There were plenty of Laois connections on the field in Navan at the weekend as Dunboyne were crowned Meath Minor ‘A’ football champions.
The game produced serious drama as Dunboyne, despite leading 2-6 to 1-2 at half time, saw their lead reeled in.
St Colmcilles forced extra time but in the end Dunboyne prevailed by 2-13 to 2-12.
The side are managed by John Delaney – who lined out at midfield for The Rock in their 1998 SFC final defeat to Stradbally.
His son Sean was on the team and lined out at corner forward where he was the youngest member at just 14-years old.
The captain is Cian Duggan – younger brother of Meath Ladies star Emma Duggan – and he was wing forward.
Cian is the yongest son of former Portlaoise player Liam Duggan. The Duggan name in Portlaoise has long been associated with the Town’s GAA teams with Liam, Cyril and the late John all lining out with the club over the years.
Liam had a very decorated career himself, winning a number of senior football championship medals with Portlaoise in the 1980s and 1990s, including as captain in 1991.
He later moved to live in Meath and linked up with the local St Peter’s Dunboyne club whom he helped to win a Meath senior football title in 1998.
Liam, his wife Marie (a Dublin woman) and their four children – Erica, Ronan, Emma and Cian – live in Dunboyne close to the Meath-Dublin border.
And the Laois connections to this team don’t end here as twins Josh and Cillian Felle are grandsons of former Laois great Mick Fennell.
Cillian played in goals while Josh was stationed at wing forward for the game.
Their grandad Mick, from Graiguecullen, represented Laois through the 1960s and 1970s – and was on the last Graigue team to win the SFC back in 1965.
He attends off of the games involving his grandsons and was proud to witness them win on Sunday.
Well done to all!
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