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. Their victory and the manner in which they achieved it proved that they had the necessary character to be recognised as the true champions which quite a few observers had tipped them to be early in the year. Leo Turley had taken over from Tom Nolan in the hot seat and another important development was the infusion of many of the successful minor team of 1999 and these young players played a vital role in their eventual outright success. April 22nd in Walterstown was the day when the climb started and they seemed well in control when leading St Colmcille's by a fairly healthy margin and with Enda Grogan dismissed they looked safe but gradually Niall Ronan, who caused Andrew Dalton problems all day, began to drag the Pilltown outfit into contention and then in the final few seconds came the killer blow. The Laytown side were awarded a free after goalie John O'Brien was adjudged to have impeded one of their forwards, there was a differing of opinions and the ball was thrown in. The Irish rugby youth international (Ronan) got it and off loaded to a colleague who blasted past O'Brien to leave the Batterstown/Kilcloon outfit shattered as the scoreboard read 1-11 to 1-12 at the end. The most important thing in the second round clash with Donaghmore/Ashbourne in Dunshaughlin was to win to get some sort of confidence back in the side. This objective was duly attained on a 4-05 to 0-05 margin. However, all that good work seemed to have been in vain when they were comprehensively beaten by Duleek in Dunsany. That left them with an uphill battle to qualify, their task was simple, win all four remaining games or go out. Then came, in the humble opinion of yours truly, the turning point in the whole season when they got the better of senior standard bearers Dunshaughlin in the Feis Cup at Dunboyne. It was a titanic battle but Turley's troops emerged triumphant on a 1-10 to 1-07 scoreline with captain Mark Crampton excelling on the forty. Next up in the championship were neighbours Drumree, with an on-fire Evan Kelly in their side while John Cullinane was also in good form having picked up some useful experience with the county in the championship. Kelly caused the Gaels' defence no end of problems and looked like almost securing a win on his own , scoring 1-1 with his first two touches, until the astute move was made to switch Paul Nestor onto him. This move changed the game and Blackhall ran out winners by 0-10 to 1-05. The fifth round took them to unusual surroundings of Simonstown and a meeting with Carnaross. This game will always be remembered as the game of the master and the one for the future. Ollie Murphy tormented the blue and gold rearguard amassing a personal tally of 0-9 but for once the exploits of the shaven headed one were eclipsed. Tadgh Brosnan one of the most promising attacking talents in Meath, accounted for an amazing 4-3 out of a total of 4-09 while the north county side added five points to go with Murphy's haul. In doing so, Brosnan had not only left his calling card for the Meath selectors but also moved his team ever closer to a place in the knock out stages. St Paul's were overcome on when Blackhall ran up another big total, 2-15 while only conceding 2-03. There was another twist in the tale as Slane defeated a Carnaross side without the immensely important services of Ollie Murphy by a point to ensure that their game against Blackhall was a do or die affair. They led by 0-07 to 0-02 at the break and ended up victorious by 0-13 to 1-08 with Brosnan and Crampton accounting for all but one of the winners total, hitting seven and five points respectively. Castletown were all the stood between Leo Turley's side and a tilt at the Mattie McDonnell Cup. It was a different encounter for the champions elect who started brightly to move ahead. They advanced further when Eoin Creevey finished to the net after a Darragh Canning effort came back off the crossbar and although Smith did pull one back, Creevey's goal left three between them with half an hour remaining. Points from Smith and Vivian Hoey quickly wiped out the Gaels' advantage. However, they hit back and points from John Callanan and the elder Nestor gave them the upper hand again. The Castletown forty yards man again dragged his side back on terms and then Ferris had an opportunity to steal the win but when his thunderous drive came back off the crossbar it re-ignited the Castletown challenge and in one final flourish Smith saved the day with a free. It is often thought that the team that equalises holds some sort of upper hand for the second installment and if this was playing on the minds of those within the Gaels camp it certainly didn't show eight days later as they blew their opponents out of the water with a superb display. The game was as good as over at the midway point as they headed down the Pairc Tailteann tunnel with a 1-08 to 0-03 lead to cushion them after scoring machine Brosnan fisted the first of a brace at the O'Mahonys end. More of the same followed at the hospital end as Brosnan again shook the net en route to chalking up a personal tally of 2-8 and near the end captain Crampton raised another green flag to leave the scoreboard reading 3-13 to 0-05 at the long whistle. It was a remarkable display and it left observers thinking that anything like more of the same seven days later would see them capture the crown. However, a Ballivor team out for revenge couldn't be taken lightly and they will also have been mindful not to fall victim to a repeat of the Meath-Galway scenario. In the early stages it looked like being a right thriller with Crampton, Brosnan and Callanan pulling the strings for the side in blue and yellow while the ever dangerous Mairtin Doran, Fergus McMahon and Terry Connor being the main cause of problems caused by the maroons. It couldn't have been tighter half way through with the teams tied at 0-07 apiece. The play ebbed and flowed after the restart with both teams going point for point but one thing that was noticeable was that Doran's influence was being curbed more as the game went on thanks to more solid displays from Paul Nestor and George Beirne in the Gaels half back division. It was a cliff hanger all through and a replay looked likely when deadlock still remained, 0-10 each, entering the final ten minutes. At that stage it was down to hunger, who wanted it the most, when Ballivor raced into a two point advantage it seemed they would exorcise the ghost of last year's reversal and heap more heartbreak on Blackhall. Little did we know the drama was only beginning ... Many teams in a similar plight would have dropped the head but not for the first team during the campaign the character that had got them through to final day came shining through when it mattered most. They worked the ball up towards the O'Mahonys end and with Brosnan in what looked like a good scoring position Eoin Creevey was hauled down off the ball and a spot kick was awarded. Not many would have wanted to be Paul Nestor as he sprinted forward knowing that his side's chances of returning amongst the elite of Meath football rested on his shoulders. However, it appeared he was the coolest man within the walls of Pairc Tailteann as he smashed the ball passed Ray McKeown. They survived the very late dismissal of Brosnan to hang on to take the title and rid themselves of the pain of last year for once and all. Over all it was a richly deserved success. They showed great character at several points during the campaign, not least in the final but also they recovered from the turn overs against St Colmcilles and Duleek while the class of the side shone through when it mattered most against Castletown and indeed in the final itself. In Tadhg Brosnan they possess a rate talent and with the Nestors, George Beirne, Crampton, John Callanan and emerging players like Robert Cox the club seems certain of bright future and they are capable of making an impact in the senior grade, but doubtless their primary objective will be to stay there. No mistake in Junior 'C' FC After finishing in the Junior C FC runners up spot in 2000, Blackhall Gaels managed to go one better in the same title race the following year to enter the winners' enclosure last October, writes Noel Coogan. It was actually 'third time lucky' for team manager Liam Reilly, who also had to endure a B League Division 2 defeat at the hands of Castletown in 2000. Reilly and his assistant John Joyce were forced to make a number of changes in personnel with players like George Beirne, Eoin Creevey, Tadhg Brosnan, Fergal Glynn and Marty Whelan being promoted to the intermediate side and others like Ian Kennedy and Ciaran Burke emigrating to Australia. Still Blackhall, a club with one of the best under age structures in the county, had ample talent to gain sweet compensation for the near miss against Navan O' Mahonys and the title was gained on a foggy day at Dunsany when the mist lifted sufficiently for the Thomas Dalton-captained team to outscore neighbours Moynalvey by 3-13 to 1-7. That was the second time for the 2001 junior C winners to defeat Moynalvey as they also enjoyed a summer success over the Benny Keogh-coached outfit. Blackhall were in a five-team division which also included Dunsany, Drumree and Skryne and they won all of their games in the competition. Their first clash with Moynalvey took place at the latter's home venue and resulted in a 2-13 to 0-7 victory for the men in blue and yellow as David Crampton and Vinny Nestor scored the goals. After emerging as winners of their group, Blackhall Gaels faced Ballinlough in the first of their knock out games at Simonstown. After trailing by 0-3 to 0-6 at half time, they were well in control in the second half with goals from Damien Tolan, David Crampton and John Fitzgerald boosting them to a 3-7 to 1-6 success. That earned them a place in the quarter-finals with Bective providing the next opposition at Dunsany. That encounter resulted in a 1-13 to 2-6 victory for Blackhall, who led by 0-7 to 1-2 at the interval. John Staunton took the scoring honours that day with 1-2 while John Fitzgerald sent over four points. The semi-final against St. Ultan's at Skryne was a bit closer with Blackhall scraping through to the decider by the slenderest of margins, 0-7 to 0-6. "Although the team averaged 13 or 14 scores per game and I have been stressed the need to get such a total, seven was enough that day," remarked manager Reilly. "Ultan's were the best team that we met in the championship. We were well aware of their ability as they ran O'Mahonys close in a semi-final clash last year. We just scraped past them in a tight match," he added. On the same day Moynalvey also qualified with two goals (2-9 to 0-9) to spare over Simonstown Gaels. With two teams from the south east of the county in opposition it was appropriate that the tie should be played at Dunsany, where so many high profile matches were staged over the last couple of years. For a while it looked as if dense fog might cause the two games at the venue to be postponed and the IFC semi-final curtain raiser between Ballivor and Duleek had to be delayed by nearly an hour. But the visibility improved and after a hazy morning on October 21st last Blackhall Gaels' second string enjoyed a place in the sun in the afternoon. Moynalvey went into the decider with the edge in experience but their local rivals, who fielded a number of under age players, had a clear edge in skill, fitness and enthusiasm as they took the title with a dozen points to spare. Curiously the margin was the same as when the sides met earlier in the competition and one of the club's young rising stars, Robert Cox, took the individual scoring honours with the 16-year-old wing forward contributing a goal and five points of the winning total. Blackhall took a while to get into the stride and they they trailed by 0-3 to 1-3 before points from Stephen McGovern and John Fitzgerald had them on level terms. Then McGovern punched in a goal which put the 'Gaels' on the road to the title, giving them a 1-6 to 1-4 lead. That advantage was not subsequently conceded as Moynalvey only managed to add three more points as the contest became onesided. Well struck points from McGovern and Cox left the board reading 1-8 to 1-5 at the break and the men in maroon only managed two converted frees in the second period. It was 2-9 to 1-6 at the three quarter stage after Denis Beirne and Ciaran Kennedy combined to place full forward John Staunton, who finished to the net for Blackhall's second goal. In the closing stages Blackhall gave runs to five of their substitutes. One of those, David Nolan, got among the scorers and Cox crashed home their third goal in added time at the end. As well as Cox and McGovern up front, Blackhall Gaels had other notable performers in full back Noel O'Hora, skipper Thomas Dalton at centre back and midfielder Ciaran Kennedy. Of the 20 players who figured in the final victory over Moynalvey, eight of them, Cyril O'Brien, Noel O'Hora, Brendan Jennings, David Crampton, Ciaran Kennedy, John Fitzgerald of the first 15 and substitutes Johnny O'Hora and Paul Neville, figured in the 2000 decider. Two members of Liam Reilly's successful side, Robert Cox and Brian McKeon, tasted further glory when recruited to the club's intermediate attack for the last two games of that campaign as a notable double was achieved. Liam Reilly, who was the last chairman of the old Kilcloon club, having been involved with them since the Jack Fitzgerald era, stresses the value of such a strong under age structure in Blackhall Gaels. "The club has an under age structure which is as good as in any other club in Leinster. Huge efforts have been made by various people over the years and winning two county adult titles is a fine testament to all the work being done," remarked the junior C boss. His players trained with the intermediates and had a number of challenge games against teams from Dublin and Kildare, which were a big help. Up to the weekend of November 18th, they had played 29 matches, championship, league and challenges, and only lost two of them. Liam Reilly is quite optimistic about the prospects of greater glory coming to Blackhall Gaels in the near future. "With the amount of players coming through the ranks, the club can establish itself in senior football ranks and we could be looking at a serious attempt to lift the Keegan Cup soon," he suggested. The team which defeated Moynalvey in the 2001 Junior C FC final was : John Gerard Jennings; Cyril O'Brien, Noel O'Hora, Brendan Jennings; Denis Beirne, Thomas Dalton (captain), Dermot O'Brien; Damien Tolan, Ciaran Kennedy; Robert Cox, Barry McKeon, David Crampton; Stephen McGovern, John Staunton, John Fitzgerald. Subs - Johnny O'Hora for Tolan, Paul Neville for Brendan Jennings, Martin Regan for Crampton, David Nolan for Staunton, Mark Creevey for McGovern. Blackhall Gaels have made their mark as a successful dual club and their adult hurling side progressed to the JHC final where they lost by 2-5 to 2-9 to a more experienced Killyon outfit. After scoring a 2-8 to 1-7 semi-final victory charges went into the decider with high hopes and they looked likely to justify such expectations when leading by 1-3 to 0-1 after 13 minutes. Blackhall started well with points from captain Ciaran Ledwith, Fergus Smith and Shane O'Loughlin and Emmet Dalton netted their first goal. However, Killyon recovered to be ahead by 2-3 to 1-4 at the break. When county under 16 player Ciaran Delaney broke through on the left side to net his side's second goal, the deficit was reduced to the minimum, 2-4 to 2-5. But after that they could add a single point, Smith's third converted free, as their opponents tagged on more scores. The Blackhall Gaels team in the JHC final was : Jonathan Meyler; Vinnie Dowley, Bernard Corbett, Ciaran Delaney; Nigel O'Hora, Aidan Heavin, Barry Gorman; David Ledwith, Ciaran Ledwith; Emmet Dalton, Fergus Smith, David O'Loughlin; Paul Nestor, Shane O'Loughlin, Mark Lynam. Subs - Darren O'Loughlin for Nestor, David McGowan for Dowley. Blackhall Gaels Ladies Football - 2001 Blackhall Gaels ladies footballers carried on where they left off in 2000 by winning the Junior A Championship in style at Skryne in August when they defeated Rathkenny in the final. The numerous nights of training in Batterstown and Kilcloon with John Maye and Joe Breen were rewarded. The Gaels got off to a blistering start and registered 2-1 in the opening five minutes when Catherine McCormack scored their first point and set up Catriona Tobin for both goals before Rathkenny replied with two points. In the second half both sides traded scores and the Blackhall defence did well to withstand a lot of pressure from Rathkenny attacks. Fran Nolan was very effective in the Blackhall forward line and added a further 1-1 to her sides tally while Angela Fahy and player of the match Paula Dunne with their performances sealed victory before captain Emma Fahy was presented with the Junior A Trophy. Blackhall Gaels: M Farrell, P Dunne, K Murphy, S Fagan, L Duffy, E McCormack, L Nestor, Y Brady, C McCormack 0-1, A Fahy, J Burke, E Fahy, P Fahy, C Tobin 0-1, F Nolan 1-3. Subs: S McCormack for C McCormack, C Monaghan for P Fahy, M Maye for F Nolan, E Crampton for S Fagan. Blackhall Gaels Ladies then went on to represent the club for the first time in the Leinster Championship when they played Stabannon Parnells in the first round on the eve of the All Ireland. After conceding three first half goals they trailed by six points at the interval but following an inspiring half time talk from trainer John Maye they served up a great second half with a marvellous team performance to win by the narrowest of margins. They were star performances from Fran Nolan scoring 1-6 and Catriona Tobin scoring 1-1 with great support from Kate Murphy, Jane Burke and Pamela Fahy sealing victory. Blackhall Gaels - M Farrell, P Dunne, K Murphy, S Fagan, U Burke, E McCormack, L Nestor, J Burke, Y Brady, A Fahy, S McCormack, E Fahy, P Fahy, C Tobin, F Nolan. Subs: C Maye, C Quinn, M Maye, A O'Connor, E Crampton. However, after a brave performance the Gaels were defeated in the Leinster Quarter Final by Kildare champions Grangenovlan but all were nevertheless happy with a great campaign and a year Blackhall Gaels are very proud of. Excelling as a young club The success of Blackhall Gaels can be measured in a number of dimensions. Firstly it is a relatively young club in the sense that as a unit it exists only since 1995, but the great thing about this is that it allows it create its own history. A history of course which is built on a tradition that can be traced back to an old Meath club, now rarely mentioned, called Rodanstown. This later became Kilcloon which was itself a very vibrant club with an excellent football pedigree. Then there is Batterstown which again was a very vibrant club with a good tapestry of both hurling and football tradition. It is from this background that Blackhall Gaels emerged to become a new shining light on the Meath GAA scene. The club has a whole heap of positives, such as: . Excellent playing facilities in two venues . Access to further facilities which will remain to be developed in the fast developing Kilcock area . An excellent underage structure . A great ladies football section . A new camogie club . A fine panel of adult footballers . An industrious hardworking committee . A sound financial structure . Ambitious development plans It seems inevitable with these resources that the march to success is assured. In fact this can be gauged from the way in which the Senior team sprang back from relegation after just one season in the Intermediate ranks. What other club in Ireland can claim that within a seven year history it twice won an Intermediate championship. This is the type of never-say-die character that singles out those South-Meath boys and girls. We must remember that the ladies also won two championships in two years, and of course the story doesn't stop there. Blackhall Gaels produced two adult football teams both of whom won their respective championships and are lying towards the top in their respective leagues. It takes numbers, a broad skills base and honest endeavour to achieve and sustain that. And still we haven't heard anything like all the story. The Gaels have emerged as a first class force in hurling. Any one who doubts this just look again at the facts. They annexed the U16 hurling championship with a tremendous campaign, accounting for the gallant Kilmessan in the final. They then went on to contest the Junior hurling final only to be narrowly beaten by great Killyon team who's experience was too much for the younger Gaels. Clearly the drive and energy being put into hurling is already reaping rewards and knowing the calibar and stoicism of the sportsmen and women from this part of Meath we won't have long to wait before they establish themselves as a very forceful dual club in the annals of Meath GAA. Development work has already commenced. Major improvements have taken place on the Batterstown pitch which is playable virtually all year round. New draining works have been completed in Kilcloon and this added to the lights means that training can take place in Kilcloon all year round and in darkness if required. No doubt it will be required bearing in mind the levels of activity we are talking about. Building works will soon commence in Batterstown, as soon as planning permission comes through. This will result in state-of-the-art club rooms and dressing rooms. Once that part of the project is completed it it back to development in Kilcloon which will enhance the facilities not just for the club but also for the neighbouring schools in both Mulhussey and Kilcloon. And so the story of the young Blackhall Gaels club goes on unabated. Blackhall Gaels GAA Tweet

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