Big day looms for Meath's young guns
GERRY REILLY CUP FINAL Royals take on Wee County in famed tournament
The big day is drawing near for the young players involved with the Meath u-16 football team.
Next Sunday they will take on Louth in the final of the famed Gerry Reilly Tournament at Millbrook, Oldcastle, 7pm
Victory in the final of the well-known and long-established tournament would be a considerable achievement indeed for manager Stephen Morgan and his troops who had to be on their game to reach the final.
Meath carved out victories over Fermanagh, Kildare and Clare in the group stages. They then progressed to take on Cavan in a demanding, tough semi-final to set up the clash with the Wee County. With plenty of sunny weather promised for the weekend a big crowd is sure to show up at Millbrook to see who prevails.
Reaching the Gerry Reilly decider is only the latest stop-off point for this group of young Meath players with a net spread far and wide to try and ensure those players with the potential were looked at and evaluated in terms of what they could bring to the table. No stone was left unturned in the search for players.
"This u-16 development process started off over 12 months ago," outlined manger Morgan.
"The Meath u-16 Regional Academy hosted over 200 players from all over the county. The county was split into four regions north, south, east and central.
"This talent ID process included coaching, strength and conditioning, and inter-regional games over a seven-month period, with the outcome of having one centralised Meath u-16 squad which competed in two inter-county tournaments plus various inter-county challenge games since March this year."
In the past Morgan managed Curraha to an IFC title in 2017 and he was also coach with the 'Ha back when they won the JFC and the Leinster title at that grade a few years previously under then manager John O'Brien.
Morgan points out that as part of the process of developing young Meath players squads took part in the Ted Webb and Gerry Reilly tournaments.
The Meath u-16 management team consists of Morgan as well as team coordinator John Leonard (Trim) and coaches Timmy O'Regan (Donaghmore/Ashbourne), Fintan O'Brien (St Mary's) and Justin Carry-Lynch (Gaeil Colmcille).
The Meath u-16 panel is - Jamie McCormack (Dunboyne), Fionn Timmons (Clann na nGael), Aaron O'Rourke (Trim), Andrew Gormley (Gaeil Colmcille), Ben Corkery (Clann na nGael), Ben Sullivan (St Patrick's), Billy Smyth (Skryne), Charlie Murphy (Carnaross), Cian Commons (Seneschalstown), Cian Duggan (Dunboyne), Ciaran O'Hare (Rathkenny), Cormac Liggan (Dunderry), David Donnelly (Bective), Hugh Kehoe (Ratoath), Jack Lafford (O'Mahonys) John Gormley (Gael Colmcille), John Harkin (Dunboyne), Kyle Ennis (Trim), Liam Jennings (Blackhall Gaels), Michael McIvor (St Vincent's), Naoise Maguire (St Colmcille's), Oisin O'Neill (Dunderry), Oisin Walsh (Gaeil Colmcille), Oisin Yore (Carnaross), Oliver Maloney (Walterstown), Padraig Walsh (Trim), Patrick White (Ratoath), Rory Crawley (Oldcastle), Sean McNulty (Dunboyne), Tiernan Anderson (Gaeil Colmcille), Tom Lenehan (Skryne).