If you’ll forgive the bit of journalistic licence, it should of course read many young men of U-20, but one couldn’t resist the opportunity to include a reference to the rebel ballad best performed – in my humble opinion – by Ronnie Drew. Anyway, you get the gist. Meath U-20 football manager Cathal O’Bric has named a strong looking panel as he attempts to guide the Royal County to a third consecutive provincial final appearance – and hopefully more.
Now, it goes without saying that his chances of doing so are not helped by the fact that he – and the county – is devoid of the services of Eamon Armstrong after the nosy, meddling Aussies noticed the same as we did that the Duleek/Bellewstown clubman absolutely oozes class.
However, rather than upset myself dwelling on the incalculable loss he will be to club and county, better be it to focus on the fact that, in a major boost to the Boyerstown NS Principal’s chances of achieving the above ambition, a dozen members of last year’s panel are still in situ, while John Harkin of St Peter’s Dunboyne and Seneschalstown’s Cian Commons, who, like Armstrong, were part of the panel who lifted the Seamus Flood Cup two years ago is also still eligible.
Add to that, then, the inclusion of players such as Stephen Cahill, and Eoghan McBrearty and Charlie Gallagher and Charlie Finnegan from last year’s Minor panel, who made it all the way to the Paul McGirr Cup Final (All Ireland MFC B) and you begin to see why Meath are entitled to feel quietly optimistic in the grade as their seasonal debut approaches.
The Meath U-20 football panel, mentors and backroom team for 2026 are as follows:
BLACKHALL GAELS – Liam Jennings
CLANN NA NGAEL – Cormac Smith, Ben Corkery
DONAGHMORE/ASHBOURNE – Evan Kelly
DUNSANY – Stephen Cahill
GAEIL COLMCILLE – John and Andrew Gormley, Shane Callaghan
KILBRIDE – Luke Faherty
KILMAINHAM – Michael Hoey
NA FIANNA – Sam Jordan
NAVAN O’MAHONYS – Sean Betson
OLDCASTLE – Paul Hennessy, Pat Crawley, Tom Sheridan,
RATHKENNY – Ciaran O’Hare, Finn Moore
RATOATH – Adam Ducie, Paddy White
SENESCHALSTOWN – Colm Scanlon, Cian Commons, Charlie Finnegan
SKRYNE – Billy Smyth
ST COLMCILLE’S – Cormac O’Donoghue, Eoghan McBrearty, Kyle O’Brien
ST MICHAEL’S – Conall O’Sullivan, Gearoid O’Malley
ST PETER’S, DUNBOYNE – John Harkin, Eoin McCrudden, Charlie Gallagher, Sean Delaney
ST ULTAN’S – Cillian Yore
ST VINCENT’S – Michael McIvor
WALTERSTOWN – Conor McEntee
MENTORS:
Cathal O’Bric (Manager), Shane Barrett, Niall Flynn, Trevor Bannon, Vinny Mooney (Selectors), Conor Doran, Jack Hannigan (Physios), Dan Glynn (Performance Coach), David Tobin (Nutritionist), Daithi McCabe, Andrew Kenny. Martin Cahill, Francis Marry (S And C), Shane O’Brien (Performance Analyst) Darren Moran (Kit)
PAUL GARRIGAN – (Director Of Football)