Michael Meehan
Encyclopedia
Michael Meehan is an Irish Gaelic Footballer
from Galway
. Meehan plays his club football with Caltra
and county football for the Galway senior team
.
in Tuam
, playing in three consecutive Hogan Cups in 2000, 2001, and 2002. Although they lost the 2000 semi-final to St. Patrick's Navan and the 2001 final to the same opponents they were unstoppable in 2002 to claim their 12th title with a 3–13 to 0–06 victory against St. Michael's Enniskillen. He was an inspirational figure at full-forward, scoring 1–06. Future Galway team-mates, Darren Mullahy, Gary Sice, Damien Dunleavy, Alan Burke and Niall Coleman were also on the team. James Kavanagh a future Kildare senior also played on the side. Michael captained the team in their victorious 2002 campaign.
Michael won a Connacht MFC medal in 2002, and made his first inter-county Championship start in 2003
, the Connacht Senior Football Championship 1sr round clash against Roscommon
. Since then, he has been a key part of the Galway set-up, having been consistently been picked by four different managers, John O'Mahony
, Peter Forde, Liam Sammon
and his current boss, Joe Kernan
. Michael has 3 Connacht medals to his name, coming in 2003, 2005 and 2008.
In 2004, Michael was part of the Caltra team that enjoyed a memorable run to All-Ireland Club Championship glory. After coming through the Galway and Connacht club finals, which first time triumphs for the club, Caltra met An Ghaeltacht of Munster. In a close exciting encounter, Caltra prevailed by one point, 0–13 to 0–12. Michael was named Man Of The Match for his performance, scoring 6 points. His brothers, Declan, Tomás, Enda and Noel, who captained the team, were all starting players on the team.
For several years, Michael was also a part of the Galway Under-21 set up. He was a key part of both of Galway's Under-21 All-Ireland triumphs in 2002 and 2005. He formed a devastating partnership with Seán Armstrong
in 2005 as they scored 6–03 between them in Galways' 6-05 to 4–06 victory over Down
.
So far in the 2008 Championship
, Meehan has scored 0–12. He won his third Connacht senior medal on July 13 as Galway defeated Mayo
by 2–12 to 1–14 in McHale Park
. In their quarter-final clash against Kerry, Michael scored an amazing 10 points and seemed to be carrying the Galway side in the first half against the reigning All-Ireland champions. However, despite leading by 2 points early in the second-half, they could not capitalise on their advantage and Kerry won out in the end by 5 points. Michael finished the 2008 season with 0–22, one point short of his personal best.
Michael Meehan was due to captain the Galway Senior Footballers for the 2010 Championship but sat out due to injury.
and Tomás have won All-Ireland medals for Galway
, in 1998
and 2001
. Tomas retired from inter-county football in 2006. The passion of football in the Meehan family was clearly evident when 5 brothers started on the successful All-Ireland Club Championship Caltra side while eldest brother Seamus was a sub on that day. Michael's sister, Mairead, was a sporting star in her own right. She was a very useful camogie player. A teacher who graduated from DCU, she gained an All-Ireland junior camogie medal with Holy Rosary College. Mairead died in 2007 from osteosarcoma
.
Both Michael and Declan continue to play inter-county football for Galway.
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
from Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
. Meehan plays his club football with Caltra
Caltra GAC
Caltra is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Caltra, County Galway, Republic Of Ireland. The club is a member of the Galway GAA...
and county football for the Galway senior team
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
.
Career
Michael attended the famous St. Jarlath's CollegeSt. Jarlath's College
St. Jarlath's College is a Roman Catholic secondary school for boys in Tuam, County Galway, Ireland. It is an amalgamation of the former St. Jarlath's College and St...
in Tuam
Tuam
Tuam is a town in County Galway, Ireland. The name is pronounced choo-um . It is situated west of the midlands of Ireland, and north of Galway city.-History:...
, playing in three consecutive Hogan Cups in 2000, 2001, and 2002. Although they lost the 2000 semi-final to St. Patrick's Navan and the 2001 final to the same opponents they were unstoppable in 2002 to claim their 12th title with a 3–13 to 0–06 victory against St. Michael's Enniskillen. He was an inspirational figure at full-forward, scoring 1–06. Future Galway team-mates, Darren Mullahy, Gary Sice, Damien Dunleavy, Alan Burke and Niall Coleman were also on the team. James Kavanagh a future Kildare senior also played on the side. Michael captained the team in their victorious 2002 campaign.
Michael won a Connacht MFC medal in 2002, and made his first inter-county Championship start in 2003
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 2003
The 2003 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship was won by Tyrone in a landmark final that was the first All-Ireland final that was contested by two teams from the same province, Tyrone, and Armagh - both from Ulster....
, the Connacht Senior Football Championship 1sr round clash against Roscommon
Roscommon GAA
For more details of Roscommon GAA see Roscommon Senior Club Football Championship or Roscommon Senior Club Hurling Championship.The Roscommon County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Roscommon GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games...
. Since then, he has been a key part of the Galway set-up, having been consistently been picked by four different managers, John O'Mahony
John O'Mahony (Mayo politician)
John O'Mahony is an Irish Fine Gael politician and former football manager. He is currently a Teachta Dála for the Mayo constituency. He was elected at the 2007 general election...
, Peter Forde, Liam Sammon
Liam Sammon
Liam Sammon is retired Irish Gaelic football manager and former player. He played football with his local clubs Father Griffins and Salthill-Knocknacarra and was a member of the Galway senior inter-county team from 1966 until 1979...
and his current boss, Joe Kernan
Joe Kernan (Gaelic footballer)
Joe Kernan is a former sportsperson from County Armagh, Northern Ireland. He played Gaelic football with his local club Crossmaglen Rangers and with the Armagh senior inter-county team in the 1970s and 1980s. He won All-Star awards in 1977 and 1982...
. Michael has 3 Connacht medals to his name, coming in 2003, 2005 and 2008.
In 2004, Michael was part of the Caltra team that enjoyed a memorable run to All-Ireland Club Championship glory. After coming through the Galway and Connacht club finals, which first time triumphs for the club, Caltra met An Ghaeltacht of Munster. In a close exciting encounter, Caltra prevailed by one point, 0–13 to 0–12. Michael was named Man Of The Match for his performance, scoring 6 points. His brothers, Declan, Tomás, Enda and Noel, who captained the team, were all starting players on the team.
For several years, Michael was also a part of the Galway Under-21 set up. He was a key part of both of Galway's Under-21 All-Ireland triumphs in 2002 and 2005. He formed a devastating partnership with Seán Armstrong
Seán Armstrong
Seán Armstrong is an Irish Gaelic Footballer from Galway. Armstrong plays his club football with Salthill-Knocknacarra and county football for the Galway Football Panel since 2005....
in 2005 as they scored 6–03 between them in Galways' 6-05 to 4–06 victory over Down
Down GAA
The Down County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Down GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Down...
.
So far in the 2008 Championship
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 2008
The 2008 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship was that year's Gaelic football championship, having kicked off on May 11 and ended with the All-Ireland Final in Croke Park on September 21...
, Meehan has scored 0–12. He won his third Connacht senior medal on July 13 as Galway defeated Mayo
Mayo GAA
The Mayo County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Mayo GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Mayo and the Mayo inter-county teams.-History:...
by 2–12 to 1–14 in McHale Park
McHale Park
McHale Park is a Gaelic Athletic Association stadium in Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland. It is the home of the Castlebar Mitchels and Mayo Gaelic football teams...
. In their quarter-final clash against Kerry, Michael scored an amazing 10 points and seemed to be carrying the Galway side in the first half against the reigning All-Ireland champions. However, despite leading by 2 points early in the second-half, they could not capitalise on their advantage and Kerry won out in the end by 5 points. Michael finished the 2008 season with 0–22, one point short of his personal best.
Michael Meehan was due to captain the Galway Senior Footballers for the 2010 Championship but sat out due to injury.
Personal life
Michael is the youngest of the Meehan brothers. Both DeclanDeclan Meehan (Gaelic footballer)
Declan Meehan is an Irish Gaelic footballer from County Galway, Ireland. He plays his club football with Caltra and played inter-county football for the Galway from 1996 to 2011. He is was regarded as one of the most talented and skillful half back in the country.-Club:In 2004, Meehan was part of...
and Tomás have won All-Ireland medals for Galway
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
, in 1998
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 1998
The 1998 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship was the 112th edition of the GAA's premier gaelic football competition. It was played from May to September, 1998. Galway's victory marked the first time in 32 years the Sam Maguire Cup returned to the county and the province of Connacht...
and 2001
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 2001
-Munster Senior Football Championship:---------------------Ulster Senior Football Championship:-------------------------------------Leinster Senior Football Championship:----------------------------------------...
. Tomas retired from inter-county football in 2006. The passion of football in the Meehan family was clearly evident when 5 brothers started on the successful All-Ireland Club Championship Caltra side while eldest brother Seamus was a sub on that day. Michael's sister, Mairead, was a sporting star in her own right. She was a very useful camogie player. A teacher who graduated from DCU, she gained an All-Ireland junior camogie medal with Holy Rosary College. Mairead died in 2007 from osteosarcoma
Osteosarcoma
Osteosarcoma is an aggressive cancerous neoplasm arising from primitive transformed cells of mesenchymal origin that exhibit osteoblastic differentiation and produce malignant osteoid...
.
Both Michael and Declan continue to play inter-county football for Galway.