Stameen family have a dilemma!

April 2000

THE footballing fortunes of two Stameen brothers have left their parents in a dilemma for next Sunday.

Drogheda based Garda, Pat Kelly and his wife, Ann, are still undecided as their two footballing sons are involved in important matches at different venues.

Eldest son, Ronan, plays with Meath at U-21 level in the Lcinster Final against Westmeath at O’Connor Park Tullamore while Brian is a member of the Irish panel to play the touring Australians in the opening match of the U-17 Compromise Rules series at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick.

The Kelly’s desperately want to see both matches but unfortunately they will have to settle for either one or the other.

‘We will leave it until much later in the week to make a decision,’ said the Offaly native garda. It’s an unfortunate clash and we might have to toss to decide where we go or we might even send a representative to each venue.’

It promises to be proud day for the footballing mad family however, being involved with Meath and Ireland. Ronan was a late replacement for Ray Russell at wing back for Meath in their U-21 semi-final win over Laois and hopes to hold on to his place for the final.

It has been a tough couple of months for the twenty year old Economics and Geography student at UCD. An ankle ligament injury in the U-21 final playing for St. Colmcilles against Ballivor last Autumn kept him out of action for a couple of months but he did make a comeback to help UCD win the 1999 Dublin U-21 championship in January with a victory over St. Brigids.