Mearnóg’s Double-Winning Minors Gather Again

Posted July 26, 2017

Adaptation of Niall Scully’s article in the Evening Herald on his recent visit to the Club.

The Naomh Mearnóg side that won the Dublin Minor A Football and Minor Division One League Titles in 1997, managed by Mick Colreavy, Declan McConnell and Noel McKenna.

The sun was splitting the sliotars in Portmarnock. The grounds looked a picture, majestic splendour. Paddy Gorey was busy … Summer Camp time. The place was teeming with happy children embracing the black and amber.

Paddy is from Kilkenny stock. His Da was a good one. Mick Colreavy recalled other times when the brilliant minor football team were climbing the juvenile ranks on their way to the 1997 double. “Back then, we operated out of a container at Carrickhill. We had no showers. Nothing! It was so different to what we have today.”

Inside the clubhouse, Tony Larkin and Jim Carroll were having a cup of tea. Above them were striking pictures of Shane Ryan and Cliodhna O’Connor. The kids came in and looked up in awe. Maybe someday they will wear the blue, just like the genial Twomey sisters, Miriam and Laura. “We are optimistic about the future”, says Tony Owens. “There are terrific numbers in the Academy and in the Summer Camps. Saturday mornings here are a sight to behold.”

Mearnóg is on the rise, producing fine teams and fine people. If they grow up to be like Paddy McConnell, the noble Portmarnock folk will be more than happy.