Kiltale host gala awards night
GAA president Nickey Brennan was the guest of honour at Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim on Friday night where Kiltale GAA celebrated a momentous year which included a SHC final victory over Kilmessan last October.
That achievement was recognised when the selectors, Paddy Kelly (manager), Francis Lynch, Noel Regan and Lorcan Kelly were nominated for the Meath Chronicle / Cusack Hotels sports personality-of-the-month award for October.
There was also recognition for players from the clubs hurling and camogie teams at the annual Green Stars and MC on Friday night, RTE's Marty Morrissey, referred to those and other achievements as he co-ordinated the presentations.
Kiltale have also embarked on the next phase of development at Grange will include work on six extra acres of land adjacent to the current pitch which will facilitate two more pitches, floodlighting of various amenities and the construction of a walking track around the ground for use by members.
Team captain John Donoghue, one of four brothers on the team, reflected on the final success over local rivals Kilmessan in a brief interview.
"The feeling that day was incredible, I said very little before the final as I felt it wasn't necessary when we were playing Kilmessan," he said.
"It will take twice the effort this year to retain the title, but for too long the other teams felt that Kiltale were a soft touch, that's not the case anymore," he added.
Cathal Sheridan was also questioned and suggested that he might not be in contention for a place in the team this year.
"It might be time to hang up the boots, but I know these lads have the potential to win lots more, the only requirement is that they have to be prepared to put in the effort," he stated.
The GAA president expressed similar sentiments. "It was a wonderful year for Kiltale, it required a lot of hard work to win the title, but to retain it will take even greater effort," he suggested.
Tributes were also accorded to the camogie team which won the junior league under the guidance of TJ Kane and also qualified for the intermediate final against Blackhall Gaels. The seven players who were on the All-Ireland-winning Meath minior B team, Ian Douglas, Brian Reilly, Philip Garvey, Thomas Kane, William Mahady, TJ Lynch and Padraig Kelly were also feted.
The following individual awards were presented: camogie club person-of-the-year - Sinead Smith; special awards - Margaret Reynolds; Paddy Kelly senior; club person-of-the-year - Sean Ryan; Hall of Fame - Tommy Bannon; hurler-of-the-year - Damien Dixon; young hurler-of-the-year - Ian Douglas and Anthony Donnelly.