Rathkenny celebrating on the double
SATURDAY DECEMBER 14
Westmeath venue: Westmeath v Meath, O’Byrne Cup, 2.0, F Pierce.
SUNDAY DECEMBER 15
Aughrim: Wicklow v Meath, Kehoe Cup, 2.0, TBC.
IT was a memorable night for the Rathkenny club at the Meath Annual Awards presentations in the Castle Arch Hotel, Trim, last Friday night.
Meath joint captain Donal Keogan picked up his Senior Footballer of the Year award, while former County Board chairman Barney Allen was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Keogan, who made his senior championship debut against Wicklow in 2012, has been an ever present on the Meath team since.
Francis Flynn, MC for the night, said Keogan was Meath’s most consistent player and likely to be pencilled in first on any team list.
‘He was always a stalwart for Rathkenny and in 2019 produced a string of outstanding displays for Meath as they gained promotion to Division 1 of the NFL and achieved their objective by reaching the Super 8s for the first time. This was recognised with his nomination for an All-Star award.’
Keogan was then presented with the Hanly/McDermott Trophy by Flynn.
Hall of Fame recipient Allen served as the fixtures secretary for 23 years before taking over from the long-serving Liam Creavin as secretary where he served for seven years. He then served as county chairman for a further five years.
John Kavanagh presented the Hall of Fame trophy to the Rathkenny man.
Guest of honour at the presentation night was Jim Bolger, chairman of the provincial body, who presented the Leinster championship medals to the successful Meath junior panel.
The other award winners were Young Footballer of the Year Mathew Costello, Hurler of the Year Jack Regan, Young Hurler of the Year Callum O’Sullivan (Clann na nGael), Ground of the Year Clonard, Referee of the Year David Gough and Most Improved Referee Andrew Smith.
The Public Relations award went to Gaeil Colmcille, while Clann na nGael and Ratoath were joint winners of the Club of the Year.