Meath Sports Awards: Who is in the running for our Club of the Year Award?
To run any sports club successfully requires a combination of factors - dedicated volunteers, adequate finance, people who are willing to give a lot for the cause, whether that's in a committee room or in the sporting arena itself. It's not easy but some clubs in Meath certainly got the combination right in 2023 - and this was reflected in the way they achieved things on the field of play. Big things. Kildalkey and Summerhill did well on the GAA front while those representing Trim Celtic continued to garner honours completing another local double on top of provincial success. All three are in the running for the 2023 Meath Chronicle Club of the Year accolade.
THE NOMINEES
KILDALKEY
Hurling is the game that is synonymous with life around the village of Kildalkey. The old game dominates and permeates local history and tradition. Feats of heroes of the past are simply part of local folklore, woven into the consciousness of the people. That rich tradition hasn't always guaranteed success in the hurling fields of Meath in the past - but in recent times that has changed, changed utterly.
In the Autumn on 2023 Kildalkey won their seventh SHC crown when they defeated Ratoath, 0-19 to 0-16, in the final. It's was all part of not one, not two but THREE adults championships won by the club in an unforgettable year.
Nick Fitzgerald was the manager as the team won the senior and the intermediate crowns while Martin Carr was the man in charge as the Village kicked started their quest for the triple crown by claiming the JHC.
Kildalkey is still 'only' a rural village with a limited population but the local club surpassed itself in 2023 with it's level of success - and that could only have happened because of the dedication of people involved in the club including the coaches of under-age teams who give countless hours of dedication, club officials, sponsors, helpers, those charged with running the various adult teams and of course the players themselves who's focus and dedication to their fitness and skill levels yielded an unprecedented haul of triumphs. As well as the championships other pieces of silverware were garnered such as the Davis (senior) and Byrne (intermediate) cups while the minors also tasted success.
Plenty of challenges were faced by Kildalkey teams but they developed the knack of overcoming them, one by one. The intermediate side, for instance, had to go to a replay against Navan O'Mahonys before claiming the IHC but they succeeded in the end, helping to make 2023 an unforgettable year for the club - and community.
RATOATH AC
To qualify to represent Ireland is a honour to be cherished by any sports person. In 2023 a group of athletes involved with Ratoath AC qualified to represent their country in the European Athletics u-20 Clash of the Clubs Championships in Rome in September.
Not only that Ratoath was placed first in the Clash of the Clubs B final in the Dynamic New Athletics (DNA) competition. The DNA is a team event with each athlete scoring points for their club during the day over 11 events before the last event. The points are calculated and teams are given a time penalty as per where they ranked after their 11 events. Ratoath competed against athletes representing top clubs from a variety of clubs including Germany, Britain, France, Finland and Estonia in the B final and each athlete involved had to produce their best form.
A team of 36 athletes from the Ratoath club travelled over to the Italian capital to represent Ireland at the championships which took place between the 16th and 17th September at the Contro Sportivo Olimpico Esercito in the Eternal City. The fact that Ratoath AC did get chosen to represent Ireland was an indication of the club's health and vibrancy.
TRIM CELTIC
There are all sorts of reasons why Trim Celtic will look back on 2023 with relish - because the Hoops under the wise guidance of manager Robbie Horgan certainly had a year to remember.
Continuing on from a successful 2022 the Tully Park outfit made notable progress in the Leinster Junior Cup, which was considered some years ago at least as one of the largest knock-out soccer competitions in Europe. Trim Celtic won game after game in the competition reaching the final which was played at Whitehall, the home of the famed Home Farm FC.
There the Meath side faced Gorey Rangers. Supported by a large following on a beautiful May day Trim Celtic did what they have learned to do time and again under the wise stewardship of Horgan. They overcame adversity to win. The kind of adversity that would have sunk most other teams. They had three players sent off over the 90 minutes. They led 1-0 with Brian Faulkner neatly touching home the goal, before Rangers were awarded a late penalty.
It was then another hero stepped forward. Goalkeeper Conor Gilsenan made a stupendous block to save the day. The Hoops, despite everything had made it.
Towards the end of the year more silverware was won when Trim Celtic claimed the NEFL Premier title and followed it up with another 1-0 victory this time in the Challenge Cup final in Drogheda. This time a super Adam Fox strike was enough to give them victory over Quay Celtic. It was some way to sign off on an unforgettable year.
In other ways Trim Celtic have indicated they are a progressive, ambitious club. Their facilities at Tully Park are among the finest in Meath, a tribute to all involved.
With thanks to Bective Stud & Team Rooms / Meath Co Council / Meath Local Sports Partnership