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Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Meath GAA cult hero not quitting yet after incredible 22 year playing career
There has been a lot of water under the Meath GAA bridge since 2004 but one player has remained a constant throughout. Mickey Burke turns 40 in September and finished another season in the green and gold last week with defeat to Donegal in a Christy RIng Cup clash. Incredibly, it was the Longwood man's 22nd season in an inter-county career that has seen him play for Meath over 200 times in football and hurling. Only Stephen Cluxton has featured for longer at the highest level but just like the Dublin goalkeeper, Burke has not committed to hanging up his boots just yet despite that early Championship exit. Burke made his debut for Meath footballers under Sean Boylan in a team that featured All-Ireland winners like Graham Geraghty and Trevor Giles and balanced football and hurling for nine years before concentrating on the small ball game. He was injured having broken his leg in the quarter-final for the infamous 2010 Leinster FInal win over Louth but has won Christy Ring Cup and Nicky Rackard Cup medals in a stellar career. Burke represented Ireland in a Shinty International and has been both hurler and footballer of the year in Meath and has marked some of the game's great forwards like Bernard Brogan and Cillian O'Connor. That 0-28 to 3-14 defeat to Donegal was expected to be Burke's final act in a Meath jersey but he hasn't ruled out returning next year for a 23rd season. "I'm not going to make a decision today, there are probably lads out there thinking 'what is that eejit at, would he ever just give up'," Burke told the Meath Chronicle. "At the end of the day, I'm not picking myself. Johnny (Greville) rang me in October and I got the pass from the missus to go back again. I love Meath and I love my county. You never know when your last game is going to be. I know that time is not on my side, but today is not the day to make a decision," said Burke. "For a limited player coming from Longwood, I've given it everything. I'll go back to my club now and we'll have a think about it and we will see what Johnny thinks. If it is the end, I have had a great run of it." "It's not in any way a physical thing. My numbers on the GPS and gym work are good. The reason I have to make a decision is just time. "I'm busy with the pub work and the business and I have a little daughter now, so all these factors have to be considered. We will see what happens, I am not going to decide on emotion." "I was very lucky to play for as long as I have. In football terms I was lucky to have played with my heroes like Darren Fay, Mark O'Reilly, Trevor Giles, Graham Geraghty, they were my heroes growing up so Sean Boylan asking me in initially to the football squad that is a memory that live with me always. "They were my heroes as a young fella going to watch Meath in the mid to late 1990s. That's something I'm very proud of and I just like to do my club, my family, parish proud."
Irish Independent
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Meath manager Robbie Brennan has full backing of county board committee
His remarks followed a question from the floor regarding the sudden departures of Joe McMahon and Martin Corey from the senior set-up prior to the start of the Leinster championship. The Chairperson said he received a phone call from the two coaches and met up with them where he was told they wouldn't be staying within the present set up. They gave different reasons for their departure citing differences of opinion. Plunkett said there were different rumours circulating around the county but that he wasn't going to engage with the rumours and he and Meath GAA were firmly standing behind the manager and were fully supportive of him. The Chairperson was also fulsome in his praise for Conor Gillespie who has stepped up to a coaching role within the management team. Football Development Committee presentation The Meath senior club championship is among the worst performing nationally and in Leinster, Chairperson of the Football Development Committee Conor O'Donoghue told delegates at the meeting. O'Donoghue delivered a presentation on the ongoing projects of the Football Development Committee and highlighted the county's lack of success at senior club provincial level with just one final appearance over the past 21 years. He said Dublin, Kildare, Louth, Laois, Longford and Westmeath were all ahead of Meath based on results over the last number of years. Only Wicklow, Wexford and Kilkenny were below Meath. Too many teams are not realistically of senior standard, according to O'Donoghue. In comparison the junior and intermediate club football championship was of a very high standard with very creditable performance by clubs in provincial competitions over the past 20 years. Meath clubs had nine Leinster championship wins at junior level while there were four successes for Meath clubs from 10 finals at intermediate level. The performances of second level schools were also a cause for concern and were still a distance from where they need to be with the strongest school in the county, St Patrick's CS not performing nearly as well in recent years. O'Donoghue said some schools were doing great work but greater support needed to be given to schools He gave a broad assessment of what was working, what could be done better and what wasn't working at present on the football development landscape. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more He highlighted Academy Structures led by Paul Garrigan and Daithi McCabe as making great strides. The Adult Games Programme was also in good shape according to O'Donoghue as was the Club Pathway Programme which was available to every club in the county. The Meath Game Model, a specific game model that Meath teams train to and play to across the board was also working well while an Athletic Curriculum overseen by Daithi McCabe was also in place and available to clubs. Improvements were needed in the Club Pathway structures and O'Donoghue said the Regional Championship had worked well over the past three years and the feedback from players was excellent but it now needed to be reviewed going forward. The senior development squad was also working quite well with the likes of Sean Coffey, Sean Rafferty and Sean Ryan stepping up to the senior team but more could be done according to O'Donoghue. Pairc Tailteann redevelopment In reply to a question from the St Paul's delegate concerning the redevelopment of Pairc Tailteann Chairperson Jason Plunkett said they were still waiting on money from the Immigration Investment Programme and that the GAA and the government will not allow the project to commence until the county has a full financial package and can fully fund the stadium. The cost is in the region of €22m and they don't have that money at present. The Chairperson sounded an optimistic note by saying they hoped to commence work by the end of this year or early 2026. However, he hinted that clubs might have to be levied if there is a shortfall. Scoreboard The scoreboard in Pairc Tailteann which was blown down during Storm Eowyn last January is set to be replaced with a similar structure. Flynn Construction is the contractor and it is hoped that the new scoreboard will be in operation for games in the club championship. Meath Supporters' Club Chairperson Jason Plunkett encouraged club members to join the Meath Supporters' Club who he said were doing great work in raising funds for county teams. So far this year the Supporters' Club had raised €31,000 for county teams. Stewards The Chairperson also appealed to clubs to recruit as many stewards as possible for big match games in Pairc Tailteann. He said they needed to get some younger stewards with the next big game in the All-Ireland series on the weekend of May 24/25. Popular Dunderry club man Tommy Nally, along with his son Tomas, will be guests of Leinster Council at this Sunday's Leinster final. Tommy is being rewarded for his service as a steward in Pairc Tailteann and for caring for his son Tomas. Referees Louth GAA is ready to step in to help the recruitment of new referees in the Royal County. A recent referee's course in Meath had to be cancelled due to a lack of interest but now those seeking to complete the course are welcome to attend an upcoming referees' course taking part in Louth shortly. Jim Curtis & Tom Duff RIP Tributes were paid to Meath GAA president Jim Curtis and former 1954 county star Tom Duff at the meeting. Both men were presidents of the Syddan club and delegate Aidan Dillon outlined their involvement with the club and expressed sympathy to the families of both men. Those sentiments were echoed by county Chairperson Jason Plunkett. Sympathy was also extended to Mairead Delaney following the death of her brother Brendan Moran in the United States, Adrian Madden (Meath juvenile board) on the death of his dad Sean, John Leonard (Trim) on the death of his dad Connie and the family of the late Tom Lynch (Ballinlough). The County Committee also offered their respects to all clergy on the death of Pope Francis.
BreakingNews.ie
11-05-2025
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
Louth win first Leinster title in 68 years after dramatic victory over Meath
Louth have been crowned Leinster football champions for 2025. They recorded a two-point win over Meath in the decider at Croke Park today. Advertisement Sam Mulroy scored 1-7 to give the Wee County their first provincial title since 1957. At the break in the @gaaleinster Football Final 🏆 The Score is @MeathGAA 0-13 @louthgaa 3-3 Here are the highlights 🎥 #MEAvLOU — The GAA (@officialgaa) May 11, 2025 Meath were already on the losing side today after their women's football team suffered a Leinster final defeat against Dublin. The Dubs came out on top in that match by 2-13 to 1-12 at Croke Park.
Irish Independent
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
From old cars to bright sausages – county pride comes out in unique ways as fans gear up for Leinster final
It is set to be another fire and brimstone affair, 15 years after the two sides last contested the final in 2010, which saw Meath crowned victors following a controversial goal. The goal was deemed illegal by TV replays but declared valid by referee Martin Sludden who then blew the final whistle, before being whisked away in a garda escort as furious Louth fans stormed the field. Tensions reached such a fever pitch that day that Meath player Mark Ward 'got a box in the mouth' from a Louth supporter after the final whistle. The atmosphere is already heating up in both counties before tomorrow's clash, with Meath supporters taking things up a gear by spray-painting a car in the royal county colours. Friends Callum White, Cathal Melia and Oran Boylan – son of Meath GAA legend Seán Boylan – collaborated to paint the green-and-gold Volkswagen Polo ahead of the big game. Other friends pitched in, with over 20 donations from helping hands making it possible to buy the car and all the materials required. The Dunboyne men started planning the project just days after Meath inflicted on Dublin their first Leinster Championship loss in 15 years – and they documented their journey on TikTok, amassing tens of thousands of views. 'It started as a bit of craic but it's pretty much gone viral now,' said Mr White (21), who works with former Meath manager Seán Boylan. The friends picked up the 'banger' on DoneDeal for €300 and then bought the paint, while it took two days to get the car 'match ready'. 'It has no tax or insurance so it won't be driven anywhere, but we will probably use a trailer to bring it to a central point in Dunboyne. However, we are now thinking because of the reaction we are getting online to the car, we might try and get it to Croke Park some way,' Mr White said. He added that if Meath win, they will keep it going towards the All-Ireland and if not, 'we will sell it off as a Kerry car'. Meanwhile, a free-range pig farmer has calmed tensions between fans in a pub and restaurant on the border of Meath and Louth by serving sausages in the colours of both counties ahead of the final. Dublin native Peter Whelan has become the peace-maker between Meath and Louth fans with his colourful bangers, which will be at Dolly Mitchell's Pub before fans head to Croker. Mr Whelan owns The Whole Hoggs farm in Slane, Co Meath, and supplies meat to the pub. Dolly's, which has regulars from both counties, lies just on the border of Meath and Louth, between Slane and Drogheda, and the counties are divided by the nearby Mattock river. Mr Whelan has made 10kgs of both red and green sausages for the occasion and may try to entice fans to 'try and down each other's colours without gagging'. 'I've lived in Meath for 35 years but I'll always be a Dub, coming from Castleknock, and over the years I've got the slagging from both sets of fans when I wear the Dublin jersey to the pub,' he said. 'The Meath and Louth customers would say that Dublin were only winning because of the money being thrown at them and I always said that Meath and Louth had to get their game on to reach the high standards that Dublin had set, but it was always just banter.' He said he was 'genuinely delighted' when Meath beat Dublin in the semi-final, bringing an end to nine consecutive defeats for the royals at the hands of the Dubs. Support for the green and yellow has stretched as far and wide as Western Australia, where Greenwood GFC in Perth, which has several Meath members, has lined out in the royal colours. 'A home from home for the royal county Down Under. The fast-growing Perth club must have the largest Meath representation of any club overseas. This strong contingent of royals will be cheering on the county's men's and ladies' teams from afar on Sunday,' the club said. Meanwhile, Navan DJ Andy Leech, a member of group Le Boom, has written a poem regaling tales of both the old and a new-look Meath GAA: 'We've heard of the days of old, the green and gold, the good old days, or so we are told… Old fellas will tell us, but I'm jealous my dad was a young fella in '87, it must have been heaven. But maybe there is something changing… maybe our day is coming.'
BreakingNews.ie
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- BreakingNews.ie
Meath fans spray paint car in the Royal colours ahead of the Leinster final
The forthcoming GAA Leinster final is already driving fans wild with anticipation but Meath supporters have taken things up a gear by spray painting a car in the Royal colours. Friends Callum White, Cathal Melia and Meath GAA legend Sean Boylan's son Oran teamed up to create the green and gold machine ahead of the big game between Meath and Louth on Sunday. Advertisement Other pals soon joined in the collective effort, and over 20 donations from helping hands made it possible to buy the car and all the materials needed. The Dunboyne men started planning the project just days after Dublin's defeat at the hands of Meath and they documented their journey on TikTok, amassing tens of thousands of views. "It started as a bit of craic but it's pretty much gone viral now," said Callum, who works with former Meath manager Sean Boylan. The 21-year-old said other friends then helped with spray painting the car green and gold. Advertisement "We picked up a bit of a banger on DoneDeal for about €300 and then bought the paint. It took us about two days to do it up. "It was the dream of Cathal, Oran and myself but we couldn't have carried it off without the help of other friends who gave their time and donations. "It has no tax or insurance so it won't be driven anywhere but we will probably use a trailer to bring it to a central point in Dunboyne. However we are now thinking because of the reaction we are getting online to the car, we might try and get it to Croke Park someway," he laughed. And what happens to the car come Monday - the day after the Leinster title will be decided? "Well if Meath win, we'll keep it going towards the All-Ireland and if not, we will sell it off as a Kerry car," he laughed.
