KEPAK JUNIOR ‘D’ & SENIOR ( Joe Breen Cup ) CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS JUNIOR D FINAL THROW IN: 1.45pm BOARDSMILL B V DONAGHMORE ASHBOURNE B

SENIOR FINAL THROW IN: 5.00pm V SIMONSTOWN

VENUE: St. LOMANS PK, TRIM GAA DATE: 19TH SEPTEMBER 2020 Clár an Lae. KEPAK JUNIOR D & SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS

THROW IN: 1.45PM JUNIOR D FINAL BOARDSMILL B V DONAGHMORE ASHBOURNE B

REFEREE: TOM LORTON

THROW IN: 5.00PM SENIOR FINAL DUNBOYNE V SIMONSTOWN

REFEREE: PADRAIG COYLE

Final 1:

1.13pm Boardsmill B out on the pitch

1.14pm Donaghmore Ashbourne B out on the pitch

1.15pm Match officials out on the pitch

1.20pm Coin toss

1.30pm Game commences

2.45pm Game finishes ( dependent on injury time etc )

3.00pm Presentation

3.30pm All participants and guests must leave the grounds for the next game.

Final 2:

4.43pm Dunboyne out on the pitch

4.44pm Simonstown out on the pitch

4.45pm Match officials out on the pitch

4.50pm Coin toss

5.00pm Game commences

6.15pm Game finishes ( dependent on injury time etc )

6.30pm Presentation CHAIRPERSONS WELCOME:

Is cúis mhór áthais dom fáilte speisialta a chur romhaibh go léir chuig de Troim inniu. Fearaim fáilte faoi leith roimh na himreoirí ón gach club atá ag imirt inniu.

On behalf of the Meath Ladies Board, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you to St. Lomans Trim GFC for the 2020 Junior D and Sen- ior Kepak Championship Finals. Many thanks to Trim Gaa for hosting todays finals and a very warm welcome to all our talented players, dedi- cated managers, mentors, and the devoted club executive committees, without whom none of our games would be possible.

I would like to extend a huge Thanks, to our new and very generous, 3 year sponsors, KEPAK, who are sponsoring not only all our County teams, but also our Adult Club Championships. This is a unique spon- sorship deal for Meath Ladies, and a partnership with the Royal County iconic brand, which will help our organisation grow from strength to strength over the next few years. Kepak’s generosity and commitment of sponsorship is greatly appreciated and makes an invaluable contribution to the development of our game in the county.

To all our referees, linespersons, umpires, officials and stewards - I wish you the best of luck today and thank you for your continued and selfless contribution to Meath Ladies Football.

Finally, I would like to wish all the clubs, management teams and play- ers the very best of luck today, and I hope everyone has a very enjoyable time at our final.

Thanking you all for your continued support.

Go raibh míle maith agat

Yours in Sport Fearghal Harney Chairperson Meath Ladies Football BOARDSMILL B LGFA JUNIOR D FINALISTS

Captains Profile

Name: Bríd Guy Age: 35 Position: Centre back High point in your playing career to date: Definitely putting back on the blue and white jersey after nine years and being asked to captain Boardsmill. A game to forget: Too many to single out one. Toughest Opponent in the final: Ask me after the match! Player on your team to watch on for during the final: Katie Hackett Favourite pre match meal: Scrambled eggs and whole grain toast Three words to describe yourself: Hardworking, honest and dependable A club you would like to see do well other than your own: I have married a Trim man, so I better say Trim! Advice for young players: Respect your coaches and always believe in yourself. Always remember hard work pays off in the end. What does it mean to captain your club: It is a great privilege and honour to captain Boardsmill as I’ve played with them since underage A few words on the championship so far: It has been great watching our team progress each game!

DONAGHMORE ASHBOURNE B JUNIOR D FINALISTS

Captains Profile

Name: Sarah Markham Age: 24 Position: Left Full Back High point in your playing career to date: Being captain of the Junior D’s A game to forget: There is something to take from every game Toughest Opponent in the final: Player on your team to watch on for during the final: Chanice Dolan Favourite pre match meal: Rice and Chicken Three words to describe yourself: Really good craic A club you would like to see do well other than your own: Kilbride Advice for young players: Stick at it, it only gets better What does it mean to captain your club: It has been a real honour to get the opportunity to captain this team. A few words on the championship so far: Short and sweet but very competitive JUNIOR ‘D’ CHAMPIONSHIP PATHWAY TO THE FINAL

BOARDSMILL B

1.

Eimear Murray

2. 3. 4. Niamh McEvoy Cliona Murray Hannah Guy

5. 6. 7. Eve Killian Brid Guy Raina Griffin

Captain 8. 9.

Emma Mitchell Katie Hackett

10. 11. 12. Kim Garrigan Megan Loughran Shona Dixon

13. 14. 15. Toni Hannon Edel Guy Kate McEvoy

16. 17. Jessica Ryall 24 18. Soricha Coogan 25. 19. Wendy Farrell 26. 20. Carol Nevin 27. 21 28. 22 29. 23 30.

Management Team: Eimear Murray, Eamon Murray, Maeve Murray, Anna Ramirez Flo: Aoife Murray, Physio: James Durkan First Aid: Clare Murray

DONAGHMORE ASHBOURNE B

1.

Chanice Dolan

2. 3. 4. Ali Synnot Sarah O'Connor 4. Sarah Markham Captain

5. 6. 7. Hannah Keogh Clodagh Millington 7. Lucy Butler

8. 9.

Hannah Slattery Jen Warren

10. 11. 12. Alice McGrath Maria Morgan 12. Orla Shortt

13. 14. 15. Roisin Williams Ashling Doherty 15. Roisin O'Connor

16. 24. Niamh Hughes 17. Shannon Condon 25. Ruth Redmond

18. Siobhan Brady 26. Ciara O'Sullivan

19. Lesley Ann Walsh 27. Emma Mather

20. Muireann Donnelly 28

21 Sinead Power 29

22 Kate Heffernan 30.

23 Niamh Linnane

Extra players: Maggie Randle, Ciara Lawlor, Aoisle Lawlor, Emily O’Connor, Emma Mc Carney. Claire Mullen, Katie Carragher

Management Team: Manager: Tom O’Connor Selectors: Brendan Howlin, Marcas Morrison, Tom O’Shaughnessy, Anthony Cooke, Flo: Fiona Carragher DUNBOYNE LGFA SENIOR FINALISTS 2020

Captains Profile

Name: Fiona O’Neill

Age: 29

Position: Corner forward

High point in your playing career to date: Junior and Intermediate club All Ire- lands

A game to forget: Losing the senior championship final to Simonstown last year

Toughest Opponent: Orlaith Duff (Dee Rangers)

Player on your team to watch on for during the final: Emma Duggan – she’s prob- ably one of the best forwards in Meath at the moment, a nightmare for any back!

Three words to describe yourself: Dedicated, driven, team player

A club you would like to see do well other than your own: Royal Gaels or Ash- bourne

Advice for young players. Practice on your left and right side at training. Attitude is everything – Talent will only get you so far

What does it mean to captain your club: It’s an incredible honour to captain Dun- boyne – it would be a great privilege to win a first senior championship for the club as captain

A few words on the championship so far: Surreal – I don’t think anyone imagined playing any football this year, given the situation we were in a few moths back. It has been really enjoyable to just get back out training and playing matches with friends. SIMONSTOWN LGFA SENIOR FINALISTS 2020

Captains Profile

Name: Jackie Shiels Age: 35 Position: Full or Centre Half forward. High point in your playing career to date: Winning 2015 Women's Rugby Six Na- tions with . A game to forget: None - you learn from them all. Toughest Opponent in the final: I'm sure there will be a few. Player on your team to watch out for during the final : The aim is for everyone to stand up and stand out! Favourite pre match meal: Banana and porridge pancakes with fruit. Three words to describe yourself : Dedicated, Determined and Passionate. A club you would like to see do well other than your own : Oldcastle - I work with Elaine Plunkett and she might give me less grief at work now! Advice for young players. Give back to your clubs by getting involved with under- age teams. What does it mean to captain your club - My plan to retire from football was put on hold! A few words on the championship so far : Three round games made each game ex- citing but for the teams who didn't make the last 4 it was a short campaign. From a club point of view, lockdown reminded people how important the club was to the community and the championship has provided the opportunity for players, mentors and families to come together and embrace that community spirit. SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP PATHWAY TO THE FINAL

DUNBOYNE

1.

Alison O'Sullivan

2. 3. 4. Rachel Mc Dermott Elaine Doyle Hannah Nolan

5. 6. 7. Niamh Williams Sarah Wall Annie Moffatt

8. 9.

Saoirse Quinn Alison Jones

10. 11. 12. Shelly Melia Vikki Wall Julie Kavanagh

13. 14. 15. Honor Hickey Emma Duggan Fiona O'Neill

16. Michelle Mooney 17. Beibhinn Hickey 24 Aoife Thompson 18. Aoife Delaney 25. Dee Blaney 19. Clodagh Williams 26. Sinead Hackett 20. Katie Bermingham 27. Clare Barker 21 Amy Bermingham 28. 22 Aoife Boylan 29. 23 Roisin O'Doherty 30.

Management: Brendan Quinn Selectors: Alan Browne Cliodhna O'Doherty,Gary Byrne Flo: Bridgie Thompson, Physio: Cathal Brady Covid Supervisor: John Blaney

SIMONSTOWN

1.

Nicole Byrne

2. 3. 4. Emma Cassidy Katie Bellew Aoife Farrell

5. 6. 7. Aisling Sheridan Regina Hand Niamh Sheridan

8. 9.

Aisling Cassidy Niamh Lister

10. 11. 12. Lauryn Grier Kelsey Nesbit Niamh Cassidy

13. 14. 15. Kelly Harris Jackie Shiels Mollie Byrne Captain

16. Naoise de Graaff 24 Michelle Claffey 17. Orla Conlon 25. Anu Balogun 18. Tara Berrigan 26. Louise Collins 19. Laura McEnery 27. Karen Foran 20. Rachel Gardner 28. Naoise Collins 21 Leanne Harris 29. Rachel Abu 22 Jane Smyth 30. Meabh Hanrahan 23 Ella Martin 31. Niamh Hand 32. Alannah Lyons

Manager: Ronan Carley, Selectors: Michael Cassidy, Padraig Farrell, Flo: Cliona Donoghue Physio: Brendan Leacy

Meath Ladies Tribute to Joe Breen

The following is a tribute piece to Joe Breen from our 2019 Presentation night, and who the new Senior Championship Cup is named after. Presented on the night by Mary O’Shaughnessy

I feel very privileged to have been asked to speak to- night about a man who won the hearts of all who had the pleasure of meeting him. He was a man who, when you mentioned his name, the first word that rolled off everyone’s tongue was ‘gentleman’.

Tonight, Meath Ladies Executive, County Board, players and supporters want to honour this gentleman with our association’s most prestigious award. The award that recognises outstanding individuals, who through their exceptional work and achievements have made a significant contribution and a profound difference to those they serve. This of course is the Hall Of Fame Award and is being award- ed posthumously to the much loved and sorely missed, Joe Breen, late of Black- hall Gaels.

Joe was a proud Fermanagh man, who like so many, moved to Dublin for work at the age of 20. But being a country man at heart Joe wanted to return to a rural way of life and in Co. Meath struck gold when Joe bought a house and set up home there in 1989.

It wasn’t long before Joe got involved in the local GAA Club in Blackhall Gaels, and spent a number of years as part of the back up team with their Senior and Junior Footballers. However, Joe’s lasting legacy to the club will be as a found- ing father of the Ladies section which was formed in 1995.

In the years that followed, Joe worked tirelessly as a team mentor, a selector, a travel organiser, a committee member and chairperson. Joe along with John Maye and Jane Keane led Blackhall Ladies to a Junior B title in the year 2000, they went on to win the Junior A title in 2001. By 2003 they were Intermediate Champions and in 2004 they reached the final of the Senior Championship. This is an incredible record of achievement by any- one’s standard.

But Meath Ladies also struck lucky as Joe wasted no time in getting involved with our County Board. Records show that Joe has served on County Committees since 1996 and went on to be an active member of the Executive.

Joe’s wisdom and pleasant personality meant that he was a popular and valuable member of the many committees on which he served. These included an Investi- gating Committee, Fixture’s Committee, Finance Committee but he will probably be best remembered for his service on the Disciplinary Committee which he chaired for many years.

Joe ‘s people skills ensured that all those attending Disciplinary Hearings knew they were being listened to and being treated with fairness and respect.

Joe’s wisdom and pleasant personality meant that he was a popular and valuable member of the many committees on which he served. These included an Investigat- ing Committee, Fixture’s Committee, Finance Committee but he will probably be best remembered for his service on the Disciplinary Committee which he chaired for many years. Joe ‘s people skills ensured that all those attending Disciplinary Hearings knew they were being listened to and being treated with fairness and re- spect.

County committees were not the only beneficiaries of Joe’s exceptional skill set as Joe went on to be involved with the management of county teams, both Junior and Senior. His involvement is remembered fondly by the many players, who recall a smiling gentleman, with time to chat, wearing a woolly hat that sat just a tad too high on his head.

In an attempt to do justice to Joe’s memory and his contribution to Meath Ladies, I set to work gathering facts about Joe’s achievements. I went through minutes of meetings taken during the nineties and noughties and I spoke to many people who knew Joe well and had worked with him in various capacities. But the more I read, the more I realised that his legacy is not just about the facts of his specific achievements even though they were many. No, Joe’s real legacy was in the essence of the man, the values and attitudes he brought to Ladies Football both in Blackhall Gaels and Meath County. And the evidence for this was found, not so much in the written records of events, but in the words of all those who spoke to me about Joe with such respect and warm affection.

Joe showed how us how hard work could be done in a fun and pleasant manner. He showed us how time and commitment could be given generously and graciously. He showed us how difficult decisions could be made with kindness and respect. At times when there were people who found problems for every solution, Joe was only interested in finding solutions to the problem. He had no hidden agendas, just an honest love for the game, a true sense of fair play and a genuine interest in people.

Joe was also a very sociable character and loved a good night out. His good friend John Keane in his eu- logy referred to Joe’s delight at a night of celebra- tion when on walking in to the room, he was greeted by a rendition of Dolly Parton’s song ‘Jolene’ with the words changed to Joe Breen, Joe Breen…..

In addition to being inducted into the Hall of Fame, Joe will be remembered in a special way every year at our Senior Championship Final, as going forward our Senior Champions will be presented with this magnificent piece of silverware, the ‘Joe Breen’ Cup.

MARY— “YOU WILL BE MISSED”

Seneschalstown lost out on the last round of the group stages, in this years competition, but that though was not to be the story of the championship for the club, it instead was the retirement of Mary Sheridan after more than 20 years playing adult football for the club. A legend of the game in the county, the list of honours won by Mary over her career is astounding and no doubt we have missed out on a few. Thanks for the memories Mary. Words could never do justice to your contribution to the club. It has been a pleasure to see you pull on the jersey over the years and you have set standards on and off the pitch.

Country International Rules Series winner in 2006. Joint top scorer in the series with 37 points. 3 Time Cic Fada winner - 2003, 2008 & 2010.

County 1 Leinster SFC. 1 National League Division 1 runner up medal. 1 Selection of the Team of the League in 2011. 1 Selection as a replacement All Star in 2000. 1 All Ireland U-16 Championship. 2 Leinster U-16 Championships. 2 Leinster U-14 Championships. 2 All Ireland U-14 runner up medals. 2 Leinster Blitz medals. 1 All Ireland Blitz runner up medal.

Club 1 All Ireland Championship runner up medal in 2003. 1 All Ireland 7 a-side winner in 2010. 2 All Ireland 7 a-side Shield wins in 2003 and 2007. 1 Leinster Club Championship in 2003. 13 Meath SFC titles. 1 Meath JFC title. 1 Meath U-21 title. 9 Division 1 League titles. 1 Division 2 League title. 1 U-16 Championship. 1 Meath GAA U-14 Championship.

“Thanks for the memories, the commitment, drive, leadership and passion for the game at Club, County and Nationally. Enjoy your retirement.” From all at Meath Lgfa.

Article thanks to Seneschalstown Facebook Page. SENIOR GAME PREVIEW By FERGAL LYNCH—MEATH CHRONICLE

For years Dunsany were the dominant force in Ladies football, then Seneschalstown assumed that mantle for almost two decades, but now it looks set for Simonstown and Dunboyne to dominate for many years to come. In 2018 Simonstown made the breakthrough, winning their first SFC crown with victory over Seneschalstown. Last year they made it two-in-a-row with a 3-8 to 0-12 victory over Dun- boyne and now they stand on the precipice of a hat-trick with Dunboyne again standing in their way at Trim next Saturday. Remarkably, despite being champions for the last two years Simonstown will go into this game as marginal underdogs and that is testament to the progress Dunboyne have made in recent years. It is taking Dunboyne longer than expected to get that first senior title. Maybe the huge weight of expectation on them because of their enormous wealth of individual talent and amazing suc- cess at lower grades is proving too much. In 2015 Dunboyne won the Meath JFC and went on to lift the All-Ireland Club JFC crown as well. That unprecedented success suggested that they would be a significant force at the top table before too long. Two years later Dunboyne gave further indication of the threat they could well become when they claimed the Meath and All-Ireland Club IFC crowns. Their first year at senior was a harsh lesson as they struggled to make an impact, but last year they reached the final against another of the rising powers of Meath football, Simonstown. With one title already under their belt, Simonstown were too strong for Dunboyne in 2019, but now the time seems right for Dunboyne to claim their first senior title. When the teams met in the earlier stages of the championship Dunboyne were comfortable winners. Did Simonstown have an off day? Was there a little bit of rope-a-dope going on knowing the two were always likely to advance to the final? Only Saturday will tell. There is no denying Simonstown are a quality outfit. With playmaker Jackie Shiels still pulling the strings and proving to be a formidable force the side can never be discounted. Add in the excellence of attackers of the quality of Kelsey Nesbitt, Lauryn Grier and Kelly Harris along with the talent and threat of someone like Tara Beregin who was sprung from the bench with such great effect in the semi-final win over Donaghmore/Ashbourne and it is easy to see why Simonstown are a threat. Defensively very sound with players like Aoife Farrell, Katie Bellew, Niamh Lister, the Cassi- dy sisters Niamh, Emma and Aisling, Niamh Sheridan, Aisling Sheridan and Regina Hand Si- monstown are more than capable of reclaiming their title. However, Dunboyne have been so impressive. They have swept aside all opponents with rela- tive ease and with Emma Duggan posting 1-12 in the semi-final victory over Oldcastle she is clearly the one Simonstown will have to handle. The problem with focusing their attention on the outstandingly talented Duggan is that Simon- stown could take their eye off others like Vikki and Sarah Wall, Fiona O'Neill and Shelly Me- lia and if they are given an inch of space they will capitalise. It promises to be another Titanic tussle, but Dunboyne laid down a marker with their easy win earlier in the campaign and it is hard to see them being stopped, no matter how good Simon- stown undoubtedly are. Verdict - Dunboyne. “Go raibh maith agaibh“ to all our sponsors

“Go raibh maith agaibh“ to all our sponsors