The Early Days
Ratoaths first game of competitive soccer was played against Cliftons (now Jamestown Estate) farm hands in 1962, when a few lads from Brownstown took on Cliftons workmen in a game. The football players did not have any gear whatsoever to tog out in, but both teams enjoyed the kick about. Two weeks later a game was arranged between the boys from Brownstown and the farm hands from Whites in Kilrue. The build up to the game drew a lot of interest from people not directly involved in the game itself, and as the time of the game drew near, allegations about the ability of some of the players from Brownstown to play the game were made by players from another sporting code.
The game was arranged to be played in the G.A.A. field known as the hurley field on the road to Curragha, and when the two teams assembled in the field for the game, the Brownstown lads noticed that the team from Whites farm had not only additional players, not associated with the farm, but players from outside the parish. The lads from Brownstown questioned the inclusion of the additional players and the answer they got did not please them so they decided to withdraw from the game. After some heated argument, it was decided that the game should go ahead. The pitch was in good shape, but a little long for a game of soccer, so it had to be shortened, and this was achieved by placing two piles of coats to represent the goal posts. We also had a problem of a large concentration of cow pads adjacent to the road end goal. The Brownstown team had no official football kit and had to do with an all white gear that included some with white t-shirts, low neck see through string vests, white shirts and one player with no shirt. As the summer sunshine had not yet arrived, his white skin blended nicely with the team colours.
As for their opponents, they had multiple colours in their kit and were better togged out. The boys from Brownstown were a little on the tired side having had a hard night at the carnival in Dunshaughlin on the previous night, so the game plan was a blanket defence and try and get the ball to their teenagers, Tony Darby and Mellor Flood, who formed a two man attack, and try and hit the Whites eleven on the break.
The game had just started when a bout of fist-de- cuffs (a local name for a row) started near the touchline at the road end of the pitch and it soon spread throughout the playing field with scuffles on and off the pitch, and so when tempers finally cooled down, the game got under way. Midway through the first half a tackle on a Brownstown player, Mellor Flood, resulted in the player being unable to continue and a sub was brought on as a replacement. Scoring chances were few and far between and the exchanges between the players continued to be over robust with some very dangerous tackles going in. With only minutes remaining in the first half the deadlock was finally broken when Nicky Sherry found his nephew Tony Darby with a fine through ball, but the striker still had a lot of work to do. With Joe Everard and Sean Plunkett from the Whites eleven bearing down on him, with a change of speed and a little sidestep, plus a little help from the afore mentioned cow pads he was through and fired a low hard shot to the right of goalkeeper Willie Reilly from the Moulden Bridge, to put the boys from Brownstown one up going into the break.
In the second half the Whites eleven stepped up their game to try to get back in to the contest, but try as they might the Brownstown defence stood solid with six foot one inch Tony Morgan in outstanding form, and at the back Brendan Lynch, brothers Ciaran, Kevin and Pat Brady, with great support from Chris and Jimmy Maher formed a solid defence. In midfield John Clince and Nicky Sherry were having the game of their lives with a continuous supply of good quality ball to the front men Joe Mannering and Tony Darby.
As the game reached its conclusion, a fine ball from John Clince found Joe Mannering on the right wing and Joe sent a measured pass to the inrushing striker Tony Darby, who hit the ball with such force from two yards out that it would have surely burst the net, that is of course if the goal had a net.
The game finished Brownstown 2, Whites Eleven 0
The referee on the day was Mun Fortune from Pullwee Street.
The Brownstown Panel: Tony Morgan, Brendan Lynch, Jimmy Maher, Michael Maher, Chris Maher, Kevin Brady, Ciaran Brady, Pat Brady, Nicky Sherry, John Clince, Gerry Keague, Nicholas Kavanagh, Nicholas Keogh, Tommy Mooney, Joe Mannering, Pat Darby, Tony Darby, Mellor Flood, Leonard Brennan, Leo Corrigan, Ken Brennan.
Brownstown Boys 1962
Back L to R: Kevin Brady, Gerry Keague, Brendan Lynch, Ciaran Brady, Leonard Brennan
Front: Joe Mannering, Nicholas Keogh, Chris Maher, Leo Corrigan, Ken Brennan.
Back L to R: Nicholas Keogh, Frank Brady (with Hat), John Clince, Tony Morgan, Michael Maher and Ciaran Brady.
Middle: Kevin Brady, Anthony Corrigan and Jack Gaffney.
Front: Joe Mannering, Pat Darby, Gerry Keague, Ken Brennan, Dan Corrigan.
Local challenge games were organised on a sporadic basis. The ban was in force, it was to remain for almost another decade, and knowledge of the game of soccer was fairly limited.
The onset of television and Match of the Day coupled with the tremendous exposure arising from Englands staging, and ultimate victory in the 1966 World Cup, created a new and previously unprecedented interest in the game. Following a meeting in Johnny Gogan Bar (now Ratoath Inn) which was attended by Mellor Floor, Benny Browne (former Referee of the Year in the Meath & District League), Tony Morgan, Roddy O Neill and Sonny Martin, it was decided to enter a five-a-side indoor tournament in Navan. Beechmount Ballroom was the entertainment Mecca of the county and hosted the tournament, which catered for both men and women. The top prizes were transistor radios, which were all the rage at the time.
BENNY BROWNE (ABOVE LEFT) A FOUNDER MEMBER OF RATOATH HARPS DISCUSSES
OLD TIMES WITH ANOTHER LONG TIME MEMBER DARAGH O NEILL
Ratoath made the final under the name of Chelsea Greyhounds. However, they were out of luck in the decider and did not manage to get tuned in and had to settle for second place. The Chelsea Greyhounds Team included Fiacre O Neill (RIP), Paddy O Neill (RIP), Ollie Reilly (RIP), Mellor Floor, Joey Walls, P.J. (Paddy) Reilly, who won a minor All-Ireland (GAA) title with Meath in 1957, and Mickey (Spider) Eiffe.
Ratoath F.C. was formed and the following committee were charged with the task of nurturing the club, Christy (Sonny) Martin, Patrick (Pakin) Brady, Anthony Morgan (RIP) Benny Browne Mellor Flood and Roddy O Neill. Honorary members were John Bruen (RIP), Johnny Gogan (RIP) and Eamonn White (RIP), three men who supplied pitches, to whom Ratoath Harps will be forever indebted.
Ratoath Harps Managers from the early years L-R Sonny Martin, Patrick (Packen) Brady, Kevin Brady, Roddy O Neill
Sonny Martin remembers; We formed a soccer team to cater for the lads who were not good enough to get a game of gaelic football. We had a huge amount of players who were not going to make top class GAA players and they wanted to play some sort of game. Sonny continued;our original idea was to give the lads a game of soccer and perhaps some of them would graduate onto the football (GAA) team. However, the continuity of games, weekly, fanned the spark that the five-a-side tournament ignited and the first string in the harp was firmly in place.
Making Progress
ENGLAND TOUR 1972
Back: Jimmy Colfer, Ivan Elvin, Pat Kavanagh, Joe Lynch, Ray Brennan, Owen Sullivan, Stephen Pryle.
Front: Christy Doran, Tom Wheeler, Joey Healy, Mellor Flood, Paddy Reilly, Pat Cantwell.
The club’s early ambitions reflected a pedigree which would carry them through some lean spells. That ambition was clearly evident when they embarked on a brief tour of the U.K. in April 1972, scarcely 5 years old.
Stephen Pryle from Skyrne, a brother of David Pryle, who less than a decade later would be involved with the inaugural mid Meath league, was one of many Irishmen working in London for a firm called J and E Hall. Stephen made contact with the fledgling Irish soccer club and the idea of a mini tour across the Irish Sea was born. Following brief discussions the idea took off and 25 enthusiasts coughed up the £10 fare.
The intrepid travellers set off from Dun Laoghaire en-route to Holyhead and the train to London. Roddy O Neill offered £5 to anyone who scored a hat trick and Mellor Flood almost won it in the second game against J and E Hall. The schedule was quite hectic with the squad departing on Friday and returning on Monday. In between they played three games the statistics of which are:
| Date | Venue | Details | Ratoath Scorers | ||
| 1/4/72 | Bexley | Dartford Heath | 4v1 | Ratoath | Kit Doran |
| 2/4/72 | Dartford | J&E Hall | 1v4 | Ratoath | Mellor Flood (2), Ivan Elvin, Joe Healy |
| 3/4/72 | Dartford | Inter FIC | 1v1 | Ratoath | Owen Sullivan |
| Date | Venue | Details | Ratoath Scorers | ||
| 1/4/72 | Bexley | Dartford Heath | 4v1 | Ratoath | Kit Doran |
| 2/4/72 | Dartford | J&E Hall | 1v4 | Ratoath | Mellor Flood (2), Ivan Elvin, Joe Healy |
| 3/4/72 | Dartford | Inter FIC | 1v1 | Ratoath | Owen Sullivan |
The squad on tour included Roddy O Neill,Joe Healy Senior, Kit Doran, Joe Healy Junior, Jimmy Colfer, Owen Sullivan, Tom Ford, Jim Gorman, Martin Walls, Mellor Flood, Ivan Elvin, Stephen Pyrle, Joe Lynch, Pat OSullivan, Gabriel O Sullivan, Dan O Sullivan, Frank Walls, Charlie Daly, Pat Cantwell, Patsy Kavanagh, Tom Wheeler, Paddy Reilly, Gerry Monaghan, Dermot Foley, Declan Brennan and Ray Brennan.
1960s pop star Marianne Faithful attended one of the games while the squad also took the opportunity to socialise and made the most of the short time they had in London.
St. Patricks Day 1978
Back L-R: Noel Conway, Michael Brady, Paddy Kenny, Terry Brady, Brian Conway, Mark Flood, Martin Dolan.
Front: Christy Doran, Daragh O Neill, Mellor Flood, Des Brady, Paddy Monaghan.
An Ambitious Move
During Johnny Flanagans reign as Chairman, Ratoath Harps successfully applied to the Leinster Senior League and became one of a handful of Meath clubs which have, or still do, play intermediate football, which is a grade below senior (League of Ireland) football, The club spent two seasons (1982/83 and 83/84) at intermediate level. While success on the field eluded them they learned a tremendous amount about what was required to run a successful club and the experience gained was invaluable. Johnny takes up the story: Robbie Cooke had moved into the area and was a very experienced player at League of Ireland level. The enthusiasm which existed, coupled with Robbies experience, prompted us to make the move.
Robbie adopted the player-manager role while Johnny was the assistant. The first game was on 22nd August 1982 when Mellor Flood scored as the Harps went down (1-2) to Cherrywood Athletic. The squad on duty that day was: Niall Fitzgerald, Kieran Gaughan, Mick Walls, Paul Meyers, Dessie Brady, Michael Regan, Tommy Ennis, David Brennan, Mellor Floor, Daragh O Neill, Noel Carey and David Gorman.
The following month (1/2/82) TEK United were beaten with goals by Robbie Cooke and Noel Carey while in October the club played in the FAI cup, but were beaten by three goals in Dalkey. Paul McGrath was not eligible to play for Dalkey as he had signed for St. Patricks Athletic and would later sign for Manchester United.
Parkvilla were regular opponents and during the first season, the two Meath clubs played out two draws (2-2 and 3-3) with Mark Flood (two), Robbie Cooke, Daragh O Neill, Owen Power scoring. The following season only one victory was recorded.
The club did well against TEK United. However, by the end of the season, a change was needed and the club decided to move again, this time to the rapidly expanding Meath and District League.
Some of the notable clubs Ratoath would have played against were: Ashtown United (Now Ashtown Villa) St. Patricks, Bray and Bray Wanderers).
Leinster Senior League Team 1982
Back L to R: M. Butterly, Anthony Gaughan, Kevin Kelly, Mark Flood, Niall Fitzgerald,David Gorman,Robbie Cooke, Paul Myers, Christopher Brady, Johnny Flanagan.
Front: Tommy Ennis, Daragh O Neill. Mellor Flood, Kieran Gaughan, Noel Carey
Meath & District League
The clubs first season in the Meath and District League (1984/85) failed to yield any trophies, but brought some memorable games in the form of local derby clashes against Dunshaughlin, Skyrne Rangers, Castle Celtic and Kenstown Rovers. Ratoath finished fifth behind champions Spiders from Navan. The Navan side went through the campaign unbeaten in what was the first of the most competitive second division title races in the short history of the league. Ratoath Harps, in conjunction with the Meath and District League embarked upon a joint fund raising venture with an agreement that the MDL would continue with the weekly forecast cards from the end of the 1984/85 season.
LEAGUE WINNERS 1986
Back L to R: Terry Brady, Martin Everard, Paul Elliott, Dermot Rooney, Paul Everard, Mervyn Ennis, Mark Flood, Packie Dowdall, Declan Brennan,
Front: Frank Reilly, Alan Donnelly, Martin Reilly, Noel Carey, Brian Conway, Tony Hartnett, David Gorman,
Such was the success of the venture that Ratoath completed major development work at Ratoath Park while the MDL fund raising saw them purchase 25 acres of land (currently being developed) outside Navan in 1988. Ratoath had started the weekly forecast cards a couple of seasons earlier following discussions between Declan Brennan and Mark Flood. Ratoath continued to raise substantial amounts through the cards for a couple of seasons. The second division title ended in Ratoath in the 1985/86 season with four points to spare ahead of Dunboyne who were in their first season in the MDL (with two teams) after moving from the AUL.
Brian Conways hat trick was the highlight of the clinching game against Newtown United and the League assistant secretary Conall Collier presented the cup in Newtown Club following the match. The cub has enjoyed reasonable success in the meantime with glory achieved in the inaugural reserve cup against Oldcastle (87/88) while the first team finished second in Div.1 in 1988/89 and runner-up in the Reilly Cup a season later.
Cup winners 1988
Back L to R: Paul Donnelly, Martin Mooney, Alan McGrath, Mark Folan, Christopher Brady, Brian McCann, Gary Donnelly.
Front: Brian Conway,Daragh O Neill(Captain),Alan (Pa) Donnelly, Noel Conway, Cecil Brennan, Patsy Kelly, (Children Cormac O Neill and Matt Conway)
Ratoath Harps
1987/88
Back Row L-R: Paddy Monaghan, (Assistant Manager) Mick Davis, Ger Cooke, Val Cassidy, Mark Flood, Jim Rattigan, Paul Everard, Dermot Gorman, Domo Close (Manager)
Front Row L-R: Stan Gibney, Paul Elliott, Brian Conway, Mervin Ennis, Alan Donnelly, Noel Carey, Cecil Brennan.
1988 feast of football to celebrate twenty years of soccer
In 1988 Ratoath Harps invited players from the early days to revisit the past with an exhibition match.
The veterans are pictured below
Back L to R: Ray King, Ray Brennan, Ivan Elvin, Shane White, Sam Conroy, Joe Lynch, Owen Sullivan.
Front: Tony Darby,Mellor Flood, Paddy Reilly, Jimmy Colfer, Tom Cantwell, Christy Doran.
Back L to R: Mick Folan, Chris Maher, Christo Ennis, Anthony Reilly, Daragh O Neill, Nick Somers, Mick Walls.
Front: Benny Browne, Aidan Browne, Tony O Toole, Frank Reilly, Mick Donnelly, Padraig Gaughan, Eddie Nulty, Mick O Toole.
Children Paddy O Neill, Keith Walls and Siobhan O Neill.
RATOATH HARPS 1991
Back L to R: Cecil Brennan, Mick Flood, Mark Flood (with daughter Lorna), Tommy Reilly, Declan Brennan, Pat Naughton,
Michael Davis,Mellor Flood, Christopher Brady, Mick Donnelly, Philip Foster, Martin Mannering, Johnny Flanagan, Ken Donnelly.
Front: Barry Walsh, Dermot Gorman, Ger Cooke, David Gorman, John McCormack, Paul Murphy, Ivor Reilly
However, the most satisfying successful win was in the Fiacra O Neill Memorial Shield (91/92) when Westmeath side Ennel Court United were beaten in Ratoath. The club sponsored the Shield to commemorate Fiacra O Neill one of the founder members. Goals from Cecil Brennan and Noel Conway secured the trophy while Daragh O Neill came on as a substitute and almost scored a third goal. In an emotional presentation Daragh, who captained the side, referred to his late brother Fiacra. Brian Conway also served on the MDL committee for a number of seasons and was in the selection of the Oscar Traynor Trophy team.
The league regularly staged finals in Ratoath.
FIACRA O NEILL SHIELD WINNERS 1992
Back L to R: Bobby Walls (Manager) Mark Flood, Noel Conway, Cecil Brennan, John Looney, Daragh O Neill, Alan (Pa) Donnelly, Ger Cooke,Johnny Flanagan (Manager) Mellor Flood.
Front: Barry Walsh, Ken Gill, Vincent Moore, Karl Brennan, David Gorman, Dermot Gorman.
Fiacra O Neill Shield won by Ratoath Harps 1991/9
L-R: Benny Browne (Ref of the Year 1993) Johnny Flanagan (Manager) Daragh O Neill (Capt) Mark Flood Chairman Ratoath Harps
Schoolboy football was also catered for with five teams in action in the north eastern counties schoolboys league. Indeed, in 1991, the schoolboys league played a u-17 friendly against Queens Park Rangers in Ratoath, while for the opening of the park in 1986, Derry City visited. Ratoath were now firmly established as one of the leading clubs in the Meath and District League.
Northern Visitors Derry City
The biggest day in the clubs history was undoubtedly Sunday 20th July 1986. That was the occasion of the League of Ireland newcomers and former Irish League side Derry City visit to Ratoath Park. The Burmah-Castrol challenge between Ratoath Harps and Derry City drew a large crowd to the ground with the grandstand, which was built for the game, packed. The driving forces behind the ambitious plan for the official opening of the grounds were Brian Conway and Christopher (Johnny) Brady. Guest players strengthened the Ratoath team which was managed by Turlough O Connor and included Martin Rogers (Parkvilla) and John Swift (Shamrock Rovers) a son of a well known Meath and District Referee.
Derry City were heralded as the saviours of the League of Ireland football and had just competed a first season in senior competition. Noel King was the manager, but Derrys board had brought in Jim Mc Laughlin as general manager and his first duties with the club coincided with the visit to Ratoath. Brian Conway and Johnny Brady pulled off a remarkable coup by staging the match and Derry City attracted a good-size crowd to the venue. Former Meath Chronicle reporter Cathal Dervan, who is now sports editor for The Title newspaper, aided the club by promoting the game and producing an impressive programme.
Overall, the game was a huge success and gave Ratoath Harps a high local profile. For that game the facilities with the GAA were used, but a subsequent divergence of views, left Ratoath Harps out in the cold and without the use of changing facilities. With the benefit of hindsight, that episode was a blessing in disguise. The club reacted positively, installed temporary facilities and embarked upon an ambitious building plan, which produced a fine clubhouse and further enhanced the image of this progressive club.
RATOATH HARPS SELECTION v DERRY CITY
Back: Ronnie Murphy(Bohs) Aidan Gorman(OMP) Mervyn Ennis(Ratoath Harps) Robbie Cooke(Ratoath Harps) Dessie Quinlan(Drogheda) John Byrne(Bohs) Jim Grace(St. Pats) Turlough O Connor(Bohs) John Swift(Shamrock Rovers)
Front: Clem McAuley(Trim Celtic), Paul Elliott(Ratoath Harps) Martin Rodgers(Parkvilla) Gino Lawless(Bohs) Alan O Reilly(St. Pats) Tom Duff(Athlone Town)
Out of Time
Tom (Cub) Walsh from Straffan, a leading GAA Kildare inter-county footballer, played with Ratoath Harps, but for his efforts, he was dropped from the Kildare panel because he played soccer. The Clubs first competitive win was achieved wearing Ratoath GAA jerseys. They were left without gear following a serious fire, which gutted Sonny Martins (manager) house, on Friday, 31st January 1969. However, the GAA Club rescued the soccer team.
The Harps and the Rovers
In 1972, a second team was formed in Ratoath called Ratoath Rovers, who played in the North County Dublin League. As is usual in small communities a strong rivalry existed between both teams. When Ratoath Harps joined the North County Dublin League a few years later, many intense local derbies were played. In later years, in order to strengthen soccer in Ratoath, the two clubs combined and called themselves Ratoath Community, which reverted back to Ratoath Harps later.
The main person behind the Rovers was Willie Reilly (RIP) (Chairman) ably assisted by his committee- Frank (Plum) Reilly,
Ratoath Ladies Soccer
Throughout the years there has been very strong support from the ladies involved with the club. At various stages there has been very successful ladies soccer teams in Ratoath through the efforts of Jimmy Reilly (early years), Alan (Pa) Donnelly, John Looney and Mervyn Ennis. This gives Ratoath Harps an extra dimension as a social club as well as a soccer club.
JIMMY REILLY AND GERRY MONAGHAN
One of the great all-rounders, involved in Ratoath Harps through the years, has been Jimmy Reilly. After an active career in GAA circles, he turned his attention to soccer and was involved with under age, adult and ladies soccer throughout the years. This talented man has also trained winners of donkey derbies, greyhound classics as well as winning soccer teams.
Below is a copy af a letter written by Eamonn O Sullivan (in photo below) who played for Ratoath Harps for a couple of years while living in Ratoath. The Jimmy he refers to is of course the above mentioned Jimmy Reilly.
Back L to R: Mellor Flood, Ciaran Tobin, Gary Donnelly, Declan Reilly, Mark Flood, Rob Keane, Niall McGoldrick, Jimmy Colfer, Jimmy Reilly.
Front: Steven Rafferty, Brian White, Eamonn O Sullivan, Alan Donnelly, Martin Gillett, Keith O Neill, Shane O Neill.
Schoolboy Football
Schoolboy Football began in Ratoath in 1972 when Len Tiernan, Lee Valley, started an under 13 team under the name of Ratoath Hibernians. The team played in the Dublin and District schoolboy league. At that time Ratoath was looked upon as being very far out in the country, so all our home games were played in the Phoenix Park.. The first league game was away to Lucan Celtic where we were taught a footballing lesson and beaten 7-1. However, one week later, we recorded full points against Kilbarrack, 3-2 with goals from Paddy Monaghan, Brian Conway and a late winner from Anthony Gaughan.
Unfortunately, Len had to move to England at the beginning of our second season, due to work commitments. The team had gained great experience in the two years, but, with no guidance, the team fell apart. Dessie Brady and Brian Dolan, although young at the time, at 15 years old, gave great help and assistance to Len Tiernan in running the team. There was no schoolboy team in Ratoath again until 1983 when Anthony Gaughan took up the task. With help from Paddy Monahan and John Flanagan, the team was again entered in the Dublin and District league under the name of Ratoath Harps, with some success. With the help of Frank Dwyer, Bob Duff and Brian Conway, teams were entered in different leagues including the Drogheda schoolboys summer league the Meath schoolboys League for the following few seasons. In 1989, for the first time, parents and non-players started to become involved.
In 1989 a group of Ratoath parents got together and formed a schoolboys section to cater for the youth of the area. A Committee was established consisting of Mick Tallant (Chairman), Pat Geoghegan (Secretary), Tommy Sheridan, John Hendrick and Nick Killian. Two teams were entered in the Drogheda Independent Summer League at under nine and under eleven level. Within two years nine Ratoath Harps players were included on the Meath representative panel for the Kennedy Cup, one of Irelands top schoolboy competitions. This squad was managed by the late Jim Cashin and acquitted themselves well at U.C.D. that year.
Jim Cashin took over as Chairman in 1990 and maintained that position until his death in 1998. Jim was and still is a big loss to the club. Tommy Sheridan took over as Chairman until 2000, when the schoolboy and adult clubs amalgamated. It is with the help of the above, their committees and the parents who were willing to help, that the schoolboys section has progressed from strength to strength since 1989 when it consisted of just two teams to the present day where we can boast 29 schoolboy teams.
Mick Tallant and Liam Creagh with the Under 12 Cup finalist in 1992-93
Back L-R: Mick Tallant (Manager) Oisin O Donovan, Colm Rooney, Conor Killian, Gavin Donnelly, Richard Donnelly, Gareth Lynch, Bobby Lake,Liam Creagh, (Assistant Manager)
Front: Row L-R Sean Killian, Barry O Shea, Jonathon Drake, Dave Tallant, Noel O Malley, Willy Creagh.
Jim Cashin and Martin Meaney with the Under 14 team that won the Cup in 1992-93
Back L-R Jim Cashin (Manager) Conor O Donovan, Leonard Brown, Preston Sheridan,
Conor O Donoghue, Shane McCann, Martin Meaney (Assistant Manager)
Front Row L-R John Moore, David Sullivan, Cormac Meaney, Diarmuid Byrne, Ian Cashin, Alan Rafferty,
Brian Duffy, Tony Farrelly and Jonathan O Brien.
Drogheda Independent Summer League
| Year | Grade | Achievement | Manager |
| 1989-90 | Under 9 | Cup Finalists | Tommy Sheridan |
| 1990-91 | Under 10 | Cup Winners | Tommy Sheridan |
| 1991-92 | Under 11 | Cup Finalists | Tommy Sheridan |
| Meath and District Schoolboy League | |||
| 1990-91 | Under 10 | League Runners Up | Tommy Sheridan |
| Under 10 | Cup Finalists | Tommy Sheridan | |
| Under 12 | League Runners Up | Jim Cashin RIP | |
| Under 12 | Cup Winners | Jim Cashin RIP | |
| Under 10 | Shield Winners | John Hendrick | |
| Under 11 | Shield Finalists | Mick Tallant | |
| 1992-93 | Under 10 | League Champions | John Hendrick |
| Under 12 | Cup Finalists | Mick Tallant | |
| Under 14 | League Champions | Jim Cashin RIP | |
| Under 14 | Cup Winners | Jim Cashin RIP | |
| Under 14 | Senior Cup Winners | Jim Cashin RIP | |
| North Eastern Counties | |||
| 1995-96 | Under 12 | Senior Cup Winners | Tommy Sheridan |
| 1995-96 | Under 18 | League Cup Finalists | Noel Farrelly |
| 1997-98 | Under 18 | League Cup Winners | Mick Tallant |
| Under 18 | Shield Finalists | Mick Tallant | |
| North Dublin Schoolboy League | |||
| 1995-96 | Under 13 | League Champions | John Hendrick |
| 1997-98 | Under 8 | League Champions | Mark Flood |
| Under 14 | League Champions | Jim Flinter | |
| 1998-99 | Under 8 | League Runners Up | Pat Naughton |
Senior Club
| Year | Achievement | Manager |
| 1976 | North Dublin Co. Shield Winners | Willie Reilly |
| 1981-82 | Leinster Junior League Runners Up | Shay Murphy |
| 1982 | Meath Chronicle Cup Winners | Shay Murphy |
| 1983 | Meath Chronicle Cup Winners | Robbie Cooke amp Jim Colfer |
| Meath amp District League Senior (Division 1 from 1990) | ||
| 1985-86 | MDL Division Two Champions (Only League Title) | Declan Brennan / Jimmy Colfer |
| 1987-88 | MDL Cup Winners | Tommy Reilly / Brian Mc Cann |
| 1989-90 | Reilly Cup Runners Up | John Flannagan and Bobby Walls |
| 1991-92 | Fiachra OrsquoNeill Shield Winners | John Flannagan and Bobby Walls |
| 1997-98 | MDL Premier Reserve Champions | Mark Flood and Donal Coyne |
| 1997-98 | MDL Premier Reserve Winners | Mark Flood and Donal Coyne |
| 1997-98 | Fiachra OrsquoNeill Shield Winners | Mark Flood and Donal Coyne |
| 1998-99 | MDL Excel Print Cup Winners | Martin Gillett amp Frank Bohan |
| 1999-2000 | MDL Division 1 Runners Up | Noel Farrelly |
| 2006-2007 | L.S.L. Major 1 Champions | Gay Goucher amp Vinny Macken |
| 2006-2007 | Polikoff Cup Runners Up | Gay Goucher amp Vinny Macken |
Note: In 1990 Division 1 became Premier and Division 2 became Division 1
Leinster Senior League 2003
Back L to R: Luke Robinson, Matt Conway, Derek Boyle, Paddy Cummins, Ciaran Rothwell.
Front: Willie Creagh, Paul Hendrick, Luke McMahon, Alan Farrelly, Steven Creagh, Jason Smith.
Ratoath Harps 2003
Back Row L-R: Willie Creagh, Blaine McAuley, Rob Flinter, Luke Robinson,Ritchie Lombard, Dave O Neill, Neil Cummins, Orin Harney, Killian O Callaghan, Mick Tallant
Front Row L-R: Barry Breen, Steven Fox, Dave Tallant, Maurice Reid,Niall O Shea, Matt Conway, Philip Tallant, Steve Creagh
Ratoath Harps continued in the M.D.L. until season 2000-2001 when it was decided to move back to the L.S.L. in an effort to attract new players who were moving into the locality. Ratoath initially struggled in this new environment, despite the best efforts of several coaches, as the necessary influx of players did not materialise. As season 2005 – 2006 approached adult football was at its lowest ebb for many years but a chance meeting between committee member Mark Flood and current first team manager Gay Goucher started a change for the better. Gay and his right hand man Vinny Macken introduced some new players, and higher standards, to the set up and immediate improvements were noticed. Good runs in Cup competitions and a battle for promotion ensued, but unfortunately there was no silverware at the end of their first season. Season 2006-2007 started with high hopes and initial performances augured well. Good runs in the Leinster and F.A.I. Junior Cups were topped with a Polikoff Cup final appearance, which unfortunately resulted in a defeat by St. Pats.
The Harps got over this defeat in the best possible way by winning the L.S.L. Major 1 title and bringing long awaited silverware to the trophy cabinet. Darren and Michael Gilchrist took over the second team in the Saturday L.S.L. Premier 2 division and had a great season, just missing promotion. Well done to all concerned.
LEINSTER SENIOR LEAGUE 2005/2006
Back: Colm Currie , Matt Conway, Derek Kavanagh, Barry Maguire,
Gary Duff (Player of the Year), Gareth Wilson, Brendan Arthur, Robbie Kelly, Danny Lonergan, Gay Goucher.
Front: Brian Conway, Keith Byrne, David Hempenstall, Jordan Lancaster (Top scorer), Marcus Cowzer,
Damien Lynch, Graham Kavanagh, Vinny Macken.
L.S.L. MAJOR 1 LEAGUE WINNERS 2006/2007
Back L to R: Colm Currie, Ciaran Rothwell, Robbie Burke, Danny Lonergan,
Damien O Neill, Derek Kavanagh, Gary Duff, Robbie Kelly, Joey Burke.
Front: Vincent Macken, Dave Geraghty, Ritchie O Brien, Jordan Lancaster,
Gareth Wilson(Captain) Marcus Cowzer, Graham Kavanagh, Matt Conway.
Brid and Brian Conway, Vinny Macken, Daragh and Veronica O Neill and Kathleen Colfer with the Cup
Hall of Fame
The Ratoath Harps Hall of Fame
The Hall of Fame was established in 2003 to honour individuals who have given long and distinguished service to Ratoath Harps F.C. over the years. This exclusive and elite group of people exemplify the commitment and determination which has built the Club to its current success.
The Club also recognises exceptional service by conferring Honorary Membership.
The members of the Hall of Fame, by date of induction, are:
Eamon White (2003)
Jimmy Reilly (2003)
Christopher (Sonny) Martin (2004)
Roddy O’Neill (2004)
Benny Brown (2006)
Eamon (Mellor) Flood (2006)
Honorary Members:
Noel Martin, Honorary Club President (2006)
Noel Conway, Honorary Club Vice President (2006)
Des Brady, Honorary Club Vice President (2006)
Daragh O’Neill, Honorary Club Vice President (2018)