2006 was a successful year for Ballinlough at juvenile level, with the under 12s capturing a league title and the under 14s only losing to St. Vincent's after a replay in their championship final. Michael Geraghty has been a driving force behind the club's recent underage revival and, not surprisingly, took great satisfaction from this year's achievements. Since capturing their first minor title three years ago, Ballinlough have made steady progress at underage level. 2006 was a particularly good year for the under 12 and under 14 sides who made a big impact in their respective competitions. The under 12s recorded an impressive victory over Oldcastle to land the North Division 3 league title after going through the campaign unbeaten. The under 14s reached the county Division 2 championship final, only to lose to St. Vincent's after a replay. And many of the players involved in the under 12 football success were also to the fore as Ballinlough National School recorded a historic hurling success. "Compared to other years, it was one of our better years at underage level," enthuses Michael Geraghty, who was manager of both the under 14 team and the school hurling team. "The under 12s won a league title, upsetting a fancied Oldcastle team in the final, and we (the under 14 team) reached a championship final as well as the semi-final of the league. In both instances, we were beaten after replays but I was still very proud of the lads. When you consider how we could never get past the first round when we were in Division 3, it was a fair achievement to do as well as we did in Division 2." Under the tutelage of the long-serving Sean Smith and his selectors Tom Brady, John Reilly and Michael McInerney, Ballinlough took the North Division 3 under 12 league by storm, beating Meath Hill/Drumconrath in the semi-final at Carlanstown before accounting for near neighbours Oldcastle in the final by 4-7 to 0-7 at Carnaross. At the interval, Ballinlough had already laid the foundations for victory when they led by 1-5 to 0-3. They continued to hold the upper hand in the second half, and with wing forward Daniel Gaughran and corner forward Darragh Farrelly helping themselves to 2-1 each, the result was never in doubt. The under 14s also had an eventful year and were desperately unlucky not to win at least one trophy. Geraghty was assisted in the management duties by Kevin Reilly, Bernard Reilly and Pat Smith, while former All-Ireland minor and under 21 medalist Vinny Ryan was brought in as trainer. "We were delighted that Vinny was able to get involved. He has played at the highest level and commands great respect in the club. He brought the lads on in leaps and bounds and the only pity was that they didn't finish the year with some silverware," Michael explains. After a great run in the league, Ballinlough were beaten by Moynalvey at the penultimate stage after a replay. It was very much a case of what might have been for Ballinlough as the Kildare-border outfit went on to hammer Syddan by 3-11 to 0-3 in the final. "The winner of our game against Moynalvey was always going to win it out. We had two great battles with them and probably should have won the first day. They got a run on us in the replay and that proved crucial in the end," Michael says. The two games against Moynalvey, however, were to stand Ballinlough in good stead when they faced Dunderry in the championship. After receiving a bye in the first round, the 'Lough drew with Dunderry away before winning a remarkable replay by 5-16 to 7-7. "It was the best game of football I was ever involved in," the Ballinlough manager says without hesitation. Buoyed by that victory, the North Meath lads comfortably accounted for Curraha in the semi-final to set up a meeting with St. Vincent's in the final in late June. But after drawing at Pairc Tailteann, Ballinlough went down to a narrow defeat in the replay at Slane two days later. "We were five or six points up at half-time, but they came back strongly in the second half to overtake us," Michael recalls. "It was a big thing for both teams to play in Pairc Tailteann and there was a good few nerves in the first game. The Vins made a few changes for the replay and I think it was their greater physical strength that broke us down in the end. Having to play two games in three days took its toll on us, especially on the younger lads. "Having said that, we were well on top in the first half of the replay and if we hadn't missed a penalty, we would have been further ahead at half-time and there might have been no way back for the Vins." Geraghty points out that St. Vincent's have been a real thorn in Ballinlough's side in recent years. "We have a poor record against them, unfortunately. They beat us in the under 12 final two years ago and in last year's under 13 semi-final. It would have been nice to have got one over them this year, but it wasn't to be." Since moving to Ballinlough a few years ago, Michael has immersed himself in the underage scene and is one of several dedicated members who are working tirelessly to secure a bright future for the club. His sons Sean and Michael Junior were members of this year's under 14 team (Michael also played for the under 12s), while his daughter Sinead was on the under 10 team and is playing girls football with Oldcastle. Michael had a distinguished playing career with both Brownstown and St. Paul's, and was a regular at midfield for the Westmeath hurlers in the mid-1980s. He won five Westmeath senior hurling championship medals with Brownstown and also collected an intermediate football championship medal with St. Paul's in 1990, who were then managed by former Meath senior team selector Benny Reddy. He played out the remainder of his hurling career with Kilskyre and says he cherishes the intermediate and junior hurling championship medals he won with them. The Killallon native is now preaching the hurling gospel in Ballinlough - hardly a hurling bastion - and achieved a major breakthrough with the school team this year when guiding them to their first Meath Primary Schools' Division 4 title. (His father and uncle were outstanding footballers for the old Killallon club). "For me, that was the year's highlight. There is no history of hurling in Ballinlough National School, so it was very satisfying from that point of view. After losing the final last year to Dunsany, it was great to make amends this year. I was basically working with the same players that play for our under 12 and under 14 football teams," he explains. Early goals from Ethan Kellett and Michael Geraghty Junior laid the foundations for Ballinlough's 2-6 to 2-1 victory over Mulhussey in the final at Dunsany. Gary Reilly also pointed a '45' and a free to strengthen Ballinlough's position before Anthony Forde got Mulhussey off the mark with a point. Reilly added two further points to leave the North Meath school ahead by 2-4 to 0-1 at the break. Mulhussey moved their goalkeeper Paul Kelly outfield in the second half and it brought about an improvement, although Kellett got the first point of the half for Ballinlough. Forde replied with a goal to spur his side on, but resolute defending by Ballinlough kept the Mulhussey attack at bay. Reilly converted another free to extend Ballinlough's advantage before Joe Walsh scored a late consolation goal for the losers. The Ballinlough under 12 team which claimed the North Division 3 league title was: L Gibney; J McCullen, J Bough, J Reilly; B Brady, P Farrelly, J Tunney; G Reilly, M Geraghty (0-3); S O'Reilly, K McCaffrey, D Gaughran (2-1); D Farrelly (2-1), T Briody, L McInerney. Subs used: O Brady and S McDermott. The Ballinlough NS team and subs that captured the Primary Schools' Division 4 hurling title was: P Monaghan; C Gibney, G Reilly (0-5), J Reilly, M Geraghty (1-0), E Kellett (1-1), S Caffrey. Subs: K McCaffrey, T Snow, D Farrelly, J Reilly, T Briody, S McDermott, L McInerney, S O'Reilly, J Lydon, B Brady, P Farrelly, J Farrelly. U10 North-West League 2006 Committee Chairman - Paddy Colgan (St. Micheal's) Secretary - Sean Smyth (Ballinlough) Treasurer - Paul Whelehan (Clan na nGael) P.R.O - Jim Greene (St. Michael's) Committee - Tom Brady (Ballinlough) Ian Monaghan (Moylagh) Martin Reilly (Moylagh) Charlie Farrelly (Moynalty) John Ward (Carnaross) Harry Taggart (Oldcastle) John McEnroe (Oldcastle) Andy Geraghty (St. Brigid's) Michael McInerney (Ballinlough) Finals Division 1 - Moynalty defeated St. Michaels at Carlanstown Division 2 - Clann na nGael defeated Ballinlough at Ballinlough Division 3 - Oldcastle defeated Carnaross at Carlanstown Division 4 - St Brigid's defeated Moylagh at Carlanstown Meath Minor Board Secretary, Ultan Fitzpatrick presented the medals to the winners and the runners up in Division 1. A total of 267 players took part in the League. Tweet

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