1998 Ladies Senior Championship for the Hill

Dunsany's domination of the Meath Ladies SFC competition came to an end in 1998 when Summerhill threw a spanner in the works to capture the Ladies blue ribboned prize in an exciting clash which was played in Athboy. The winners greater determination and will to win ensured 1-7 to 1-4 scoreline.

The success illustrates the strides of progress made in the south Meath club since its inception in 1993. It was their first year in the senior ranks following their 1997 Junior Championship success. In Ann-Marie Dennehy and Christine O'Brien Dunsany possess two of the stars of Ladies Football, not only in Meath, but throughout the country. However, Summerhill aren't short of a decent player or two either and Dunsany's All-Stars were firmly placed in the shade by the excellent Ciara Kennedy, Ruth Ennis, Niamh McNelis, Dorothy McGoldrick, Derina Shaw and Patricia McNelis. Kennedy in particular was in brilliant form. She held All-Star O'Brien to just two points (one free) aswell as setting up numerous attacks which yielded invaluable scores for the Summerhill forward division. Niamh McNelis and Shaw dominated proceedings in the middle of the field against the Dennehy sisters, Breda and Ann-Marie. The eventual winners made their intentions clear in the opening minute when Dorothy McGoldrick opened their account following a quick free from Shaw. Julie-Ann Scanlon doubled the lead two minutes later with Shaw once again instrumental in the build up.

Aileen Donnelly was first off the first off the mark for Dunsany, but the Hill's response was swift with Roisin McNelis raising a white flag. The 1997 champions could have found themselves further behind were it not for a brilliant double save pulled off by Sandra Coleman denying Wendy Fox a certain goal. That save appeared to inspire Dunsany and further points from O'Brien and Ann-Marie Dennehy drew the sides level (0-3 to 0-3). McGoldrick had the last say of the opening 30 minutes, leaving a point in it at the interval. Dunsany resumed smartly and could have levelled on a number of occasions, but uncharacteristically O'Brien failed to make a couple of free's count. Eventually, she rediscovered the scoring touch and restored parity.

It was during that period of the game that Summerhill effectively won the match. Sub Marie-Louise Reilly fired over a massive free before Roisin McNelis stretched the lead to two points ( 0-6 to 0-4 ). The advantage was hammered home when a speculative free from Reilly deceived Colman in the Dunsany goal and fell into the net. McGoldrick hit her third point of the day to rub salt into the Dunsany wounds. The losers did manage to net a goal through Jenny Cusack but it was nothing but a consolation goal, as Summerhill had already put the issue beyond any doubt.

Summerhill: L.Fagan, S.Loughrey, P.McNelis, D.McNally, N.Mahon, R.Ennis, C.Kennedy, D.Shaw, N.McNelis, S.Shaw, D.McGoldrick (0-3), J.A Scanlon (0-1), S.Kerrigan, R.McNelis (0-2), W.Fox. Sub: M.L Reilly (1-1) for Kerrigan.

1998 Ladies Senior Champions

From left, back row; Susan Shaw, Ciara Kennedy, Niamh McNelis, Róisín McNelis, Antoinette Walshe, Derina Shaw, Christine Reilly, Dorothy McGoldrick, Lara Fagan, Wendy Fox, Marie-Louise Reilly, Niamh O'Reilly, Helen Walshe, Aoibhean McGovern. front row; Una Loughrey, Sarah Kerrigan, Patricia McNelis, Denise McNally, Nicola Mahon, Ruth Ennis, Lisa McDonnell, Yvonne Gray, Juliann Scanlon.