There are few families more decorated in Seneschalstown than the Finnegan family who hold the honour of having a member of each Keegan Cup winning team which the club have produced. Tommy was a key member of the victorious 1972 team, Alan was at centre half forward in 1994 while Stephen has medals from 2007 and 2009.
Alan also experienced success on the playing fields with Meath, winning a Leinster Minor Championship in 1993 and a Leinster U21 Championship in 1996.
In more recent times Alan has served on the club executive and coaches the next generation of club stars on Saturday mornings while he has sponsored jerseys through his business A&S Finnegan Group Services.
In 2008 the following article on Alan was published in the Meath GAA Yearbook published by the Lynn Group:
Former Seneschalstown star Alan Finnegan called time on his playing days three years ago and he looks back on his eventful career with both club and county for this year’s edition of the Royal County GAA Yearbook.
In 2007, Seneschalstown lifted the Keegan Cup for only the third time in their history, despite being a renowned senior team for many years, but Alan had already hung up his boots at this stage. However, the now 33-year-old was fortunate enough to be part of the side that won the title in 1994 when the Yellow Furze outfit defeated near neighbours and old rivals Skyrne in the decider to gain revenge for defeat in the final by the Tara men, two years earlier.
It was a busy time for Alan as in between the two county finals, he helped Meath to the Leinster minor football title in a side that included future county stars Hank Traynor, Paddy Reynolds, Darren Fay, Trevor Giles, Ollie Murphy and Barry Callaghan.
Coming from a family steeped in a football tradition, Alan was always destined to don the blue and yellow jersey and his talents were spotted at an early age, which led to his inclusion in the county minor squad of 1993. His father Tommy was likewise an underage star for both club and county and lined out at right full back when the men from the Furze made their initial breakthrough in 1972 beating O’Mahonys after a replay. Tommy was a Meath junior selector in 2008.
“We beat Wicklow in the Leinster final of that year and Meath were producing very strong minor teams around that time and I suppose we were expected to do well also,” said Alan.
Following the win over the Garden County in the provincial decider, Meath went on and qualified for the All-Ireland final where they would meet old rivals Cork.
“Meath were the defending champions having won the All-Ireland in ’92 and there was a big onus on us to win the title again. To play in an All-Ireland final is every players’ dream and I was no different in that respect. It was just a pity that Cork proved too strong for us that day. Losing proved to be bitterly disappointing.
“I had lost the championship final with Seneschalstown the year before when Skyrne beat us and although we won the Leinster title, losing the All-Ireland was heartbreaking.”
However, Alan bounced back in 1994 and helped his club to just their second ever title and admits that went some way to making up for the pain of losing an All-Ireland final.
“To win a championship with your club is very special. These are lads that you have grown up with and there is that extra unity between the players that you may not find at county level.”
Alan’s performances helped the county champions to a decent Leinster club run and wins over Kildare side Sarsfields and Laois champions St Joseph’s after a replay set up a Leinster final appearance against Dublin kingpins Kilmacud Crokes, but this was a step too far for the Meath side as Crokes under future Dublin manager Tommy Lyons ran out winners and indeed went on to win the All-Ireland club title.
“We played some excellent football during that campaign and to beat the likes of Sarsfields and St Joseph’s was impressive as they were decent sides, while we had our chances against Kilmacud and maybe should have won the game. Who knows what would have happened if we did,” he laments.
Two years later and Alan linked up with most of his county minor teammates from ’93 as the Royals lifted the Leinster U21FC title when they defeated Louth in the final.
Alan’s impressive performances had drawn the attention of Meath senior manager Sean Boylan and the young Seneschalstown midfielder was drafted into the senior squad where he played a number of league games. However, little or no break during his early football career left Alan drained and needing a rest from the game, which he discussed with Boylan.
“I had a chat with Sean and asked could I be left off the panel for a while, which he agreed to. However, I was never asked back and to be honest I was disappointed over that, who wouldn’t be.
“In saying that I respected Sean’s decision. He had made his choice and you can’t really argue with the record that he has over the years. I just concentrated on the club after that.”
Alan went on to win Feis Cup and league titles with Seneschalstown, but despite their strength in depth, they failed to lift the Keegan Cup again until last year. Even though Alan had retired by that stage, the Finnegan family was represented by his brother Stephen, which completed a unique treble.
“My father Tommy played on the team that won the first title in 1972. I was on the team in ’94 and Stephen played last year and I’m fairly sure we are the only family in the parish to have done that, which is a nice feat for us.”
Alan has been busy with work at Panda Waste and the setting up of his own business A&S Finnegan Group Services with his wife Sandra, which has thrived for the past six months. The company specialises in contract office cleaning and employs 24 at the moment.
“We have contracts with the Dundrum Town Centre and some office blocks. We have got a lot of work through Panda Waste and we are very grateful for that. We are a facility management company and business has been good since we started.”
His role as Financial Controller with Panda Waste is an integral part of the waste management company that has grown to be one of the leading firms’ in its field of expertise over the last few years.
In 1990 Panda Waste was purchased by Meath native and St Mary’s who clubman Eamon Watters, who has turned the business from being a small local operator to a company with an annual turnover of 50 million employing in excess of 250 people across the company’s three facilities.
Eamonn himself was an outstanding footballer with the St Mary’s who during the 1970s and 80s were very unlucky and should have obtained senior status. Time after time the Donore outfit qualified for the knockout stages of the intermediate championship only to fall short on the big day. Backboning that fine side were the likes of Liam Smith and the Watters brothers. High fielding Eamonn, half back cum full back Tommy, Petey and midfield and red haired corner forward, the flying Johnny. Tommy was a wing back on the Colm O’Rourke led minor side of 1975 which should have at least gained provional honours. Petey had stints at midfield for the Meath seniors. It looks like Alan Finnegan is in good company.
