MEATH FINAL SUCCESS IS A BONUS FOR NEW DAD ADAM

FROM Holles Street Maternity Hospital to celebrating with their two-week-old baby in the Keegan Cup, it's been a hectic fortnight for the Flanagan family.

- BY KARL O'KANE

New dad and former Meath midfielder Adam Flanagan starred last Sunday, as Summerhill landed a second Meath Senior Championship title in three seasons at Pairc Tailteann against Ratoath.

A fortnight earlier Flanagan (31) missed the crunch semifinal against holders Dunshaughlin.

His daughter Isla was born an hour before the game, and with nappies to change, sleep to grab and a county final to prepare for, it's been a busy time.

With his former Summerhill manager, Conor Gillespie, now a Meath coach under Robbie Brennan, the opportunity to go in with the county has arisen again, but he's decided against it.

The new rules and the focus on winning or breaking kickouts suits Flanagan.

"I had the chance the last couple of years but it's just I'm at a stage in my life, and particularly now with my daughter, where it's just a young man's game," said Flanagan.

"By young I mean early 20s, mid-20s. I did my time. I didn't overly enjoy my time if I'm being honest. A lot of that was down to you'd be starting one week, or you'd come on, and then you wouldn't see the pitch maybe the next week. I wasn't playing regularly.