Meath hill are now (2011) playing in Div 3 of the All County football league and in the Junior A grade for Championship.
This is our 2nd year in Div 3 league as we staved off relegation last year. Our U 21 were beaten finalists in the Cgrade in 2010 going down to Dunaghmore /Ashbourne.
History
It is known that a football team represented Meath hill in a junior championship match in 1903 and this year is generally accepted as the founding year of Meath hill GFC as most of the players on that day were under 20 yrs of age (see report on game versus castletown.)
The centenerary of this match (part of centenary celebrations) was played in Meath hill in 2003 and finished in a draw
In 1942 Meath hill won their first championship (Junior) after many years and reincarnations over the previous 40 yrs. in 1950 there were two Meath hill players on the North Meath team that won the senior championship ie Charlie Boyle RIP and Brian McGuire RIP. Indeed Charlie scored 3 pts in that game. (see below)
1950 North Meath wins the Senior Championship Final
S.F.C. Final North Meath 2-4 - Skryne 1-3.
Drogheda Independent
North Meath won the county senior football championship for the first time, defeating favourites Skryne in a dull match played before a crowd of 3,000, who paid £144 at the gate. North Meath had beaten last seasons winners Syddan in the semifinal while Skryne beat O'Mahonys in the other semi - final.
In 1946 North Meath lost the S.F.C. Final to Navan Parnells in the 3rd replay, so this victory makes up for that disappointment. J. Timmons opened the scoring with a point for North Meath to level after Skryne took the lead. M. Clarke gave Skryne the edge with a goal before 2 pointed frees from Charlie Boyle brought North Meath back to just one point behind at 1-1 to 0-3. A penalty goal scored by J. Heery for North Meath just before half - time was crucial and they led 1-3 to 1-1 at the interval. Two Skryne points from N. Collins and B. Smyth levelled the match entering the final 10 minutes. A point from a free by P. Carolan put the North Meath lads in front before Joe Carolan scored a great goal in the last 5 minutes to ensure victory. TEAMS
North Meath, J. Heery (1-0), M. Brien, J. Donegan, M. Keelan, J. Malone, B. Conlon, J. Timmons (0-1), P. Crosby, G. Booth, P. Carolan (0-1), M. Carolan, J. Carolan (0-1), C. Boyle (0-3), L. McGuinness, B. McGuire.
Skryne ; C. Browne, P. Donnelly, T. Donnelly, W. Browne, P. Brady, M. O'Brien, J. Clarke, P. McGuinness,P. O'Brien, N. Collier, B. Smyth, S. Brien, T. Brien, M. Clarke, T. Mooney.
The Brian Boru`s, an amalgamation of Meath hill and Drumconrath clubs held their inaugural meeting in 1951 in a lodge in Breslanstown (remains are there to this day on the lane up to Paddy McMahon`s house) This amalgamation didn't last too long and indeed an amalgamation in 1968 also failed to last - this amalgamation was known as the United Gaels.
Shale Brick Rovers GFC. - (1951- 1961)taken Meath Chronicle 27.1.1951.
"FORMATION OF SHALE BRICK ROVERS G.F.C."
At the first A.G.M of Shale Brick Rovers G.F.C. the following officers were elected: Presidents J.R.Glass, W.J. Smith.
Chairman. Jimmy Dermody.
Vice-Chairman Benny McCabe
Joint Treasurers. Patsy Dunne P.J. Tierney.
Secretary Charlie Boyle.
Committee members. Tom Malone, Joe Ward, Packy Boyle.
The club was formed in the Shale Brick factory at Drumgill near Kingscourt and catered for players who worked in the factory and lived in the area. The first set of jerseys was donated to the club by the owners of the brickyard at that time - W J. Smith and J. R. Glass making the team one of the first clubs in the country to sport a sponsored jersey.
Players from a wide catchment area played with the team in the early fifties thereby causing some ill-feeling and resentment among other clubs in the county who felt they had an unfair advantage over them. Players from Meath Hill, Drumconrath, Gypsum, Nobber. and Kingscourt were working in the brickyard and played with the `Bricks'. The team beat Rathkenny in a Divisional final of the Junior Championship in 1951 but lost out on an objection. A seven-a-side team in 1951 won a local tournament and won many admirers with their stylish play.
From the mid fifties on the brickyard was not going well for a few years and workers went to Dublin and England to look for work - players like Paddy 0' Brien. Kevin Maguire, Tom Rooney, to mention just a few and the fortunes at the team declined. The team became identified as a Meath Hill combination and slowly but surely the club's days were numbered. In 1962 Shale Brick Rovers G.F.C. disbanded and St. Brigids, Meath Hill took its place.
Meath Chronicle 27.1.1962.
"End of the Road for Shale Brick Rovers G.F.C."
At the A.G.M of Shale Brick Rovers G.F.C. a majority of members decided not to field a team in this years Meath Championship. The outgoing committee thanked all the players who had played for the club; the Callan family Meath Hill for the use of their field; Fr. Marry and Kingscourt G.F.C for the use of their pitch in staging the final of the recent tournament won by Newtown Blues; the local press and all those who had supported the team down through the years.
"New G.A.A. club in Meath Hill"
A new G.A.A club St. Brigid's Meath Hill, was formed at a well - attended meeting in Meath Hill Hall recently. Chairman, Tommy Boyle, appealed for support, for the new club. Funds would be needed and a new set of jerseys would have to be bough He asked for functions, arranged to raise funds, to be well supported. It was decided to field a team in the Junior football Championship.
The following officers were elected : -
Chairman: Tommy Boyle, Vice - Chairman : Paddy Callan.
Secretary: Jimmy Tierney, Treasurer : Peter Mooney.
(1971- 1997) Recent History of Meath
Hill GFC (FROM THE PROGRAMME OF THE OFFICIAL OPENING 1997)
The present club St. Brigids, Meath Hill was reformed in 1971 after a period
of amalgamation with Drumconrath from 1968-1970 under the name United Gaels
G.F.C. The team won its first match against Robinstown but in those early years
victories were few and far between. At times it was hard to find fifteen and
quite often some unsuspecting spectator would be asked to "stand in the goals".
Unlike the present day, goalkeepers were not held in high esteem and along with
the corner forward he would be the last to be picked and the first to be taken
off.
In 1972 the pitch at Ballyhoe Lake was developed with the good will of nine
local farmers who had grazing rights to the commonage there. The pitch was
developed thanks to a great deal of voluntary help. A first class fence,
consisting of concrete posts, fencing wire and gates, was erected making it one
of the best pitches in the county in the mid seventies and a great boost for
Meath Hill G.F.C. With the help of the Inland Fisheries Board a roadway and car
park were developed which served both angler and football enthusiast. Permanent
dressing rooms and toilet facilities could not be built because the club did not
own the pitch and for the same reason no Co. Board grant could be paid for the
development of the pitch. However the football team benefitted greatly from
having a good pitch to play on and necessary improvements were carried out to
meet requirements. Temporary toilet facilities were provided for ladies and
gents; a container wagon was bought and erected inside the fence to provide
changing facilities for visiting teams: the parking area was expanded and new
goalposts erected in the middle 80's. Plans were drawn up in 1983 to erect
permanent facilities but these plans were shelved a year later when difficulties
arose regarding title. No running water or electricity could be provided at
Ballyhoe and this meant that the club had to train for important matches in
early spring or late Autumn in Patsy Reilly's field at Balty. Patsy generously
donated the electricity supply for training lights and the workers canteen was
used as a changing room.
On the playing side, things began to look up from 1977 onwards when the team was
unlucky to lose by a single point, 0-11 to 1-7, against St. Paul's in the
quarter final of the junior championship. A good run in the winter league and
some excellent tournament wins in Corduff, Rathkenny and Gibbstown kept interest
at a high pitch in early 1978. In May 1978 Meath Hill beat St.Paul's in the
Final of the Junior League to win the first county title since 1942. Semi-final
defeat, after a replay, at the hands of St.Marys was our lot in the championship
that year. In 1979 we went a step further in the championship only to lose the
Final again after a replay to St. Mary's. Defeat was a bitter pill to swallow
that year especially after leading in the first game by eight points 2-5 to 0-3
at half - time and conceding a fluky equalising goal to Liam Smith, in the last
minute of the game, after his initial attempt from a 14 yard free had been
blocked.
In 1980 the team was more determined than ever to make amends, but lost the
first round game to Ratoath at Duleek. From there to the final the team never
wavered and won the junior championship for only the second time beating
Moynalty in the final by 2-6 to 0-3. The team settled well at intermediate level
in 1981 and 1982 and in 1983 they won the intermediate league final beating
Slane by a point 1-5 to 0-7 to win the Cooney Cup. The quarter-final stage of
the I.F.C was reached in 1983 to 1984 and we went to the semi-final in 1985 only
to lose out again to St. Mary's. The rate of progress was maintained in 1986
when Kilmainhamwood were beaten by a single point in the quarter - final and the
team gave an excellent display beating St. Colmcilles in the semi - final by 1-9
to 0-5 to reach the I.F.C final for the first time. A hotly - disputed goal
decided the match in favour of Gaeil Colmcille and they rubbed salt into an open
wound a few weeks later when they won the Division 2 League Final as well in
Kilmainhamwood. A good league run in 1987 was capped in November 1988 when Meath
Hill beat St. Michaels to win the delayed 1987 Division 2. League title in Kells.
St. Colmcilles were very fortunate to beat the `Hill that same year in the I.F.C
quarter - final at Rathkenny when they won with two late points to spare and
went on to win the championship. After 1988 the team went into decline and were
demoted to Division 2 A.C.F.L in 1990; again relegated to Division 3 A.C.F.L in
1993. In 1995 the club was regraded junior from intermediate but did not win a
game in this championship. An A.G.M in November 1995 made the decision to make
an extra effort in 1996. Nudie Hughes was persuaded to coach the team with John
McGuire as manager. The championship run was very exciting and breathed new life
into all connected with the club. League form was poor and resulted in
relegation to Division 4 following a play - off with Drumree. However the
players got the scent of what might have been and would like to go one step
further in the not too distant future? You never know but the years from 1978 to
1988 will be remembered as the most successful in the club's history until a new
chapter is written.
Speech by Eddie Callan Chairman of Meath Hill GFC at the launch of the centenary celebrations on Friday March 21st
Rev Father, Ladies and gentlemen. We welcome you all here tonight to the launch of our centenary programme. A special welcome to Fr. Connaughton our parish priest,Fintan Ginnity, chairman of Meath County Board, Martin O' Connell former Meath Football,(Millenium Man) and finally Barry O'Reilly of O'Reilly Bros.
We have 100 years to cover tonight so sit back and make yourselves comfortable.
We gather tonight to launch the centenary of the club and to launch the club website.
In 1903 Meath Hill entered its first championship team the competition was 17 a side. Meath Hill lost to Castletown in the semi-final of the championship. On the day the Hill players wore blue and white jerseys with pink knicks. In 1905 Meath Hill played in the Senior Football championship and recorded a 1-7 to 1-3 victory over Kilmessan.Our most famous footballer was Matt Nulty he won a Railway Cup Medal for Leinster in 1932 at corner back, Matt also played for Meath from 1929 to 1932. 1942 we won our first Junior championship when we beat Kilcloon 3-6 to 1-6 the team contain many sets of brothers including the Keelans, the Maguires, McCabes, Boyles and the Tighes. There are 2 surviving members of this team Vincent Ward and Paddy Keelan.
Benny McCabe was captain of that 1942 team and his son Liam was captain of 1980 championship winning team and we hope that we don't have to wait for his 8 year old son Shane before we win another championship. 1950 - many of our players played with North Meath and they defeated Skyrne in the final of the senior championship. Charlie Boyle was top scorer on that day with 4 points.
Pre 1972 we had homes all around Meath Hill. In 1972 we settled in the pitch at Ballyhoe Lake. In March 1992 we started playing on our new pitch and it was officially opened in May 1997
1978 won the Junior league
1979 drew with St. Marys in the Jun championship Final and St. Marys went on to win the replay.
1980 junior championship
1983 -intermediate league final
1986 reached the intermediate championship final and were narrowly defeated by Gaeil Colmcille
1987 won the Div 2 league final with a victory over St Michaels
1987 the committee purchased this 8 acre here . Money was need and 10 x 20 and 3 x 60 pound draws were ran as well as auctions, bingo, cake sales and bazaars.
1996 Jun finalists and Drumconrath won 1- 10 – 0-10.
1999 played St. Pauls in the Semi final of the championship and lost.
2001 semi-finalists.
Since the official opening in 1997 we developed our facilities with the help of grants from many sources. We recently developed our training pitch and outdoor playing facilities and we have 2 outdoor tennis courts and a basketball court. This would not have been possible but for the tremendous support of our many sponsors over the years. Our present facilities host the local foroige club, bowls club, parent and toddler group and badminton club. For the last 6 months NMCDA are funding a computer class which we are hosting so everybody will be computer literate for our new website.
We decided to have this launch to let everybody know that we are celebrating the centenary of the club and we are in the process of writing a book on the history of Meath Hill and we would appreciate if you could contact us if you have any information or photographs that we could use.
Now I would like to call on Martin O' Connell to launch our centenary programme of events.
Now I would like to call on Fintan Ginnity Chairman of Meath County Board to launch the Clubs website
constructed by our own John McGuire.
In relation to the book and website we have received a very generous sponsorship deal from Barry O'Reilly Manager of O'Reilly Bros, Concrete Products of Kingscourt. O'Reilly Bros have been the team sponsors for many years they would probably hold the record for the longest serving sponsors of any club in the country. We greatly appreciate their sponsorship and the generous sponsorship we received from many others in the area. Perhaps Barry will say a few words.
Fr. Connaughton.
Thanks to father for his support of all the clubs activities.
Thank you all for coming to launch our centenary. A special word of thanks to Pat Byrne, the Meath Chronicle -John Quirke and Conal Collier for their attendance here, he will surely have to write something good about us this week. We now have some tea coffee and goodies if you have not given them up for lent.