The Larry Kearns Cup was donated by Slane GFC to Meath County Board in 2006

following a special game between Meath and Monaghan at Toddy Harding Park

on the May Bank Holiday Monday to honour one of Slane's greatest ever

clubmen.

The county board subsequently allocated the cup to the Junior B Football

Championship in the county, and it was won for the first time that year by

St Brigid's.

This is a fitting tribute to a man whose significance and importance in the

GAA extended way beyond Slane GFC. The amount of work and energy Larry

Kearns gave to the club and county was phenomenal. He was a central figure

in the club’s development for many years, both on and off the pitch, working

with underage and adult teams alike.

One of his great qualities was to transcend the age gap. It always amazed

me, be it in the dressing room, or the pub after the game, or anywhere

really, how people 30 years younger got on as well with him as people who

would have been his own age, said Slane GFC chairman Wayne Harding at the

launch of the Larry Kearns Memorial Cup.

Larry’s own playing career spanned many decades and included a senior

championship success with Seneschalstown and an intermediate (1968) and

junior (1983) championship medal with Slane. The highlight of his playing

career was his involvement with the Meath senior team in 1966 which won the

Leinster championship and went on to reach the All-Ireland final of that

year.

Larry’s family have always been immersed in the club and his son Declan is

carrying on a fine tradition.

I and all members of our club miss Larry but this is an honour for us to be

part of this match and part of the introduction of the Larry Kearns Memorial

Cup into Meath football, added Wayne Harding.