Football stole the limelight in Blackhall Gaels during 2003 but twelve months later hurling was the toast of the parish. That never to be forgotten Sunday in the autumn of 2003 when Blackhall Gaels came back from a seemingly impossible position to defeat Simonstown Gaels and claim a first Senior Football Championship title was unquestionably the greatest occasion in the relatively short history of the Batterstown-Kilcloon amalgamation. By Paul Clarke.But there was a day in the autumn of 2004 that was hugely significant also and one which could well help Blackhall emerge as a major force at adult level on the Royal County hurling front in the not too distant future. It came at Sean Eiffe Park, Ratoath, on Saturday, October 9, when the club won the Minor Hurling Championship crown for the first time to provide a huge boost for the promotion of the small ball code. It was a very proud moment indeed for team captain Jonathan Meyler, selectors Tom Meyler, who was also the manager, Michael Mullally and Frank Broad and all associated with the Blackhall Gaels' club when Minor Hurling Committee chairman John Reilly handed over the Tony Donnelly Cup after a minimum-margin victory over Kilmessan in the final. Quite understandably, a loud cheer greeted referee Gerry Kelly's full-time whistle as Blackhall celebrated a hugely important breakthrough after winning by 2-8 to 1-10 thanks to a performance that was full of self-belief and skill as they recovered from a 1-3 to 1-5 half-time deficit to claim the title. This particular group of Blackhall players has been hurling together since under-11 level, so a special bond has clearly been built up over the years, and that was certainly evident as they demonstrated formidable spirit and conviction which enabled them to dominate most of the second period and hold out as Kilmessan fought strongly in the closing stages in a bid to rescue the situation. Blackhall had experienced the bitter feeling of losing a final the previous year when they went under to St. Martin's in the Minor Championship Div. 2 decider by a point. And there was a definite determination this time to ensure that they didn't suffer another reversal on such an important day. It was a fine team performance by the winners though, as in every final, there were certain players who really stood out. Among them was centre half-forward Mark Mullally who scored vital goals in each half and finished as his side's top marksman with an impressive personal contribution of 2-4. Mullally notched his first goal after 13 minutes when he gained possession and took off on a strong, surging run, before holding off a number of challenges and blasting to the net from close range. However, Kilmessan still managed to hold that two-point interval advantage, thanks in no small way to a 23rd minute goal from substitute Paddy Farrell who found the target after a Paul Grimes free had rebounded off the crossbar. But Blackhall responded just as their selectors and supporters would have wished for in the second period and Mullally's second goal at the three-quarter stage gave them a huge boost and helped them to be on level terms (2-4 to 1-7). This time Mullally was on hand to pick up a magnificent pass from Kevin Coyle, before firing to the corner of the net from an acute angle. Kilmessan, who were bidding to win the Minor Championship for the first time since 2002, responded immediately with a point from their leading scorer Christopher Curtis, but there was a fierce determination and resolved in Blackhall's play and it was very clear that they had absolutely no intentions of allowing the chance to gain such an historic triumph slip away from them. Mullally, who always looked threatening with his penetrating runs, kept their challenge ticking over nicely with a series of points from frees and they moved into a lead that they never subsequently relinquished. Kilmessan, to their credit, never stopped battling as they attempted to reignite their title challenge and they did respond with a couple of late points from Curtis which left the Blackhall supporters sweating it out for a short spell before referee Kelly sounded the last whistle to bring the decider to an end and confirm their historic title success. Not many clubs in the county can boast that they have won both the Senior Football and the Senior Hurling Championship titles during their history. Of course, Blackhall have already made the breakthrough in the premier football competition thanks to that fantastic Keegan Cup annexation in 2003. And, following this highly significant minor trophy, who's to say that Blackhall won't soon climb out of the intermediate ranks and that the Jubilee Cup, which goes with winning the most important hurling competition in Meath, won't also find its way to the club in the not too distant future. Of course, Mullally was hugely important to the win with his personal tally of 2-4 and his general contribution was immense. Big midfielder Jonathan Meyler, who had the additional satisfaction of captaining the team, was another key player, as was full-back Conor Burke, who made some crucial interventions at vital moments. But winning championships is all about a team effort and plenty of commitment and self-belief. It also takes a great deal of hard work over a prolonged period from the players and their mentors to win major trophies and Blackhall certainly weren't found wanting in that department. On a broader scale, it can only be good for hurling in the county to see championships going to clubs which haven't been major forces in the past and, with that in mind, Blackhall's success carried some extra significance. For the club, having a bunch of players with the ability to win the Minor Championship has to be very reassuring and they will undoubtedly hope to build on this success over the next few years. "When you see the players coming up through the age groups you often wonder if they could ever go far enough to win a Minor Championship," said team manager Tom Meyler. "We had lost the Minor Championship Div. 2 final to St. Martin's by a point the year before. We were unfortunate to lose that one and to go on and win the championship this year was just fantastic and a really great thrill for all. "It was great for the Blackhall Gaels' club and great for the young lads themselves who have put in so much work. They have been at it since they were 10 or 11 years of age and lost a couple of under-11 finals. But we persisted with it and I firmly believe that there's nothing as important as persistence if you want to be successful and win things. "With the exception of about three players the team that won the Minor Championship this year was the same as that which lost the Div. 2 final in 2003. We had beaten Kilmessan in a couple of Under-16 'A' Championship finals in succession and I suppose those wins gave us strength and belief. In a predominantly football club like Blackhall Gaels you don't have the numbers for hurling, but we are still doing very well." Tom was the team manager and he was very strong in his praise for fellow selectors Michael Mullally and Frank Broad. "The organisational skills of Michael Mullally and Frank Broad are second to none," he added. "They both had sons on the minor team, Mark Mullally and Erik Broad, and I had two sons on the side, Jonathan, who was our captain, and goalkeeper Thomas who is under-14 this year." After this major breakthrough in the under-18 age group Tom is obviously looking forward to Blackhall Gaels' future in the hurling ranks with considerable hope and enthusiasm. "We have been working with these lads from a very young age," he said. "The Minor Championship success was a huge boost for us and gives us a lot of hope as we look to the future. "It has to be said that there are very good hurling structures in place in the Blackhall Gaels' club and in time we should progress. We are very hopeful for the future. We have to be with what we have achieved so far." It was a hugely significant day for Blackhall when they clinched the Minor Championship title and Tom wanted to stress the major role the Ratoath club played in the occasion thanks to their superb organisation of the big day at Sean Eiffe Park. "Ratoath's overall presentation of final day was superb," he added. "The pitch was in brilliant condition and that added to the day in a big way. It has to be said that everything was right on the day and they deserve great credit for that." The Blackhall Gaels' team which created history by winning a first Minor Hurling Championship title in 2004 was - T. Meyler; U. Colgan, C. Burke, M. O'Neill; T. Murphy, E. Broad, T. Delany; J. Meyler (0-3), T. Coyle; P. Burke (0-1), M. Mullally (2-4), A. Nestor; K. Coyle, P. O'Brien, J. Bailey. Sub - K. Whitty for Bailey. No Keegan Cup but plenty to keep busy with After winning the Meath Senior Football Championship title for the first time in 2003, Blackhall Gaels found the task of retaining the Keegan Cup beyond them. When the draw was made, it was generally felt that the holders were in the less competitive of the two groups but it was far from plain sailing for the Batterstown-Kilcloon side. By Noel Coogan. Blackhall only took one point from their first two games, losing to surprise packets Cortown and being held to a draw by Seneschalstown, but then they put together a winning run of five games and looked to be in with a strong chance of garnering further glory. But no team from their group got beyond the quarter-final stage and Dunshaughlin ended the double dream. With a new manager at the helm (Declan Mahon, a selector for the 2003 success, replaced Leo Turley), Blackhall Gaels were 5/1 favourites before the mid April start. Without the suspended Anthony Moyles, the lack the bite plus the desire of Cortown meant that they only led for a brief spell during the third quarter of the opening round tussle at Pairc Tailteann. In the lowest scoring encounter of the 60 plus in the SFC, the board read 0-6 to 0-5 at the end of the hour, Mark Ferris pointing three times for the losers, twice from frees. Seven days later Seneschalstown, without Joe Sheridan, were the opponents at Skryne and there weren't many more scores as it ended 0-8 each. Paul Nestor was shown a straight red card after 21 minutes as brother Nigel and the back in action Anthony Moyles struggled to dominate midfield. Again Mark Ferris top scored, this time with five points. It was a slow start for the holders but then came two high scoring wins to get the title challenge back on track. Mark Crampton was Blackhall Gaels' most consistent performer in the title defence and the accurate forward scored 1-6 in the 2-13 to 1-6 win over Kilmainhamwood and then Blackhall went in an even bigger scoring spree when accumulating 4-17 against St Patrick's, who managed just 0-7 on a July Sunday in Ratoath. Declan Mahon's side registered the highest and lowest scores in the 2004 SFC. Blackhall's odds were down to 6/1 and they were looking serious contenders again. But 'Gaels gain great escape' was a heading after they scraped a lucky 0-13 to 0-12 win over Summerhill at Longwood in the fifth round. Having trailed for most of the hour, the title holders fired over four points in added time at the end with Mark Crampton's winning score not arriving until the fifth minute of the additional period allowed by Jimmy Henry. Tadhg Brosnan, the top scorer in the Keegan Cup competition in 2003, was away in America and missed the last four SFC group games this year. Most of those who were stars for the big triumph failed to sparkle although wins over Walterstown and Dunderry enabled the wearers of the blue and yellow to finish on top of their group. They were through after the 0-10 to 0-6 win over Walterstown and again they were less than convincing. Mark Crampton was again the main man in attack for the 1-10 to 1-4 success over Dunderry at Dunsany and the 'prize' for finishing on top of the division was a quarter-final clash with keen local adversaries and former champions Dunshaughlin. Tadhg Brosnan had returned for that game and even though he sent over four points, two from play, Blackhall left Pairc Tailteann as deposed champions with the black and amber brigade out pointing them by 0-16 to 0-14 after extra time. The holders were fortunate to survive at the end of the hour when a late score from Barry McKeon left it 0-10 each. It was hardly much consolation to Blackhall that they were involved in one of the best games in the 2004 SFC. They went into the encounter as favourites and after having the better of the first period, they should have had a better advantage than 0-7 to 0-4 at the end of the first period. A delivery from Robert Cox gave Nigel Nestor a great chance of a goal but the midfielder finished wide. Blackhall were without Paul Nestor, sidelined with an injury, but in reality they failed to find the consistent form which gained them outright honours in the previous campaign. Blackhall Gaels got to the last four of the Junior B FC but the day after exiting the SFC title race, the club's second string lost by two points, 1-6 to 2-5, to Walterstown at Dunshaughlin. The sides were level, 1-4 each, at the break with Aidan Ferris netting Blackhall's goal but they conceded a second goal shortly after the restart. However, the tables were turned a week later when Blackhall Gaels outscored Walterstown by 1-11 to 0-7 at the same venue to claim the B FL Division 1 title. The winning team fielded 11 of the side which lost to the Blacks seven days earlier. Right corner forward Sean Whelan pointed the way for the Batterstown-Kilcloon side, raising the white flag six times, and his side led by 0-7 to 0-1 at the break. Martin Whelan netted the goal and other players with senior experience like Noel O'Hora, Liam O'Doherty, Paul McNulty, John O'Brien and John Callanan were vital components of the success. Team captain Kevin Maye received the Adrian Kellett Cup from Paddy O'Dwyer, who made the presentation on behalf of the county board. Michael Joyce and John McKeon were in charge of the successful side. The winning team was : Michael Mullally; Liam Rattigan, Noel O'Hora, Liam O'Doherty; John Joyce, Kevin Maye, Colm McElligott; John O'Brien, Paul McElligott; Ian Kennedy, Owen Creevy, Jamie Moore; Sean Whelan, Martin Whelan, John Callanan. Subs - John O'Hora for O'Brien, Daniel O'Neill for Rattigan, Ciaran Ledwith for Kennedy, David Barker for Martin Whelan, Kevin Sweeney for McElligott. Blackhall Gaels have been one of the most prominent clubs in Meath underage football over the last few years and last July they lifted the Under 16 FL Division 2 title for the second year in a row with a 0-12 to 1-5 final victory over Summerhill at Dunsany. Pat Brady (trainer), Oliver Mulligan and Paul Corcoran were the selectors for this success. After conceding an early goal, Blackhall Gaels, boosted by fine points from Alan Nestor and Edmund Garvey, battled their way into the game and only trailed by the minimum, 0-5 to 1-3, at the break. Captain Paddy Brady, Aindreas Ó Cinnéide and John Kelly were others to show up particularly well for the winners. The winning team in the final was : Niall O'Carroll; Enda Kelly, Aindreas Ó Cinnéide, Kevin Coyle; John Kelly, John McCabe, Darragh Finnegan; Paddy Brady, Thomas Delaney; David Mulligan, Alan Nestor, Stephen Carty; Peter Burke, Edmund Garvey, Ciaran Cummins. Subs - Tom Walsh for Mulligan, Donncha Tobin for Burke. Paddy Brady and Alan Nestor were both on the Meath under 16 team which won the Leinster A title with a final victory over Westmeath in October. Nestor is the latest in a long list of Nestors to have assisted Batterstown/Blackhall Gaels and has already emulated Paul and Nigel by gaining success in the green and gold jersey. Blackhall Gaels reached the county women's SFC final for the first time in 2004 and had the satisfaction of knocking out Meath and Leinster winners of the previous year Seneschalstown. However, they were no match for St Ultan's, who won the title decider at Ratoath by 4-11 to 2-7. Blackhall trailed by 0-4 to 2-9 at the break and even though they improved in the second half, it was not to be their day as the more experienced opposition prevailed. Suzanne McCormack and Paula Brady finished to the Bohermeen side's net and the deficit was pared down to six points before it was increased to ten. But Blackhall could be pleased with the achievement of reaching the SFC final in their first year in the top grade, having taking the intermediate title in 2003. Joe Breen, Tom Nolan and John Maye were the selectors in 2004 and the team will be hoping to make further progress in 2005. The Blackhall Gaels team in the final was : Caroline Griffin; Paula Dunne, Kate Murphy, Martina Maye; Angie Fahy, Una Burke, Leona Nestor; Jane Burke, Yvonne Brady; Sarah O'Donnell, Suzanne McCormack, Caroline Maye; Maria Farrell, Emma Fahy, Fran Nolan. Subs - Aoife McCarthy for A Fahy, Helen Murphy for Farrell. Blackhall Gaels won the girls under 14 B football title with a 1-14 to 1-6 final win over Simonstown Gaels at Kiltale. The winning team was : Sara O'Kane; Amie Peers, Lorraine Devany, Laura Hanafin; Keeva Mahon, Michelle Dalton, Clare Stenson; Sara Delaney, Sinead O'Sullivan; Rebecca Flattery, Lisa Kelly, Edel Cawley; Niamh Kealy, Emily Mangan, Katie Morris. Sara Delaney was the winning captain and Caroline Flattery and J. P. Kelly were the joint managers. One of the best organised clubs in the county, Blackhall Gaels had another very busy football year and the small successes represented a deserved return for all the work put in by so many. They were obviously disappointed that the senior team did not get further but they will again be among the top contenders in 2005. U14B title for ladies Blackhall Gaels Ladies recorded an historic first underage victory in the Under 14B championship final against Simonstown in Kiltale. A lively start by Blackhall's Katie Morris saw her notch up 1-1 in the first eight minutes and Emily Mangan added two further points to leave the score 1-3 to Simonstown's three points at half time. Both teams exchanged points after the break but Simonstown soon levelled the score with a well taken goal. Blackhall's Niamh Kiely replied immediately with a point and this inspired the Blackhall forwards to record a further nine points against Simonstown's two before the final whistle. Four of these points were scored by the prolific Emily Mangan aided by Edel Cawley, Niamh Kiely, Rebecca Flattery and Katie Morris. Overall it was an all round team performance by the Blackhall girls as the strong defensive work of the backs played a major part in this historic first underage win. Full-time score: Blackhall Gaels 1-14 Simonstown 1-6 Blackhall Gaels - Sarah O'Keane, Amie Peers, Lorraine Devaney, Laura Hanifin, Keeva Mahon, Michelle Dalton, Claire Stenson, Sarah Delany, Sin ad O'Sullivan, Rebecca Flattery (0-1), Lisa Kelly (0-1), Edel Cawley (0-2), Niamh Kiely (0-2), Emily Mangan (0-6), Katie Morris (1-2). Subs: Sarah-Jane Finnegan, Maeve Lyons, Karen Fitzgerald, Lisa Farrell, Amy Conneally. Tweet

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