Both Joe Sheridan and his sister Mary Sheridan Murray were the respective winners of the St Ultan’s, Mens and Ladies All Ireland Cic Árd Challenge on Sunday last the 15th of September at Sean Newman Park, Allenstown, Kells, Co. Meath.

Joe kicked the ball 80ft (24.4m) over the elevated crossbar in the men’s competition. Mary achieved a height of 60ft (18.3m).

Joe is a Seneschalstown club man and former Meath player. Although he was kicking points to win on Sunday, he is probably best remembered for his goal scoring escapades for Meath in Croke Park to win the Leinster title in 2010. Joe also won two senior football championships with Seneschalstown in 2007 and 2009.

The Cic Árd finale was a nail-biting final between Sheridan and St. Ultan’s clubman Gary Rogers. Rogers is a retired professional footballer with over 750 League of Ireland appearances and is currently a soccer scout for Gestifute who are an international sports agency. Both Sheridan and Rogers cleared the crossbar in the penultimate round at 78ft (23.8m). After the final round of kicks Sheridan was declared the winner with a triumphant kick of 80ft (24.4m) to be crowned Ireland’s first Men’s Cic Árd champion.

The ladies competition was hugely competitive and went down to the wire between Mary Sheridan Murray and St. Ultan’s midfielder, and former captain of the Junior Football Championship winning team in 2022, Linda Smyth. Mary Sheridan was a member of the great Seneschalstown team that won eleven senior football championships and two Leinster titles. She also played on the Meath Senior Ladies team for many years and represented Ireland against Australia in the compromised rules game.

Both Mary and Linda kicked 58ft (17.7m) but it was Mary who was triumphant in the final round clearing 60ft (18.3m) to be crowned Ireland’s first ladies Cic Árd Champion. A special mention must be given to thirteen year old Ella Weldon from St. Ultan’s who competed in the ladies competition and finished in third place with an amazing 55ft (16.7m) kick.  

St. Ultan’s GFC would like to say a massive thank you to Tom O’Reilly from Tara Steel and Engineering. Not only is this event the brainchild of Tom, he very kindly sponsored all the prizes on the day for the adult competitions and commissioned the bespoke trophies from his premises at Durhamstown, Navan, Co. Meath.

We are very much looking forward to making the Cic Árd an annual event here in the parish of Bohermeen with the continued support of Tara Steel and Engineering and welcoming contestants from all over Ireland …and beyond. So get your boots on and get practising and keep an eye out for future events!

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