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ROYAL COUNTY YEARBOOK ARTICLES

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CLUBS
An Gaeltacht	Athboy	Baconstown	Ballinabrackey
Ballinlough	Ballivor	Bective	Bellewstown
Blackhall Gaels	Boardsmill	Carnaross	Castletown
Clann na nGael	Clonard	Cortown	Curraha
Donaghmore/Ash	Drumbaragh	Drumconrath	Drumree
Duleek	Dunboyne	Dunderry	Dunsany
Dunshaughlin	Enfield	Gaeil Colmcille	Kilbride
Kildalkey	Killyon	Killallon	Kilmainham
Kilmainhamwood	Kilmessan	Kilskyre	Kiltale
Longwood	Meath Hill	Moylagh	Moynalty
Moynalvey	Na Fianna	Nobber	Oldcastle
O'Mahonys	Rathkenny	Rathmolyon	Ratoath
Seneschalstown	Simonstown	Skryne	Slane
St. Brigids	St. Colmcilles	St. Marys	St. Michaels
St. Pats	St. Pauls	St. Ultans	St. Vincents
Summerhill	Syddan	Trim	Walterstown
Wolfe Tones	St. Cuthberts

COUNTY
2009	Alltech	Anchor Bay Construction Products Ltd	Ashboune VS
	BoyneWaste	Camogie Club Review	Coaching
	Colleges Round-Up	County Camogie	Crossakiel Handball
	David Bray	David Farrelly	Dixon International Transport
	Dunshaughlin CC	Eamon O'Brien	Eoghan Jones
	Handball	JM Foods	John McCullen
	Junior Footballers	Killeen Castle	Mairead Delaney
	Miceal O'Brien	Mick Mellett	Minor Footballers
	Minor Hurlers	Oliver Cudden	Paddy Carr
	Patrick Kerrigan	Tbe Pallet Network	Oristown Auto Recyclers Ltd
	Ruairi O Coileáin	Leinster Rugby	Sean Smith
	Senior Footballers	Senior Hurlers	Senior Ladies Footballers
	Supporters Club	Thornton's Recycling	Kelletts (Oldcastle) Ltd
	TJ Reilly	Tony Martin	U14 7s
	U16 Ladies Footballers	U21 Footballers	U21 Hurlers

2008	Aussie Rules	Bob O'Malley	Boyle Emmets
	Brendan Murphy	Club Camogie	Coaching
	Colleges Review	Cormac Reilly	County Camogie
	Dad's Cycle	Dunboyne Ladies	Eamonn O'Brien
	Eugene O'Reilly	Evan Kelly	Fairyhouse
	Paul Flanagan	Gordon Elliott	Halifax
	Kells Handball	JMB	John Cunningham
	Junior Footballers	Ladies Football	Mary Burke
	McCormack Brothers	Meagher's Pharmacy	Michael Gallagher
	Minor Footballers	Minor Hurlers	Paddy Kelly
	Paddy Meegan	Panda Waste	Paul Donnelly
	Peter McDermott	Royal Gaels	Senior hurlers
	Senior Footballers	Supervalu	Tara Mines
	Tesco	Tom Carson	Tom Muldoon
	Tom Walsh	Under 14 Hurlers	Under 16 Shinty
	Under 21 Footballers	Under 21 Hurlers	Underage Ladies
	Vocational Schools

2007	Senior Footballers	NFL Div 2	John Andrews
	Liam Creavin	Ladies Football	St. Patrick's College
	1957 minors	Brendan Cahill	Minor Footballers
	Under 21 Footballers	Under 21 Hurlers	Minor Hurlers
	Mattie Gilsenan	Junior Footballers	St. Oliver's, Oldcastle
	Kevin Dowd	Mattie Kerrigan	Vocational Schools Football
	Caoimhin King	St. Oliver's	Quinn Reddin Ltd
	Carroll Joinery	Tully Bookmakers	Thornton's Recycling
	Alcrete Ltd	Stephen Clynch	College Roundup
	Camogie	Dudley Farrelly	Handball Review
	Mickey McQuillan	Paul Tobin	Declan McDonagh
	Ann Dungan	Stephen Bray	David Coldrick
	P. Elliott & Co	Coaching	Friends we lost
	Ferrovial-agroman-SIAC	O'Hare & McGovern	Eoin Brislane

2006	Senior Footballers	Senior Hurlers	Ladies Football
	Junior Footballers	Gillian Bennett	Colm Coyle
	Caoimhin King	Minor Footballers	Handball
	Camogie	St. Patricks CS	Shane McAnarney
	Dunboyne Castle	Door Depot	Lagan Group
	Meath County Council	John Andrews	Blue Dolphin
	Commons Hardware	Dunboyne VS	Centre of Excellence
	Padraig Fitzsimons	Ronan Frayne	Ger Lyons
	Meath Vocational Schools	U21 footballers	Jackie Skelly
	Ray Murphy	Martin Lydon	International Rules Series

2005	Senior Footballers	Senior Hurlers	Under 21 Footballers
	Under 21 Hurlers	Junior Footballers	Minor Footballers
	Sean Boylan	Tomas O'Connor	Eamon Barry
	Handball	Johnny Murray	Ladies
	Liam Keane	Camogie	Coaching
	Colleges	Ashwood Homes	Farmvale
	Sean Power	Jim Beggan	Oliver Cudden
	Prunty Pitches	Oliver Kavanagh	Vincent Foley

2004	Senior Footballers	Senior Hurlers	Under 21s
	Junior Footballers	Junior Hurlers	Minor Footballers
	Minor Hurlers	Under 16s	Under 14s
	Niall McKeigue	Ladies	Camogie
	Cumann na mBunscol	John Hunt	Coaching
	St. Pat's	Joe Harlin	Dunganny
	Tara Mines	Gormanston College	Handball
	New York	Declan Mullen

2003	Senior Footballers	Senior Hurlers	Under 21s
	Junior Footballers	Minor Footballers	Minor Hurlers
	Daithi Regan	Sean Boylan	Nigel Nestor
	Camogie	Keegan Cup	Martin Barry
	Coaching	Ladies Football	Handball
	Colleges	Damien Sheridan	Tom Sheridan

An Gaeltacht
2002	A treasured 25-years It was the year Elvis died, Red Rum won the Aintree Grand National for the third time, Cork won the All-Ireland hurling title and Dublin won the Sam Maguire cup. It was also the year An Gaeltacht were formed and Sean Mac Donncha was elected club treasurer.
2001	An Gaeltacht seek improvement It was another disappointing year for An Gaeltacht with only one championship win to show for their efforts. Former All-Ireland medalist Barry Ferguson was player/manager in 2001 and feels that the club didn't do itself justice.
2000	The Handy man Jim Timmons and An Gaeltacht football club have a long association. Since An Gaeltacht was formed in 1976 (the club began competing the following year), Jim Timmons has filled many positions and played many parts to help make An Gaeltacht the club it now is.
1999	Cathal's settled Scor Cathal Seoige enjoys his work as Irish Officer on the Co. Board executive. He also enjoyed his playing days with Martinstown-Athboy and An Gaeltacht. Here he talks to Royal County about his lifelong involvement in the GAA.
1998	Ghaeilgóirí an Mhí Tá an réiguín ins an Ghaeltacht, Rath Cairn cáillithe do alán rudaí ach go háirithe an pheil, thar gach rud eile. Anois chuireann Padraig O'Baoighill a shúil thar iarrachtaí na fir ó Rath Cairn.

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Athboy
2002	Young guns take centre stage Athboy - Rathcairn's under 14 team came tantalisingly close to pulling off a league and championship football double this year. Juvenile chairman Stephen Mangan reviewed an exciting year for the club's young guns.
2001	Back where they belong While two clubs, Trim and Kilmessan, are running neck and neck at the head of the Meath senior hurling roll of honour, Athboy are in third place with nine outright triumphs. However, they have not celebrated with the Jubilee Cup since the spring of 1973.
2000	Differing fortunes While their hurlers were relegated, Athboy's footballers were making soild progress. Royal County contrasts the differing fortunes of both sides.
1999	Athboy's loss was Wexford's gain The Wexford minors brought Meath's participation in this year's championship to an end. Athboy native Eddie Mahon trained the winning team. Shane O'Brien asked him to explain himself.
1998	Lots of toil, little success When Christy Kelly came onto the Athboy hurling side, success seemed inevitable. 24 years later he retired with five senior final defeats as his lot. Royal Meath discovers a man who still feels that he gained a lot from his association with the game.

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Baconstown
1999	Underage success boosts Baconstown's future prospects Baconstown underage coach Vincent Dargan reflects on two underage wins for the club this year and how the adult section of the club fared out these past twelve months.
1998	Deacon's Blues Ok, that's a more irristable than factually correct heading. The truth is Donie Flynn is as enthusiastic as ever for the Baconstown cause as Royal County found out.

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Ballinabrackey
2009	ÔBracks hope to make 2010 a happy 25th anniversary Ballinabrackey went across the border to find a manager who might help steer them to the Junior Football Championship title in 2009, but they met with further disappointment when they failed to reach the knockout stages for the sixth successive year. By Paul Clarke.
2008	Brack attack Ballinabrackey's best known footballer Chris O'Connor featured in Meath's three championship matches during a disappointingly brief 2008 campaign for Colm Coyle's team, while there was another bright star from the club playing a very significant role in the minor side's highly successful year, Damien Carroll.
2007	The rise and rise of Chris O'Connor Chris O'Connor enjoyed a meteoric rise through the ranks in 2007, culminating in his first championship start for Meath in the memorable All-Ireland quarter-final victory over Tyrone at Croke Park. His elevation to Colm Coyle's squad has seen him join an elite group of Ballinabrackey players who have represented their county at the highest level.
2006	Itching to get back The long wait gets longer for Ballinabrackey as the gap back to their last Junior Football Championship success lengthens with each passing year. It's now 21 years since the Offaly-border club last tasted success in the grade, but the desire to do so once again remains strong and they are a team that nobody will take for granted in the 2007 campaign. By Paul Clarke.
2005	Not far off the pace It doesn't seem like two decades have passed since Ballinabrackey last won the Meath Junior Football Championship title. But it is and as time goes steadily by the club's loyal supporters must be starting to wonder if the Offaly-border side will ever reach such heights again. By Paul Clarke.
2004	Not far off It's fast approaching two decades since Ballinabrackey last won the Meath Junior Football Championship and the Offaly-border club possesses a burning desire to lift some important silverware and start to move up the footballing ladder.
2003	Hot stuff! As John Curry looks back on the summer of 2003 he will have a certain degree of ‘we under achieved yet again' from a club point of view, but reflections on the inter-county scene will bring nothing but immense satisfaction and a sense of achievement.
2002	The Bracks are back Ballinabrackey full-back Trevor Bannon put it best. "It was a good year. We got promoted in the league and that was our aim. As for the championship, we were unlucky against Nobber in the semi-final but we are getting closer, every year that bit closer."
2001	Four decades of service Forty years after he first donned the Ballinabrackey jersey, Tommy O'Connor remains as involved in the club as ever. Randal Scally spoke to Tommy about his lifelong association with the Offaly-border outfit as well as his hopes for the future.
2000	The Rare Old Times Royal County talks to Seamus Fox whose allegiance to the Ballinabrackey club stretches back to the 1940s.
1999	Ballinabrackey start them young With the Ballinabrackey junior side failing to make an impact in the year just past, it was up to the club's under 12s to bring glory to the Offaly-border parish. Here, club stalwart Jim Cooney outlines the great strides that are being made at underage level.
1998	Meath and proud of it Have you ever heard of Father Callary? Perhaps not. He was Parish Priest of Ballinabrackey back in the 1940s -50s and he was instrumental in having something approved by Leinster Council GAA which has been of major significance.

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Ballinlough
2009	Extra time curse strikes again Ballinlough have reached the knockout stages of the Intermediate Football Championship in both their campaigns back in the middle grade and after losing to Cortown at the semi-final hurdle in 2008 they were eliminated a step earlier this year when Oldcastle got the better of them in a last eight clash. Interestingly, both those matches went to extra-time. By Paul Clarke.
2008	A Byrneing light! BallinloughÕs bid to win the Meath IFC and Division 3 FL double in 2008 finished empty handed but, according to county star Peadar Byrne, the north Meath club will be a force to be reckoned with again in the year ahead.
2007	It finally happened Ballinlough's 16 years in the top flight came to an end on the first Saturday of October in 2007 when survival specialists Kilmainhamwood defeated them decisively in the Senior Football Championship relegation final at Kells to send them back to the intermediate ranks.
2006	Underage revival 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.
2005	Survivors Ballinlough have had better years. Two-thousand-and-five descended into a real struggle for the north Meath club, who found themselves fighting relegation battles on both league and championship fronts. The form displayed over the course of the year wasn't the strain of consistency manager Gary McDonnell demanded, and it was all hands to the pump as Ballinlough's senior survival hung by a thread in late autumn. However, they pulled it out of the fire with a dramatic play-off victory over Dunderry at Athboy on Sunday October 23. Experienced campaigner Dan McCartan, who missed much of the season through injury, is hoping for a major upturn in fortunes in 2006.
2004	Team spirit the key for Ballinlough Ballinlough may not have the same playing resources as some of their rivals, but they more than make up for this with their tremendous team spirit as veteran forward Francis Tunney explains.
2003	Minors make history By clinching their first-ever minor trophy in September, Ballinlough proved that there's plenty of life in their neck of the woods. The MFL Div. 3 success provided the club with a welcome boost and the signs are encouraging that there could be plenty more where that came from.
2002	Ray of light It is highly unlikely that Blackhall Gaels will receive any Christmas cards from GAA folk in Ballinlough this winter. Not once, but twice in the 2002 senior football championship the North Meath club found themselves on the receiving end of a Blackhall victory.
2001	Big Tom and Ballinlough Grit and determination marked Ballinlough's year at underage level in 2001. Defeats in two finals during the year was hard to take. Later on in the year the north Meath club gained under 17 honours but the club's under 14 players showed tremendous courage also to make little of their travails and lift the North League Division 4 crown as mentor Tom Brady reminds us..
2000	Red alert Team manager Vincent Ryan put together a very talented Ballinlough under 16 combination in 2000. Young players like Smith, Geraghty, Gaynor, Fagan, Muldoon, McEnroe and Farrell will surely backbone the club's premier xv in ten years time
1999	League specialists After acute championship disappointment, the men from North Meath found the perfect remedy in the form of the Division 1 League title.
1998	A patient man's reward Not noted for their underage success, Ballinlough had reason to celebrate in 1998. U12 and U13 honours were garnered and a delighted Sean Smith talks to Royal County.

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Ballivor
2009	Finding their feet It was the sort of day when convincing the doubters about the dangers of global warming would have been next to impossible. The second last Sunday of November, 2008 at Martry was cold, damp and miserable and it also signalled the end of Ballivor's most recent stay in the Intermediate Football Championship. By Paul Clarke.
2008	We will be back Only six years after all the drama, excitement and jubilation of beating Navan O'Mahonys in the Intermediate Championship final, Ballivor diced with death in the middle grade of Meath football again in 2008.
2007	Ballivor won't give in Ballivor GFC can look back on a tough year but also one which galvanised the club and ultimately showed a gritty spirit to remain in the Intermediate Football Championship as they overcame all the obstacles that were placed in their way to avoid the drop down to junior. By Paul Cantwell.
2006	Nothing comes easy Ballivor can remember vividly what it's like to win the Intermediate Football Championship and they can also remember very clearly what it's like to lose your top flight status before you have a chance to find your feet in the senior grade. By Paul Clarke.
2005	A good start isn't half the battle! Ballivor made an atrocious start to their Intermediate Football Championship campaign, but they somehow managed to recover sufficiently to make it through to the quarter-finals where they were eliminated by Syddan. By Paul Clarke
2004	Back on song Under the watchful eye of Westmeath favourite Larry Giles, the 2002 intermediate champions rediscovered their winning touch to clinch promotion to Division Two of the ACFL.
2003	Fighting finish Looking back, it's hard not to see the irony in it all. Besides, September is the month of change. And just as the leaves fluttered to the ground this September, Ballivor's footballers tumbled out of the top flight. Damn September. Damn irony.
2002	Ballivor at last It is often said that you have to lose a final before winning one and that is often the case in the Meath Intermediate Football Championship. Dunderry and St Patrick's both suffered their share of disappointments before collecting the title and Ballivor finished second in two deciders before making it ‘third time lucky' with that dramatic 2-5 to 0-10 victory over Navan O'Mahonys last October.
2001	Third time lucky? Ballivor tasted Intermediate football final defeat for the second successive year, this time at the hands of Blackhall Gaels who snatched victory with a last gasp penalty. It has to be third time lucky next year.
2000	Ballivor fall at final hurdle When a place in the senior ranks was up for grabs Ballivor choose the wrong time to give one of their poorest performances of the year. But they needn't worry, as they will be back.
1999	A tireless worker The Intermediate title eluded Ballivor in 1999 but with people like Caroline Burke involved at administrative level, no stone will be left unturned in their bid to capture the Mattie McDonnell Cup.
1998	Good times beckon for Ballivor Championship triumph proved elusive but it was nevertheless a very good year for Ballivor GFC. Royal County spoke to their manager Willie Keegan and suddenly found himself indulging in a bit of nostalgia.

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Bective
2009	Eager to improve The 2009 Junior Football Championship proved to be a real struggle for Bective who achieved only one victory in the group stages and found themselves anchored to the bottom of the section and in the relegation play-off position. But with Drumree having withdrawn from the competition it looked like they would be spared the dogfight. By Paul Clarke.
2008	Proud part of the Navan trio One of three GAA clubs in Navan, Bective may be the smallest of the trio but they continue to keep the flag flying proudly with their dedicated band of workers fielding teams in various football grades from the lowest underage up to junior. By Noel Coogan.
2007	Plenty of promise and potential Having to field an under-strength team in the early stages of the Junior Football Championship proved a heavy burden for Bective and defeats in their opening three divisional matches put an end to their hopes of making it through to the knockout stages.
2006	Talented u14's steal the show Top teams are built on a different type of determination and never-say-die spirit. When it comes to the crunch the best team always stand up in the last ten minutes. Rarely is an underage side made up of these qualities, but this was the case when it came to the Bective U14 team in 2006. By Marcus Brennan.
2005	A marked improvement Despite a superb run comprising four straight wins in Division C of the 2005 Meath junior football championship, Bective narrowly missed out on a place in the knockout stage of the competition Ð but they were not to be denied their first piece of adult silverware in eight years. Playing better football than they had done in quite some time, they finished the season in style, claiming the Division Five league crown with a 1-6 to 1-5 defeat of Clann na Gael at Bohermeen on Saturday October 1. Ruairi Russell believes there's plenty more where that came from.
2004	The kids are all right At juvenile level, 2004 was a truly historic year for Bective, who struck on two fronts, capturing the U14 Division Two Football Championship and the U15 Division Four title.
2003	Historic triumph for Bective minors Bective enjoyed one of their finest hours this year. Amidst the hype surrounding Navan O'Mahony's and Simonstown, Bective refused to be eclipsed in Meath's chief town.
2002	What's another year? Sean Moran and his beleaguered Bective colleagues hung their heads in despair. The final whistle had sounded and the game was all over. Sportingly they shook the hands of the opposing, victorious, Wolfe Tones players who had just annihilated them 2-11 to 0-6. It was only mid-June but Bective's junior championship ambitions were already over for another year.
2001	Looking to regain the winning touch After surprising many within the county by reaching the semi-finals of the Intermediate championship in 1999, two bad years has pushed Bective back from whence they came: languishing in the junior grade. Their long serving forward, John Sheehan, believes that all is not lost, however, and that the club can make a concerted push towards the junior championship in 2002.
2000	Under 14's create history The club's adults might have had a year to forget, but the Bective under 14s managed to preserve some level of pride by completing a league and championship double, in the process becoming the first Bective side to win an underage championship. Roscommon native Manus Tiernan was one of five men over the side, and he was delighted by the success.
1999	Mister Versatile Standing at 5' 7”, he wouldn't be most people's idea of the perfect goalkeeper. But when Bective were short of one this year, Davy Cahill agreed to stand between the sticks. He speaks about a long run in the intermediate championship, and an even longer one in football.
1998	Perseverance brings success The rags to riches story of the Bective Club should act as an inspiration to others throughout the Royal County. And now that they've sampled the sweet taste of success they're hungry for more as Royal County discovered when we talked to Juvenile Committee Chairman Dessie O'Brien.

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Bellewstown

2007	Bellewstown won't give up the race As the club continued to struggle with falling playing numbers, Bellewstown GFC endured another difficult year in both the Junior B Football championship and the Division 5 FL, but the Gaels of the club continue to work at the coalface.
2006	The good fight This time 20 years ago Bellewstown GFC was living the high life as players, officials and its passionate band of supporters shortened the winter months of 1986 with glorious memories of a fabulous championship triumph. By Paul Clarke.
2005	Commitment the key With one of the smallest picks in the county, Bellewstown have found the going tough these past few years. But despite their difficulties, team manager Martin McEnteggart is convinced that the black and ambers can begin the climb back up the Meath footballing ladder, starting with a junior ÔB' championship win next year.
2004	How fortunes change Bellewstown's ambition to start their climb back up the Meath footballing ladder met with further disappointment in 2004 when they failed to reach the business end of the battle for the junior ‘B' Football Championship.
2003	Boys from the hill Perhaps the players knew it themselves. St Vincent's had just beaten them in the first round of the junior B championship, and there was that haunting feeling of inevitability hanging in the Bellewstown dressing-room.
2002	B for Bellewstown Bellewstown, to say the very least, endured a difficult and unsuccessful year in 2002 which saw them relegated in both the championship and league and the hope for next year will be that things can only get better.
2001	Making headway P.J. Cudden made his bow as a football coach in 2001. Training and managing his native Bellewstown was a real learning experience, he admits. We recently rolled the tape back in his company.
2000	Girl Power Finally Bellewstown ladies collected the Junior championship title. The Royal county talked to the man who helped make it all possible, Mick Collins.
1999	A jewel in the Bellewstown crown Bellewstown's Eimear McAuley has blazed an impressive trail since breaking onto the Meath senior team two years ago. Royal County talked to the 18 year old about life on the Meath senior team and the progress being made by the Bellewstown ladies.
1998	Pride in the Parish Bellewstown's Alex Collins talks to Royal County about the ongoing struggles facing a small rural club and his own personal loyalty to the cause.

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Blackhall Gaels
2009	Looking to regain their scoring touch Senior Football Championship life after Anthony Moyles brought mixed fortunes for Blackhall Gaels in 2009 and after scraping through the group stages they were eliminated from the title race when losing to Dunshaughlin in the preliminary quarter-final. By Paul Clarke.
2008	League Winners Eamonn Barry's first term as Blackhall Gaels manager brought them to the semi-finals of the Senior Football Championship, but more importantly led them to silverware as the ACFL Division 1 title was garnered with an impressive final win over Wolfe Tones.
2007	Injuries hamper the gaels For the first time since winning the title in 2003, Blackhall Gaels failed to make it through to the closing stages of the Meath SFC this year with injuries to key players considerably weakening them.
2006	League is more than just compensation There were high expectation in Blackhall Gaels at the start of the year that the championship could be brought back to the parish, but at the end of the season those involved with the club had to be content with the ACFL Division 2 trophy.
2005	Intermediate glory at small ball game Blackhall Gaels joined a small and elite club on the fourth Sunday of October when they pounced late to defeat Na Fianna in a highly entertaining Intermediate Hurling Championship final at Trim.
2004	Minors put hurling in the limelight Football stole the limelight in Blackhall Gaels during 2003 but twelve months later hurling was the toast of the parish.
2003	Rags to riches tale of Gaels Mol an Oige agus Tiocfaidh Siad- Start them young and they will flourish. The above statement is one, which has clearly been the motto around Batterstown, and Kilcloon and it bore fruit on September 21st.
2002	Blackhall on the brink Blackhall Gaels' premier adult football team has certainly had an up and down existence since the club was formed in 1995 and the happenings of last season added another exciting chapter to the short lifespan.
2001	Gaels force their way back up Many felt Blackhall Gaels were rather unfortunate to drop down from senior ranks last year when going down thanks to a last minute point by O'Mahonys. As Brendan Boylan reports however, they wiped out those painful memories in the best way possible when dishing out a similar fate to Ballivor.
2000	Down but not out Blackhall Gaels' luck deserted them in the relegation play-off matches against O'Mahonys. Royal County takes a look at the season that saw them drop a grade.
1999	A Minor miracle Blackhall Gaels' steady climb up the ladder of Meath GAA continued in 1999 with their Minors surprising many by bringing home the Delaney Cup. Royal County recounts the latest chapter in the club's success story.
1998	The Gaels blow into Senior Blackhall Gaels are in existence only four short years. The amalgamation between Kilcoon and Batterstown had its doubting Thomases. But, as Royal County finds out, 1998 and an intermediate title success, proved the doubters wrong.

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Boardsmill
2009	One step back - two steps forward? Having spent nine years at the top table of Meath hurling following their IHC success in 2000, Boardsmill were demoted to the intermediate ranks at the end of the this year's SHC campaign. By Liam OÕRourke.
2008	50 years on There have been many proud days in the history of Boardsmill GAA Club and one of the most memorable undoubtedly came in late 1958 when they made the breakthrough by winning the Senior Hurling Championship for the first time. By Paul Clarke.
2007	TJ Reilly and those decades of service Over three decades ago a highly committed hurler from the Boardsmill club helped Meath to a very significant victory over Kildare in the Walsh Cup at Trim. The Lilywhites were highly regarded in the small ball code in those days, turning in some superb performances against the top counties.
2006	Moving forward The gap to Boardsmill's last annexation of the Jubilee Cup stretches back over three decades to the year they completed a fabulous three in-a-row in 1975 and their hopes of regaining the title this year appeared to be enhanced considerably when they beat Trim in a play-off, but they then bowed out against Dunboyne.
2005	Boardsmill land their prize Some years ago Boardsmill were the kingpins of Meath hurling but in more recent times football seems to have taken over as the main focus in the club with two championship titles gained and notable progress being made in the big ball game.
2004	Dicing with danger For a club like Boardsmill, with a proud tradition in the Senior Hurling Championship, holding onto your standing in the top grade is highly important. And that's how it turned out for the south Meath side in 2004 as they diced with death before securing their survival in the last chance saloon.
2003	Out of luck! After being better known as a hurling club over the last few decades, Boardsmill have been carving a football niche for themselves over the past couple of years. The junior C success of 2002 was their first championship triumph in the big ball game and then they came tantalisingly close to adding the junior B title last September.
2002	Champions Sometimes it just means more! Boardsmill's footballers have trudged along in relative anonymity since the start of time, but over the last few years they have started to make an impact at underage level.
2001	The Mill grind out minor success 2001 marked only the second time that Boardsmill fielded a football team at minor level. However, such is the talent being nurtured at underage level within the club that many more landmark achievements - like the club's minor title success - are doubtless just around the corner.
2000	Through the ‘Mill The disappointment of the Boardsmill players, mentors and supporters at suffering relegation from the senior hurling ranks in 1999 was erased this year when they bounced right back to claim the Intermediate title. It was an expected victory for the south Meath club but one that was savoured nonetheless.
1999	A true Gael A native of Cuil-Aodha in west Cork, Peadar O Liathain arrived in Boardsmill on the 3rd November 1951 to take up a teaching post in the local National School. Cork's loss has been Boardsmill's gain.
1998	The Future is bright A great year indeed for the Boardsmill club as various titles were captured in both codes. Welcome success for one of the county's smallest football clubs as Boardsmill U13's best in thrilling final against Clan na Gael

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Carnaross
2009	Status secure One victory and four defeats left Carnaross well out of the reckoning for a place in the knockout stage of the 2009 Intermediate Football Championship, but with plenty of talented young players coming through the ranks in the club there are certainly reasons to be optimistic as they look to the future.
2008	So much promise Carnaross exited the race for the Mattie McDonnell Cup at the last eight hurdle in 2007, but they were eliminated one step earlier this year when Syddan ended their dream of a first title in the intermediate grade since 1993 in a preliminary quarter-final.
2007	Carnaross show big improvement After a near disastrous 2006, Carnaross showed a welcome return to form this year by reaching the knock-out stages of the intermediate football championship. Club secretary Brendan O'Reilly was pleased with the team's much-improved displays and is hopeful that they can mount a serious title challenge in 2008.
2006	Injuries prove insurmountable It was as nondescript and unexpected a place as possible for it all to end. Right at the outset, before it had even started. By Gordan Manning
2005	Surprised at the death Carnaross will probably win the award for comeback of the year, but that will be of little consolation to the club as they look back on 2005 and an Intermediate Football Championship campaign that appeared to promise quite a lot in the divisional stages, but came to an end when they were eliminated by surprise packets St. Colmcille's after extra-time in the quarter-finals.
2004	Slow start catches up with Carnaross Carnaross will have to wait another year for a tilt at Intermediate Football Championship honours following their semi-final defeat at the hands of east Meath outfit Duleek at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday September 19. Royal County asked club chairman Malachy Plunkett: what happened the likely lads?
2003	Good year despite final performance What have the following teams got in common? Navan O'Mahonys, Ballivor, Blackhall Gaels and St Patricks? They have won the last four intermediate championships having been beaten in the previous year's final! And what about Dunderry? They were beaten in three successive finals before winning it at the fourth time of asking in 1990!
2002	Three times and out Carnaross could be forgiven for having nightmares at the prospect of facing Slane in the Intermediate Football Championship. They have lost to them three times in the competition in the last two years, including twice in the 2002 season, and that second play-off defeat ended their hopes of winning the championship for the first time since 1993 and bouncing back to senior football.
2001	Aidan Gillic's refereeing years There's not many referees, past or present, who can say that every minute of their time in black has been enjoyable and well worth living out. Former top-notch whistler from Carnaross, Aidan Gillic, says the business of refereeing was the best thing he ever did on the GAA front.
2000	The more things change ... In an interview with Royal County, Carnaross GFC President Jack Smith recalls his own playing days and assesses the current state of his beloved club.
1999	A mixed bag Nineteen-ninety-nine was a strange year for Carnaross, a season tatooed by ups and downs. First of all, their star player Ollie Murphy inspired Meath to their seventh All-Ireland; then they lost their senior status; finally, they bounced back to finish the year on a high note by winning the Division Two league title.
1998	The Murphy legacy As a player, Benny Murphy seemed to go on forever. Carnaross are keeping their fingers crossed that he'll do likewise as a valuable member of their backroom team. Royal County meets the man in question.

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Castletown
2009	Survival instinct intact As the Castletown players headed to Pairc Tailteann on a Friday evening in late October this year they must have been asking themselves how they ended up where they were. With a bit of luck at all they might have reached the knockout stages of the Intermediate Football Championship, but the reality was so very different. By Paul Clarke.
2008	The winds of change Natural progression might have suggested that Castletown would win the Intermediate Football Championship this year. They suffered the disappointment of losing at the semi-final stage to neighbours Rathkenny in 2006 and the pain was even more severe approximately 12 months later when they were beaten in the final by Donaghmore/Ashbourne.
2007	Final heartbreak for Castletown If Castletown thought it was painful last year, it must have hurt a great deal more in 2007 when they came up short in a highly entertaining Intermediate Football Championship final at Pairc Tailteann on the third Sunday of October.
2006	Plenty of promise Three decades have passed since Castletown last won the Intermediate Football Championship title and the search goes on after a 2006 campaign that promised much but failed to deliver as Sean Barry's team exited the race for the Mattie McDonnell Cup at the semi-final stage against neighbours Rathkenny.
2005	Aiming to break the quarter-final jinx When Castletown defeated Wolfe Tones after a replay in the All-County A League Div. 2 final late last year they must have really started to believe that 2005 would be their year and that an eagerly-awaited Intermediate Football Championship title was just around the corner. By Paul Clarke.
2004	Castletown finish on a high While Wolfe Tones enjoyed a wonderful 2004, adding the Meath Intermediate Football Championship to the county, provincial and national junior successes of the previous year, neighbours Castletown also had cause for celebrations, after a thrilling triumph in the Division 2 FL.
2003	Castletown stun by five goal salvo Castletown's dream of winning the Intermediate Football Championship was shattered on a damp August evening in Moynalty when Carnaross finished strongly to eliminate Liam Clarke's side at the quarter-final stage. But three underage titles auger well for the future.
2002	Castletown look to next year One thing immediately strikes you about Liam Clarke; his utter belief in the Castletown team he captained this year is thoroughly unquenchable. The north Meath club failed to make an impact on the 2002 Intermediate Football Championship, but Liam is adamant that a breakthrough to the senior ranks is within reach.
2001	‘Town but not out Castletown's angst at missing out on a place in the blue riband intermediate football decider in the past year and on promotion from division two to boot is made bearable for the likes of stalwart clubman Johnny Duffy by a swift analysis of the potential that's inherent in the club.
2000	King of the Castle A disappointing championship year for Castletown was salvaged when the club went on to gain promotion to Division Two. Captain James McConnell hopes the higher standard of league football will provide the springboard for a stronger challenge on the championship front.
1999	Kings of the Castle After a lacklustre summer for the club's intermediate side, there was some consolation for Castletown Gaels when the Under 16s claimed the Division 3 title with a victory over Clann na Gael in July. A selector on that team was Colm Smyth, who speaks about the club's year.
1998	The future beckons Royal County charts Castletown's impressive run in the 1997 U21 special competition which culminated in a final victory over Kilmainhamwood.

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Clann na nGael
2009	Mission accomplished For the past number of years Clann na nGael hurlers had earned the reputation of being a yoyo team in that they bounced from intermediate and senior on an almost annual basis. However, they cemented their place in the top flight last year, and they can now lay claim to be one of the best in the county, having reached the quarter-finals in 2009.
2008	A happy Clann The 2008 campaign was an intriguing one for the Clann na nGael hurlers as they made their return to the senior ranks following last yearÕs success in the intermediate championship. However, the club has found itself in this situation all too often in recent years and the main emphasis during the season was to retain their senior status.
2007	Junior champions When Clann na nGael captured the Meath JFC title on the first Sunday of October last, the success was only the third for a team from the Athboy parish. Fifty years earlier the name Athboy went on the championship roll of honour and in 1969 Martinstown won outright honours.
2006	On both fronts Clann na nGael footballers have established themselves as a decent junior ÔA' team and as this year's results in the championship prove, they are not to far away from competing at the business end of the campaign.
2005	Hurlers achieve their goal Clann na nGael hurlers set out with the aim of maintaining their senior status during the course of the 2005 SHC and experienced player Eamon Clancy admitted that their performances during the campaign came about due to hard work and determination.
2004	Return to senior ranks Following the disappointment and surprise of losing the 2003 Intermediate hurling final, Clann na nGael made no mistake in returning to the senior ranks for next year with a well earned win over Gaeil Colmcille in this year's decider.
2003	A new beginning A new club was born in the Royal County in 2003 when An Gaeltacht (Rath Cairn) joined forces with Athboy to give rise to Clann na nGael. It was an historic development and the club set about its tasks accordingly.

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Clonard
2009	A coming force Clonard's ongoing efforts to win the Junior B Football Championship continue to meet with frustration, but there's no denying that the work being carried out at under age level in the club has the potential to reap rich rewards at adult level in the future. By Paul Clarke.
2008	37-year drought comes to an end Getting back to the Junior B Championship final was the primary aim for Clonard at the start of the year and while that may not have been achieved, that disappointment was put to one side as the club ended a 37-year wait for adult silverware when they claimed the Division 5FL title.
2007	Quarter-final exit for Clonard After a highly progressive year in 2006, Clonard must have been more than hopeful that '07 would bring silverware in the shape of the Larry Kearns Memorial Cup that goes to the winners of the Junior B Football Championship.
2006	So close While disappointed to lose out to St. Brigid's in the junior ÔB' championship decider, Clonard can still take a great deal of encouragement from their progress this year according to club stalwart and selector Leonard Farrell.
2005	Clonard juveniles come of age Clonard are celebrating one of their greatest years, following an unprecedented run of success at juvenile level. By mid-summer, three juvenile titles had already been garnered in the form of U14 league Division Four, U14 championship Division Three and U12 league Division Four Ð a hefty harvest by any standards and, fingers crossed, the beginning of a brave new era for this proud Meath GAA outpost.
2004	It's ‘ard at times Clonard missed out on a quarter-final slot in the Junior ‘B' Football Championship by the slenderest of margins, going out on scoring difference to St. Paul's. Frank Hevey reviewed the year.
2003	Recalling the big days Back in the winter of 1993 Niall Walsh's mind was surely still tuned in to an amazing year that culminated in a never to be forgotten appearance in an All-Ireland Minor Football Championship final with Meath on the hallowed turf of Croke Park.
2002	Unlucky year for Clonard Gaelic football folk in Clonard will tell you that the game can be very cruel sometimes, and to be honest, you'd find it hard to disagree with them. Three championship wins in succession, only one defeat and still they failed to make the junior B play-offs in 2002. Sometimes football just has a way of kicking you in the teeth. Managing them this year was Ray Brennan, and he hated every minute of walking along the Clonard sideline.
2001	Underage evolution in Clonard For the first time in nearly a decade, Clonard fielded under 10 and under 12 teams last season. Declan Twomey, who was junior ‘B' team player/manager, gives the lowdown on happenings in the south county club
2000	Work hard, Play hard, Clonard The working hard and the playing hard are qualities that Clonard don't lack but that combination still wasn't enough to see Junior ‘B' football glory head to the small south Meath club. Chairman Joe Gannon and his fellow club members haven't given up the fight just yet though.
1999	Clonard keep their heads up Clonard's bid to land the elusive Junior ‘B' Football Championship crown faltered at the penultimate round stage last season. Disappointment was once again the club's lot but, according to team centre forward Mark Gannon, the quest for glory will continue in 2000. .
1998	A faller at the final hurdle Once again the gaels of Clonard were forced to endure final defeat heartbreak. Royal County talks to Manager Gerry Flanagan about the year gone by.

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Cortown
2009	Knocking on the senior door After being beaten finalists in the IFC in 2008, Cortown were unable to progress as far in the race for the Mattie McDonnell Cup and after finishing in third place in their group, getting to the quarter-finals proved beyond them. By Noel Coogan.
2008	Loads of pride and determination Two years after being relegated from Meath footballÕs premier ranks, Cortown were knocking at the senior door last autumn but they were refused re-entry as parish neighbours St UltanÕs found the right key in the Lagan Group IFC final.
2007	No double drop for Cortown The almost unthinkable must have been going through the minds of everybody associated with the Cortown club as they made their way to Bective on the fourth Saturday of September this year - one more defeat and they had lost another life in their struggle to avoid a second championship relegation in the space of a year.
2006	Relegation heartache For the last decade, Cortown have defied their critics and maintained their status in the senior ranks, however that all came to an end after defeat to Kilmainhamwood in this year's relegation play-off.
2005	Coyne proves his worth Having scaled the heights of a SFC quarter-final against Skryne in 2004, Cortown experienced contrasting fortunes in '05. This time around, they failed to make an impact in the premier knockout competition, plummeting into a relegation play-off before retaining their senior status courtesy of a comfortable victory over Ballinlough. Centre back and captain David ÔSkipper' Coyne - a steadying influence all year Ð reflects on a topsy-turvy year for the boys in green.
2004	Cortown just won't give up For a club representing a small area in the west end of Bohermeen parish, Cortown have done remarkably well since making their debut in the Meath Senior Football Championship in 1997.
2003	Fighting to the last Just what it means to hold onto your hard-earned senior status was glaringly apparent at Pairc Tailteann in mid-August when Cortown secured the precious point that guaranteed their survival in the premier grade.
2002	Bubbling under Cortown endured a Jekyll and Hyde season in 2002. They came within a whisker of regaining their division one league status, yet found themselves embroiled in senior championship relegation trouble at the tail end of the season. Club secretary Pat Keane attempts to unravel the enigma.
2001	Smitten by all things Cortown The world and his mother know that Cortown are a coming outfit. However, the problem for 40-something club stalwart Francis Smyth is that the talked-about blue riband success for the one-time division five club can't come quickly enough.
2000	Life is a rollercoaster It's been an eventful five years for Cortown and Gordon Codd, as Royal County reports. Cortown are about as predictable as the weather ... you just never know what's coming next. Just when you think you've got them sussed, they carpetbomb all rationale with a bewildering move, rendering the bemused onlooker dizzy, speechless and sometimes hurt.
1999	Optimism in Cortown Expectations have heightened so much in Cortown that last season's senior championship exit at the quarter-final stage was considered a disappointment. Confident that further improvements will be made in the coming year is stalwart defender Liam Rennicks.
1998	Cortown's Meehan with destiny Johnny Meehan, an All-Ireland medal winner in 1949, a founder member of Cortown and as good an interviewee as our man Royal County has come across.

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Curraha
2009	A new face The opening of their new clubhouse in late August was a massive occasion for the Curraha club, but unfortunately the Junior Football Championship proved less successful, though they did fare considerably better in Division 5 of the A League. By Paul Clarke.
2008	Plenty to be proud of Curraha GFC was justifiably proud of the major role their own Pat Coyle played in the success of the Meath minor football team in 2008, while Mark Battersby, who plays at under-age level for St Vincent's/Curraha, was a key forward on the side which enjoyed a summer to remember.
2007	A real buzz in Curraha After going close to reaching the business end of the Junior Football Championship last year Curraha probably had grounds for optimism as they prepared for the start of the battle for the Matthew Ginnity Cup in 2007.
2006	Crisp football Five years after their exciting victory in the Meath Junior Football Championship, Curraha celebrated a more modest triumph last October when taking Division 5 FL title with a final win over Drumree at Dunshaughlin.
2005	Youth the key at Curraha Curraha set their stall out to steady the ship after being relegated from the Intermediate Football Championship and losing their Div. 3 League status in 2004. Club secretary Paul O'Connor reviewed the year.
2004	Mood is good Curraha might have suffered relegation from the intermediate ranks in 2004, but the mood in the club remains upbeat and positive as they look to the future, happy in the knowledge that they have good under-age structures in place which should sustain them in the years ahead.
2003	Curraha's juvenile fairytale continues There are many success stories contained in Royal County 2003, but few can match that of Curraha, whose exploits at juvenile level are nothing short of phenomenal.
2002	Carroll on regardless Eoin Carroll played a primary role in bringing the junior championship to Curraha in 2001. This year he and his teammates made the treacherous step up to intermediate football and survived.
2001	Curraha's best Making the most of your resources is what every club strives to achieve. In this respect, the gaels of Curraha set the standard in 2001 by maximising their potential and winning the junior football championship title. We look back on their campaign.
2000	Curraha's man from the Kingdom With Brian Stafford staying on for his second season as trainer, Curraha named a new manager to work alongside him at the beginning of last season. He was Pat Moriarty, a Kerry man who's been involved with the club since 1995 having moved up from the Kingdom. In Kerry Pat played with Templenoe, the club of the Spillane brothers, Pat, Tom and Mick
1999	McManus of Curraha is ‘Special' Ian McManus has represented the county at minor, U21, junior and senior levels. Needless to say the Curraha club are proud of his achievements to date. It's players like him who provide much optimism for the club's future.
1998	Climbing the ladder 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.

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Donaghmore/Ashbourne
2009	Depleted Donaghmore/Ashbourne keep heads above water Maximum points from their last two outings in Group A ensured Donaghmore/Ashbourne werenÕt dragged into a relegation dogfight in the SFC but David Jennings looks back on how the year could have been more fruitful had injuries to vital players not hampered their progress.
2008	From strength to strength When a definitive history of Donaghmore Ashbourne GAA Club is finally compiled, 2008 will certainly be regarded as one of the milestones in the clubÕs history, writes Michael Doherty.
2007	Breakthrough made For the first time in 48 years we have finally put our name in the hat with the big boys in Meath GAA. And what a year we had, as we claimed the Mattie McDonnell Cup and the Division 3A league all within six days of each other. In addition to this our Minor team reclaimed the minor championship for the second year in a row and off the field we are only weeks away from moving into our new complex in Killegland. Things are going from strength to strength for Donaghmore Ashbourne and our season's review is as follows:
2006	Ladies Football Although we did not manage to bring home as much silverware as in previous years, 2006 saw our ladies football section continues to go from strength to strength. Almost all of our teams were still in action when it came to semi final and final stages and the season overview went as follows: Hurling The adult hurling team had a great start to the season as their first official outing of the year saw them bring home their first silverware since 1994. The St Patrick's weekend saw them play Blackhall Gaels in the 2005 Grade 1 Hurling league final in Ratoath. On the march Although our early season targets had to be raised higher mid way through the season our adult football season ended in a disappointing manner over two consecutive weekends at Seneschalstown.
2005	Donaghmore land Junior C honours A club representing one of the largest population bases in the Royal County ended a long wait for an adult football championship title when Donaghmore/Ashbourne captured outright honours in the Junior C FC on the last Sunday of August with an emphatic 3-13 to 0-4 final victory over St Colmcille's at Pairc Tailteann. Club Review Every January, clubs throughout the Country are filled with high expectations as they look forward to the coming GAA season. Underage Football At underage level the club continues to go from strength to strength.
2004	The promise of Killegland West Anybody returning to the Ashbourne area these days after a reasonably prolonged period away would undoubtedly be astonished at the vast amount of house-building that has taken place in a region that, not that very long ago, would have been termed no more than a small town.
2003	U14 ‘a' championship for Donaghmore/Ashbourne On the many occasions that Derry, Tyrone, Armagh, Louth and Donegal supporters passed through the village of Ashbourne, some would have wondered if there was a football team in the area.
2002	Plenty of apples in the basket Donaghmore/Ashbourne GAA Club certainly aren't lacking in ambition and plan to tap into the potential that a rapidly growing population offers in their area.
2001	Tormey toasts a great year Donaghmore/Ashbourne will be rubbing shoulders with the ‘big boys' in Division 1 of the All County Football league next year on the back of a yet another memorable promotion campaign. Team manager Conor Tormey believes that defeat in the League final at the hands of Navan O'Mahony's didn't detract from a great year.
2000	Hungry to dispel notion Having failed once again to make an impact in the Intermediate championship, Donaghmore/Ashbourne have reinforced the notion that they are a club unable to reproduce their best league form in the most important competition.
1999	Rising up the ranks Donaghmore/Ashbourne's ascent up the All-County Leagues continued unabated in 1999 but they failed to transfer their league form onto the championship arena. The team's centre forward PJ Moran takes a look back at the last twelve months.
1998	‘Moore success 1998 saw Donaghmore-Ashbourne lift their first adult trophy in 27 years. Our special correspondent reviews the year.

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Drumbaragh
2009	More than holding their own Drumbaragh reached the semi-finals of the Junior Football Championship for the first time since they returned to the grade in 1999, but there was disappointment when Longwood turned in a brilliant second half performance to end their interest in the competition. By Paul Clarke.
2008	League champions After being eliminated at the last eight stage in the previous three Junior Football Championship campaigns Drumbaragh had an obvious desire to break the quarter-final jinx in 2008, but instead they failed to advance from the group stages after losing two of their matches but still held their nerve to claim a famous Division 4 FL title win.
2007	Waiting to break the quarter-final jinx Drumbaragh are finding the quarter-final hurdle very difficult to clear as they continue their pursuit of the Junior Football Championship title. For the third successive year they were eliminated at the last eight stage and how it hurt as St. Brigid's edged them out by a point after extra-time.
2006	Knocking on the door For the second year running Drumbaragh exited the Junior Football Championship at the quarter-final stage, but departing player-manager Christy Carry believes the club has what it takes to lift the Matthew Ginnity Cup in the not to distant future.
2005	Drums keep on rolling Drumbaragh GFC have just completed another year's competition which saw them reach the quarter-finals of the Junior 'A' championship. Although defeat there to Kilmainham was a disappointment, club secretary Barry Monaghan believes there are many positives to take from 2005.
2004	Carry on Drumbaragh Drumbaragh may not be big, but it's a place with great expectations. On the field this year those expectations went unfulfilled. And it hurts.
2003	Drumbaragh had big hopes On the back of Drumbaragh's 2002 Div.3 under 21 success, the club had high hopes of being involved in the business end of the Junior A championship in 2003. Instead they found themselves embroiled in a relegation play-off at the tail end of the season. Stalwart Christopher Carry reviewed the year.
2002	Glory days in the making The glory days of 1999 are a distant memory now in Drumbaragh, after a third successive year of failing to qualify from the group stages in the Junior A championship.
2001	It's in the blood! Joe Smith is the archetypal gael. He's imbued with an inherent love of Gaelic football and, in terms of service, he's given two score years and more to the GAA. Like his late father Terry, his first allegiance is to Drumbaragh though.
2000	Murtagh leads Drumbaragh revival The mini-revival sparked by Finian Murtagh's arrival at Drumbaragh was temporarily halted when they lost to Curraha at the play-off stage of this season's Junior A championship. Next season, they have the chance to put things right.
1999	The drums beat The year 2000 will see Drumbaragh Emmetts grace the Junior A championship, a fitting reward for their dedicated efforts.Drumbaragh are Meath Junior B champions for 1999 and there will be no better winners than the emerging north Meath outfit.
1998	Carry on the Faith Paidin Carry was one of Drumbaragh's finest and was most unlucky not to have won major honours with Meath. Royal County talks with a GAA ‘character.'

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Drumconrath
2009	The visit to junior could be a short one Just three years after they contested the Intermediate Championship final, Drumconrath slipped out of the grade when they lost the relegation final to Castletown and it will now be a case of regrouping in the junior ranks with the hope of better days to come. By Paul Clarke.
2008	Reds in Green and Gold A gap of almost three decades was bridged during the summer when Terry Skelly played senior championship football for Meath, coming on as a substitute when the Royal County scored a runaway victory over Carlow in their Leinster SFC opener at Croke Park.
2007	Drums still learning After going all the way to the IFC final in 2006, there was a shorter road in store for Drumconrath this year as they fell a couple of hurdles earlier after winning two games and losing the other two in their group.
2006	They'll be back Drumconrath's Intermediate Football Championship campaign started with a very unsatisfactory outing against Na Fianna which was abandoned and ended on the biggest day of the year on the Meath club football scene when they suffered the huge disappointment of losing the final to Rathkenny. By Paul Clarke.
2005	Getting closer In the past two IFC campaigns Drumconrath went close to making the knockout stages and according to Peter O'Halloran they just need a little more self-belief to make a bigger impact at this level.
2004	Drum's sound good After struggling to make an impression in the intermediate football championship in the last couple of years, Drumconrath came within a whisker of making the last eight in 2004.
2003	McArdle remembers when It's a very rare occurrence indeed that six brothers win Meath Championship medals on the one day in any grade, but it happened 40 years ago in 1963 when the Callans numerically dominated the St. Peter's, Drumconrath, panel that won the Junior A football competition.
2002	A life less ordinary The streets of Seattle can be the best of places and the worst of places. But for much of 2001 they were the best of places for Drumconrath player Austin Hickey. At the age of only 21 he was the Strength and Fitness coach for the University of Washington American Football team, the Washington Huskies.
2001	Farrells Field One of Drumconrath's longest serving and most committed members is Jody Farrell. Royal County spoke to him about his 40-year involvement with the club.
2000	Drumconrath's in good ‘Nick' As a player, official and supporter, Nicky Callan has served Drumconrath GFC with distinction. Royal County talks to the shop proprietor about the Junior championship win of 1963, the current team's future prospects and the photographic display he organised this year to commemorate the dawn of the millennium, amongst many other things.
1999	Divided loyalties They travelled together to the game but they were on different wavelengths. A Cork flag out one car window and a Meath one flowing from the other. Royal County spoke to Drumconrath's Peter Ludlow and his Cork wife Eileen about their differing views on the recent All-Ireland final.
1998	Two heads better than one These are rewarding times for the underage players of Drumconrath/Meath Hill. Kevin McDonald, a selector with the victorious minor side talks to Royal County about the amalgamation's winning formula.

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Drumree
2009	Drumree drive on Drumree's efforts to make an instant return to the top flight met with disappointment in 2009 when a team coached by Rathmolyon and Meath player Mickey Cole failed to advance as one of the four semi-finalists from the six-team group which made up the Intermediate Hurling Championship. By Paul Clarke.
2008	Hoping for better things to come Members of Drumree GAA club will be happy to see the back of 2008 for a variety of reasons and will no doubt be looking forward to starting from a blank canvass in the year ahead.
2007	Drumree dwell on Ôwhat might have been' After slipping down from the Intermediate ranks two years ago, Drumree have found it hard to make an impact in the JFC and 2007 proved to be another frustrating year for the club as they failed to progress beyond the group stages of the third tier competition.
2006	Promotion via the league When Drumree lost the IFC relegation play-off to Slane in 2005 the great desire of all involved with the club was surely that they would make an instant return to the intermediate ranks by winning the JFC this year. But that wasn't how it turned out and instead of mounting a challenge for a quarter-final place they endured a very difficult campaign which brought no victories in the group stages and just two draws.
2005	A tough year Despite relegation from the intermediate football ranks and an unsatisfactory exit from the senior hurling championship, all isn't bleak in Drumree according to PRO Macartan McGroder.
2004	Putting down a marker Drumree achieved two victories against Dunderry in their first year in the Senior Hurling Championship - the first was historic, the second possibly life-saving.
2003	Historic year for Drumree The year 2003 will long live in the memories of Drumree hurling club as they secured the rights to play in the senior hurling championship for next year.
2002	The Wonder Years Back then it was all so different! Drumree were the nearly men of junior football in the county. Back then the match programme prior to the 1996 All-Ireland final between Meath and Mayo carried a picture profile of Evan Kelly, age 22, 5'11", 13st, one Leinster SFC.
2001	A Valiant Troy Drumree may be better known as a football club in a county so driven by all things big ball, but the small south Meath club is making strides in hurling to match those made on the football fields over the past few summers.
2000	No dossing in Drumree Intermediate semi-finalists in their second year in the grade, Drumree are pushing hard as forward Jimmy Walsh explains.
1999	Champions of Leinster Drumree created history when they became the first Meath club to claim the Leinster Junior Tournament. Royal County charts their success.
1998	Destiny and Drumree Drumree have unquest-ionably been the most consistent junior club of the 90s. However, they are junior no more. Royal County chronicles a title that nobody could begrudge the men in red and white.

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Duleek
2009	First championship honours for the newcomers This year was a significant one for the Duleek/Bellewstown club with a first championship title being annexed since the amalgamation with the Junior B FC triumph. The first team showed mixed form, qualifying for the Division 1 League final but finishing bottom of their group in the SFC. By Noel Coogan.
2008	New boys start well Not a lot of people expected the new Duleek/Bellewstown amalgamation to mount a significant challenge in this year's Senior Football Championship, but to their credit they warmed to the big challenge quite well, played some very good football during the group stages and advanced to the quarter-finals where Wolfe Tones ended their interest in the competition.
2007	Safety first After a promising first campaign back in the premier grade last year, Duleek endured a difficult Senior Football Championship in 2007 which included a couple of very heavy defeats in the group stages.
2006	A match for the best Duleek would have loved to make it through to the quarter-finals of the Senior Football Championship in their first year back in the top flight. They didn't make it, but they were still in the hunt going into the concluding series of group matches and did enough during the campaign to demonstrate without any doubt that they are fit for life in the highest grade.
2005	Welcome to senior When Syddan bombarded the Duleek defence with wave after wave of attacks in the closing stages of the Intermediate Football Championship final replay there appeared to be a serious danger that Barney Rock's side would suffer yet another day of bitter disappointment at Pairc Tailteann.
2004	A step closer but no cigar When Duleek eventually managed to shake off their semi-final jinx they must surely have started to really believe that 2004 was going to be their year and that they were on the verge of a return to the senior ranks.
2003	Most consistent On the law of averages Duleek surely have to win the Intermediate Football Championship at some stage in the not too distant future.
2002	Likely winners After going out at the semi-final stage this year, Duleek will have a special incentive to win the Meath IFC in 2003, because it marks the 25th anniversary of the club's last outright triumph in the grade.
2001	The return of Duleek On the evidence of some swashbuckling performances in the 2001 IFC, Duleek have re-established themselves as genuine contenders. Peter Curran was outstanding in ‘01 and looks sure to be to the fore for many seasons to come.
2000	Been there, done that Mickey Naughton knows what it's like to win an Intermediate championship as a player. It is for this reason that he is as determined as anyone to see Duleek back in the championship winners enclosure. According to the present-day selector some steps of progress was made during 2000.
1999	The only way is up Considering the circumstances surrounding their year, Duleek did remarkably well to preserve their intermediate status in ‘99. Kenny McDonnell talks about this year and next with Royal County.
1998	A time to regroup After three county finals in successive years, 1998 was always going to be a difficult year for Duleek. Club chairman Eugene Geraghty talks about it as a chance to catch breath, as Royal County finds out.

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Dunboyne
2009	Dunboyne taste All-Ireland glory The St PeterÕs Dunboyne under-14s enjoyed an all-conquering 2009, claiming the League, Championship and All-Ireland FŽile. And it was success in the latter in July, coming six years after the countyÕs previous FŽile victory, which proved most satisfying. Team selector Brian Howlin spoke to Royal County.
2008	Back on track For much of the 1980s, St PeterÕs, Dunboyne were, in Meath hurling circles, something of a yoyo team. Intermediate titles were garnered in 1982, Õ86 and Õ89, but following those triumphs, their stay at the top table was an all too brief one, writes Brendan Boylan.
2007	Momentum comes to a shuddering halt Beforehand, it was probably the most talked about fixture since the same two teams met at the same stage of the same competition two years previous. But, as Brendan Boylan recounts, there was no disputing the issue this time as the momentum which the Dunboyne footballers had built up mid season came to a shuddering halt as Navan O'Mahonys ran out comfortable victors in the SFC semi final.
2006	Beaten at the post Last year, Dunboyne's senior footballers were involved in one of the most memorable conclusions to an SFC witnessed for many years, and for a variety of reasons, at the end of which they emerged with the Keegan Cup.
2005	Seven year itch comes to an end! The Meath SFC of 2005 will be remembered for many reasons, some good and some not so good. Most important of all though will be that a youthful Dunboyne side claimed the Keegan Cup for the first time in seven years. Brendan Boylan charts their journey to glory. Dreams are made on the M50 In January 2005 we set out along the M50 with our U16 panel for a day at the UCD sports centre. On entering the reception area we were very proud to see a fellow clubman Nigel Crawford listed on the roll of honour as a previous captain of UCD Gaelic Football Team.
2004	Seconds very much in for Dunboyne Over the past few seasons, Dunboyne folk have suffered their fair amount of hurling heartbreak, particularly at Pairc Tailteann, but for a time on September 11th, the number one venue in the county was the scene of a glorious triumph.
2003	The wait goes on They say good things come to those who wait, the hurling people of Dunboyne will feel that they have played more than their fair share of the waiting game, but as Brendan Boylan reports, this must again be their lot for another twelve months.
2002	Footballers show true worth at last Dunboyne's hopes of marking their Centenary Year by winning the Senior Football Championship faltered at the semi-final stage when they lost to Trim, but Gerry Cooney's team did enough during 2002 to suggest that they aren't too far off the standard required to go all the way.
2001	From Dunboyne all the way to Australia Thomas O'Connor is an exciting young player who made his senior debut in both codes with Dunboyne in 2001. Brendan Boylan talks to the teenager who also represented Ireland in Australia during the course of the season.
2000	Dunboyne claim epic U16 win 210 minutes of football were required before Dunboyne finally took the U16 FC crown. Without doubt, the most exciting county final of 2000 was the u-16 clash between St Peter's, Dunboyne and Navan O'Mahony's. Three games, plus two periods of extra-time, were required to decide the destination of the Benny Caffrey cup and, in the end, it was Dunboyne who prevailed.
1999	Boylan's latest press release It's three years since Brendan Boylan was elected PRO of St. Peter's, Dunboyne. There's been no shortage of championship successes to report on since and the affable Boylan is enjoying every minute of it.
1998	Dunboyne crowned champions Ten years ago Dunboyne were a junior club but now they are kingpins of Meath. Royal County takes a look at a championship winning season borne out of quality football.

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Dunderry
2009	Pining for the top table! In the years since their exit from the senior ranks, Dunderry have enjoyed mixed form. Things seem to be coming together for them as 2009 saw them among the favourities for IFC honours. By Brendan Boylan.
2008	No place like home Wicklow native Con OÕNeill earned his managerial stripes under Colm OÕRourke as a selector on the Simonstown team that reached two SFC finals in 2003 and 2004 but he now calls Dunderry home and, after taking over the reigns of the local clubÕs intermediate side in 2008, was bitterly disappointed when, for the second year running, they exited the IFC at the quarter-final stage. By Shane OÕBrien.
2007	Progress on and off the field Dunderry GAA Club has steadily been putting the structures in place which will hopefully secure a bright future and a look at their impressive new clubhouse offers enough evidence that they are going in the right direction.
2006	Finding their feet again Just after Dunderry were relegated from senior football ranks in the autumn of 2005 when losing to Kilmainhamwood in the final play-off at Kells, one of their players boldly predicted that they would go back up at the first attempt. By Noel Coogan.
2005	A decade on Fifteen years after finally emerging from the intermediate ranks Dunderry returned to that grade in 2005 when their battle for survival in the SFC ended in bitter disappointment as they lost to Kilmainhamwood in the relegation decider at Kells in late October.
2004	A mixed bag The Dunderry club can look back on a mixed 2004. Their senior footballers and senior hurlers both found themselves embroiled in relegation play-offs with the latter dropping down to intermediate ranks.
2003	Big plans Dunderry GAA Club are looking very much to the future as they embark on an ambitious clubhouse development plan which has a hoped-for completion date of December, 2004.
2002	Transition time Tommy Dowd's fabulous intercounty football career, which brought so much pleasure for Meath supporters during the 1990s, may be over. But one of the county's most popular and wholehearted players of all time proved in 2002 that he can still do the business at club level.
2001	Dunderry - the epitome of a great dual club In 1988 when the Dunderry club officially opened their grounds former chairman Tommy McCormack contributed an article, at the end of which he expressed the wish “that in the near future senior status be attained in both codes.”
2000	Kelly to the rescue Junior B success more than made up for senior heartbreak as Dunderry delivered yet more championship success to the parish.
1999	At the cutting edge The wheels on Dunderry's bid to capture their second ever Keegan Cup crown came unstuck at the semi-final stage when Dunshaughlin upset the odds to knock them out of contention. Midfielder Stephen O'Rourke looks back on a disappointing 1999 and forward to what he, and all of Dunderry, hopes will be a profitable 2000.
1998	Hip Hip ... Hooray The U21 footballers of Dunderry made amends for the club's minor final defeat when they got the better of Simonstown to clinch the championship.

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Dunsany
2009	Final woe wonÕt continue forever For the third time in eight years, Dunsany left Pairc Tailteann as a dejected group after going down to a defeat in the Meath Junior Football Championship final as their attempt to take the title for the first time fell short.
2008	Oh so close Dunsany resumed normal service as far as consistency was concerned in the 2008 Junior Football Championship, but that much sought after title remains as elusive as ever after they were beaten by Ratoath at the semi-final stage.
2007	No ten in a row for Dunsany Consistency had been the hallmark of Dunsany's life in the Junior Football Championship for the best part of a decade, but a trend was broken in 2007 when they failed to reach the knockout stages and so their dream of a breakthrough in the grade goes on.
2006	Nine and not out If trophies were handed out for consistency, Dunsany would have collected a cabinet full of them in recent years. When they got the better of St. Vincent's in the sixth round of group matches in the 2006 Junior Football Championship it represented the ninth successive year that they advanced to the business end of the title race.
2005	The door won't open They keep knocking, but the door seems increasingly reluctant to open. Dunsany have been one of the most consistent teams in the Junior Football Championship in recent years, yet that much sought after title remains frustratingly elusive and their supporters must be starting to wonder if it will ever arrive. By Paul Clarke.
2004	Trying to break the hoodoo Just when it looked as if it would be 'third time lucky' for Dunsany in the Junior Football Championship, Ratoath spoiled the party when proving too good for the side in red and white in the title decider.
2003	Close but just not close enough Following the bitter disappointment of losing the final to Nobber the previous year, Dunsany wanted to bounce back quickly and win the Junior Football Championship in 2003.
2002	Getting ever closer Dunsany's hopes of winning the Junior Football Championship grew as the 2002 campaign progressed, but they met with disappointment at the last hurdle when a very talented Nobber side deservedly got the better of them in the final at Pairc Tailteann.
2001	Ferguson looks forward to that elusive breakthrough Dunsany is a club with a lot going for itself. Good grounds, top-notch facilities and a crop of young football talent which has the potential to end the club's barren years. One player looking to the future with confidence is Emmet Ferguson.
2000	Dunsany's big year Pairc na nGael, Dunsany ... a huge addition to the GAA's facilities in Meath. Football and hurling clubs throughout the country celebrated the arrival of the new Millennium in many different ways...some won championships and others organised special events. It is arguable that Dunsany GFC celebrated in the most appropriate manner possible...by staging the Official Opening of their grounds...Pairc na nGael.
1999	Another league title for Dunsany Two successive league crowns for Dunsany show the true worth of the red and whites. Championship glory cannot be far away.
1998	Alive and kicking Dunsany juvenile football awoke from its slumber in 1998. Will that spell a revival in the adult team's fortunes? Royal County asked the questions. Under 14 manager and club vice-chairman, Mick Ryan, was only too willing to provide the answers.

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Dunshaughlin
2009	The boys Dun good In their first year as a single entity in the Minor Football Championship, Dunshaughlin broke the stranglehold enjoyed by south Meath rivals Donaghmore/Ashbourne. TP Toolan, a member of the championsÕ four-strong management team, spoke to Royal County.
2008	A sting in the tail The man who guided Dunshaughlin to so much success in the early years of this decade masterminded their elimination from this year's Senior Football Championship when they lost to Blackhall Gaels at the quarter-final stage after cruising through the group campaign with four wins from as many outings.
2007	Kings of the knock-out Last year, Dunshaughlin missed out on the knockout stages of the senior football championship for the first time since 1998, this year there was a discernable improvement as Leo Turley's charges topped Group A of the revamped SFC with four wins from five starts. By Liam O'Rourke.
2006	Draws provide little comfort Dunshaughlin's Meath SFC title treble triumph in the first three years of the new century added an exciting new chapter to the Keegan Cup competition. But how things have changed since that golden period for the black and amber brigade and in 2006 a place in the closing phase eluded them for the first time since 1998. By Noel Coogan.
2005	Charlie's charges just miss out Given the changes to the squad in recent years many might expect Dunshaughlin to struggle. That certainly hasn't been the case as Paul Clarke explains.
2004	A worthy hall of fame winner There could hardly have been a more popular and merited recipient of the Dunshaughlin GFC Hall of Fame Award than John O'Sullivan who has given approximately half a century of the most dedicated work on behalf of a club which has risen to tremendous heights in terms of success over more recent years.
2003	No regrets Just after seeing Dunshaughlin fail in their bid to land the 1999 Meath SFC title as Skryne won the final with seven points to spare, losing manager Eamon Barry remarked of his charges: "This team is mainly a young side and there is a sound foundation to build on. Dunshaughlin football should have a bright future."
2002	Dunshaughlin join all time greats Every so often, something or somebody comes along and does something that will assure them of a place in history. Istabraq, DJ Carey, Maurice Fitzgerald and Tony McCoy are just some of the sporting characters that will be remembered in years to come as being a bit better than all their respective fellow stars.
2001	Final justification Just to prove that their inaugural senior championship was earned and not given, Dunshaughlin cast any of their scattered doubters into silence by retaining their title in 2001.
2000	Champions With a performance of textbook football Dunshaughlin became the latest name to be put on the Keegan Cup. Royal County looks at their winning year.
1999	The surprise packets of 1999... Two years ago the Dunshaughlin club were celebrating a long awaited Intermediate championship success, this year they came to within sixty minutes of landing Meath football's blue riband prize.
1998	The boys are back in town Senior football returned to the ever-expanding town of Dunshaughlin in 1998. How did they adapt? Royal County finds out.

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Enfield
2000	*amalgamated with Baconstown*
1999	Enfield's luck is out Enfield's year was summed up when a late goal resulted in their exit from the Junior Football Championship at the quarter-final stage. Here, club stalwart Jim Barrett talks to Royal County about where things went wrong and how they might be rectified in the future.
1998	It's in the Genes Gene Greville has been Enfield's latest contribution to Royal County underage teams. Here he talks to Royal County about the current state of play in the south Meath club and his career to date in the green and gold jersey.

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Gaeil Colmcille
2009	Gaeils cause a stir The decision to play the Meath minor hurling championship at the start of the year was one that the Gaeil Colmcille club will not be arguing over as the North Meath side lifted the premier title for the first time in 15 years when they defeated Kilmessan in the final.
2008	Back with the big boys The day was much the same weather-wise as approximately a year earlier, but this time Gaeil Colmcille were singing in the rain at the end of the 2008 Intermediate Hurling Championship final.
2007	Closing in on the top flight When Gaeil Colmcille went on a successful revenge mission to nearby Ballinlough in the fourth round of the 2007 Intermediate Football Championship they must have started to believe that this might just be their year and that a first outright triumph in the grade since 1986 was within reach.
2006	Real potential When Gaeil Colmcille suffered heavy defeats in their opening two matches of the group stages of the Intermediate Hurling Championship it looked odds-on that they were in for a repeat of their 2005 campaign and a battle to hold onto their status in the second tier.
2005	A matter of pride Most of the time, it simply comes down to pride in the jersey, pride in the club. Gaeil Colmcille are a big club. But as 2006 dawns the Kells outfit remains an enigma, a fish out of water. By Gordon Manning.
2004	No complaints as Kells do down It had been on the cards a while … and so it came to pass in 2004 that Gaeil Colmcille finally surrendered their senior status, much to the obvious disappoint-ment of key forward Simon Cahill.
2003	Murphy's law It's a sunny August afternoon in Kells and the pungent smell of freshly cut grass drifts through the melting streets. Joe Murphy sits back and smiles. Back in 1966 he and his Gaeil Colmcille colleagues embarked on a memorable adventure in the SFC. At the end of their crusade they were paraded through these streets as kings.
2002	One fine day In the end it didn't really matter! Gaeil Colmcille's senior footballers had just outplayed and outclassed Dunboyne in the opening round of the 2002 championship. They had become contenders, genuine contenders. However an inexplicably beleaguered performance followed against a struggling Summerhill side and their first round heroics had suddenly been cancelled out. Gaeil Colmcille had enjoyed one fine day, but it was short lived. They had crushed Goliath but been slaughtered by David.
2001	Flanagans Ball Meath's All-Ireland SFC title-winning celebrations of 1954 may not have been the original of the species but they were enjoyed to the full nonetheless by gaels across the Royal County - none more so indeed than by former county player of the time Bernard Flanagan.
2000	Something to ‘Smile' about Gaeil Colmcille narrowly avoided relegation to the intermediate ranks for the second year running so they'll be hoping that it won't be a case of third time unlucky in 2001. Long serving forward Paul Smith should be fully recovered from a knee injury which restricted his involvement in the recent campaign to a mere supporter and is hoping to enjoy better fortunes in the year ahead.
1999	A Tower of strength It's been a while since the Round Towers juvenile club have had a championship success to celebrate but, this year, their U12s set the record straight, by cruising to the U12 Division 1 title.
1998	The Colmcille Clan A footballer and hurler of unquestionable pedigree, Conor Ferguson holds strong views on Gaelic near and far.

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Kilbride
2009	Keeping the flame burning brightly This time 40 years ago Kilbride had just completed the first leg of their great hat-trick of victories in the Meath Senior Football Championship, but four decades later their ambitions were less lofty as the club looked back on a junior campaign which failed to deliver knockout football and a big struggle in the league.
2008	Promotion Kilbride may have ended their Junior Football Championship campaign with a heavy quarter-final defeat, but they can certainly look back on 2008 as a progressive year which suggested that they can look forward to the future with renewed optimism following their promotion in the league.
2007	Late show This time 40 years ago Kilbride were Senior Football champions and had provided a brilliant full-back to the Meath team that brought the county its third All-Ireland SFC title.
2006	Getting closer all the time There were definite signs during the 2006 Junior Football Championship campaign that Kilbride might be getting nearer to a stage where they will make a serious challenge for honours in the grade as they won five of their seven group matches to qualify for a preliminary quarter-final where they bowed out of the title race against Drumbaragh.
2005	Back on track It's over 40 years now since Kilbride arrived on the scene with a bang to establish themselves as the undisputed kingpins of Meath football.
2004	No longer the yo-yo boys Despite being less than a dozen miles from our country's capital city, Kilbride had yet to experience the population surge that has boosted the fortunes of neighbouring clubs in recent years.
2003	Bright sparks Kilbride Football Club possesses a highly successful and proud past and, with an eye on the future, they are very optimistic that further glory will come to them in the years ahead.
2002	Kilbride's Islander Sometimes we all end up in the strangest places. Sometimes we open our car door and step out into the last village or town we ever intended to set foot. Sometimes fate plays its trump card and intervenes with our plans. Sometimes along life's dusty highway we take a wrong turn, and it turns out for the best. Sometimes.
2001	Twin-track approach All belonging to Kilbride GFC are hell-bent on maintaining a twin-pronged approach to achieving progress within Meath's Gaelic games arena. The past year saw that very policy work to a tee.
2000	Kilbride deserves a Pat on the back Recent times have been difficult for the ever enthusiastic gaels of Kilbride but there is light at the end of the tunnel as Royal County found out when it spoke to club secretary Pat Donnellan. There were many encouraging signs during 2000 to suggest a bright future for the south Meath club.
1999	Big Martin In 1998 the Kilbride club celebrated its Golden Jubilee and memories of their five Keegan Cup wins in the sixties and early seventies came flooding back. Royal County talked to Martin Quinn about the good aul' days and the current state of play in the Dublin border club.
1998	The Golden times of Kilbride This year Kilbride celebrated their Golden Jubilee, and they did it in style with festivities aplenty and promotion to Division Four of the league. Royal County chronicles the story.

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Kildalkey
2009	Kildalkey end 57-year wait After so many disappointing final days over the last few decades, Kildalkey eventually found a crock of gold at the end of the rainbow when proving too good for Dunboyne in the 2009 Fox Bookmakers Meath SHC decider played at Pairc Tailteann on the first Sunday of October.
2008	Coming closer Once again it was a case of so near and yet so far for Kildalkey as they failed to lay their SHC final bogey with Kilmessan outpointing them in the replay, having gone tantalisingly close to getting their hands on the elusive Jubilee Cup seven days earlier.
2007	Now a dual club A failure to turn possession into scores on a consistent enough basis cost Kildalkey a place in the semi-finals of this year's Senior Hurling Championship and the opportunity to make amends for a very heavy defeat at the penultimate hurdle 12 months earlier.
2006	All blue and white Many rural GAA clubs have struggled to keep up with their urban neighbours in recent years when it comes to success, but although Kildalkey have a small catchment area to choose from, titles were secured at underage level in 2006.
2005	Final heartbreak for resurgent Kildalkey Kildalkey surpassed many people's expectations by qualifying for their first senior hurling championship final since 1990 this year. But their defeat to Killyon still came as a disappointment to up-and-coming midfielder Sean Heavey.
2004	Late stutter halts championship charge A good start is supposed to be half the battle, but for the Kildalkey hurlers it didn't prove enough as they faltered after the brightest of openings to their 2004 Senior Championship campaign.
2003	Patience finally rewarded Meath hurling needs clubs like Kildalkey. The small ball game has always been the county's poor relation in GAA terms. However, Kildalkey have proudly kept the flag flying high.
2002	Playing Russian roulette Survival was very much the name of the game for Kildalkey in the 2002 Senior Hurling Championship and it was a case of mission accomplished thanks to two victories over reigning champions Trim, the second in a relegation play-off.
2001	Play-off heartbreak for Kildalkey Kildalkey's bid for senior hurling championship honours was ended by Trim in a play-off last August. County senior panelist Dan Fagan looks back on a year that promised much but delivered little as he explains.
2000	A doer Steely, stoical and stalwart members of Meath's hurling fraternity, the gaels of Kildalkey are proof positive that God loves a trier(s). Chairman of the club's juvenile committee, Pascal Carr, embodies the spirit within the club.
1999	Kildalkey continue to build foundations Frank Dempsey looks at the proud traditions of the Kildalkey club and the bright future that is ahead of them.
1998	Unlucky thirteen Sean Kealy has been trying to win the Jubilee Cup for 13 years with Kildalkey. Royal County discovers that the desire to succeed is stronger than ever.

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Killyon
2009	Can do more This yearÕs campaign saw the Killyon senior hurlers fail to progress beyond the group stages of the championship, something that they will be hoping to rectify in 2010.
2008	Kit Mitchells 34 years as Killyon chairman After lifting the Jubilee Cup for the first time in 14 years in 2005, Killyon have since struggled in the Meath SHC and after bowing out at the quarter-final stage the following year, they failed to get out of their group in each of the next two campaigns.
2007	Killyon ready to rock When Killyon won their eighth senior hurling championship title in 2005 we expected that side to dominate Meath hurling for the following few years, but that has not been the case as the last two campaigns have ended in disappointment for Sean Ryan's charges.
2006	Bounce back factor Having won the senior hurling championship in 2005, Killyon were looking to build on that success this year, but as club chairman Kit Mitchell explained that was always going to be hard, especially with the loss of some of their main players.
2005	Killyon grab gold There was a change at the top in Meath hurling in 2005 with the Kilmessan-Trim stranglehold of the last few years being broken as Killyon returned to the summit, taking the SHC title for the seventh time and enjoying a first outright triumph since 1991.
2004	Always aiming to improve While Killyon surprised themselves and Kilmessan by winning the Meath senior camogie title for the first time in eight years, the club's hurlers failed to make it to the knockout stages of the SHC.
2003	Playing catch up Having reached the penultimate hurdle the previous year, only to lose out to Kilmessan after a replay, Killyon might have been expected to make a serious assault on the Senior Hurling Championship in 2003.
2002	Rub of the Greene Killyon last won the Meath SHC in 1991. On the last Sunday of September the same year Kit Mitchell came off the Killyon bench and scored the winning goal in the junior hurling final against Donaghmore. The club had won both the senior and junior titles. At the time hushed whispers about a continued reign of Killyon dominance echoed ominously around clubrooms all across the county.
2001	Junior success for Killyon While the Jubilee Cup once again eluded them, Killyon were victorious in the junior hurling championship. Goalkeeper Paul Leacy played his part in a success which Killyon supporters hope will lead to greater things.
2000	St Brigid Royal County wanted to find out how life was treating the camogie players of Killyon and Meath. We were told there was only one person to contact: Killyon and Meath Camogie chairperson Brigid Carney.
1999	Killyon's future looking good Appearances in the senior and junior finals, as well as underage success, bodes well for the future of Killyon. Frank Dempsey talks to Kit Mitchell about this year and next.
1998	Killyon's Paddy Quinn Small in stature, perhaps . . . big in heart, definitely! Royal County traces a remarkable career - which isn't necessarily over yet!

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Killallon

2006	Remembering the class of '66 Forty years ago this year, Killallon competed in the junior ÔA' football championship final against Summerhill and although the men from North Meath were unfortunately beaten on that faithful day in October, the club marked the 40th anniversary of the match with a function held in The Old Darnley Lodge Hotel.
2005	Back on track Two-thousand-and-five marked the return of Killallon GFC as a going concern. The resurrected north Meath club found the going tough at times and struggled to make a major impression, but they did at least get off the mark with a memorable 3-9 to 1-6 defeat of Drumbaragh in the junior ÔD' football championship at Ballinlough on Thursday July 14. Club secretary Chris Geraghty spoke to ÔRoyal County 2005' about the return of the Killallon men.

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Kilmainham
2009	Jordan keen for junior honours After falling at the final hurdle in the Meath JFC in 2006, Kilmainham have not been able to get further than the last eight in the three subsequent races for the Matthew Ginnity Cup. This year local rivals Drumbaragh dashed their dreams of promotion to the intermediate grade. By Noel Coogan.
2008	Father to son It was a case of the son following the lead set by the father when Kilmainham's Michael Newman made a big impression with the Meath minor footballers this year, winning a coveted Leinster Championship medal in the process.
2007	Itching to get back Losing a county final is a shattering experience and takes time to recover from. But when winter turns to spring and the evenings start to stretch the feeling of hope, even optimism, gathers momentum and the new championship campaign just can't come around quick enough.
2006	Edging that bit closer Losing a final can be a major setback for any club and although that is exactly what occurred to Kilmainham this year, team captain Trevor Lynch believes the appearance in their first junior ÔA' final should be looked on as a stepping stone for this young side.
2005	Kilmainham make strides Since winning the junior 'B' football title back in 2001, Kilmainham have more than held their own in the 'A' ranks and following this year's performances, it may not be too long before the next step is made up to the intermediate championship.
2004	Home sweet home While their trophy cabinet may be relatively bare compared to some of the Royal County's bigger hitters, Kilmainham GFC remain a success in their own right
2003	Right direction Two-thousand-and-three was another decent year for Kilmainham. Even though key man Petsey Curran was sidelined with a rib injury for some crucial outings, they preserved their junior 'A' status and put down a clear marker for the coming season by winning Division 5 of the All County Leagues.
2002	Field of dreams It is the height of winter, a bitterly cold December morning in North Meath. The field is pale white with frost and the soil is granite hard. A robin redbreast whistles by overhead. There is nobody around. The early morning fog makes it difficult to see, but then, there is not much to see. As Kilmainham folk rise from their beds and make their way to work, the field lies eerily quiet.
2001	Kilmainham's big day Kilmainham are often titled Meath smallest club and amazingly the Kells parish outfit once went 5 years without winning a game. But 2001 proved to be a year amongst years for the men wearing the Down colours. The Junior B Championship trophy at last found itself in Sam Blacks.
2000	So close ... Three close-calls prevented 2000 from being the most amazing year ever in the career of Barry Lynch. In the end it just turned out to be unforgettable.
1999	On the winners podium Kilmainham's Under 21 success at the tail end of 1998 was due reward for the perseverence of the club. As well as being a morale booster, it paved the way for an excellent season in ‘99.
1998	Black's the name When people think of Kilmainham they think of Sam Black. Royal County puts the question to as loyal a GAA man as you'll come across. Gaelic football and hurling at local level like all sporting organisations produces its fashionable teams, who tend to have a large playing base, and invariably smaller unglamorous sides, with scarce resources.

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Kilmainhamwood
2009	The ÔWood rediscover their strength When Kilmainhamwood's stubborn resistance was finally broken last year and they surrendered their senior status, few could have expected that they would mount such a serious challenge in their pursuit of an immediate return to the top flight in 2009.
2008	The senior candle finally burns out A dozen years after the club's 'day of all days' Kilmainhamwood slipped out of the senior ranks when they lost the relegation final to Rathkenny in mid-September, but while they were in the top flight of Meath football the Wood certainly enjoyed numerous occasions of significance.
2007	Third time running Kilmainhamwood achieved an unusual treble when defeating Ballinlough at Kells in October to again preserve their senior football status. It was their third year in a row to win the final SFC relegation play-off.
2006	Confounding the critics In recent years the fortunes of Kilmainhamwood in the SFC have had all the components of a gripping thriller and 2006 saw the latest sequel unfold as the Ôwood once again performed a great escape to avoid sliding into the intermediate ranks. By David Jennings.
2005	Relegation scare to spur the ÔWood Relief was the overriding feeling in Kilmainhamwood after the North Meath outfit retained their senior status by virtue of a relegation play-off victory over Dunderry at the end of October. As relieved as he was, long-serving secretary Francie Owens is anxious that the ÔWood avoid a similar scenario in 2006.
2004	Mixed emotions Kilmainhamwood aren't that far away from being serious Keegan Cup contenders, judging by most of their performances in 2004, but the clock is ticking on the class of 1996.
2003	Preservation all important Kilmainhamwood preserved their senior status for another year when they beat Ballivor 1-8 to 0-8 in a relegation decider at Kells on Saturday, September 6.
2002	Too good to struggle Kilmainhamwood might have expected to challenge for senior honours in 2002, but instead they found themselves with relegation on their minds at a time when they would have hoped to be thinking in terms of possible silverware.
2001	Wood you believe it Kilmainhamwood's 0-15 to 0-8 defeat of Simonstown in A FL Div. 1 decider in Pairc Tailteann on Saturday 20th October saw the north Meath club annex league silverware for the second successive year having won Division 2 in 2000. The victory went some way towards atoning for the club's SFC quarter final defeat at the hands of Skryne
2000	Out of the blue! Although blitzed by Dunshaughlin in the Senior Football Final, Kilmainhamwood can look back on their achievements in 2000 with pride and a large degree of optimism for the future. Royal County reviews an eventful year for the North Meath Club
1999	The Wood from the trees Kilmainhamwood's footballers will look back on 1999 with mixed emotions - regret and relief. Many people's ante-post favourites for championship glory, they found themselves in the unenviable position of being in a relegation dog fight to stay in the top flight at the end of the season. Long time selector Denis Farrelly reviewed an eventful year with Royal County.
1998	The ‘Woods' man of Steel Sean McCormack played for Meath at the highest level. Royal County explores an era that is a million miles away from the life we now live in.

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Kilmessan
2009	Close to greatness On foot of regaining the Meath SHC title in 2008, Kilmessan went on win the Leinster Club intermediate hurling title before the year's end. This year saw them fall short at the 'semi' stage in the two major competitions they bid for. By Liam OÕRourke.
2008	Champions once more After being surprised by neighbours Kiltale in the previous yearÕs decider, there was no slip-up by Kilmessan in the 2008 M. Donnelly Meath Senior Hurling Championship with Kildalkey being overcome at the second attempt as the title was annexed for the 28th time. By Noel Coogan.
2007	Final disappointment for Kilmessan One hundred years after winning the Meath SHC title for the first time, Kilmessan had high hopes for 2007 but they failed to deliver the goods in the Jubilee Cup decider as well as falling at the final hurdle in the JHC.
2006	Abundance of silverware obtained Kilmessan's failure to reach a second consecutive senior hurling championship final may be seen as something of a failure for a club of its stature, but secretary Dominic Doyle revealed there was plenty of silverware obtained in 2006.
2005	Clynch sends out warning Kilmessan's bid for a fourth consecutive SHC title ended at the semi-final stage this year. However county star Stephen Clynch is adamant that the blue and whites will return as strong as ever in the next campaign.
2004	‘Miley' made his mark! The contrast in sporting fortunes between the two halves of one parish could hardly be starker. For Dunsany GFC, the long wait for an emergence from the JFC continues on for another year while the Kilmessan HC bandwagon just keeps rolling on.
2003	Kilmessan equal record The 2003 Meath senior hurling championship title was annexed by Kilmessan once again at the expense of latter day rivals Dunboyne at rain swept Pairc Tailteann on September 5th, the blue and white's 26th triumph in the Jubilee Cup.
2002	A 25th success Following the frustrations of 2000 when they failed to fulfil the Jubilee Cup final against Trim because of a dispute over the fixing of the game, Kilmessan's SHC triumph in 2002 was especially sweet. More especially because it was achieved in the club's Centenary Year and also because it was their 25th outright success.
2001	Hurling is Horan's first love Kilmessan and Meath hurling star Nicky Horan won't recall 2001 with happy memories in the future., as it was the first time in the club colours that he didn't get to tog out on Meath SHC final day.
2000	Kilmessan - The hurling tradition We look back at the proud record of Kilmessan GHC and those who brought it to prominence. When the Kilmessan club made the decision not to fulfill their Senior Hurling Final engagement on October 1st in this millennium year, it wasn't just a matter of any old club making a protest.
1999	Hurling's Aristocrats Kilmessan put their name on the Meath roll of honour for the 24th time in October. Royal County reviews their successful year.
1998	On the home straight Leading National Hunt jockey Adrian Maguire's interest in the Meath football team has never waned ... as Royal County discovered.

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Kilskyre
2009	Suffering from the numbers game This time 40 years ago Kilskyre were celebrating success in the Intermediate Hurling Championship, but four decades on the contrast couldn't have been any greater as they endured a torrid time in the middle grade competition and were relegated back to junior ranks.
2008	Soldiering on This year marks the 60th anniversary of Meath's 1948 All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship success and it is only fitting to chronicle the considerable contribution that players from Kilskyre made to that significant triumph.
2007	Kilskyre left wondering what if Intermediate hurling in Meath is sometimes frowned upon by its peers, but the players that take part in the campaign are pre-dominantly just as determined and committed as any club player in any grade.
2006	Fade out after early promise After contesting two semi-finals and one final since 2002, Kilskyre were once again expected to be in the shake-up for intermediate hurling championship honours this year. But they failed to progress beyond the group stages with former player and PRO Mark Owens attributing their disappointing year to injuries and a lack of commitment.
2005	Heartache for Kilskyre The 2005 Meath intermediate hurling championship produced a number of surprises as both the favourites for the title exited at the semi-final stage. Kilskyre were one of those sides to bow out at the penultimate stage and captain Seamus Byrne told the Royal County GAA yearbook of the club's disappointment.
2004	Kilskyre capable of better After reaching the intermediate hurling final in 2002 and the semi-final last year, Kilskyre were expected to be in the shake-up for honours this year. But they failed to live up to expectations with full back Barry Smyth citing a lack of commitment as the reason for their disappointing year.
2003	Minors carry flag Having contested two intermediate hurling finals in the last four years while reaching the semi-finals on an annual basis, Kilskyre can't be blamed for wondering will they ever have a change of fortune.
2002	Heartbreak only intermediate It has been seven years since Kilskyre last played in the senior hurling championship and although they were beaten in this year's intermediate final by Wolfe Tones, it may not be too long before this young side are back among the senior ranks.
2001	Renehan recalls a famous win Eugene Renehan was a member of the Kilskyre team which won the junior hurling championship of 1945. Here, he recalls that memorable victory and much, much more besides.
2000	Passion to Byrne Over the years, the parish of Kilskyre has produced some great GAA men - the redoubtable Peter Byrne among them.
1999	A Kilskyre stalwart Mickey Reilly has been a driving force behind Kilskyre since the club was revived nearly 40 years ago. Here, he talks to us about his lifelong involvement in Kilskyre and the club's unlucky defeat in the recent intermediate hurling decider.
1998	In defence of the last line Paddy Muldoon played between the sticks for Kilskyre for a lifetime. Royal County explores a career and a person-ality that are second to none.

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Kiltale
2009	Clean sweepers When it comes to underage hurling, Kiltale could not have asked for a better season in 2009. Four county titles, along with a minor crown carried over from Õ08, clearly indicates that there are promising times ahead for the club in the near future. Now they know they will need to nourish the talent.
2008	Penultimate loss - underage again delivers After gaining outright honours in the Meath Senior Hurling Championship for the third time in 2007, the task of retaining the title proved beyond Kiltale as Paddy KellyÕs men fell to the sword of Kildalkey at the penultimate hurdle
2007	Jubilee cup for young guns The 2007 M Donnelly Meath Senior Hurling Championship had a remarkable home run with Kiltale continuing to defy the odds and finishing the campaign in a blaze of glory with a sensational victory over Kilmessan to take the title for the first time since 1983.
2006	Underage success bodes well After going close to reaching the decider the previous year, Kiltale endured a difficult 2006 Senior Hurling Championship campaign and instead of challenging for the Jubilee Cup they diced with death for much of the campaign. It was only when they drew with Kildalkey in the final round of group matches that they knew for certain they would hold onto their top grade status.
2005	Sky's the limit for Durnin Kiltale's interest in this year's senior hurling championship may have once again ended at the semi-final stage, but the club continues to head in the right direction. Kiltale captured the minor hurling title in 2005 and top forward Peter Durnin believes it may not be too long before a SHC title is annexed.
2004	Things are looking good The sun shone brightly on a hugely significant and proud day in the history of Kiltale Hurling Club when the official opening of their fabulous new pitch and clubhouse facilities at Grange took place on Saturday, May 1, 2004.
2003	Junior success Kiltale hurling club have gone through somewhat of a barren spell with regards to success at adult level over the past decade or so, but a win in the junior II championship this year is the boost needed in the area according to long serving player Paul Regan.
2002	Starting a winning habit Winning the Under-12 Hurling Championship title made 2002 a year to remember for the Kiltale club and it certainly augurs well for the future as they bid to return to the glory days of two decades ago when the Jubilee Cup was won in successive years in 1982 and ‘83.
2001	Kiltale make progress Kiltale might not have qualified for the latter stages of the senior hurling championship but it was a satisfactory year nonetheless according to manager Tommy Donoghue.
2000	A Tale to tell Francis Lynch talks about the effort involved in keeping Kiltale among the higher order of Meath hurling. As we look back on the 2000 GAA season, not just in Meath but in all of Ireland, it is hard not to notice what the experts have been saying about hurling these past 12 months. The game, it seems, is in crisis again.
1999	It's a long road from Tipperary One of the county's most respected hurling men is Kiltale's Noel Keating. Here, the Tipperary native chats to Royal County about his career, his involvement with Kiltale and his fantastic achievement in guiding Meath to Under 21 and Junior All-Ireland glory this year.
1998	A guiding force Paddy Kelly knows enough about Meath hurling to put anybody in their place. Royal County was on the receiving end of a lesson about the small ball game in Meath.

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Longwood
2009	Double delight in Longwood What a year it has been for Longwood! A return to the top flight of Meath hurling thanks to their stylish success in the Intermediate Championship was followed by a first Junior Football Championship triumph in 70 years, making 2009 extra special. By Paul Clarke.
2008	Competing on two fronts As the Longwood club reflects on 2008, they will harbour some regrets after falling at the penultimate hurdle in both the IHC and JFC with a good number of players giving service to both teams.
2007	Lady luck deserts Longwood In the last couple of years, Longwood have been touted as potential JFC winners and although they have traded blows with the best in the business, they are still awaiting a breakthrough to the Intermediate ranks. 2007 marked another frustrating year for the club as they failed to progress to the knockout stages, despite only suffering one defeat in six outings.
2006	A learning curve For the second year running, Longwood reached the junior football championship semi-final, only to lose to St. Ultan's. While disappointed not to have gone a step further, selector Noel Kerrigan believes another year in the junior championship might not be such a bad thing for the improving south county outfit.
2005	Longwood land on their feet After winning the Junior B FC title in 2004, Longwood did well to get to the last four in the Junior A FC this year and another highlight of the south county club's season was winning the B Football League Division 6 title.
2004	Reward at last We can only hope that Longwood's great football double in 2004 is not a portent of doom and gloom. The club's most memorable successes were achieved against a background of tragic conflict on the world stage.
2003	Within range Longwood came close to reaching the semi-finals of the Senior Hurling Championship of 2003 but, after winning promotion in the All-County A Football League for the second year running slipped up in the Junior B Football Championship.
2002	Promotion to open new doors Longwood can look back on their exploits in 2002 with immeasurable pride. After 17 years of honest endeavour, the club's footballers finally brought home an adult football title in the form of the Division 5 All County 'A' League. Selector Barry Ennis reviews an eventful year.
2001	Underage delight for Longwood Successes at under 11, under 14, under 16 and under 17 level, made it a year to remember for Longwood's underage section.
2000	Back to the Future Since its inception in September of 1904, Longwood GAA has experienced its fair share of ups and downs. Club secretary George Stagg pointed Royal County in the direction of ‘club historian' James Farrell to find out more.
1999	Longwood a club with serious intent Longwood are a club on an upward spiral in both hurling and football. Frank Dempsey takes a close look at Meath's ‘Lilywhites'.
1998	Justice at last Longwood have finally claimed their rightful place at the senior hurling table. Royal County examines the successful championship year.

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Meath Hill
2009	Nearly 30 years on Next year will mark the 30th anniversary of Meath Hill's 1980 Junior Football Championship triumph, but their efforts to scale such heights met with further frustration this year when they failed to negotiate the group stage in the race for the Matthew Ginnity Cup.
2008	Terrible luck When the sour taste of defeat is experienced only once in a championship campaign, you would have expected the side in question to be bang in contention at the business end of the competition. But for Meath Hill, a solitary loss in this yearÕs LynchÕs Pharmacy JFC was enough to knock them out of the race for top honours before the knockout stages had even commenced.
2007	Tremendous progress for Meath Hill Meath Hill may have suffered disappointment in their quest for Junior Football Championship honours in 2007, but it still represented a year of tremendous progress for the club, particularly with the installation of their fabulous new Prunty pitch.
2006	Top of the north There were definite signs during the 2006 Junior Football Championship that Meath Hill might well be on the verge of bridging a gap that now extends over a quarter of a century. This proud club from way up in the north of the county has to look back to 1980 for its last success in the grade, but they shaped well enough in the campaign gone by to suggest that they are building up a head of steam that might just bring the desired breakthrough in the very near future.
2005	Hill knocking on that door Back in 1979 Meath Hill held a handsome lead over St Mary's at half time in the Meath JFC final and on the way off the Pairc Tailteann pitch one of their players lifted the cup off the table and raised the trophy in front of the packed stand. The celebrations were premature as Mary's staged a strong recovery in the second half to force a replay in which the East Meath side proved best. By Noel Coogan.
2004	Mission accomplished North county outfit Meath Hill set their stall out at the beginning of the year to regain their Div. 4 ‘A' league status and make it to the knockout stages of the Junior ‘A' Football Championship. Club secretary and captain Tadhg Boyle reviewed the year.
2003	Kieran scales the heights In 2003, a disappointing year in terms of club results, one of Meath Hill's own flourished away from the playing-fields of junior club football. Barry Kieran finished the summer with an All-Ireland medal in his back pocket after playing his part in the success of the county's controversial juniors.
2002	King of the Hill Paddy Owens has been a Meath Hill favourite, both on and off the field, for many years now. In recent times 'The Hill' have been rapping on the intermediate championship door and although a key figure in this himself, Paddy says that he deserves none of the plaudits. Those plaudits, he argues, should be placed upon only one set of broad shoulders, those of trainer Tommy Dowd.
2001	Far from over the Hill! In the best tradition of sporting parlance, Meath Hill would be classed as an ‘up and coming' team. Club stalwart John Cunningham goes along with that view and looks forward to the club getting its hands on some silverware, sooner rather than later.
2000	One of Meath Hill's best Charlie Boyle's name is synonymous with Meath Hill. Here he talks about the past and the future. Organised by the Meath County Board, The Sean Gael Awards held in the Simonstown Gaels GFC clubhouse was one of the highlights of the local GAA year.
1999	Best supported club in Meath? If there was an award for the best supported club in the Royal County, Meath Hill would top most people's lists. The north Meath club is blessed with a large following which would put some of the senior clubs to shame.
1998	‘The First Lady' of Meath Hill Celine Nulty eats, sleeps and breaths Gaelic Football. As a player, coach and most recently as an administrator she loves the game with a passion. Royal County caught up with the hard working Meath Hill secretary and reviewed an eventful year for the North Meath Club.

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Moylagh
2009	Knockout bogey continues Moylagh have been Ôthere or thereaboutsÕ in the Meath JFC over the last few years and in 2009 they were again strong contenders for the Matthew Ginnity Cup before Dunsany dashed their hopes of outright glory at the semi-final stage. By Noel Coogan.
2008	Success with both codes After the promise demonstrated in 2007, Moylagh could justifiably have gone into this year's Junior Football Championship with hopes of winning the title, but instead they bowed out at the last eight stage against one of the most consistent teams in the grade, Dunsany.
2007	Within touching distance If natural progression can be taken at face value Moylagh should reach the Junior Football Championship final in 2008. Last year they advanced to the quarter-finals where they lost to Dunsany and this term they went a step further by making it to the semi-finals where Moynalvey eliminated them from the title race.
2006	Worth waiting for Thirty-one years is a long time to wait and Moylagh GAA Club was justifiably thrilled at Pairc Tailteann on an overcast Saturday in September. The club from the north-west of the county headed to Navan that day in the knowledge that it wasn't since their memorable IFC triumph back in 1975 that they had managed to win an adult championship title.
2005	Genuine contenders For a while there, Moylagh's junior footballers looked like contenders in 2005. Genuine contenders. But somewhere along the way the wheels came off. By Gordon Manning.
2004	A busy year Moylagh were pipped at the post for a place in the knockout stages of the Junior ‘A' Football Championship, made it to a Junior ‘D' semi-final final, a Junior ‘A' hurling semi-final and continue to make great stride at underage level.
2003	Gerrys gra for Moylagh Having lost nine of the team - through injuries and retirements - that went under to Navan O'Mahony's in quarter final of the 2002 Junior 'A' championship, Moylagh weren't expecting to set the world on fire in 2003. Former player and long-time administrator Gerry Grall reviewed the year.
2002	No regular Joe Moylagh midfielder Joe Melia could be forgiven for turning off his mobile phone, placing a large 'do not disturb' sign on his bedroom door and burying himself under a tog-15 duvet for a few days.
2001	The Moylagh Flood Johnny Flood's reminiscences on the travails and joy experienced as a player with his native Moylagh in times past are redolent of an era when football was a synonym for religion.
2000	Hurling prospering in Moylagh The underage hurlers of Moylagh have been making plenty of waves of late and the progress being made was illustrated with the annexation of two championships in recent years. That success bears testimony to the hard work which is being carried out by the likes of underage hurling secretary Paul Foley and many other dedicated coaches.
1999	Moylagh came so close Moylagh's poor record in county finals came back to haunt them in ‘99, but that bogey will surely be laid to rest in the near future.
1998	Strapped to the electric Chair Resurgent Moylagh made it to the semi-final of this year's junior championship. Chairman Brendan Dolan tells Royal County that the best is yet to come.

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Moynalty
2009	Final failures mar Moynalty season After reaching the final of both the Junior B Football Championship and the Division 5 FL, 2009 promised to be a memorable year for Moynalty but David Jennings found out that heartbreaking defeats in those deciders were a bitter pill to swallow in what was a very promising campaign for the club.
2008	Striving for success Moynalty has gained plenty of headlines for its Tidy Towns achievements and the popular annual Steam Threshing Festival and it is now pushing to create a name for itself once more on the football fields.
2007	Knocking on the door Moynalty's bid for Junior B Football Championship honours came to an end at the quarter-final stage in 2007 when they lost to Wolfe Tones, but they demonstrated plenty of character in that match which went to extra time.
2006	Good work continues Moynalty Juvenile section followed up last year's successful season with a year to remember in 2006. To say this small parish is on an upward curve is an understatement. The North Meath club is on a crest of a wave after its U14 side completed the double by capturing the league and championship in the same season.
2005	There are some tidy footballers in Moynalty Moynalty lifted their first under 14 league title since 1994, when they overcame the challenge of near neighbours, Ballinlough in the Div. 4A title decider at Carlanstown at the end of June. Juvenile chairman Tom Lynch reviewed the year with John Loughran.
2004	A cruel blow Moynalty had hoped to be in the knock-out stages of the Junior ‘A' Football Championships at the business end of the season. In contrast they found themselves embroiled in a relegation play-off, which ultimately led to relegation. Club secretary Joe Curley reviewed an average season.
2003	Moynalty answer county call They hide it well in Moynalty. Deep among north Meath's rolling hills, the Red and Whites have constantly managed to churn out remarkable talent. County stars, county managers and All-Ireland winners.
2002	Clearly Red and White Damien Lynch was only seven when he pulled on a Moynalty jersey for the first time. In the 18 years since, football has afforded him the pleasure of good days and the pain of bad ones. Unfortunately 2002 produced plenty of the latter, as Moynalty now find themselves at a football crossroads.
2001	Looking to the future Moynalty has produced more than its share of officials and great servants of anything GAA over the decades. Club stalwart Paddy Gaynor reflects on his time with his native club.
2000	Vaulting ambition Sean Boylan has shown time and time again that there's no glass ceiling policy in place when it comes to giving youngsters their head. Moynalty young gun Stephen Smith is ready, willing and able to be a Boylan Babe.
1999	The life of Reilly Charlie Reilly, a selector with the Moynalty Intermediates this year and former player, reflects on a poor year for the north Meath club. They narrowly escaped relegation to the junior grade but off the field they continued to make progress.
1998	Moynalty's Lynchpin If ever there was a player that epitomised the spirit which exists in Moynalty then it's Thomas Og Lynch. Here he chats to Royal County about the reasons behind the club's poor performance in ‘98 and their prospects of winning the Intermediate championship in the near future.

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Moynalvey
2009	An upward learning curve After claiming county and provincial junior football titles in 2008, Moynalvey found the going a little difficult on their move up to the IFC and won just one of their four games. By Noel Coogan.
2008	Climbing the ladder again The road back to a final can seem long and rocky after you have lost one, but Moynalvey successfully negotiated the journey this year, before they went on to be thoroughly worthy winners of their first Junior Football Championship title since 1981. By Paul Clarke.
2007	The final step Losing a county final is always a shattering experience and it was no different for Moynalvey in 2007 when Clann na nGael edged them out in the Junior Football Championship decider at Pairc Tailteann on the first Sunday of October.
2006	Turning corners Moynalvey is certainly on the way up. 2006 will be remembered as the season progress was made. Foundations for the coming years were cemented as the stars of the future won three underage titles. The MFL division 3 crown, U-12 division 3 south and the U-14 division 4 FL were captured in a successful period.
2005	Adults falter as kids show the way For much of the Junior Football Championship campaign it looked as if Moynalvey would make it through to the knock-out stages, but there was ultimate disappointment as they just failed to qualify for the business end of the competition.
2004	Youth create confident glow Firsts in anything are always extra special and that's exactly how it was for the Moynalvey club in 2004 as they clinched an historic and highly significant first triumph at under-14 level.
2003	Waiting to bounce back Moynalvey know what it's like to mix it with the big guns and they possess a real desire to bounce back from recent disappointments, but their first campaign back in the junior ranks failed to bring the desired success in 2003.
2002	Girls just wanna have fun Picture the scene! It is a bright but breezy August evening. The Moynalvey dressing rooms are a hive of activity. Inside the smell of musty sweat from years past fills the air as the footballers pull on their socks and slip into their muddy boots. Most talk, some joke and a few prepare quietly. Others bounce the polished white O'Neill's football on the ground or off the wall in front of them.
2001	Finding their feet Moynalvey, in their first year as an intermediate side after relegation from the senior ranks in 2000, struggled to gain the level of consistency required to make a concerted challenge for the title.
2000	17 year stay over ... for now Moynalvey's spell in the senior grade came to an end. But the potential is there to ensure a quick return.
1999	Moynalvey's great escape Moynalvey demonstrated their survival instincts last season when retaining senior status at the expense of Slane. Goalkeeper Derek Bannon outlines to Royal County the importance of remaining in the top flight.
1998	Jekyll and Hyde Moynalvey 1998 will not hold many fond memories for the gaels of Moynalvey - with the exception of their 2nd round, championship defeat of Simonstown.

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Na Fianna
2009	A coming force Na Fianna went for a high profile football manager in 2009 when former county star Graham Geraghty took over from Kit Henry, but their Intermediate Championship campaign ended in bitter disappointment when they were just edged out of a qualification place. By Paul Clarke.
2008	Hard earned status preserved In their second year in Meath hurlingÕs premier grade, Na Fianna avoided the drop back down to the intermediate ranks and they made progress in the IFC by getting to the quarter-finals only to lose out to Gaeil Colmcille after extra-time in Athboy.
2007	A busy year for Na Fianna Most club players never get the chance to play at county level in their career. Never mind play for three different county sides in the one year. But Jamie Queeney is part of a rare breed and the imposing full-forward accomplished that feat in 2007 by lining out for the Under 21's, the juniors while also featuring in Colm Coyle's senior panel that made it to the All-Ireland semi-final.
2006	Senior hurling Awaits A year after suffering intermediate hurling final heartache against Blackhall Gaels, Na Fianna made amends with a well deserved win over Dunderry to claim their place amongst the senior ranks of Meath hurling clubs for the first time.
2005	An eventful year on all fronts Na Fianna's footballers had two objectives for the 2005 season Ð an improved league performance and a place in the knockout stage of the IFC. They achieved one of these with ease (pushing hard for promotion to Division One) but fell well short on the other score (managing just two wins in Group 2 of the intermediate championship). The hurlers, meanwhile, went all the way to the IHC final, only to be edged out by surprise packet Blackhall Gaels.
2004	Getting stronger In their fifth year as a club, Na Fianna had their share of ups and downs in 2004. The Enfield/Baconstown outfit failed to make it through to the closing stages of the IFC, they got to the last four of the IHC only to lose to Gaeil Colmcille, were beaten finalists in the MFC but enjoyed a minor/under 16 B hurling double success.
2003	Treble joy for na fianna Outright success in three under-age football competitions helped make 2003 a highly successful year for the Na Fianna club and certainly suggested that the Enfield/Baconstown combination can look forward to a very bright future.
2002	Kelly's Heroes Success. A sporting illusion of grandeur to sit at the winner's table, or a fleeting moment in time when for once the spotlight is directed upon somebody different? Sometimes, just sometimes it is not about the competing, it's about the winning. And success has not been long coming to south Meath club Na Fianna.
2001	Knocking on the door Just two years after coming into existence, south Meath amalgamation Na Fianna are knocking on the door of the senior championship. Their star forward Paul Hanley was disappointed by the club's narrow failure to qualify for the intermediate semi-finals in 2001, but he believes that with consistency and a bit of luck, Na Fianna could make it to senior level before long.
2000	New kids on the block Na Fianna were the new kids on the block in 2000 and their performances in both the football and hurling championships proves that the decision of the Enfield and Baconstown clubs to join forces was an inspired one. The south Meath club has the potential to become a major power in Royal County GAA circles in the coming years.

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Nobber
2009	Closing on a senior return Nobber's search for a return to the senior ranks goes on after their latest attempt to win the Intermediate Football Championship ended in bitter disappointment when they lost to neighbours Kilmainhamwood in a replayed semi-final this year. By Paul Clarke.
2008	Favourites falter during run-in In the early stages of the race for Mattie McDonnell Cup honours, Nobber were nicely positioned and looked highly likely to play a big hand in the finish. But the second half of the season proved disastrous for Ciaran ConlonÕs charges and two defeats from their final three outings consigned them to a shock exit at the end of the group stages.
2007	Will be warm favourites again Although Nobber were tipped as possible winners of the Lagan Group IFC back in April and were the 2/1 favourites with just four teams left in the title race, they were fallers at the second last hurdle.
2006	Drawing comfort Nobber earned the tag of draw specialists during the 2006 Intermediate Football Championship when they finished level in four of their seven group matches. That might be termed consistent, but it was a trend that threatened to derail their qualification hopes before they eventually scraped through to the last eight.
2005	Nobber are one step away On the 25th anniversary of their last outright success in the Meath Intermediate Football Championship Nobber failed to lift the Mattie McDonnell Cup, bowing out at the semi-final stage for the second year in a row. By Noel Coogan.
2004	Ready for that opportunity Nobber's young guns aren't a million miles away from winning the Intermediate Football Championship judging by their performances in 2004.
2003	The winning run continues Following their Meath JFC success of 2002, there were further visits to the winners' enclosure for Nobber this year with outright victories in the All-Ireland Junior 15-a-side and seven-a-side competitions as well as taking the All County A Division 4 League title. Later the Under 21 B trophy travelled up Proudstown Hill.
2002	Nobber bite back Between the early ‘70s and the ‘80s Nobber rose from the humble abode of junior B ranks to become one of the top senior football sides in Meath. When this writer started covering the GAA scene in the Royal County tin 1972 they were in the lowest of all the adult grades but four years on they got to the JFC final only to lose to Curraha.
2001	Nobber bounce back Nobber gaels will have gleaned much satisfaction from the performance of their junior team in this year's championship where they reached the semi-final stages. Team trainer Andy Hayes hopes it is the beginning of a reversal of fortunes for the north Meath club.
2000	Nobber claim U14 league title Royal County looks back on a year when Nobber defied the odds and won their second ever U14 league title.
1999	The middle man Nobber's Eugene McDonnell is one of the longest serving referees on the Meath GAA club scene. He talks to Royal County about his whistling career and says that, contrary to popular opinion, it's not a thankless existence.
1998	A Loyal servant Over the years Nobber GFC have been blessed with dedicated gaels. Honourary Club President Peter Eogan is just one example. Here he talks with Royal County about the current state of play in the North Meath club and his lifelong involvement.

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Oldcastle
2009	OldcastleÕs due reward It was a real rags to riches story as Oldcastle claimed the Lagan Group Meath Intermediate Football Championship title in spectacular style, having had to survive a relegation play-off the previous year. By Noel Coogan.
2008	All the way to the wire After going agonisingly close to reaching the final in 2006, Oldcastle's life in the Intermediate Football Championship has been a big struggle and it went all the way to the wire as they won the relegation rattle against Ballivor.
2007	An uphill challenge One game above all others probably summed up Oldcastle's struggle in the 2007 Intermediate Football Championship. In 2006 they defeated Gaeil Colmcille by eight points in a quarter-final at Ballinlough and played well enough to suggest that they might just be ready to go all the way in the very near future. The Kells combination easily reversed that result in this year's championship.
2006	Consistency comes Oldcastle will look back on 2006 and wonder how their intermediate footballers didn't manage to claim some silverware. Few clubs could match their level of consistency which saw them lose only one competitive game in league and championship, yet they ended the campaign with nothing to show for their efforts.
2005	Third time lucky for Oldcastle Under 16s Oldcastle's victory in the Under 16 Football League Division 3 final augurs well for the North Meath club, according to team manager Harry Taggart.
2004	Moores almanac Oldcastle will have to wait for another year for an opportunity to regain senior status, following their exit from the 2004 Intermediate Football Championship at the hands of Nobber in the quarter-finals. Selector Eamonn Moore reviewed the year
2003	A legend Batty McEnroe is a living legend in Oldcastle football circles. As man and boy he has given more than 60-years service to the club
2002	Bowing out After 15 years in the top flight, Oldcastle lost their Senior Football Championship status in 2002 when they were edged out by survival specialists Summerhill in the relegation final which was played in atrocious cold, wet and windy conditions at Kells in late October.
2001	The Gallant John Joe John Joe McEnroe made his bow in 2001 as chairman of Oldcastle GFC but he's no rookie GAA administrator. Far from it. Fact is the man in the hot seat has been an almost ever-present member of the club's think-tank team and was secretary of the blue and whites as far back as 1975. We chat to the bold J.J.
2000	Eamon for more success The much-travelled Eamon Gillic is back on home soil after spells in nearby Munterconnacht and a wee bit further afield in San Francisco. Four years on from steering his adopted Young Irelanders to back-to-back North American titles, the Oldcastle-based businessman had cause last July to celebrate the lifting of the Meath Under 16 Division Three title.
1999	Oldcastle's Feis In winning the Feis Cup Oldcastle finally got some reward for the enormous effort exerted over the past couple of years.
1998	Towering ‘Castle Continually written off, Oldcastle proved all doubters wrong and made people sit up and take note of north Meath football

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O'Mahonys
2009	Busy on Brews Hill Navan O'Mahonys began the year in possession of the Keegan Cup but were relieved of it after a SFC semi-final replay against Wolfe Tones that was tinged with controversy.
2008	In a class of their own After falling short in the two previous Meath SFC finals, it was do or die for Navan OÕMahonys in 2008 and they made no mistake with an unbeaten campaign enabling them to gain possession of the coveted Keegan Cup for the first time in 11 years.
2007	Promise unfulfilled For the second time in a little over a year Navan O'Mahonys had to watch as their final opponents carried the Keegan Cup out of town. That hurts for such an outstanding club which has won the Senior Football Championship more times than anybody else.
2006	Pipped at the post Adding a 17th Senior Football Championship title is proving to be a very difficult task for Navan O'Mahonys. The most successful club in the history of the competition hasn't taken possession of the Keegan Cup for almost a decade and 2006 brought further frustration when they were the latest to suffer from the magnificent surge that Wolfe Tones have made through the ranks in a short space of time. By Paul Clarke.
2005	What if? In years to come the question will be asked what team beat the eventual senior football champions twice in the one campaign. That achievement is one Navan O'Mahonys would rather cash in on for a tilt at the Keegan Cup. By Liam O'Rourke
2004	Holding their own Back in the senior ranks after a two-year sojourn at intermediate level, O'Mahonys comfortably retained their status and were within a kick of the ball of making the knockout stages.
2003	The boys are back in town Navan O'Mahony's marked the Golden Jubilee of their first Keegan Cup success by regaining their senior status after two tough years in the intermediate ranks.
2002	So near but maybe not so far Though the year ended in disappointment for Navan O'Mahony's first teams in both hurling and football, there are grounds for optimism for 2003. However, looking at the bigger picture Club Chairman, Louis Kinsella feels clubs deserve a better deal form the County Board.
2001	Delaney Cup stays in blue ribbons They say good teams win championships, great teams retain them. It is also true to say that once you get to the top, the hardest thing is to stay there. Navan O'Mahonys reached the Delaney Cup summit last year and this term they scaled those dizzy heights again. Brendan Boylan charts the glorious journey.
2000	Back on Brews Hill The Delaney Cup winged its way back to O'Mahonys after a 20 year wait. Too long of a wait judging by the talent on offer in the Navan club.
1999	The post master When interviewed for Royal County 1996, former Meath and O'Mahonys forward Finian Murtagh had the following words to say about Paddy O'Brien:
1998	Embarrassment of riches When it comes to underage success, O'Mahony's have no peers at present. We take a look at their wins in football, hurling, camogie and ladies football. Need we say any more.

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Rathkenny
2009	Survival of the fittest Rathkenny's survival instincts were at work again in the 2009 Senior Football Championship as they defeated Walterstown in dramatic fashion in a relegation play-off to preserve their status in the top flight before an appeal made things complicated. By Paul Clarke.
2008	Senior status sustained and minors victorious 2008 can be looked on in a few different ways. I would hope that a club which retains its senior status and wins a minor league final, (in a year when we are playing as one club for the first time in many years), as well as having a county star in Brian Meade, a County Chairman in Barney Allen, and a senior championship winner in David Donegan (with McAnespies in Boston he won the North American Championship), can be regarded as a good year indeed. By club PRO Gerry Gavagan.
2007	Revelling in the top flight Though Rathkenny's first year back in the Senior Football Championship ended with a heavy quarter-final defeat against Dunboyne, they certainly proved beyond doubt that they are more than fit for life in the top flight.
2006	Rathkenny in wonderland ÔMagical win for Rathkenny ends barren 72 years' was the heading over one report of the 2006 Meath Intermediate Football Championship final after a team which was totally unconsidered early in the year went away with the Mattie McDonnell Cup. By Noel Coogan.
2005	League honours were thoroughly deserved Rathkenny made 2005 a year to remember by scooping the all-county Division Four ÔA' league title on the last Saturday of September. Full forward Richie Timmons, who delivered seven of his side's eleven-point tally in the defeat of Kilbride at Walterstown, reflects on a satisfactory year for the Red & Black.
2004	Rathkenny youth cause optimism On the surface, not a lot changed for Rathkenny this past year. They remain in the Intermediate Championship for 2005 and also in Division 4 of the All County A Leagues.
2003	Reid the script It's been one of those years for the Rathkenny club, sprinkles of radiance overshadowed by bucket loads of insipidness. They just didn't leave the traps in 2003.
2002	Back home In years to come Rathkenny folk will no doubt mull over David Heery's GAA travels in the comfort of their clubhouse.
2001	Steady Eddie Rathkenny may not be regulars in the winners' enclosure but they've got their fair quota of staunch GAA people nonetheless as we discovered when he bumped into long-time stalwart Eddie Bellew.
2000	Rathkenny revel in U14 success The future of Rathkenny GFC appears to be in safe hands if their performances in the Under 14 grade this year is anything to go by. Here, the team's coach, John Martin, relives the successful campaign.
1999	Rathkenny ‘C' bright future 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.
1998	A family tradition Certain families are naturally associated with clubs, as Royal County discovered when he tracked Paddy Timmons down.

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Rathmolyon
2009	Rathmolyon ready for a real go After the joy and satisfaction of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat in the 2006 final against Dunboyne, Rathmolyon's efforts to get back to the Senior Hurling Championship final have met with disappointment and frustration.
2008	Chasing Jubilee It must have been a strange day for John Gorry when Rathmolyon faced Dunboyne in a Senior Hurling Championship quarter-final at Ashbourne on the third Sunday of September this year. He was at the helm for the St Peter's men during so many near misses in their bid for the Jubilee Cup, but here he was in the opposite corner for his native Rathmolyon attempting to plot DunboyneÕs downfall.
2007	Champions go down with a fight There's no substitute for class and experience and Mike Cole used both in abundance during the 2007 Senior Hurling Championship as he did everything in his power to guide Rathmolyon to a second successive Jubilee Cup and a fourth in 15 years.
2006	Come on the village The most dramatic conclusion to any Meath GAA final in 2006 was in the Senior Hurling Championship decider when Rathmolyon snatched the title from the grasp of Dunboyne with a sensational goal in added time at the end of an entertaining encounter. By Noel Coogan
2005	Fate conspires against Rathmolyon It's fast approaching a decade since Rathmolyon last won the Meath Senior Hurling Championship and there were times during the campaign gone by when the club's supporters might have been tempted to think that a nine-year gap just might be bridged
2004	The long distance hurler If George Bagnall decides at some stage in the future to put pen to paper and catalogue his lengthy loyalty to the Rathmolyon cause, only one title will suffice: ‘The loneliness of the long distance hurler'.
2003	Cole comfort Ten years on from their first ever senior championship success, Rathmolyon's hurlers found themselves in a battle to avoid relegation in 2003.
2002	Getting stuck in Women occupying positions on GAA club executives were almost as rare as hens teeth up to a few years ago, but the trend of male-dominated committees is gradually changing and more females are getting involved in the running of clubs all over the country.
2001	Rathmolyon under 14s make history In a year when the Rathmolyon senior hurlers failed to build on their performances in 2000, it was left to the club's under 14s to provide the highlight. Club chairman Declan Regan looks back on the year's happenings.
2000	No more unlucky 13s for Rathmolyon The year 2000 was a special one for Rathmolyon. The Royal County caught up with the man who was mostly responsible for that.
1999	Rathmolyon hang onto senior status Nineteen-ninty-nine was one of Rathmolyon's most difficult seasons since the club attained senior status nearly a quarter of a century ago. Club stalwart John Gorry believes that they may have turned the corner, though, as Royal County recently discovered.
1998	Rathmolyon's Marathon man Royal County talks to Seamus Murray about the possibility of Rathmolyon going the full distance in 1999.

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Ratoath
2009	Leinster success for Ratoath hurlers Ratoath lost three Meath junior championship finals in the last two years, and although disappointed again at the end of the 2009 JHC decider against Kildalkey, there was some compensation with outright success gained in the Leinster JHL. By Noel Coogan.
2008	Final heartbreak Ratoath's bid to make an instant return to the intermediate grade ended in bitter disappointment when they under-performed in the Junior Football Championship final against Moynalvey at Pairc Tailteann in late September and suffered a comprehensive defeat.
2007	Young stars of Ratoath A fabulous historic double of championship and league successes by the under-14 footballers was a glowing highlight of the year for Ratoath GAA Club and demonstrated that the highly talented young players are being produced who will secure a bright future.
2006	Growing, growing, growing Ratoath went for one of the most respected authorities in the game to manage their Intermediate Football Championship team in 2006 but, unfortunately, they didn't manage to mount a serious challenge for a place in the knockout stages, though they gave a good account of themselves and were seriously hampered by injuries which worked against them in a big way.
2005	Big breakthrough at underage level Ratoath's U14s made light work of playing in Division One for the first time, storming to the 2005 all-county U14 Div 1 FL crown with a series of superb performances Ð the club's first top-flight juvenile title. Dub Clive O'Reilly of Na Fianna fame (who took charge of the team in conjunction with Marty Mannering and Dermot Rooney) thoroughly enjoyed his first stint in juvenile management and was delighted to contribute to a historic breakthrough for his adopted club.
2004	Double delight With advances and progression the name of the game both on and off the pitch, Ratoath scaled new heights in 2004.
2003	Laying the foundation stone Ratoath may have suffered disappointment at the final hurdle in the Junior Football Championship, but they can certainly look back on 2003 as a highly progressive year, both on and off the field.
2002	Ratoath on the up According to the most recent census Ratoath has seen an 88 per cent explosion in population in the past six years, posing all sorts of challenges for the village and its sporting bodies. Brian Hayes - a relative newcomer to the area - tells how the GAA club is responding to the challenge.
2001	Complementary progress Want to finger a club which boasts a catchment area of rich potential, a burgeoning well of player numbers and the sort of work-in-progress off the field befitting All-Ireland club champions? Look no further than Ratoath GAA.
2000	The money Man As a player, team mentor and officer, Paddy Dolan, who was Ratoath's Sean Gael recipient this year, has given Ratoath GAA club a lifetime of distinguished service. Here the current club treasurer talks to Royal County about days past and his ambitions for the future of the club.
1999	Ratoath move closer to the dream Although still at an early stage, the development of Ratoath's new club grounds is taking shape. Confident that the blue and golds will be plying their trade in new surroundings within two years is Club Secretary, Rose Moore.
1998	A man for all seasons Martin Lynch is a top soccer coach. He's also from Dublin. An obvious choice then as manager of the Ratoath gaelic football team! As Royal County reveals, he's done a great job, living up to his own high standards.

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Seneschalstown
2009	Keegan returns as Seneschalstown pace themselves to perfection Seneschalstown made the most of scraping through to the last eight of the 2009 Commons Hardware Meath Senior Football Championship by improving considerably in the home straight to claim the title for the second time in three years and their fourth overall. By Noel Coogan.
2008	Back to back Feis Cups Defending a championship title is difficult, but when playing resources are diminished through injury it's impossible, as Seneschalstown found out in 2008. Still there was the consolation of retaining the Feis Cup after a memorable extra time win over Dunboyne. By Liam OÕRourke.
2007	Yellow Furze delight When Cormac Quinn wrapped his powerful arms around the Keegan Cup as the light began to fade at Pairc Tailteann on the first Sunday of November, the scene illuminated the lives of so many people who had worked towards that glorious moment.
2006	More consistency required Anybody walking into the Dunsany GAA grounds on the first Sunday evening of September, 2006 could have been forgiven for thinking they were looking at the county champions in the blue and yellow jerseys, such was the confidence, authority, fluency and accuracy of Seneschalstown's performance in the opening half. By Paul Clarke.
2005	U14s were a Furze to be reckoned with One of the most impressive teams in Seneschalstown in 2005 was the U14s, who claimed the Division Three league crown and also reached the semi-final stage of the Division Two championship. Senior club secretary Ian Maguire, who managed the side in conjunction with selectors Phonsie Gilsenan and Francis Flynn, was delighted with how the lads stood up over the course of a testing year.
2004	Small steps lead to progress A decade has passed since Seneschalstown last won the Senior Football Championship and their efforts to bridge the gap met with disappointment in 2004 when they were eliminated at the quarter-final stage by Trim.
2003	More than a lick of paint! A drive through the village of Kentstown tells its own story - that of an area which is growing rapidly as housing developments appear to shoot up out of the ground almost overnight.
2002	Knocking on the door After a number of disappointing SFC campaigns, Seneschalstown made their way to the last four in 2002 and that was a fine achievement considering that the team had to put up with much restricted training facilities over the last few months.
2001	Furze Underage finds its feet Seneschalstown enjoyed a successful year at underage level, with the Yellow Furze under 12 and under 14 teams contesting county finals. Pat Sheridan was involved in coaching the under 12s and was understandably proud of their achievements.
2000	A first for Seneschalstown Seneschalstown are the undisputed kingpins of Meath Ladies football following their thoroughly deserved final success over Summerhill and judging by their performances this year that appears to be a title they'll hold on to for many years to come.
1999	Father and son Seneschalstown's very own Graham Geraghty led Meath to All-Ireland glory this year. Royal County talks to his father, Ger, about a memorable twelve months for the Geraghty family.
1998	The original ‘Supersub' Few have given a more lengthy and loyal contribution to Seneschalstown GFC than Mattie McCabe. Here he talks to Royal County about his playing days with both club and county and what the future holds at the Yellow Furze club.

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Simonstown
2009	Cruel results sequence halts Simonstown After a beginning that promised so much, SimonstownÕs championship season ended at the group stage yet again, after the most unlikely sequence of results saw the north Navan side lose out on scoring difference by just two points. It was a frustrating season for the sky blues and former Cavan player Mickey Brennan, who returned from Drumalee in the Breffni County to his roots in Navan last year. By David Sheehan.
2008	Transitional times After losing out to the eventual winners, Wolfe Tones and Seneschalstown, at the penultimate stage in each of the previous two Meath SFC campaigns, Simonstown Gaels failed to get out of their group in their latest attempt to get their hands on the elusive Keegan Cup.
2007	Silverware on show Once again it was a case of what might have been for Simonstown Gaels as they fell at the penultimate hurdle in their latest attempt to lift the elusive Keegan Cup. However, there was a consolation prize as Des Lane's charges took outright honours in the Division 2A League. By Noel Coogan.
2006	Northside blues After falling at the final fence in the race for the Keegan Cup in 2003 and 2004, Simonstown entered the 2006 campaign looking to shed their tag of underachievers but like many sides in the SFC this year, Colm O'Rourke's charges fell victim to the rapid rise of Wolfe Tones at the penultimate hurdle. By David Jennings.
2005	The missing year The hope of every Simonstown Gaels supporter going into the 2005 Senior Football Championship was undoubtedly that it would turn out to be a case of third time lucky and that the Keegan Cup would make its way to the north Navan club following the final defeats of 2003 and 2004.
2004	More final heartache for Simonstown A first-ever senior trophy continues to elude Simonstown Gaels. In 2004, the north Navan men returned to the county final stage but were beaten in a second successive SFC decider.
2003	Mixed emotions It's often said that football is a ‘funny old game'. Simonstown Gaels supporters would surely concur and you can be sure that the players and mentors are of like mind.
2002	Underage scene moves up a gear The U-12s and U-16s contested championship finals while the jewel in the crown, the U-14s, came agonisingly closing to winning Meath's first ever Feile Peil na nOg title.
2001	Simonstown's Mr. Reliable Simonstown came perilously close to becoming embroiled in a SFC relegation play-off against Syddan this year before their group play-off success over Ballinlough spared them the indignity. It was too close for comfort for the north Navan gaels and Ronan McGrath is one individual who's eager to avoid a repeat scenario next year.
2000	Worth waiting for ... Simonstown celebrated a long overdue Under 12 championship success in June of this year. Eddie Maguire was joint-manager, along with Brian Moran, and here he recounts the team's road to glory.
1999	Investing in the Youth 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.
1998	No ordinary Joe soap The glimmer of hope which existed in the eyes of Simonstown Gaels GFC founding member Joe Clarke in 1965 has fertilised into a bright shining light boasting one of the top GAA clubs in the county. Members of the north Navan club owe a lot to Joe.

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Skryne
2009	One off day in a near perfect season When Skryne emerged from their group with a 100 per cent winning record in the 2009 Senior Football Championship they looked capable of really troubling the big guns when the serious business of the knockout stages came into play. By Paul Clarke.
2008	Both sides of the league coin Since the publication of the last yearbook, Skryne finished 2007 on a high note by winning the Division 1 FL title for the first time. However, their hopes of reaching the business end of the SFC this year ended with narrow elimination at the group stages.
2007	Blue is the colour After failing to reach the closing stages of the Meath SFC in each of the previous two years, having been champions in 2004, Skryne made a little bit of progress this year by getting to the quarter-finals where they lost out to Simonstown Gaels.
2006	Transition time For a team that brought the Senior Football Championship title to the club for the 12th time in 2004, it has to be regarded as something of a surprise that Skryne haven't managed to reach the knockout stages in the last two campaigns.
2005	A strange follow up One of the biggest surprises in the 2005 Meath Senior Football Championship was the failure by defending Keegan Cup custodians Skryne to reach the quarter-finals. The Blues won just three of their seven group games and the third enabled them to avoid the embarrassment of figuring in a relegation play-off. By Noel Coogan.
2004	Skryne come good when it matters Although such an outright triumph did not look likely earlier in the campaign, Skryne came good in the home straight to take the Meath Senior Football Championship title for the 12th time.
2003	Dowd of the Blue Despite winning seven of their eight senior championship matches, eternal contenders Skryne failed to reach even the last four in 2003.
2002	Looking through the Skryne door Skryne, we watch them, fear them. In times past The High King of Tara sat upon his throne and also inspected the surrounding countryside from his elevated viewpoint on top of the hill. In more recent years the Hill of Tara has become a place where Skryne footballers are trained to become senior champions.
2001	The silver is not enough Champions two years ago, last four losers in ‘00 and beaten finalists in 2001, and the underlying feeling in Skryne is one of vast underachievement. Is it now win or bust for a club dogged by expectation?
2000	Skryne 2000 - What went wrong? Colum Cromwell delves into the history books and finds out that when most is expected of them, Skryne normally flatter to deceive.
1999	Skryne are kingpins for the 11th time What a year for the Skryne club, two All-Ireland medal winners, two international heroes, and best of all a senior team to be proud of.
1998	On the big Skryne Skryne returned to winning ways at juvenile level this year with their U-16s collecting the Div. 3 title at the expense of Nobber. Willie Rogan and Dan O'Leary masterminded the success. Former player Willie reveals the secret ingredients behind their winning formula to Royal County.

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Slane
2009	Getting closer After slipping out of intermediate ranks in 2006, Slane are finding it difficult to get back up MeathÕs football ladder and in this yearÕs JFC the five points garnered from a possible ten were not sufficient to enable them qualify for the quarter-finals. By Noel Coogan.
2008	Starting from scratch In their second year back in the ranks of junior football, Slane failed to build on the promise shown in 2007 when reaching the quarter-final stage. This year they failed to get out of their group when only winning one of their four outings in the LynchÕs Pharmacy JFC.
2007	Peaks and valleys In their first year in the ranks of junior football since 1952 Slane had their hopes of an immediate return to the intermediate grade dashed by Moynalvey at the quarter-final stage of the 2007 JFC, having gone through their group games without suffering a defeat.
2006	A new challenge awaits Slane escaped the drop after a big scare in 2005, but there was no way out a year later as Na Fianna beat them in the Intermediate Football Championship relegation play-off at Dunsany in mid-October to send them crashing out of the middle grade and down to the junior ranks.
2005	Progress all round It's only three years ago that Slane reached the semi-finals of the Intermediate Football Championship, yet this year they found themselves in a battle for survival in the second highest grade - a battle that went all the way to a relegation play-off. By Paul Clarke.
2004	Looking forward, not back It's difficult to believe that two decades have passed since Slane won the Intermediate Football Championship with a final victory over a St. Colmcille's team that included emerging stars in the shape of Bob O'Malley and Bernard Flynn.
2003	The Gough and the tumble While Slane GFC couldn't be dragged into the dock and accused of setting the world on fire in 2003, they did nonetheless take an important step along the learning curve that all clubs must negotiate to earn a seat at the top table
2002	Slane's three-year itch It has been a long three years for Slane. Following their relegation down to the Intermediate Championship in 1999 they had hoped to bounce straight back up within 12 months. However for the time being the notorious middle grade remains their competitive home.
2001	Mullery puts his shoulder to the wheel It's not so long ago that Slane GFC were competing against the cream of the crop in Meath GAA circles. Nothing would give club members more satisfaction than to reclaim their spot amongst the Skryne's, Dunshaughlin's and Dunderry's of this world. Club secretary Jim Mullery spoke with Royal County and outlined the club's ambitions for the future.
2000	Keeping the flag flying Slane GFC haven't enjoyed too much success at underage level in recent times but the likes of Peter O'Brien continue to persevere.
1999	It's a topsy turvyworld 1999 was a year of mixed emotions for the Slane club and its followers. The All County Division 3 League success was their first adult success since 1993 but their relegation from the senior grade was a bitter pill to swallow.
1998	A bitter sweet Smyphony Internationally renowned for its rock concerts, Royal County discovers that Wayne Harding would dearly love to see the footballers of Slane grab the headlines instead.

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St. Brigids
2009	A knockout blow for BrigidÕs After failing to advance from their group of the Meath JFC in 2008, St BrigidÕs reached the quarter-finals this year but bowed out of title contention with a heavy defeat to eventual winners Longwood. By Noel Coogan.
2008	Transition year After winning the JFC B title in 2006 and then reaching the semi-finals stage in their first year back in the junior A championship, Ballinacree club St BrigidÕs failed to emerge from the group stages in the 2008 race for the Matthew Ginnity Cup.
2007	St. Brigid's aiming to move up the grades Situated in the north west corner of the county, St Brigid's from Ballinacree is one of Meath's smallest GAA clubs but they held their own in their first year back in the junior A grade in 2007, getting to the semi-finals where they lost to eventual winners Clann na nGael.
2006	Sky blue in the rain After losing out in the Junior B FC final in 2005, St Brigid's made no mistake this year by going all the way and claiming the title as they became the first holders of the Larry Kearns Cup.
2005	Dream double eludes Ballinacree men St. Brigid's came tantalizingly close to capturing both the junior B football championship and Division 4 titles in 2005. But their failure to win either prize was a source of great disappointment to leading scorer Tomas Blake.
2004	Silverware returns to Ballinacree St. Brigid's collected their first piece of silverware in a decade when they saw off Meath Hill in a closely fought Div 5 League final at Kells on Sunday October 17. Fergal Hennessy reviewed the year.
2003	Seeking the promised land St Brigid's, Ballinacree will have to wait another year to regain their cherished Junior 'A' status, having been beaten at the quarter-final stage of the 'B' competition in 2003. Club secretary Padraic Fanning believes 2004 could be the year when they return to the promised land.
2002	Real spirit Deep among the rolling green pastures of northwest Meath, a small group of Ballinacree Gaels keep their proud GAA flag flying high.
2001	A Brigids runner Athletics may be Mick Heery's abiding passion as far as the world of sport is concerned but there'll always be a place for Gaelic football in his heart. That said, all matters pertaining to Ballinacree are very dear to him in fact as we found out in chatting to him.
2000	Moving on up? St Brigid's of Ballinacree didn't enjoy the best of years in 2000 but according to Niall Hennessy the club's future outlook looks positive so don't be surprised to see them celebrating a Junior championship win in the not to distant future.
1999	St. Brigid's aim for a swift return A disappointing year for St. Brigid's, Ballinacree culminated in relegation to the junior ranks. Team selector George Plunkett informs Royal County of the club's burning ambition to make a quick return to intermediate status in the season ahead.
1998	The belief in Brigids Peter Farrelly represented Meath and London in championship football, but his priorities always lay with St. Brigids. Royal County talks to the affable football-aholic

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St. Colmcilles
2009	Junior C side end 21-year wait Although St ColmcilleÕs exited the IFC at the quarter-final stage, there was some consolation for the seaside club with the second string gaining outright honours in the Junior C FC, the clubÕs first adult championship triumph in 21 years.
2008	25 and 50 years ago Eleven years after the St Colmcille's club was formed they made a highly significant breakthrough by winning the Junior Football Championship in 1983 with a team that included two young players who were soon to become household names not alone in Meath, but on the national GAA scene.
2007	Mixing the good with the bad Although St Colmcille's qualified from their five-team section of the Lagan Group IFC, they finished that campaign on a low note when going down surprisingly to an 11 points defeat to St Ultan's in a preliminary quarter-final played under lights at Pairc Tailteann.
2006	Plenty of talent by the sea While the men's football team may not have delivered on their potential, there were enough encouraging signs within the St. Colmcille's club to prove that the east-Meath outfit is certainly moving in the right direction.
2005	Seasiders make waves St. Colmcille's are expected to be among the leading contenders for intermediate football championship honours in 2006 after reaching their first semi-final in many years this season. Veteran full forward Mickey Conlon believes that with greater consistency, they could be operating at senior level before long.
2004	The production line keeps on rolling So many other clubs around the county will undoubtedly have taken note of the significant strides St. Colmcille's have been making in recent times and that was certainly in evidence during 2004 when they highlighted another progressive year by winning the Under-16 Football Championship.
2003	Young and able St. Colmcille's club was formed in 1971 and in 1973 they captured their first success at under-14 level. Thirty years later the sons of some of the panel of 1973 returned the compliment, delivering an U-14 Division 1 title to the club.
2002	A busy year Success in the Reserve League Div. 2 proved to be the highlight of the 2002 season for the St. Colmcille's adult football club.
2001	Sky blue heaven There's nothing like an underage win to give everyone associated with a club a big boost. The gaels of St Colmcille's know this only too well having enjoyed some notable underage triumphs in recent years. This year's U-12 Division I success was particularly sweet. Team manager Colm Hilliard recounts his side's march to glory.
2000	‘Cilles on the comeback When those entrusted with the task of selecting the Meath GAA ‘Club of the Year' award sit down to choose the 2000 recipient, St Colmcille's will undoubtedly feature high amongst the list of candidates.
1999	A minor disappointment St. Colmcille's failed to make an impression in this year's Intermediate championship but, according to club chairman and minor manager Finbarr Ronan, there is light at the end of the tunnel. A wealth of underage talent promises to propel the seaside club back amongst the elite of the Royal County club scene.
1998	A club reborn Bettystown outfit St. Colmcilles have had their fair share of troubles in recent times, but according to intermediate manager Dermot Hilliard, they're on the way back.

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St. Cuthberts
2009	St CuthbertÕs going strong After celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the founding of St CuthbertÕs Bohermeen in 2008, it was felt that maybe 2009 might be a bit quieter. However events both on and off the field were just as hectic as club secretary John Kavanagh explains:

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St. Marys
2009	Commitment is not wanting The members of St Mary's GFC reminisced on four decades of activity when they celebrated their 40th anniversary in the CityNorth Hotel earlier this year and the happenings of 1979 surely generated much discussion and plenty of happy memories.
2008	Huge investment in underage football in Donore The work which will secure a bright and successful future for St Mary's GFC was tackled with enthusiasm and determination during 2008 and all involved are to be applauded for their efforts to promote Gaelic football among the youngest age groups in the club.
2007	Patience is the key After a year of contrasting fortunes in league and championship in 2006, St. Mary's probably went into '07 with the aim of achieving greater consistency and with a burning desire to at least reach the knockout stages of the Junior Football Championship.
2006	Contrasting fortunes St. Mary's certainly experienced contrasting fortunes in league and championship football during 2006. Their form in the A League Div. 4 was so consistent that it brought them all the way to the final, but the Junior Championship was dramatically different as they managed just one victory from seven group matches and finished tied at the bottom with St. Vincent's on two points.
2005	Steady progress St. Mary's have a passionate desire to experience that winning feeling in the Junior Football Championship again, but there was further disappointment in the campaign gone by when they were eliminated in a preliminary quarter-final by a Drumbaragh side which demonstrated considerable improvement on the previous year.
2004	Pipped at the post St. Mary's would undoubtedly have liked to mark the 25th anniversary of their memorable Junior Football Championship triumph in 1979 by regaining the title this year, but it wasn't to be as they failed to reach the knockout stages after a generally disappointing campaign.
2003	Junior hopes put on ice St Mary's had high expectations for 2003, but one brief lapse effectively cost them a place in the knockout stages of this year's junior football championship.
2002	In search of Victory St. Mary's prospects of claiming a first Junior Football Championship title since 1979 were seriously undermined by the loss of several key players for the 2002 campaign, but the Donore club remains upbeat about the future and hopes are high that the coming year can be significantly better given any sort of luck at all.
2001	St. Mary's look to the youth It may have been a disappointing year for the St. Mary's first team but the future could still have a silver lining according to Pat Lenehan, junior selector and manager of the club's highly-rated under 17 team.
2000	Craven for success St Mary's are still struggling to make it back to the Intermediate ranks they departed four years ago. Niall Craven believes the club has to get a few things right before that situation will change.
1999	A glimmer of hope The Under 14 footballers of St. Mary's generated much optimism for the club's future when they captured the Division 4 League title. Here we talk to Francis Gogarty, manager of the successful team, about beating Bective in the final, losing the championship decider to Yellow Furze and what this success means to the club.
1998	Been there done that He enjoyed the good times, he braved the bad but one characteristic unified Liam Smith's career with St Mary's and Meath. That characteristic, which will never die, was his sheer love for the game.

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St. Michaels
2009	Quarter-final ending for second successive year After running eventual winners St UltanÕs to two points in a 2008 IFC quarter-final clash, St MichaelÕs looked a good bet to progress further this year. However, that was not to be as they fell at the same hurdle when losing to Kilmainhamwood. By Noel Coogan.
2008	Brilliant end to the year When St Michael's lost their first two group games in the 2008 Intermediate Football Championship it looked odds on that they would end up in a battle for survival in the grade just three years after winning the junior title, but instead they picked things up to earn a quarter-final place and also claim the Division 3 FL title.
2007	Ladies lead the way There were plenty of red and black flags around Carlanstown and Kilbeg in the autumn of 2005 when the St. Michael's men won the Junior Football Championship and there was a fair amount of colour this year too as the club's ladies scored a thoroughly merited victory in their JFC.
2006	League success The main aim for any club which moves up a grade is to maintain that status for the following year. St Michael's, Junior A champions in 2005, achieved that goal with considerable ease and had fortune been with them on occasion, the Carlanstown outfit could well have been involved in the business end of the intermediate championship.
2005	St. Michael's land the big prize Of all the triumphant scenes that followed county finals during 2005, one surely stands out more than any other. St. Michael's had beaten Navan O'Mahonys to win the Junior Football Championship for the first time since 1982 and everybody appeared to want to congratulate one of the greatest Meath players of all time.
2004	A step away from the final St. Michael's can look back on 2004 with a great deal of satisfaction, despite missing out on Junior ‘A' Football Championship honours, Ollie Cassidy reviewed the year.
2003	Football ladder St. Michael's desperately want to move back up the football ladder, but their hopes of doing so in 2003 were dashed at the quarter-final stage in the Junior Championship when a highly talented Wolfe Tones side beat them by six points at Kells.
2002	Better late than never! Free-scoring St. Michael's attacker Daithi Regan was drafted onto the Meath Senior panel for the first time in 2002, making numerous appearances in the National League. Here he reviews his debut season with the ‘Royals' and runs the rule over St. Michael's mixed fortunes in the Junior Championship.
2001	Out on a high In the times that are in it, clubs often find it difficult to secure some continuity as far as the top table is concerned. In most GAA clubs, it's a case of musical chairs from one AGM to another. At the St. Michael's club, however, they've had the same chairman for the last 13 years. Gabriel Curtis take a bow.
2000	U-16's point direction to bright horizon It was not all doom and gloom in St Michael's during 2000. Okay, so junior football in 2001 may not appeal to a club with such a proud tradition but the performances of their U16s in capturing the Division 4 crown suggests that more adult success may be just around the corner. Royal County talks to Juvenile chairman Jimmy Farrelly who was also a selector with the victorious team.
1999	Tom puts his thumb on it St. Michaels return to the Intermediate grade this year didn't have the happy ending that supporters of the Carlanstown club had hoped for. Shane O'Brien caught up with long serving defender Tom Halpin who offered his opinions as to why St. Michaels failed to make the knockout stages of the championship.
1998	The stuff that Dreams are made of St. Michael's has proven to be a home from home for Jim O'Reilly. Royal County chews the fat with a North Meath stalwart.

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St. Pats
2009	Pushing to get through to the last four Over the last few years St PatrickÕs have consistently reached the last eight or nine of the Meath SFC but advancing to the final four has proved beyond them. In 2009 the Stamullen side again qualified from the group stages before losing to Summerhill in a closely contested quarter-final. By Noel Coogan.
2007	Injuries take their toll on Pat's St. Patrick's hopes of reaching their fourth senior football championship quarter-final in five years were ruined by a crippling injury list according to their long-serving defender Niall Russell who, along with former county star Cormac Murphy, announced his retirement in the wake of the play-off defeat to Navan O'Mahony's.
2006	Close to ending the quarter-final bogey Although St Patrick's were the form team going into the knockout stages of the Commons Hardware Meath SFC, and they finished the group phase with the best score difference (plus 43 points), they bowed out when losing to Wolfe Tones at the quarter-final stage.
2005	Sullivan's travels Cormac Sullivan was his usual assured self at the heart of the St Patrick's midfield in 2005, as the Stamullen men blazed their way to the knockout stage of the county SFC, only to come unstuck with a disappointing quarter-final defeat to Dunboyne at Ratoath on Sunday September 11. Gerry Robinson spoke to the former Meath goalie about the Pats' impressive group campaign and the increased expectations that go hand-in-hand with improved form.
2004	Making hurling history The strongholds of hurling in Meath have generally been based in the south of the county, but a club from the east made a very noteworthy and satisfactory breakthrough in 2004 when St. Patrick's won their first adult title in the small ball code.
2003	Closing in on that shamrock day St. Patrick's didn't win the Meath Senior Football Championship in 2003, but their campaign certainly represented one of the success stories in the race for the Keegan Cup.
2002	“Not so bad after all” St. Patrick's will look ahead to the 2003 season in the hope that they can make a much greater impact in the Senior Football Championship after enduring a less than smooth campaign in 2002 when circumstances didn't work in their favour.
2001	St.Pat's comfortably hold their own St. Patrick's made their long-awaited return in the senior ranks this year and came tantalizingly close to qualifying for the knock-out stages. Club stalwart Myra O'Flaherty believes that it was a satisfactory year for the Stamullen outfit.
2000	St. Patrick's are Intermediate champions ... at last ‘Perseverance brings success' was the title of the Walterstown club's comprehensive history which was published in the mid 1980's. If the maxim applied to Walterstown, then it is even more appropriate for the patient footballers of St. Patricks.
1999	Ivan-ho No! Royal County talks to St. Pats veteran Ivan Curran about another disappointing year for the Stamullen club and their prospects of gaining that elusive championship win in the not too distant future.
1998	The final hurdle St Patricks are to the 90s what Dunderry were in the 80s, an Intermediate final nightmare. Royal County reviews the year and argues the future is bright.

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St. Pauls
2009	PaulÕs aim for a home of their own Ten years ago St. PaulÕs were promoted to intermediate level but in the intervening time they have moved back two grades of football. A win over this yearÕs JFC ÔBÕ champions shows they are capable of making the step up, all they need now is for the council to give them planning permission for a new pitch in Clonee. By David Sheehan.
2008	Trials and tribulations After a year that must have been difficult, disruptive and somewhat sad in 2007, St Paul's made good progress in the Junior B Football Championship this term, so much so that they advanced from the divisional stages to play knockout football in late summer.
2007	End of one road for St Paul's St. Paul's this year bade an emotional farewell to their pitch in Clonee which is situated on the site of the new M3 Motorway. Despite being without a home, the club is determined to carry on as chairman and junior team selector John Curry explains.
2006	Pauls on parade St. Paul's managed three victories and a draw in Group A of the 2006 Junior B Football Championship, but a tally of seven points in the qualifying stages wasn't sufficient to earn the Clonee side a place in the business end of the competition. By Paul Clarke.
2005	St. Pauls never stop There's no other GAA pitch in Meath that experiences the volumes of traffic passing by its gates on a daily basis than that of St Paul's. Yet, paradoxically, St Paul's are largely an unknown entity in Meath GAA circles. By Gordon Manning.
2004	A brighter note St. Paul's suffered their second successive relegation in the league in 2004 (having dropped down from Div 3 the previous year) and will ply their trade in Division 5 next year.
2003	Watch us go next year! Nothing went according to plan for St Pauls in 2003 but the team spirit and sense of camaraderie amongst the club is such that centre forward Philip Connolly forecasts a dramatic return to form for the Clonee men in the coming season.
2002	All change for St. Pauls After two years competing at intermediate level St. Paul's were relegated to junior ranks at the end of 2001, instead of bouncing back, a combination of injuries and defections saw the Clonee side barely hold onto Junior A status.
2001	Through the trapdoor St Paul's were all set to enjoy life after breaking out of the junior ranks in 1999. But in just their second year as an intermediate side, they could not evade the dreaded drop, and will be back as a junior side next summer.
2000	Moyles better South Meath club St Paul's enjoyed a relatively successful first season in the intermediate grade, consolidating their position in the championship before going on to win the league late in the year. Predictably, county man Anthony Moyles was again one of their key men in 2000.
1999	St. Paul's bypass Junior grade St. Paul's arrived in the big time this year when they got their hands on the Matthew Ginnity Cup. Royal County reports on an historic year for the Clonee club.
1998	Donnelly the sponsor Royal County meets Martin Donnelly who finds time out from a hectic schedule which sees him treble up as sponsor of the Clare footballers, the Poc Fada and St. Paul's.

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St. Ultans
2009	UltanÕs have no problems mixing it with the best Teams promoted from the Intermediate ranks always relish the challenge that mixing it with the big boys brings, but facing up to and matching that challenge thrown down by more experienced and battle-hardened sides is always a tough task. By David Sheehan.
2008	Welcome to the top table The tension was high around the dressing room area under the stand at Pairc Tailteann approaching 4.0 on the first Sunday of October this year. Parish rivals St Ultan's and Cortown were preparing to race out onto the beautifully manicured Navan pitch for surely the most talked-about IFC final in the history of the competition.
2007	Pushing hard for a double promotion As St. Ultan's review their first campaign back in the intermediate ranks they can certainly take encouragement for the years ahead as they aim to make that giant step up to play with the big boys in the Senior Football Championship. By Paul Clarke.
2006	Bohermeen men A number of teams from Bohermeen parish have won the Meath Junior Football Championship down the decades and St Ultan's were picking up the title for the second time in seven years when becoming the latest recipients of the Matthew Ginnity Cup in October. By Noel Coogan.
2005	Good, but not quite good enough St Ultan's launched a two-pronged attack on silverware in 2005. Though they lost only four competitive matches over the course of the season and were in the shake-up for honours in both the league (Division Three) and the JFC, the Bohermeen Black & Green finished the year empty-handed, much to the frustration of gifted attacker Paul Murray.
2004	The team to beat St Ultan's gained promotion from Div 4 of the league and bowed out of the Junior ‘A' Football Championship, when they went under to eventual winners Ratoath in the quarter-finals. Colm Travers reviewed an eventful year for the club.
2003	Hurt yet proud They are still trying to pick up the pieces around Bohermeen. Still trying to figure out where it all went wrong, why it all went wrong in 2003. St Ultan's are a proud club, and relegation to junior football has hurt.
2002	St Ultan's family affair During a period nearly a century ago, a team called Bohermeen made winning the Meath senior football title look as simple as taking sweets off a baby. They won the championship six-years in a row between 1909 and 1914. Since then no other club managed a similar sequence of success.
2001	Rogers revels in saintly role Amidst the highly-vaunted, bright young football talent at St. Ultan's, Gary Rogers stands out as one of the brightest. A run with the Meath seniors and a central role with the Meath juniors reflects his innate promise.
2000	St. Ultan's bounce back Football people in the Bohermeen/Martry area are united as one happy family following the Junior Football Championship triumph by St. Ultan's last September.
1999	Back in the limelight 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.
1998	Hope never dies 1998 was supposed to be a good year for St. Ultans after a promising ‘97. Vincent Rennicks explains to Royal County where things went wrong and offers the opinion that dedication will bring success.

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St. Vincents
2009	St VincentÕs left reeling in Ôwhat might have beenÕ Widely regarded as one to watch in the Junior B Football Championship this term, especially after securing the services of Martin Barry, St VincentÕs didnÕt scale the heights that most predicted but David Jennings reflected on how lady luck failed to shine on them in 2009.
2008	The final fence After experiencing all the joy, excitement and elation that goes with winning the title in dramatic fashion five year earlier, St Vincent's were at the receiving end in the Junior B FC final in 2008 when the Donaghmore/Ashbourne second string defeated them on a wet Saturday at Pairc Tailteann.
2007	Vincent's junior assignment failed St Vincent's have a proud tradition in footballing circles but 2007 proved a frustrating year for the Ardcath club as they were forced to suffer the unfortunate fate of being relegated to the ranks of Junior B.
2006	Mixing it with the big boys An unfortunate run of narrow defeats, three of them by a single point, ruined St. Vincent's chances of making it through to the knock-out stages of the Junior Football Championship, but at least the Ardcath side maintained their status in the battle for the Matthew Ginnity Cup for another year and can live in hope that 2007 will bring better fortunes.
2005	Ardcath alive St Vincent's hit the headlines when capturing the 2005 Meath U14 FL Division 3B title, beating Dunsany in the final on May 23. It was a landmark victory for the Ardcath outfit, who are engaged in an ongoing battle against unforgiving demographics. Hopes are high that further success will follow as the plucky Vincents endeavour to thrive against all odds.
2004	A shining example St. Vincent's retained their the Junior ‘A' football status for another year when they defeated Moynalty in a relegation play-off at the tail end of the seasons. Chairman Gerry Tuite, and juvenile secretary Ambrose O'Sullivan reviewed the year.
2003	Late penalty The Junior B FC decider provided the most dramatic conclusion to any of the Meath championship finals in 2003 with St Vincent's snatching the title in sensational fashion with a late, late goal from a penalty.
2002	A step in the right direction The winds of change may have started to blow around Ardcath in the past year. The St. Vincent's footballers reached the semi-final of the junior B championship, the final of Division Five in the league and claimed their first under-12 title in 22 years.
2001	Ardcath's Hill Even in success-spoiled Meath, rich pastures don't entirely dominate the county's football landscape. Amidst all the rich oasis of the big ball game in the Royal County, areas like Ardcath yearn for a place in the sun - at least just the odd time.
2000	The fast lane Shay Lane was better known to everybody as “Shortie”. Born and raised in Duleek in the 1950s, he showed even at an early age great potential on the football field. He was part of the Duleek U14 team that won county titles in 1970 and 1971.
1999	St.Vincent's remain upbeat Highlights were few and far between for St. Vincent's in 1999. Hopeful of an upswing in fortunes in the coming season is youthful club secretary, John Tuite.
1998	No Bowens about it St. Vincent's Ardcath haven't been enjoying the best of times recently. Royal County asks chairman Pat Bowens what the reasons behind their poor form are and about the chances of them bouncing back in the not to distant future.

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Summerhill
2009	A top four side SummerhillÕs long wait for a return to the top of the Meath football charts continues after they fell at the penultimate round in the race for the Keegan Cup in 2009. For the second time in three years Seneschalstown dashed their title hopes.
2008	You have to lose one before you win one It was inevitable that sooner rather than later somebody was going to suffer at the hands of Navan O'Mahonys in an SFC final . Unfortunately for Summerhill it was them as the Brews Hill team made up for defeats at the last hurdle in the previous two years by beating the other Hill XV in the 2008 decider.
2007	All set to deliver After spending a few years fighting survival battles, Summerhill are moving in the right direction again and in 2007 qualifying for the quarter-finals of the SFC was significant progress for their young side.
2006	20 years on Twenty years ago Paraic Lyons was basking in that sunny feeling that comes with leading your club to the ultimate prize in Meath football. Summerhill had beaten Seneschalstown in the final at Kells and were crowned Senior Football Championship winners for the first time in nine years and the fifth time in all. By Paul Clarke.
2005	Glory days to return? After unprecedented success at minor and U21 levels in recent years, Summerhill appear on the cusp of a return to prominence. County Board treasurer Colm Gannon, who figured on the side that took Meath and Leinster by storm in the mid-seventies, is confident that the present crop has something unique to offer. Moreover, he believes that within three years the Keegan Cup will nestle in Summerhill once again and talk of the glory years will finally subside.
2004	Minor and league success By taking a first MFC in 62 years and adding the ACFL Division 1 title later in the year, Summerhill's future has never looked brighter.
2003	Coming of age Summerhill captured the 2003 Meath under 21 football championship when defeating Seneschalstown by 0-16 to 1-10 in a thrilling replayed final at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday November 23rd.
2002	October joy Two Sundays in late October gave Summerhill's supporters plenty to cheer about. First came a victory over Oldcastle that secured the senior team's survival in the top flight and a week later the Junior ‘B' side completed a memorable campaign by winning their particular championship, defeating Walterstown in the final.
2001	Historic underage success The Summerhill U-16s carved a niche for themselves in the history of the club last July when defeating O'Mahony's to claim the Benny Caffrey cup for the first time ever. Club juvenile chairman and team mentor Mick McGlynn recounts the team's road to glory.
2000	Knockout blows For the past two years Summerhill have faltered at the quarter-final stage. Jarlath Hughes talks about the need to move on a step.
1999	Nearing the ‘Hill's summit How a club fared in a year is normally determined by the amount of cups or trophies on display in the trophy cabinet but while silverware may have proved a scarce commodity for Summerhill GFC in 1999, the performance of their teams from minor to junior ‘C' to Reserve League and senior will have provided the club's supporters with the second best thing to success, optimism for the future.

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Syddan
2009	Clear of present danger Syddan achieved only one victory in the 2009 Intermediate Football Championship, but when it did arrive it was priceless. A decade after they won the title things were so very different as they struggled to avoid a relegation dogfight and steered themselves clear of one with a win over Clann na nGael in their last group game. By Paul Clarke.
2008	Tradition remains strong After failing to reach the closing stages of the Lagan Group Intermediate Football Championship in each of the previous two years, Syddan did better in the 2008 competition when winning four of their seven outings, drawing one and losing two.
2007	Agonisingly close for Syddan Syddan went agonisingly close to rejoining the senior ranks in 2005 when they lost the Intermediate Football Championship final to Duleek after a replay and the natural progression appeared to suggest that they would go all the way last year.
2006	A year of memories After losing the replayed IFC final to Duleek in 2005, Syddan had good reason to be hopeful of rejoining the senior ranks this time round but their hopes were dashed when injuries robbed them of key players for crunch group games. On a happier note memories of their fourth and most recent SFC success were recalled at a function held at the Newtown Country Club in mid-September. By Liam O'Rourke.
2005	Don't look back in anger Having lost the 2005 Meath intermediate football championship final by one point after a replay, Syddan could be forgiven for looking back on the year with something bordering on contempt. But this is not the case. Veteran attacker Trevor Gilsenan reckons that, despite the obvious disappointment of having been edged out by Duleek at Pairc Tailteann on the second day of October, '05 nonetheless represented a thoroughly decent year for the Green & Gold, who retain a positive outlook going into the new season.
2004	Penalty woe When Syddan bridged a gap of half a century in late 2003 by winning the Feis Cup they must have started to think that it was really only a matter of time before they would achieve an even greater ambition - that of being a senior club again.
2003	One step away Syddan have a burning ambition to make it back to the senior ranks, but Navan O'Mahonys frustrated their attempts in 2003 when eliminating the north Meath side at the semi-final stage of the Intermediate Football Championship.
2002	Syddan's Grand Master Paddy Meegan had a long and distinguished career with club and county. Here he recalls some of the highs and lows.
2001	Mission: Bounce back Just two years after the jubilation of intermediate championship success, Syddan find themselves back in that grade after relegation from the senior ranks in 2001. But experienced defender Frank McKenna believes the club's familiarity with the middle tier will help them back to the top level at the first time of asking.
2000	Syddan savours senior status Talked about as relegation candidates at the ouset of the championship, the men from Syddan proved their doubters wrong.
1999	Back in the big time Fifty years on from their first senior title, Syddan claimed the intermediate crown with a second half come-back that will go down in history. Royal County charts their success.

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Trim
2009	Out of luck A glance at Trim's results in the 2009 Senior Football Championship suggests that, with any sort of decent luck at all, they might well have reached the knockout stages. But instead they ended up nearer the bottom than the top of their section and well out of contention for a place in the business end of the race for the Keegan Cup.
2008	Early exits for both senior combinations Trim possess a fervent desire to bridge the gap back to their last Senior Hurling Championship title in 2001, but their thoughts during the majority of this year's campaign weren't of lifting the Jubilee Cup, but of holding onto their status in the premier grade.
2006	Near and far ÔThe Keegan Cup is likely to find a home in the shadow of King John's Castle in the not too distant future' it was suggested in an article about Trim in the 2002 Meath GAA Yearbook. They were beaten SFC finalists that year and despite some very promising form since then, the Reds are not any closer to making the big breakthrough.
2005	Trim keep on knocking For the third successive year, Trim fell at the penultimate hurdle in the Meath Senior Football Championship in 2005. After Simonstown Gaels twice ended their dreams of glory, last September the Reds were well beaten by Blackhall Gaels and the gap going back to their only Keegan Cup triumph in 1962 gets wider. By Noel Coogan.
2004	The darkest hour is the one before dawn Trim's heavy defeat by Simonstown in the SFC semi-final underlines the difficulties faced by dual clubs who reach the business end of championships in both codes, claims club secretary Fergal Flanagan.
2003	Caught on the hop When Trim reached the Meath SFC final in 2002 they had an extra incentive to lift the title as that year marked the 40th anniversary of their only outright success in the championship.
2002	A good year The dream of winning a first Senior Football Championship in 40 years ended in bitter disappointment for Trim, but the 2002 campaign suggested that the Keegan Cup is likely to find a home in the shadow of King John's Castle in the not too distant future.
2001	Jubilation for Trim In a year in which the GAA introduced a ‘back door' All-Ireland football championship for the first time, Trim stumbled upon a spare key to take the Meath Senior Hurling Championship title for the 26th time.
2000	Marvellous Murray Trim captain Benny Murray got his hands on the Jubilee Cup this year but would have preferred circumstances to have been a little different.
1999	A Frank insight Meath selector Frank Foley looks back on a year which was wonderful for the county and disappointing for the club.

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Walterstown
2009	Dark days for the Blacks The once-mighty Walterstown have hit upon lean times and in the 2009 Meath Senior Football Championship the Blacks failed to win a game from five outings and were involved in a relegation play-off for the second successive year.
2008	Pride in the black jersey It was case of dŽjˆ vu for Joey Farrelly and his Walterstown team-mates in 2008 when they became embroiled in the SFC relegation play-off but, just as twelve months previously, they overcame Kilmainhamwood to preserve their senior status and the long serving midfielder predicts better things to come in 2009. By Shane OÕBrien.
2007	A close escape There was a time when it would be a surprise if Walterstown did not reach the closing stages of the Meath SFC. However, there was a different scenario this year with the Blacks finishing at the bottom of their group and having to win a relegation play-off in order to avoid the drop to intermediate ranks.
2006	Able and ready Anybody who watched Walterstown concede four goals and go down heavily to reigning champions Dunboyne in their opening Senior Football Championship match couldn't possibly have predicted the manner in which they would recover to win their remaining six divisional games and finish on top of the pile.
2005	50/50 for Walterstown and John Walterstown's 2005 SFC form was hit and miss. From their seven group outings, they won three, lost three and drew one Ð a precise 50% record. It wasn't enough to book a place in the business end of the Keegan Cup competition, however, much to the obvious disappointment of powerful midfielder John Davis.
2004	Solid foundation This time two decades ago Walterstown were looking back on a third successive Meath Senior Football Championship title and a fifth in seven years. They may not be at that level right now but the foundations are in place to make a surge in the near future.
2003	A league of their own While Walterstown once again suffered disappointment in the Meath SFC, there was some consolation in the annexation of the All County Division 1 League title for the first time, with a dramatic final victory over holders Dunshaughlin.
2002	Daylight robbery Walterstown's dream of winning a first Senior Football Championship in 18 years was alive and very well 12 minutes into the second half of their quarter-final against Trim at Dunsany. They led by eight points and were playing high quality football despite kicking 10 wides.
2001	Progress for the Blacks Amazingly it is nearly 20 years since Walterstown last brought the coveted Keegan Cup out the road to Johnstown. But through 2001 a young Blacks selection continually placed down markers to say further glory days lay ahead.
2000	Let the good times roll ... With the amount of residential developments being currently erected in Johnstown and its surrounding environs, Walterstown supporters are rubbing their hands at the thoughts of the benefits the club should derive from the increase in numbers. Walterstown secretary Sean O'Brien reveals that plans are in place to maximise the potential which the population increase should provide.
1999	The Walterstown School of Coaching Former Walterstown players appear to be a popular choice amongst clubs throughout the county when it comes to selecting the coach for the coming year. Some have even enjoyed success on the intercounty front. Royal County profiles the men who graduated from the Walterstown school of coaching.

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Wolfe Tones
2009	Marathon run just falls short As the Wolfe Tones players headed away from Pairc Tailteann on the first Thursday night of November this year it was hardly of any consolation to them that they had played a huge part in two gripping encounters to decide the destination of the Senior Football Championship.
2008	No senior but silverware all the same Wolfe Tones' hopes of winning the Senior Football Championship for the second time in three years faltered at the semi-final hurdle when Summerhill avenged an earlier group defeat to qualify for their first decider since 1990.
2007	Tones get a rest at last It is often said that successfully defending a title can be more difficult than winning it in the first place and Wolfe Tones found that out when failing to advance from the group stages of the 2007 Commons Hardware Meath SFC.
2005	Tones comfortable at the top table They say all good things must come to an end. And while Cormac Reilly's final whistle on September 10th did mark the end of an amazing few years for the GAA folk of Kilberry/Oristown, Brendan Boylan feels that Wolfe Tones proved enough in their first year back in the top flight to suggest that they may not be out of the limelight for very long.
2004	Historic achievement by Wolfe Tones For those of us who can cast our minds back for a period of 30 years, there is the compelling memory of the day that St. Johns beat St. Vincents to win the intermediate championship.
2003	Hard graft at underage pays dividends There is an old saying that goes along the lines of ‘long threatening comes at last' and so it was in 2003 from the Wolfe Tones footballers.
2002	Mission accomplished Wolfe Tones returned to the senior grade at the first time of asking when they overcame a spirited challenge from Kilskyre in the Intermediate Hurling Championship decider at a wind and rain swept Athboy on Sunday October 20. With weather conditions reducing the contest to a lottery, club secretary and centre half back Aidan Jordan was happy to have the winning ticket.
2001	‘Tones enjoy their best ever year Wolfe Tones came agonisingly close to winning the 2001 Meath JFC. The Oristown/Kilberry/Gibbstown combination went all the way to the county final, only to suffer the disappointment of defeat at the hands of Curraha after a replay. But make no mistake: the Tones will be back. Intermediate football is just around the corner.
2000	‘An Ever present' Tom Claire arrived in Wilkinstown in the early seventies from his native Ashbourne via Duleek. Since then he has been an integral member of the Wolfe Tones club and is one of their most dedicated clubmen.
1999	Silver Jubilee GAA President Joe McDonagh helped the members of the Wolfe Tones club celebrate their silver jubilee this year at a function in the Headfort Arms Hotel, Kells on Sunday, 24th October. Royal County takes a look back at an eventful quarter of a century.
1998

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