Heroes past and present honoured at special St Ultan's GFC event
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Heroes all. Members of the Martry team that reached the 1972 IFC final were joined by mentors as well as representatives of other players for this photograph. Those present included (from left) back - Colm Rennicks, Jason Bennett, Vincent Rennicks, Peter Finnegan, Kevin Rennicks, Sean Bennett, Declan Brady; front - Jimmy Martin (who very sadly passed away last week, may he rest in peace), Jack Bennett, Cathal Mulvany, Mickey Reilly, Vera Boyle, Kathleen Smyth, Rhona Rennicks, Seamus Bennett.Image 2 of 11
Players, mentors or their representatives were in attendance for his photographs to commorate the Bohermeen team that won the IFC in 1973 and reached the SFC final in 1974. Included are (from left) back - Tomas Burke, Gerry Reilly, Tommy Monaghan, Liam Harte, Colm Burke, Alfie Kavanagh, Mickey Ball, Peadar Burke, Alan Ball, Cian Rennicks, Dermie Rennicks, Paddy Kavanagh, Patsy Mulroe; front - Francie Coffey, Raymond Rennicks, Dessie Murtagh, Richard Brady, Liam Brady, Marie Reilly, Marian Dunne, Siobhan Proudfoot, Darren Kavanagh.Image 3 of 11
St Ultan’s won the u-21 FC in 1993 and among the players, mentors or their representatives who made up this photograph to remember that great feat were (from left) back - Pat Monaghan, Padraig Travers, David Brady, Shane Kavanagh, Shane Durcan, David Ball; front - John Kavanagh, Liam Brady, Stephen Yore, Aidan Donaghy, James Brennan, Jack Bennett, Gerry Doherty, Francie Coffey.Image 4 of 11
Former Martry player Peter Finnegan acted as MC for the St Ultan’s awards night.Image 5 of 11
Legend. Sean Boylan receives his award for Club Person of the Year from St Ultan’s chairman Tony Casserly.Image 6 of 11
Declan Ball (left) presented the James Keenan perpetual award to Emmett Costello for first team player of the year, also included is St Ultan’s chairman Tony Casserly.Image 7 of 11
Darragh O’Halloran presented the Malachy O’Halloran perpetual award to Pat Duffy, with St Ultan’s chairman Tony Casserly also in attendance.Image 8 of 11
LEFT: Liam Brady (left) presented the Peter Brady perpetual award for Hall of Fame to Jim Fitzsimons. Also present is Jim’s wife Nuala and St Ultan’s chairman Tony Casserly.Image 9 of 11
Declan Ball received his ‘Second Team Player of the Year’ award from St Ultan’s chairman Tony Casserly.Image 10 of 11
ABOVE: Team of winners. The individual award winners at St Ultan’s annual awards night (from left) Sean Boylan (Club Person of the Year), Emmett Costello (First Team Player of the Year), Declan Ball (Second Team Player of the Year), Ruairi Buchanan (Young Player of the Year), Hall of Fame award winnerJim Fitzsimons and his wife Nuala.Image 11 of 11
Ruairi Buchanan receiving the Young Player of the Year award from St Ultan’s chairman Tony Casserly.It was a time to reflect back on golden days of past as well as honour those who are achieving wonderful feats in the present at the St Ultan's GFC men's presentation evening.
A large attendance showed up for the evening which was held in the Headfort Arms, Kells - and among the central features of the night was a commemoration of the Martry team that reached the Meath Intermediate football final in 1972. The players involved in that team had battled against the odds to overcome opponents on the way to the decider, chalking up some impressive results - and there waiting for them on the big day was Summerhill.
In the final the 'Hill proved just too strong for Martry and they lost out. However the following year the boys who made up the Bohermeen football team also overcame many obstacles to reach an intermediate final. This time the title was secured when Moylagh were overcome in the final.
That was not to be the only big day experienced by that group of Bohermeen players. They got better and better as time moved on. Two years later they reached the showpiece event of Meath football when they earned a place in the Keegan Cup final itself. Before a big crowd at Pairc Tailteann they were unfortunate to come up against a powerful Summerhill team who won, 0-9 to 0-7.
It was the first SFC title in a four-in-row that was to be achieved by that wonderful Summerhill side so it was certainly no disgrace to lose out to Mattie Kerrigan & Co.
Another high-achieving team honoured at the St Ultan's presentation evening was the club's first championships winning side of 1993. That year the young Saints claimed a Meath u-21 title. It was a victory that helped to put the club firmly on the map.
Other St Ultan's club awards were presented at the Headfort Hotel event. The were: first team player of the year - Emmett Costello; second team player of the year - Declan Ball; young player of the year - Ruairi Buchanan; Malachy O’Halloran award recipient - Pat Duffy; Peter Brady Hall of fame award recipient - Jim Fitzsimons; club person of the year recipient - Sean Boylan.