OMP United

Blackcastle football identity

OMP United is a Navan football club with its base in Blackcastle and a red, black and white identity. The badge carries the OMP United name, 1981 split as 19 and 81, three stars and a central football over red, white and black stripes.

For families and visiting teams, the club is tied to St Mary’s Park in Blackcastle, with C15 PP7A used as the travel anchor and Blackcastle Shopping Centre named for parking.

From St Mary’s Park FC to OMP United

OMP United grew from the football community around St Mary’s Park FC, which had been active from 1974 to 1975. When that club disbanded, a new OMP United club was established in 1981 and entered the field in the 1982 to 1983 season.

The founding group named in the club story includes Joe and Gene Garvey, Mel Walshe, Kevin Barry, Frank Murray, Jimmy Bradley and Jeff Miller. Joe Garvey guided the early years and helped turn a local idea into a recognised Navan club.

First match and early momentum

The first match remembered under the OMP United name ended in a 5 to 1 win. Mel Walshe scored direct from a corner, giving the new club a striking opening moment to go with the new badge and community name.

The early years also produced a senior reserve base, a second team identity and a supporter group that followed OMP beyond Blackcastle. That gives the club more depth than a single first team story.

Golden run in the mid 1980s

The mid 1980s gave OMP United its strongest early run. The club won three top division titles across 1984 to 1985, 1985 to 1986 and 1986 to 1987, and also took the Kilmessan Shield in each of those seasons.

Joe Garvey is part of that era as a Manager of the Year winner, while Johnny Kiernan and Pat Quinn appear among the early Player of the Year names. Patsy Ratty is remembered as a trainer who helped set standards around the team.

Supporters, away days and resilience

The club’s St Mary’s Park years are remembered for strong home support and away travel. Victor and Bridget McGuinness, Tony and Johnny Cantwell, John Nugent, Hamish Byrne, Yosser Dunne, Joe Clerkin and John Lally Sr are among the supporters connected with that period.

OMP also had wider cup days, including a Leinster Junior Cup tie with New Ross Celtic and a replay trip to Wexford. The club later dealt with a temporary move from St Mary’s Park to Kennedy Crescent and kept its community identity through that disruption.

Ground, parking and pitch checks

Families will see St Mary’s Park, Blackcastle used for the club address, while team information also points players to Blackwater Park, Navan for most training sessions and home matches. The safest match day habit is to confirm the exact pitch with the coach before travelling.

Parking is directed to Blackcastle Shopping Centre. Visiting teams should confirm the entrance, warm up space, changing arrangements and the correct group contact before leaving for Navan.

Travel anchor: OMP United, Blackcastle, Navan, Co Meath, C15 PP7A.

Player pathway from Future Stars to seniors

OMP United offers football from younger children through to adult teams. The pathway includes Future Stars for younger children, underage teams from U8 to U18, youth football and adult teams.

The club is also building a senior women’s squad, which gives girls and women a clearer football route beyond a single age group. New players may be accepted during the season when a team has space and the coaching group can arrange a trial.

Age groups named for new players

The new player interest groups show how broad the current underage structure is. Families can ask about boys groups from U7 through U16, youth football and senior football, with U12 girls also named in the current group list.

A first enquiry should include the player name, year of birth, previous playing experience, preferred position if known and whether the question is about boys football, girls football, youth football or senior football.

Coaching contacts by group

OMP publishes named contacts across its football groups so parents know who to ask for the correct age band. The names also show the volunteer depth behind the club rather than a single generic contact point.

The U7 contact is Kieran Tansey. Conor O Loughlin is listed for U8 and U9, Mark Dowdall for U10, Daryl Murray for U12 Division 1, Jonathan Tighe for U12 Division 3, Deepak Kumar for U12 Division 6 and Richard Meally for U12 Girls Premier.

Board, welfare and football leads

The club contact structure includes Richie Meally as board chairman, Kieran Tansey as secretary, Ruth Friel as Child Welfare Officer and Morgan Hughes as Head of Football. Sandra Smyth is named for administration, while Morgan Hughes is also named for fundraising.

For parent questions, welfare questions or joining questions, use the correct role rather than sending every matter through a coach. That helps football questions, player welfare and club administration reach the right person.

Membership and joining

Membership is handled online and the club publishes a 110 euro joining fee plus 20 euro monthly subscriptions from March to October. Families should confirm the correct age group, team space and fee position before completing registration.

New player interest does not automatically mean a place is available. The practical next step is to ask for the right coach, trial arrangement and training details for the child’s age group.

Facilities and current development

OMP describes itself as a club built by members, sponsors and weekly community support. A recent dressing room refurbishment shows that the Blackcastle base is still being improved for players and coaches.

For parents, the useful detail is simple: the club has a known address, named parking nearby, organised contacts, changing facilities and an active committee structure around its teams.

Glenveagh development partnership

In 2026, Glenveagh became a development partner for OMP United and sponsor support was tied to the under 10, under 12 and under 13 boys groups. The partnership was presented around grassroots football and young player development.

The club message around the partnership focused on opportunities, confidence, friendships and a welcoming community. It is a useful current marker because it connects the Blackcastle underage pathway with outside investment in the club’s younger teams.

Senior league honours

OMP’s senior league roll is headed by three top division titles in a row across the mid 1980s. Later Division 1 wins in 1999 to 2000 and 2016 to 2017 show that the club added success beyond that first peak.

The runner up seasons also matter because they show the club staying competitive across several levels and eras rather than relying on one short spell.

Cups, shields and reserves

The Kilmessan Shield is one of the strongest parts of the OMP trophy story, with wins in 1984 to 1985, 1985 to 1986, 1986 to 1987, 1991 to 1992 and 1995 to 1996. The club also won the Reserve Cup and the Fitzsimons Cup.

Reserve honours add useful depth to the club picture because they show more than one squad carrying competitive work for OMP.

Club and individual awards

OMP United was named Club of the Year for 2016 to 2017. The individual awards include Player of the Year names from the 1980s, a Division 1 Player of the Year in 1999 to 2000, a Representative Player of the Year in 2016 to 2017 and two Manager of the Year winners.

Those awards give the honours roll a human shape. They connect the trophies with players and coaches whose seasons stood out inside the wider Meath football scene.

Youth football marker in 2026

The under 15 Premier side added a current youth marker in 2026 by completing a league and Peter McManus Cup double. The cup final was won 3 to 1 against Kells Celtic, with Dan, Evan McK and Ciaran named among the scorers.

That achievement is useful for younger players because it shows a recent pathway result inside the same club structure as Future Stars, underage groups, youth football and senior football.

Kit colours for visitors

The home kit is black and red with black shorts and black socks. The away kit is black with some red detail, again with black shorts and black socks.

Away managers should check colours before travel because both OMP options use dark shirts and black socks. Bring an agreed alternate if there is any chance of a clash.

First visit checklist

A player visiting OMP for the first time should bring boots, shin guards, water and suitable weather gear. Parents should arrive early enough to find the correct coach and confirm the meeting point.

Ask whether the session is a team trial, ordinary training, Future Stars or a match day meet. Also confirm registration position, expected monthly fees, kit needs and whether the session is at Blackcastle or Blackwater Park.

Away team guide

Visiting teams should use Blackcastle, Navan, C15 PP7A as the first travel anchor and confirm the pitch details with the OMP contact. Parking is available at Blackcastle Shopping Centre, but teams should still allow enough time to walk to the meeting point.

Before leaving, confirm kick off time, entrance, dressing room access, warm up area, kit colours and the correct home contact. That avoids avoidable confusion around a club that uses both Blackcastle and Blackwater Park wording.

What defines OMP United

OMP United is defined by a 1981 foundation, St Mary’s Park roots, a strong Blackcastle identity, red and black colours, a volunteer base, a visible underage pathway and a senior honours story with real depth.

The club’s strongest picture comes from the full mix: founders, supporters, gold medal seasons, current coaches, girls and women’s development, facilities, membership, local sponsors and practical venue details for match day families.