When Kilskyre were relegated from the intermediate hurling ranks at the end of the 2009 season, it was seen as a
step back for the club, but it was a move that was to rejuvenate this north Meath side.

The black and ambers have a long history and despite only ever dining at the top table of senior hurling on the odd occasion, the club has always been regarded as a hurling stronghold.
Their first major success came in 1961 when they lifted the junior hurling championship title and just four years later the intermediate crown was added. Then in 1969, they won the intermediate title for the second time and this was to prove their greatest decade ever.
A lone junior title in 1978 was all there was to show for the seventies, but a return to the senior ranks was achieved three years later when in 1981, they won their third second tier title.
However, the rest of the eighties proved to be quiet on the success front, but the club re-emerged from the doldrums once again in 1992 when they won their third junior title and this was followed in '94 by yet another intermediate title.
A drop down in the ranks soon followed and the club had been plying their trade in the intermediate ranks up to last year. On an annual basis, Kilskyre were considered one of the favourites for the title and time and time again they flattered to deceive.
Relegation last year was seen as the final nail in the coffin and some pessimists felt that this could be the end of the club, but in fairness to the players concerned, they regrouped significantly and although they will remain in the junior ranks for another year, they won a lot of admirers in 2010.
Sister club Ballinlough has always taken first preference in the area and to be fair Kilskyre have to move with small numbers for the majority of the year.
Nonetheless, they are a spirited and determined bunch out that direction and a drive for the junior championship was made from early on. Current Gaeil Colmcille player Tom Shine took over the management duties and when the draw was made for the championship, Kilskyre were placed in a group along with Wolfe Tones, Ratoath, Moylough and Boardsmill.
On paper this was a tough group with four sole junior clubs in it and all having genuine designs of at least reaching the knockouts stages. With only two places up for grabs, the room for error was minimal.
If Kilskyre thought they would have it all their own way in the group, then they received a fierce wake up call in the first match against Ratoath.
The first half was all one way traffic as Ratoath left their opponents dumbfounded by striking three goals in the opening thirty minutes of the match.
Despite trailing by 3-6 to 0-5 at the break, Kilskyre fought hard all the way. Derek Muldoon's running battle with Paddy Coady was another feature of the match, Muldoon finishing with all but three points of his team's tally as the match finished 3-11 to 0-12.
In their next outing, they got their championship campaign back on track with a hard fought victory over Boardsmill in a must win game.
Kilskyre settled quicker with two pointed frees from Derek Muldoon. Boardsmill responded with two points from play. But Kilskyre raised the tempo with five points from play, three from Padraig Muldoon and one each from Lorcan Maguire and James Higgins.
At half time, Shine's charges went in with a four point advantage, 0-7 to 0-3, after Boardsmill pointed a penalty with the last attack of the first half.
Team captain Pa Baugh was introduced for the second half and this strengthened the Kilskyre attack as he notched two fine points from play. But Boardsmill responded with a goal from a long range effort. Kilskyre then received a second major blow with the dismissal of Keith McGuinness, which seemed to be very harsh. But further scores from Muldoon and Lorcan Maguire kept the Kilskyre men ahead.
With five minutes remaining a mix up in the Kilskyre defence let Boardsmill in for a second major. But Kilskyre closed out the match with a well taken point from a tight angle by Seamus Byrne to leave the final score 0-14 to 2-6.
Confidence was now high in the camp and they faced another of the championship favourites in their next match when Wolfe Tones provided the opposition.
Following a slow start, Kilskyre scoring supremo Derek Muldoon pointed to free to settle early nerves. Muldoon and Peader Byrne extended the lead even further. Tones responded with two from frees, but Muldoon hit his fourth of the half from another placed ball.
Kilskyre made the perfect start to the second half when Byrne ran 40 yards with the sliotar and fired to the back of the net to leave the black and ambers in the driving seat.
To their credit Tones fought back and got a goal of their own closed the gap, Kilskyre pulled away again with points from Byrne, Ronan McGuinness and Muldoon, but those were their last scores of the match as the Kilberry outfit pushed on looking for scores.
The black and ambers were relieved to hear the final whistle as the gap had been closed to 1-10 to 1-09.
It was a moral boosting victory for the Kilskyre men as they went into the last match against neighbours Moylough needing a win to make sure of a place in the semi finals.
The fact that Moylough were already out of the championship took the edge off this game, but it was no less competitive as both sides gave it their all. At the end it was Kilskyre who took the spoils and more importantly they booked a place in the semi finals where they would face Dunboyne's second string.
In less than ideal conditions for hurling, scores were scarce throughout against Dunboyne, but Kilskyre lead by four points at half time and it was a lead that they wouldn't surrender as they reached the final having won the game by 2-5 to 1-5.
In the other semi final, Wolfe Tones cruised to victory against Kiltale to set up a repeat of their earlier clash in the group stages. These sides have been on a par for many years and have produced plenty of exciting battles.
The outcome of the match was a tough one to call beforehand and as expected a close final was to be recorded; giving both sets of supporters plenty to cheer about.
Kilskyre had a strong wind at their backs in the opening-half but it was the 'Tones who opened the scoring through county senior footballer Eoghan Harrington in the fifth minute.
A further six minutes elapsed and Derek Muldoon levelled matters from play. As the half progressed Kilskyre's wide tally mounted to nine.
Meanwhile Wolfe Tones moved 0-5 to 0-1 clear by the 24th minute with Eanna Harrington landing two long range frees while Rory Glennon and Donal Curtis registered from play.
Wolfe Tones' captain Stephen Sheppard was wide with a close range goal attempt. An element of drama was compacted into additional time that extended to five minutes.
Muldoon pointed a free from out on the left. Then he blasted a 20-metre free to the net following a foul on Lorcan McGuinness to leave the half time score 0-5 to 1-2.
The first 15 minutes of the second half belonged to Kilskyre and the impressive Ronan McGuinness notched 1-2 during this period, which was added to by four points from Muldoon to leave the north Meath club leading by seven points with 17 minutes remaining.
Whether it was a case of complacency or just Tones' determination, no one will ever really know, but goals from Sheppard and Eanna Harrington and the moving of Donal Curtis to midfield proved to be a masterstroke as the gap was closed and by the final whistle Wolfe Tones were four points in the ascendancy winning by 2-12 to 2-8.
It was a cruel blow to the Kilskyre, the majority of whose players are still seeking their first medal in any grade, but they can take great pride in the knowledge that they will have learned from the experience and they can look forward to the 2011 campaign with a renewed confidence.
Aside from their performances, they can also be comforted in the knowledge that they have unearthed some new talent in the form of Sean Geraghty, Colm Mallon and Lorcan Maguire to name just a few.
For the record the Kilskyre team that started the JHC final was: - D. O'Reilly; J. Byrne, P. Muldoon, K. McGuinness; B. Smith, P. Baugh, J.O'Higgins; S. Byrne, P. Byrne; C. Mallon, D. Muldoon (1-6, 1-4 frees), L. Maguire; R. McGuinness (1-2), S. Deevy, S. Geraghty. Sub used: Niall Geraghty.
The year was not a total loss for Kilskyre as their minor side, which is amalgamated with Moylough won the division 2 league title at the expense of Kildalkey.
The first half ebbed and flowed and at the interval Moylagh/Kilskyre held a 1-7 to 1-6 lead as Kieran Hannon netted the winners first goal after good approach work by Ryan Tighe. From the puck out Kildalkey replied with a goal. Willie McGrath and David Harmon took the scoring honours in the opening half scoring three points each. McGrath looked to have scored a second goal for the winners only for a brilliant save from Conor Flynn in the Kildalkey goals.
The blue and whites controlled the early stages of the second half and raced into a four point lead with 15 minutes left. But Moylagh/Kilskyre dug deep and when county minor star Willie McGrath netted after a great run the game swung the way of the winners. Mc Grath was inspirational for Moylagh/Kilskyre in the last 10 minutes and ended the half with a tally of 1-4. With time up Kildalkey where awarded a penalty but Patrick Conneely's strike was saved and Moylagh/Kilskyre held out for a great win. 
 
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