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In the final quarter of 1994 there were two major events in Simonstown.
First of all the club lost the Intermediate championship final
to Kilmainhamwood. The disappointment was deeply felt but vows
were made all round that 1995 would see the dream of reaching
senior ranks realised - many pointing out that K'wood had themselves
lost out to Carnaross in the final only 12 months previously.
The second related to development. It was decided to extend the
clubhouse - new dressingrooms, new kitchen, increase the size
of the bar and other minor improvements. As the New Year dawned
the development work had already got underway with June pencilled
in for an official opening of the new facilities.
Around the same time the players and officials were renewing their
promise to make it a year to remember on the playing fields. This
was in no way confined to the Intermediate squad. The 2nd team
felt they would be a match for anyone in the Junior B, particularly
if there weren't too many of the squad "used" for Intermediate.
There was also high hopes for the minors as the U-16 team had
been victorious in 1994 and with quite a few other talented players
- ie Cian McGrath, Michael Cantwell, James Casserly etc. - also
eligible, the prospects were very healthy.
As for the U-21s, well thoughts on that could wait until the Autumn
when other competitions were out of the way.
New recruits
January saw two new players recruited by the club. Des Lane from
Slane, then living in nearby Troytown Heights, was successful
in his transfer application from his native club and Cathal Ryan,
a bank official, obtained an intercounty transfer from Ferbane,
Co Offaly. Both had intercounty experience, Des had been a member
of Meath's successful panel in 1987 and '88, actually playing
in two Leinster championship wins in '87 against Laois and Kildare.
Cathal, meanwhile, had captained Offaly to an O'Byrne Cup victory
in 1992.
As the months rolled on the building work was going well, targets
were being reached. By March there was temporary disappointment
when the existing clubhouse, including the bar, had to be closed
down to allow the work to continue. Our weekly lotto went on Friday
nights tour to the Round O and various other establishments in
Flower Hill and Watergate St.
In April the Intermediate championship got underway and there
were worries about some of the star players being absent through
injury, especially as Cortown were our first round opponents -
it had taken two hours to beat them in the semi-final of '94.
In a nail-biting first round at Athboy the match ended in a draw
and a sigh of relief all around because deep down we knew we had
better to come. Victories over Ballinabrackey and Ballivor in
Trim put things back into perspective and the show was well and
truly on the road. The Junior Bs, minors and U-16s were going
well too.
Official Opening
By mid-June all the teams were still in contention, even the Junior
Cs (third team) were hanging in there. We were now ready for the
official opening of the new extension. Many volunteers had rowed
in to ensure things were ready on time and the place was in "apple-pie"
order.
John Bruton TD, the then Taoiseach, was invited to perform the
official task and All-Ireland club champions Kilmacud Crokes agreed
to play Simonstown to honour the occasion - well actually it was
Simonstown "United" as Meath legends Colm O'Rourke and Martin
O'Connell were drafted in to ensure a good even contest. Everything
went great on the night and everyone went home happy. Now for
the championship.
Back to the action
On 1st July Simonstown beat Blackhall Gaels in the Intermediate
championship at Dunshaughlin and qualified for the semi-final.
The Junior Bs beat Rathmolyon and Clonard to qualify for the quarter-finals
and the minors won their group and progressed straight into the
semis.
The U-16s has secured a place in their final and on Sunday evening
July 16th drew with favourites St Cuthbert's - Derek O'Brien scored
10 points and Barry Flanagan, who came on as a substitute, went
within about 6 inches of snatching the winning point. Unfortunately,
we lost the replay, but not to worry as there was plenty left!
In August the minors defeated Dunboyne in Skryne to reach the
championship decider and the Junior Bs were held to a draw by
Summerhill in the quarter-final at Dunderry. The Intermediate
was on hold 'til September but we learned that our opponents would
be Rathkenny. We were reasonably happy with this development.
In the Junior B replay at Skryne, Simonstown struggled for three
quarters of the match and then finished in thrilling fashion to
snatch victory with Philip Traynor proving to be the hero. Now
the club were in contention in two semi-finals and a final.
First big occasion in September was the Intermediate semi-final
v Rathkenny. Kells was the venue and the date was September 9th.
This was a tough, uncompromising encounter but Rathkenny, who
accounted for St Pat's in the quarter final, couldn't cope with
Simonstown in the first half and it was 1-9 to 0-1 at the interval
with Colm Keys the real hero. The second half became over physical
and Rathkenny finished with 14 players. Although Simonstown didn't
maintain their first half fluency, Keys finally broke through
for his second goal to clinch victory. Final score: 2-9 to 0-2.
Castletown emerged as our final opponents following their penultimate
success over Syddan.
It was generally expected that Kells would be the opposition in
the minor final but they were eliminated by surprise packets Oldcastle
in a replayed semi-final in Kilskyre. Having beaten the Oldcastle
men in an earlier round, Simonstown now believed that they had
a glorious chance of winning their 3rd minor title in seven years
and, sure enough, on the eve of the All-Ireland final - between
Dublin and Tyrone - we beat Oldcastle in Pairc Tailteann on a
scoreline of 1-13 to 1-8.
The victorious team on duty was:
Trevor Melville; Keith Madden, James Casserly (capt.), Niall Kerr;
Neil Kiernan, John Smith, Paul Reilly; Cian McGrath, Alan Meade;
Denis Friel, Michael Cantwell, Alan Brady; Christy Lynagh, Paul
Quinn, Derek O'Brien.
Subs - Anto McCabe, John Lunney.
The whole team played really well but the real heroes were midfielder
Cian McGrath, also a member of the Intermediate team, and 16-year-old
corner-forward Derek O'Brien who scored 1-5.
One title was safely in the bag but now we had our sights set
on a much bigger prize. On Sunday September 24th, the big day
arrived - the Intermediate final against the Shane McEntee trained
Castletown.
It's fair to say that Castletown wouldn't have been fancied earlier
on in the year but they fully deserved their final ticket following
wins over St Pat's, Dunshaughlin and Syddan in the semi-final.
The following is the Meath Chronicle report on what transpired
that memorable day:
Gaels Hold Out Sensational Castletown recovery
Simonstown……………………..0-16
Castletown………………………2-9
North Navan breathed one mighty sigh of relief as Colm Keys pulled
a ball out of the blue skies over Pairc Tailteann last Sunday
evening.
That great fetch and the clearance that followed brought an end
to the most tense IFC final finish imaginable as Simonstown Gaels
held on to win by a point and join neighbours Navan O'Mahonys
in the senior ranks.
Castletown were attacking furiously as they attempted to complete
a remarkable recovery which had looked an impossibility when they
trailed by nine points with only 10 minutes remaining. But they
had demonstrated in earlier games that they don't throw in the
towel and more significantly they finish strongly.
And finish strongly they did as they stunned the town side with
two goals in as many minutes to set up a breathtaking finale.
But such was Simonstown's dominance at half-time they looked capable
of winning by the proverbial cricket score as they threw the ball
around with glorious efficiency and scored with a confidence which
suggested they would make up for last year's disappointment without
any real bother.
They were 0-15 to 0-6 ahead with 12 minutes remaining when the
wheels came off in alarming fashion.
Hopeless
Castletown, to their credit, never gave up what seemed a hopeless
cause and were almost rewarded for their never-say-die attitude.
However, there can be no denying that the Matty McDonnell Cup
found its first home at Simonstown on Sunday night on merit.
That spell after half-time was blistering and was by far and away
the most accomplished bout of skilful and attractive football
for the hour.
Castletown had no answer to Simonstown's tremendous teamwork,
yet the north Meath combination possessed the will and character
to keep up the struggle.
Without their superb commitment and spirit at the end this would
have gone down as a very average final.
Simonstown won it and provided the most skilful football, but
it was Castletown's outstanding recovery which made it a game
to remember from the point of view of excitement.
Big Lead
Those who expected Simonstown to win with plenty to spare looked
to have picked the right option when they built up that big second
half lead, but for much of the opening period Castletown gave
as good and even better that they got.
Brendan Martin pointed Simonstown in front inside a minute, but
Castletown soon got moving and were 0-3 to 0-1 ahead by the eight
minute thanks to a point from play by Vivian Hoey and two frees
by Liam Clarke.
Cathal Ryan had already missed a goal chance at the other end
when he fisted weakly into the hands of 'keeper Liam Bellew but
they eventually found their range and knocked over five points
without reply from Colm Brady (two), Graham Cooke, Ryan and Paul
Meade to lead by 0-6 to 0-3 after 22 minutes.
Anthony Monaghan, who was surprisingly withdrawn in the second
half, scored two super points for Castletown, which were divided
by another mighty score from Simonstown half-back Michael Byrne
to leave only two between the sides.
That looked like a shaky Simonstown lead after playing with the
wind but Cian McGrath, who was highly effective in the left corner
of defence, and Paul O'Brien (Free) pointed near the break to
leave the Gaels ahead by 0-9 to 0-5 at half-time.
Strong breeze
Simonstown might have scored another couple of goals in that period
and often seemed to be inconvenienced by the strong breeze which
blew in their favour into the town goals. Tommy Monaghan reduced
the deficit with a point on the restart, but then we saw the best
of Simonstown as they found it much easier to control their attacking
football when playing into the wind.
Suddenly they looked a different class as they raided the Castletown
goal with repeated attacks. Six points without reply followed
in 12 minutes of wonderful attacking. O'Brien scored the first
three from frees as Castletown were forced into fouling and Brady,
now at midfield, the impressive Cooke and Ned Kearney completed
a highly productive spell which left the local side those nine
points ahead.
Such was their dominance that there seemed no chance of a Castletown
revival.
Hank Traynor was excelling at full-back, as he did for most of
the game, and while two of their most accomplished defenders,
Ronan McGrath and Des Lane, struggled for long spells, Cian McGrath
and Byrne were solid on the left flank.
Effective
Brady and Paul Meade were working well around midfield and Keys,
who won an enormous amount of ball and used it well, O'Brien and
Cooke were particularly effective up front.
Nobody could have blamed Castletown for accepting what appeared
to be an inevitable heavy defeat, but urged on by coach Shane
McEntee on the sideline they threw everything at Simonstown in
a brave attempt to do the impossible.
Barry Sheerin was magnificent in defence and Tom McKeown moved
upfield regularly in the closing stages to supply the ball to
an attack which had been largely starved of possession for much
of the second half.
As a team they battled brilliantly against all the odds, but even
when McKeown and Hoey pointed to leave them seven points adrift
with as many minutes to play their task looked hopeless.
But within four minutes they were only a point behind and Simonstown
must surely have started to doubt themselves.
The first goal came from Tommy Monaghan after a shot from substitute
Alan Smyth was blocked and the ball broke out.
Penalty
Smyth, who made a major impact in his short spell on the field,
was adjudged to have been fouled two minutes later and the substitute
blasted the penalty past Sean McDonagh.
With the excitement and tension building to nerve-wrecking proportions
Cooke hit a swirling shot off the woodwork at the other end.
The same player then kicked a ball wide as Simonstown were visibly
shaken.
But the experience of Ryan was seen to good effect when he curled
over a free after a foul on the hard-working Kearney as the match
moved into injury-time.
However, Hoey scored a mighty point at the other end and Castletown
looked capable of salvaging a draw when substitute George Clarke
was fouled 37 metres out.
Clarke took it himself, but kicked straight to Meade.
But there was more excitement to come as Castletown won possession
again and launched one last attack.
Luckily for Simonstown the tallest player on the field, Keys was
back in defence to make a mighty catch and clearance.
When Seamus McCormack sounded his last whistle Simonstown were
relieved above all else. After such a trojan effort in the final
ten minutes Castletown were shattered.
But they can be proud of their efforts which made the finish as
exciting as has surely been ever witnessed in an intermediate
final.
Simonstown - S McDonagh; K Cantwell, H Traynor, C McGrath
(0-1); R McGrath, D Lane, M Byrne (0-1); P Meade (0-1), P O'Brien
(0-4); C Brady (0-3), N Kearney (0-1), C Keys; B Martin (0-1),
G Cooke (0-2), C Ryan (0-2). Sub - T Sullivan for Martin.
Castletown - L Bellew; T McKeown (0-1), C O'Reilly, G Sheerin;
D Price, D Young, B Sheerin; J McConnell, A Young; A Monaghan
(0-2), T Monaghan (1-1), P Condra; V Hoey (0-3), L Curtis, L Clarke
(0-2). Subs - G Clarke for Curtis, A Smyth (1-0) for A Monaghan.
Referee - Seamus McCormack (Walterstown)
Unbridalled joy
Simonstown's joy was unbridalled as 19 year old captain Ned Kearney
lifted the Matty McDonnell Cup aloft. Now the chant was "There
are two senior teams in Navan". Incidentally, there still are
two.
After a night or two - and a day or two as well! - of celebrations
the club now realised they were still in line for the treble.
The Junior Bs were due to play Longwood in the semi-final the
following Saturday evening in Trim. Curraha had already booked
their place in the final. In addition, the curtain-raiser to the
Meath SFC senior final the following day was the previous year's
Feis Cup final for which Simonstown and Seneschalstown had qualified
all of ten months previously. Due to championships and the involvement
of Graham Geraghty and Colm Coyle with the Meath seniors a date
had not been found to play it.
First things first, however, the Junior Bs deserved their place
in the sun. Two of the successful minors, Michael Cantwell and
James Casserly, were on board as were lads with loads of Intermediate
experience; Colm McDermott, Philip Traynor, Alan Kavanagh and
Morgan Houtmeyers. This was an unusual type of match. First of
all it was essential that it start on time as it was the last
day of September and the evenings were beginning to close in.
In fact, it didn't because the referee was awaiting a late arrival
- one of his umpires!
When proceedings did eventually get underway, Simonstown found
themselves four points to the good with 12 minutes remaining and
en-route to the final but disaster then struck on the treble.
Houtmeyers was ordered off, Longwood scored a goal and then Gerry
Heaney received a red card (or the equivalent at that time) for
arguing with the referee. In semi-darkness, with their backs against
the wall and Fergal McKeever playing out of his skin, a late point
from Mark Travers enabled everyone to breathe a sigh of relief.
Final score: 1-8 to 1-6. One black spot, however, the final was
fixed for the 8th of October and we had two men out of bounds.
Feis Cup defeat
On the following day, even though Graham Geraghty and Colm Coyle
were both absent, Simonstown never raised their game and were
beaten by Seneschalstown in a very dull Feis Cup final. Des Lane
was ineligible to play having assisted Slane in the competition
but excess celebration were possibly a more legitimate excuse.
Seven days later, Simonstown lined out against Curraha for the
3rd leg of a famous treble. Although slight outsiders in the betting,
the lads knew that the club was really on a roll, the Feis Cup
final defeat hadn't altered that fact.
Despite the loss of the two suspended players, Simonstown had
a very strong side on duty. On the sideline were two bonuses,
one in the shape of Keith O'Brien and the second in 17-year-old
Alan Meade who hadn't as yet played adult football but who starred
for the minors and was improving with every match.
Keith's position was most interesting. He had been a corner forward
on the Intermediate team in the '94 final but soon afterwards
went to work with Coolmore Stud in Tipperary and was seldom available.
He had come home for the semi-final and came on as a sub. He would
have been an automatic choice for the final but had signalled
his unavailability as he was bound for Newmarket for the Yearling
sales.
Then fate took a hand. High winds stopped the ferry from travelling
on Saturday evening, Keith became available and a car - Thomas
Clynch and Kevin Mallon were on duty - dashed to Rosslare to collect
him. He arrived just in time but started on the bench as the team
had already been selected.
In the match itself the teams were level on several occasions
but with 5 minutes remaining we had established a three point
lead with Keith accounting for five points in that second half.
Curraha rallied, however, and notched three points to restore
parity. Alan Carroll, who scored the equaliser for Curraha, than
had a glorious chance for the winner but was brilliantly blocked
by minor James Casserly who then began a movement which led to
the winning point by Michael Cantwell. Just to make doubly sure,
Philip Traynor added a further point in injury-time. Final score:
0-13 to 0-11.
The successful team was:
Ian Carry; Justy Ward, Tony Heaney, James Casserly; Wayne Mayes,
Fergal McKeever, Martin Gorman; Shane Kennedy, Colm McDermott;
Alan Kavanagh (capt.), Michael Cantwell, Mark McGuinness; Garrett
Lunney, Mark Travers, Philip Traynor.
Subs - Keith O'Brien, Alan Meade.
Cue the celebrations!
And so the treble was complete in a never to be forgotten year.
In November, the Celebration function took placed in the clubhouse
with over 60 players receiving championship medals and to crown
it all, Co Board Chairman Fintan Ginnity revealed to a capacity
attendance that Simonstown had been selected as the Meath Club
of the Year. This was really the icing on a glorious cake. Numerous
presentations were made on the night. Des Lane, Martin Gorman
and James Casserly received personal "Player of the Year" awards
while all managers and selectors were suitably honoured.
Intermediate - Dermot O'Brien, Jim Lane, John Lally
Junior B - Seamus Heaney, Les McAuley, Paddy Clarke
Minor - Sean Lunney, Liam Buggy, Ray Brady, Henry Traynor.
One that got away
By this stage, the U-21s, made up of lads from all three teams,
had also qualified for the championship final. However, just before
Christmas, a Trevor Giles inspired Skryne proved too good in the
final at Nobber. Both teams returned to Simonstown for the after-match
get-together. In truth, Simonstown, although beaten, were still
celebrating the treble which didn't become an "accumulator" and
nobody begrudged Trevor and his team-mates their day of glory.
Unfortunately we have failed to qualify for a Keegan Cup decider
since joining the senior ranks. We came close in 1997 and '98
only to lost out at the semi-final stage to O'Mahony's and Oldcastle
respectively. Had Hank Traynor (shoulder injury victim) been available
against O'Mahony's things may have been different while Ned Kearney
(suspension) was a massive loss against Oldcastle.
Wins over Dunderry ('97), Seneschalstown ('97), Skryne ('98),
O'Mahony's ('99) and Dunboyne ('00) have provided many highlights,
however, and who knows what lies around the corner.
Whatever may happen in the future, the honour and glory of '95
still lives on.
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