Close to greatness
November 30, 2009On the last Sunday of January Kilmessan lost narrowly after extra time to Galway representatives Cappataggle in the All-Ireland intermediate club semi-final.
Later having gone through the round robin stage with a 100% win record in their defence of the local SHC title, they fell in amazing circumstances at the penultimate hurdle to Kildakey, the team they defeated in lthe 2008 Jubilee Cup decider after a replay.
Ger O'Neill, who had the honour of leading Kilmessan to local and provincial success in 2008 and who just missed out on the opportunity to lead Martin Curran's charges out onto Croke Park for All-Ireland intermediate club final appearance reflects on the campaign just ended.
"It was pity the way it ended. It was such a brilliant year last year. It was one of those weekends. It was a long hard year and going into extra time a lot of us just weren't able for it. But, fair play to Kildalkey. They got the job done in the end. They were very close to us last year.
"I think it might have got into a few of our lads heads' that the game was over. A lot of people were complaining about six minutes of injury time. Some of our lads might have been waiting for the whistle to be blown. Kildalkey got a couple of scores that got them back into it.
"This Kilmessan team is a fantastic team and are still going to be knocking around for a little while longer," O'Neill insists.
Last year's Meath SHC title success was Kilmessan first since 2004 and there is a belief that more might have been won in the meantime.
"We probably should have won a bit more in the last few years. But I think last year showed that we are probably still the best team in the county," O'Neill commented.
Last November, Kilmessan beat Erin's Own (Castlecomer) in the Leinster Club IHC decider by 1-7 to 1-6 at Kilkenny's Nowlan Park. A Nicky Horan goal boosed the Meath representatives to a 1-3 to 0-4 interval advantage.
Two Ger O'Neill points in the latter stages cushioned Kilmessan against a late surge by the home side who managed to trim the deficit to the minimum but couldn't deny Martin Curran's men a memorable achievement.
On the last Sunday in January at Clooneen, County Roscommon, just off the N4 a few miles this side of Ballinasloe, Kilmessan went close to booking at Croke Park date.
A late Stephen Clynch point looked to have given Kilmessan the verdict but in stoppage time the Galway side levelled matters to leave it 1-11 to the Meath side's 0-14 at full-time.
Clynch was dismissed on receipt of his second yellow card of the afternoon, midway though the second period of extra time. Kilmessan were holding a slender advantage until a late goal and a point earned Cappataggle the verdict on a 2-13 to 0-17 scoreline.
"It was a killer blow because we had the beating of them. We probably played our best hurling of the year in that game. It was disappointing to lose Stephen late on in the game. Overall, it was a massive achievement," is O'Neill's verdict on Kilmessan's oddysey that took saw them come close to securing a Croke Park date. Cappataggle lost to Cork-side Blarney in the All-Ireland final.
"This year people were thinking of going a step further. But we were on the go for two years on the trot. We don't owe any one anything. The thing that drives us on is to win more. Sometimes it hard to freshen things up.
"It would have been fabulous for me as captain to lead Kilmessan out in Croke Park. It just wasn't meant to be. Hopefully we might have the chance to get there yet. You'd never know".
Despite this year's setbacks O'Neill believes this Kilmessan team still has something in the tank. "There are a couple of us that are around the 30-mark but there are still a couple of years left in us."
Putting the disappointment of missing out on a Croke Park date behind them, Kilmessan set about retaining possession of the Jubilee Cup.
Chris Curtis' contribution of 2-3 was the mainstay of Kilmessan's 2-13 to 1-6 win over Clann na nGael in their SHC Group B opener at Ashbourne on Monday, May 11.
They overcame the concession of an early goal to lead by 1-6 to 1-3 at the break and finished with ten points to spare.
In their second outing, against Rathmolyon at Pairc Tailteann on Monday, May 25 it was Joey Keena's turn to take the scoring plaudits scoring 1-7 in a 3-19 to 3-11 win over Rathmolyon.
Kilmessan led by 0-12 to 2-3 at half-time while Malcolm Doyle and David Donnelly also found the net to the champions.
Hitherto unbeaten Navan O'Mahonys succumbed to Kilmessan in the third round when their SHC campaign resumed after Meath's Rackard Cup success at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday, July 19.
Nicky Horan scored 0-7 with Mark Reilly a close second with 1-3 as Kilmessan ran out 1-16 to 0-5 winners over the town side having led by 0-10 to 0-2 at half-time.
Trim may not be the force they once were but they put it up to their old rivals in a fourth round fixture at Ratoath on Wednesday, August 12.
Kilmessan reached half-time leading by 0-10 to 0-5 and added another three points to their total within minutes of the resumption. In the end they were grateful to Ger O'Neill's 49th minute goal that cushioned them against a late Trim rally and it finished 1-16 to 0-17 thus ensuring 'semi' spot for the holders.
A 4-15 to 0-11 win over newcomers Gaeil Colmcille at Dunganny on Friday, August 21 ensured Kilmessan came through the round robin stage with a 100% win record.
Nicky Horan matched the Kells-men on his own in scoring 2-5 while Malcolm Doyle and Ger O'Neill also netted. It was 1-9 to 0-8 at the break. When the group games were completed two days later, Kilmessan were four points clear at the summit and a points difference of plus 49.
A third final appearance on the spin appeared to be in the bag for Kilmessan when leading Kildalkey by 1-15 to 1-9 in the 56th minute of their semi-final clash at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday, September 13, having led by 1-9 to 1-5 at the first interval courtesy of a Ger O'Neill goal at the old swimming pool end.
The remaining minutes - that included a sizeable amount of stoppage time - unfolded in dramatic fashion with Kilmessan being outscored by 0-1 to 1-4 to leave the scores tied at 1-16 to 2-13. Kildalkey took the whip hand in extra time, running out winners by eight points, 3-19 to 1-17, at Pairc Tailtean on Sunday, September 12.
Despite the way their campaign ended, Ger O'Neill is grateful for Martin Curran's contribution to the club.
"He is a fantastic coach and we still have some fantastic players there. We have the utmost repect for Martin. He did something no other coach has done before. He brought a Leinster intermediate title back to Kilmessan. Martin knew that he had a fantastic team there and he gave us confidence."
As for the team, O'Neill believes the team is far from finished. "You never know what's round the corner. You have to live. There are a few of us with families now. We're not thinking of next year yet. We take a bit of a rest first. It's a long time since we finished up the year so early. Come January and we'll be ready for more."
Following the previous year's JHC success, Kilmessan's second team operated in the intermediate ranks and lost out to eventual winners Longwood at the 'semi' stage.
Anton O'Neill scored 2-2 for Kilmessan but the concession of the last three points at Boardmill on Saturday, August 22 ended their hopes of securing a final spot.
The club camogie side fared much better. After avenging last year's minimum margin final defeat to Blackhall Gaels with a 0-13 to 0-0 win at the penultimate stage, Kilmessan squared up to Trim in the final at Ashbourne on Saturday, September 12.
With Dunboyne-man John Watters at the helm again, Kilmessan ran out winners by 1-8 to 1-3 having led by 0-3 to 0-2 at the break. Katie Ni Choileain put them on the road to victory with a goal eight minutes after the resumption while Aileen Donnelly chipped in with six points. Midfielder Frances Lynch capped her 'player-of-the-match' display with a brace of late points from play. Tweet
