Ratoath’s rise and rise from sleepy village to senior champions

When Meath lined up against Down in the 1991 All-Ireland football final, no player from the Ratoath, Dunshaughlin, or Ashbourne clubs in the south-east of the county was involved. From nearby Dunboyne, another village pressed hard against the Dublin border, only Brendan Reilly made the grade.

Back then, clubs from Navan, or even further north like Kilmainhamwood (Brian Stafford), Gaeil Colmcille (Terry Ferguson) and Carnaross (PJ Gillick) typically provided the senior team with talent.