< Previous© Octo ber 2020 The Meath Coaster 50 C2 General Stamullen F.C. Club news W e are delighted to be back training and that the new season has started. We are adjusting to our new normal and happy to be playing matches at the week- end and hopefully it continues through the season. We have teams from u8s all the way up to senior level and would like to wish all our players and coaches a bril- liant season ahead. Pitches update We had a busy few nights getting our new pitches match ready and we would like to thank all our parents, coaches, kids and friends of the club who helped out with the process. It really was a community ef- fort, we would like to give special thanks to Colin and Shane Scott who are the Dad and brother of Molly who is one of our super u18 girls team for their Amazing expertise and equipment, thanks so much. MGL U-9's Our girls have had a good couple of weeks football playing against Swords Celtic,Lusk Utd and Donacarney Celtic.© October 2020 The Meath Coaster 51 Our academy girls have intergraded so quickly into the group under the guidance of Coaches Derek,Sharon,Emer and An- drea. U11 boys Our under 11's boys (photo above) had a great win out in Dunboyne at the weekend,under the new management team. Brilliant performances all around by the boys and some great goals scored. Well done boys and managers. U8 boys debut. Our new Under 8 team began training in recent weeks, ahead of their first season in the NDSL League. Many of the players have been with Stamullen FC for a num- ber of years, having previously been with the club's academy. We have also added a number of new faces to the group and eve- ryone has been training really well ahead of the new season. There are a few spaces remaining on the team (photo below) so if your son was born in 2013 and would like to be involved, please call Neville on 087 2946840. Club Contact Details: Email - stamullenfc@gmail.com Facebook - www.facebook.com/stamullenfc Club Secretary Marcus Kelly – 0851477825 Website – www.stamullenfc.com §© Octo ber 2020 The Meath Coaster 52 www.instagram.com/eastmeathunited www.twitter.com/EastMeathUnitedwww.facebook.com/eastmeathunitedfc East Meath United Boys & Girls Return to Action. B oth our boys’ and girls’ teams re- turned to action in late August and early September. It was great to see all the happy faces as they faced some com- petitive action for the first time this sea- son. The good recent weather has helped them all enjoy a great start with training and matches. We do still have some teams looking for players, so if you know of an- yone looking to enjoy some local football, please do get in touch registrar@east- meathunited.ie Fees The season fees are now due for all cat- egories. Please try and make the payments as soon as possible, as the Club has had no income for six months. As always, anyone struggling or not in a position to pay right now, reach out to a committee member and arrangements will be made. No child will be turned down from play- ing football. COVID Update. Thank you for continuing to adhere to the club Covid-19 plan. We will require your continued compliance and support over the coming months. Our Club and County are currently at level 2, mean- ing training and matches can go ahead. If © October 2020 The Meath Coaster 53 we move to level 3, games will be called off. We do hope to avoid this. We can all play our parts as either club members and the broader community by continuing to sanitize our hands, keeping our distance and following the club guidelines while at training and matches. FFA (Football-For-All) Our Football for All team, “The All- Stars”, we’re delighted to return to train- ing earlier this month. It was clear to see that they have all been working hard on their skills over the lockdown and sum- mer break. There was immense excite- ment, and fun gained when we returned to training mode. If you would like to find out more about joining our team, or if you are interested in volunteering and helping with the programme, please don’t hesitate to contact Janet on 085 128 9477. Academy EMU Academy returned last Saturday, September 26 th . There was great positiv- ity in the air as the coaching staff arrived early to get prepared. The sun was shin- ing, the kids were so excited to be back, and it was a joy for us all to see their happy faces. As with any club, support is welcome. We know you will find it very rewarding and great fun to be part of the kid’s development in football. If you can help in any way, please contact any of the coaches or contact us at academy@east- meathunited.ie On a separate note, Paul Byrne is handing on the reins as EMU Academy Coordina- tor over to a very experienced and well- known coach within the EMU family, Mark Sheehan. We all wish him the very best of luck with his new role. Contact details: If you need to get in touch, below are the details : Child Welfare officer – Traci – cwo@ eastmeathunited.ie Secretary – Neal – secretary@eastmeat- hunited.ie Football for all – Janet Johnson – Foot- ball4all@eastmeathunited.ie Academy – Mark Sheehan – academy@ eastmeathunited.ie Chairman – Padraig Roche, Vice-Chair – John Heffernan, Vice-Chair – Richard Moore – all at secretary@eastmeathunited.ie Treasurer – Kieran Maloney – finance@ eastmeathunited.ie Fundraising – Richard Moore – fundrais- ing@eastmeathunited.ie §© Octo ber 2020 The Meath Coaster 54 Dip in the Nip L ike many things, the annual Dip in the Nip is different this year. It’s now a multi-month, family fun dip till you drip, clothed, anywhere you can. But we were already raring to go and did our own dip for Drogheda's Our Lady of Lourdes hospital on September 6 th in se- cret of course. New ladies join in every year, so liberat- ing and it feels awesome to step out of your comfort zone to help stop this cruel killer which has no regard for life of any age. Please support and join us! §© October 2020 The Meath Coaster 55© Octo ber 2020 The Meath Coaster 56 A h the evenings have started closing in already and we’re returning home from our training sessions in the dark. The winter training sessions do have their advantages, no sunburn, less dehydrated and I for one feel like I jiggle less run- ning when I’m well wrapped up in Lycra!! We’re stuck with the 15 person limit on training for the forseeable future but I think we’ve all come to terms with how to train aound this. Thank you to everyone working away keeping us safe so we can have the things that make life bearable as we work through this pandemic. The proceeds of the b-5 were handed over to The Irish Hospice Association and Cystic Fibrosis Ireland, picture below is our chairperson Orla Turner presenting Cilles Athletic Club www.cillesac.ie www.facebook.com/CillesAC the obligatory giant cheques. Lastly and on the subject of wearing gear to protect ourselves and others, don’t for- get when out and about during reduced visibility, to run wearing your hi-vis cloth- ing. Stay safe and enjoy the running. §© October 2020 The Meath Coaster 57 A fter 6 long months we are all de- lighted to finally get back to playing league matches. Although there are still certain restrictions in place like our club- house and coffee shop being off limits for the time being, we are very grateful none- theless that all our teams are back training and playing games. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the players and parents for cooperating and adhering to the new safety procedures. Our new u8’s are off to a flying start and we would like to give big thanks to Jimmy Rush for getting the team up and running, they are now in the very capable hands of their new coaches Rob Lindsay and Gary Foy, best of luck to you all for the season ahead. For the first time ever, we are putting together an u7’s team, this will include the senior members of the academy plus we will also be recruiting players, so any children born in 2014 are very welcome. Please call Jimmy to register your child’s interest and for more information. § Laytown United SFC www.laytownunitedsfc.com / www.facebook.com/LaytownUnitedSFC© Octo ber 2020 The Meath Coaster 58 U ncertain times these most certainly are but fair play to everyone the club is doing all it can to keep spirits high and bodies and minds active. And after all that has gone on what a Super September it has proven to be. Thank you everyone for the thrills, spills, ups and downs and joy and lift that you have provided to our Community. Keep doing what you do best everyone Here’s a quick summary of everything that happened in the month gone by ! There is a huge amount coming up in the coming weeks, especially with our ladies teams and we will keep everyone updated on those. Ladies Deliver In The Drama Stakes If its high drama you want then look no further than the St Colmcilles Ladies teams. Last minute goals proved our greatest friend and most horrible of visi- tors in a few short days. Our Junior team were victims of the last minute goal, go- ing down to Kilbride in the semi final by 1 point. The girls did us so proud on the night playing so well and seemed to have one foot in the final on numerous occa- sions but right at the end we were struck a killer blow to deny a deserved final spot. There are simply no words that will ease the pain of a defeat in this manner but these girls are made of tough stuff and there is no doubt that they will be back again in 2021 in search of a title that they are destined for. A few days later we experienced quite dif- ferent emotions in the Intermediate Cham- pionship relegation play off. Having been in the Group of Death we found ourselves facing the 2015 and 2016 Senior Cham- pions, St Ultans in a “winner takes all” tie. This was a heroic effort in baking hot Brian Mulligan captures the moment as Ellie blasts to the net to secure Intermediate survival for our ladies team for 2021 Heartbreak for the junior ladies but what a performance against Kilbride in a semi final for the ages Naomh Colmcille C.L.G. www.cilles.com© October 2020 The Meath Coaster 59 Captain Tom Elliott receives the Roinn B trophy Good luck to both our minor teams in Division 1 and 3 finals conditions but with mere seconds on the clock we found ourselves 2 points down and heading to Junior but cometh the hour …. In a wonderful sweeping move young starlet Ellie Brodigan found herself in space and blasted to the roof of the net. As the St Ultans keeper kicked the ball out the referee sounded his whistle to spark scenes of wild celebration as we retained our intermediate status. Well done girls on a deserved win and we look forward to an exciting 2021 Hurlers Make History History was made last month at Stamullen as the Saints Hurling team won their first tittle– the u13 Roinn B League follow- ing a great win over the famed Kilmessan Club. This was a deserved win for the St Colmcilles St Patricks combination mark- ing a first underage title for East Meath in 29 years. To win the silverware against a great club such as Kilmessan was even better. A special word to all the coaches and players who worked so hard not just in 2020 but throughout the last number of years to get to this stage. Keep up the great work lads. You have done us all proud Congrats to the Saints Hurlers claiming the Roinn B title with a good win over Kilmessan in the finalNext >