After a glorious Junior B triumph 12 months ago, the season past can be looked upon as the calm after the storm for Curraha. We reflect on the present and future of the club, and one of the characters that make it. There were great expectations that Curraha would capitalise on the success of 1997 and consolidate their Division 4 league, and Junior A Championship status. A few early league defeats when Curraha were forced to field weakened teams due to panel members being involved in soccer and rugby, and the loss of Tony Dardis who had emigrated to America proved costly. This inconsistency in form continued in the latter stages of the league, and Curraha were relegated. After a First Round championship defeat by St Pauls, Curraha got back on track by defeating Kilbride and drawing with Moylagh. The clash with Athboy was to be decisive. Leading well at half time despite star wing back Nigel McDermott having to go off with an injury and having three players sent off, Curraha had many chances to put Athboy away but the numerical disadvantage was to prove costly and Curraha were down a point when the final whistle sounded. The loss of five points in four games finished Curraha's interest in this year's championship. The team is still young and with potential. Junior football is fiercely competitive but having unearthed a few new players and more of the youth squad coming through from the Junior C ranks, Curraha can look forward with eagerness to the 1999 season. The club held one of its most successful social events in their history when a celebration Dinner Dance in the Glenside Hotel in Julianstown on 30th January was packed to capacity for a very memorable night. Fintan Ginnity, Barney Allen and spouses were guests of honour and some very rousing speeches were captured on video for posterity. Player of the Year Awards went to Nigel McDermott. Young Player of the Year went to Christopher Bermingham and awards were given to players who had represented Curraha on Meath teams in 1997, namely to Ian McManus, Robert O'Neill and Darren Weldon. The Club donated memorabilia to the GAA museum, and it will shortly set up a sub committee to make plans for the Centenary Celebrations in 2003, and hopefully between now and then some more precious silverware can be garnered. Curraha look to the future years with confidence as there are some very promising youth and juvenile team members coming through ensuring good prospects into the next millennium. There is great work going on at Juvenile level by JJ Farrelly, Pat Canning, Frankie O'Connor, Anthony Dowling and others and it was evident this year that progress is being made by much improved runs in the Under 12, 13 and 14 league and championship. Amongst those who were deeply involved in helping out with the juveniles was to late Pete Moss RIP who died whilst attending the Meath v Kildare match in Croke Park earlier this year. Go ndeanaidh De trocaire ar a Ainm!! This policy of working hard with the under age groups is also showing positive results at Under 16 and minor level, where although Curraha do not yet have the required numerical strength to field on their own, the club's representatives on the Curraha/St Vincents amalgamated teams can compete with the best. With young players like Colm McManus, Christopher Bermingham, Robert O'Neill, Eamon Doyle, Brian Cosgrove, Paul Burke, Darren Weldon, Alan O'Connor, Michael Dowling, Simon McDermott, Paddy Canning and a whole host of other young lads, Curraha look likely to take further honours in the coming few years. Curraha like most other smaller clubs find the running costs under all headings a very big drain on scarce resources. There is an ambitious programme of improvements planned for the club's base at Joe McDermott Park, and the club takes this opportunity to thank FAS for their generous assistance in having their first Caretaker/Groundsman appointed this season. They would also like to put the local politicians on notice that they will be looking to them to make representations in regard to a National Lottery application for funds in 1999. Curraha would also invite the County Board and Clubs to make the question of the payment of water rates by Clubs providing such a worthwhile Community Service, an election issue for the politicians in the Local Elections next year. Club Officers in 1998 were: Chairman Packie Mulvaney Vice Chairman Michael Kelly Secretary Elizabeth Keogh A/Secretary Michael Laffey Treasurer Damian McGuinness PRO Marcella O'Connor First Team Manager Pat McManus Selectors John Keogh, Andy Carroll Second Team Manager Padraig Tierney Selectors Gerry Collins, Michael Moss Minor Manager Martin Hickey Juvenile Mentors JJ Farrelly Frankie O'Connor Pat Canning Youth Officer Michael Weldon A character in Curraha Most clubs have 'characters' associated with them. Curraha is no exception. Amongst the best known faces in Meath GAA circles, and elsewhere is Curraha's genial man for all seasons, Kevin O'Connor. Kevin is a 'seventy something' who personifies the positive image of CLG having been involved for several decades both as a player and club official, having held all the Officer positions at one time or another in this club, and is currently a club delegate to the County Board. Kevin played with Curraha in the 40s. The club disbanded in 1947 up to 1956 and Kevin along with Christy and Tom Lynch played football with Donaghmore. Kevin went on to win a Meath Intermediate Championship medal with Donaghmore in 1950 having earlier won a Feis Cup medal with them in 1947. That Championship winning side included several Inter-County Players notably Jackie Maye RIP and Ned Durnan (both of Meath) and Eamon Boland (Roscommon). Kevin also won numerous tournament medals during that era including a winners medal in a tournament final involving an East Meath Selection versus The Garda Club. Kevin transferred back to Curraha on the reformation of the club. In 1967 he got involved in the club's Committee affairs. He was Joe McDermott's under study for a few years and took over as club Secretary in 1974 for seven years. He has been Secretary/Treasurer in 1987/1989 and indeed was Chairman for a term previously. Kevin has been attending County Board Conventions without a break since 1968. Kevin O'Connor is also a consumate fund raiser for various charitable organisations, and has been very actively involved with Meath Rehab since 1990, and has raised many many thousands of pounds in a variety of ways. He took part in a sponsored walk for Rehab in Israel in March 1995 and that same year took part in another sponsored walk in Australia, and took in a visit to the running of the world famous Melbourne Cup in November of that year. In November 1998 he returned to Australia on another sponsored walk over a three week period. He has ambitions to do it all again next year when Tennessee USA beckons. Kevin is a human dynamo who lives for life itself, loves his footballing activities and anything that brings him in contract with people. His fleetness of foot is matched only by his tongue and quick wittedness. Bereaved of his lovely wife Eilish some years ago, his family is extremely proud of him and so they should. In their own right his two twin daughters Mary and Nora have each won nine County Championship and League Camogie medals and boy is he proud of them!!! His two sons are also very supportive of all his activities. Tweet

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