Dedication was the key to success

The ladies from St Ultan's GAA club were the class act at the Headfort Arms Hotel, Kells on Friday night where Meath senior football manager Seamus McEneaney carried out his first official duty in the Royal County. The Monaghan man was the special guest and handed out the senior medals to the ladies after their thrilling 4-13 to 1-13 SFC final victory over Seneschalstown at Ashbourne last September. The men had to be happy with a supporting role on this occasion and it was the 1960 u-14 FC Bohermeen and the 1975 IFC-winning Harps teams that were feted at the start of the evening. McEneaney proved to be a capable raconteur and recalled a story he had been told earlier that night. “If it's lies I'm telling you, then it's lies I've been told, so don't blame me,†he explained as he outlined a great strategy which St Ultan's clubman Pat Duffy had utilised to select the strongest team some years ago before an under-age final. It wasn't clear whether the story was actually fact or fiction, but McEneaney has now added a extra selection option to his repetoire when it comes round to picking the Meath team for the O'Byrne Cup against UCD on Sunday 9th January. The new manager didn't dwell too long on that story before he moved on with an admission that he regretted not taking the Meath job sooner. “If I had known there were so many beautiful women in Meath I'd have taken the county job a long time ago,†he suggested which drew the appropriate response. He had received some information from Meath Ladies Co Board chairperson Geraldine Sheridan, who was also a guest at the function, about the St Ultan's victory in the ladies senior final. “Geraldine didn't give me the full facts,†he explained. “I've just been told by one of the St Ultan's players that it was actually Seneschalstown they defeated in the final, and that was after losing many finals to them. “It proves that if you have the right attitude, and are prepared to put in the effort that you will get your reward, the fact that the St Ultan's ladies had to work so hard for the title surely makes the victory all the sweeter,†he added. Regarding his plans for the Meath team and the manner in which he has been received since he got the job a few weeks ago, McEneaney was very positive in his outlook. “I have received a great welcome from people in Meath and I'm looking forward to the challenge,†he said. “We have this boxing exhibition coming up in January and I'm sure it will be a big success. “I will be trying to get the best players playing for Meath, we have a fantastic backroom team and with Liam Harnan and Barry Callaghan on the team now we can look forward with great anticipation. “If we can get some of Liam Harnan and Barry Callaghan style into the Meath defence, then that will be a big huge help. “I am really energised by this challenge, I have found their is a great passion for the team amongst the supporters and we want to harness that. “I've never seen a county so fanatical about Gaelic football, I also like my football and I'm looking forward to many evenings in Navan during 2011 as we prepare the team for important games,†he added. Former clubman Peter Finnegan was the MC for the night and introduced team manager Vincent Rennicks to summarise. “I will keep this short,†pledged the manager and then didn't. High on his list of priorities was to acknowledge the tremendous dedication which the players displayed during the year. “They all look wonderful here tonight, it was slightly different after 22 laps around Martry pitch last January, but they have a lot to thank Colm Rennicks for,†he remarked. “The dedication was evident on the day of the final against Seneschalstown, we tried to get the game changed, but that wasn't possible. “It left Elaine Duffy (pictured) with a major problem, she had to attend a wedding in Clare that morning, she then got into her car and drove to Ashbourne, when the game was won, she got into her car again and drove back down to Clare for the finish of the wedding, I don't need to say anymore,†he concluded. St Ultan's panel: Katie O'Brien, Ann Marie Ball, Cora Bennett, Shauna Bennett, Lesley Buchanan, Shauna Buchanan, Emily Casserly, Mairead Costello, Mary Coyne, Claire Coyne, Aoife Clarke, Elaine Duffy, Geraldine Doherty, Kerri Finnegan, Mary Foley, Karen Healy, Jenny Healy, Grainne Mackin, Aisling Marley, Patricia Marley, Anna Mullen, Irene Munnelly, Ciara Murray, Mary O'Brien, Nuala O'Brien, Cliona Rennicks, Lynsey Rogers, Heather Smith, Linda Smith, Nadia Smith. Management - Vincent Rennicks, Peter Marley, Tommy Mallon, Colm Rennicks.