Awards: Minor Footballer of the Year
December 14, 2012

James McEntee St Vincent's Curraha
In a year that Meath made the All-Ireland MFC final it was also a good year on the club front for the top U18 players in the county.
Dunboyne/Kilbride where the stand out team at minor level and from early on where odds on to do the club championship/league double but while they won the league they where well and truly ambushed by Ratoath in the MFC semi-final as Dermot Rooney's charges kept up their great championship record in recent years.
Dunboyne/Kilbride had three players on the county minor panel and Shane McEntee was their most consistent performer over the year, with his display with the county in the win over Tyrone and in the club league final win over Donaghmore/Ashbourne in Bective really top drawer.
Ratoath brothers Eamon and Joey Wallace along with Brian Power where central to their Division 1 Championship win as they recovered from losing in Round 2 to Donaghmore/Ashboure after a replay, to defeating the same side in the final a few weeks later. Eamon Wallace shone but Brian Power for his consistency for club and county over the year was just narrowly their best player.
Donaghmore/Ashbourne lost out in all three minor finals and while Aiden Hughes and Conor Carton also tasted defeat in the JFC A final and the U21 FC final, both put in some fine displays and Carton played some excellent games for the Meath minors.
In Division 2 Cillian O'Sullivan and Padraic Harnan from Moynalvey, who played with the Moynalvey/Blackhall Gaels combination of Jenkinstown Gaels both put in sterling performances for both club and county.
Skyrne's Harry Rooney had a fine year and his display in the Minor League Division 2 Final was one of the main reasons Skyrne under Mick O'Dowd triumphed that day in Navan.
St Vincents/Curraha had a wonderful year at minor Level and won Division 2 MFC and the U17 FL Division 2 also. James McEntee was their stand out player and his excellent display in the All-Ireland MFC final in what was a different and difficult role to play, really showed this young player's talents no matter where he is asked to play. With another year at U18 he will be vital to the county's hopes in 2013.
The Division 3 Championship went to St Olivers who had a good all round team and Johnny Reilly capped a steady year with a Man of the Match display. The League Final between Clann na nGael and Dunderry turned out to be a shoot out between Caomhin O Griofa and Stephan Coogan. O Griofa won that particular duel but the stand out display came from the Clann na nGael captain Darragh O Griofa.
The most exciting Final of the year was the MFL Division 4 Final between St Cuthbert's and Wolfe Tones. County Minor Fiachra Ward may just about have been the difference between the sides as Tones won out narrowly in extra time. St Michaels proved best in Division 5 as Jamie Reilly, Ronan Lynch and Peter O'Connell gave the Black and Reds that little extra fire power over Ballivor, for whom Stefan Kelly and Kevin McKeown had great years
Down the Divisions Longwood won Division 6 of the League with Conor Keenan and Ryan Moore starring as they saw off Ballinabrackey. The Bracks stormed back in the championship as Michael Kearney capped off a great year having already won an All-Ireland Senior Schools in Croke Park with St Marys College Edenderry, when the Offaly border lads edged out Nobber in the Division 5 Minor Championship Final.
It was a great year, with great football, great grading and great players.
Our choice of Minor Footballer of the Year is St Vincent's/Curraha's James McEntee. His fantastic displays in both his club's wins at U17 FL and Minor Division 2 Championship together with his form for the Meath Minors throughout the year and in the All-Ireland Final, earn him the award.
On Monday we will announce our Senior Club Hurler of the YearPrevious awards: Awards: Senior Club Footballer of the Year
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