided to search the ground and we came up with Suzanne and Irene Kelly and Jackie O'Connor from Dunderry. They've since started a ladies team of their own so we lost those players. We had to start back down at U12 level and we're just reaping the rewards now." Jim is the central figure of the St. Ultans ladies club, others to make important contributions include Majella Murray (chairperson), Alma Hodgkins (secretary) and Betty Hodgkins (tresurer). The affable Fitzsimons is also an influential official at Co. Board level having served as vice-chairman of the Ladies Co. Board for many years now. This year he received the 'Hall of Fame' award for all his efforts. He was manager of the U16 county side which reached the All-Ireland decider only to lose to Kerry while he's also a selector on the Meath senior ladies team along with manager Christy Regan and Niall Carry. This year's All-Ireland semi-final defeat at the hands of Mayo was a bitter pill to swallow. "It was very disappointing," he reveals. "We were very confident of, at the very least, making it to Croke Park this year but we just didn't perform on the day. But we enjoyed plenty of success at underage level so hopefully it won't be too long before we win a senior All-Ireland." St. Ultan's players featured prominently on the successful Royal County teams: Senior - Elaine Duffy; Minor - Elaine Duffy, Ciara Murray, Geraldine Doherty; U16 - Geraldine Doherty, Katie O'Brien, Rachel and Lisa Barry, Kathy Coyne; U14 - Tara Newman and Mary Coyne; U12 - Shauna Bennett, Ashling Keelaghan, Geraldine Ward. A former Martry and Simonstown player, Jim is fulsome in his praise of the generosity shown to the ladies section by the adult club. "The fellas are very good to us as regards pitches etc. Anything we look for or need we usually get, they've been very helpful." Unfortunately, the mens teams couldn't emulate the achievements of their female counterparts in the year just coming to an end. Three times All-Ireland medalist Colm Coyle was in charge of the first team but he couldn't inspire them to Intermediate glory. "Sadly things haven't been going too well for them of late but it's certainly not for the lack of effort. Colm Coyle was manager this year and if anyone can do it then he can. The likes of Liam Brady and Peter Marley are still pluggin away, hopefully it won't be too long before we've an Intermediate championship success to celebrate." The St. Ultans XV which produced the goods in the decider was as follows; Y. Rooney; R. Barry, N. O'Brien, T. Newman; C. Coyne, M. Bennett, C. Coyne; C. Murray (2-1), E. Duffy (0-6); L. Barry, G. Doherty (0-3), M. Macken; C. Bennett, L. Fitzsimons (1-0), K. O'Brien (0-6). Third-in-a-row title for St. Ultan's Girls Geraldine Doherty was the star of the show for St. Ultan's as they completed a three-in-row U14 FC success. The midfielder produced a brilliant second half display as the Bohermeen girls got the better of Navan O'Mahony's in the 1998 decider on a scoreline of 4-7 to 2-3. O'Mahony's led by 1-2 to 0-3 at the interval, but the eventual winners rallied superbly after the break and were rewarded with four goals courtesy of Maria Galligan, Lisa Barry, Naomi Rennicks and Doherty. The goal scorers were well supported by Jennifer Ball, Katie O'Brien and Rachel Barry. St. Ultan's - A. Mallon; L. Brady, R. Barry, T. Newman; M. Coyne, C. Coyne, A. Ball; K. O'Brien (0-3), G. Doherty (1-3); A. Bennett, J. Ball (0-1), M. Galligan (1-0); A. Rennicks, L. Barry (1-0), C. Rogers. Sub - N. Rennicks (1-0) Cuthbert's finish '98 on a high and Eamonn Brady is the hero An impressive final ten minutes paved the way for St. Cuthbert's to claim the 1998 U15 FL Div. 2 title at the expense of Duleek. The Cuthbert's had four points to spare at the final whistle, 2-12 to 2-7. Eamonn Brady was the hero of the hour. The right half forward registered 1-7 of his side's total and was a constant menace to the Duleek rearguard. The scoreboard read 1-3 to 0-3 in favour of the eventual winners at the interval. Damien Lynskey and Padraig Carroll were others to catch the eye with impressive performances. St. Cuthbert's - J. Costello; J. Keenan, M. Casserlly, D. O'Halloran; C. Kenny, D. Lynskey, G. Geraghty; S. English (0-2), J. McGarr; E. Brady (1-7), P. Carroll (0-1), J. Reilly (1-0); P. Murray, R. Reilly, A. Martin (0-2). Tweet

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