Dunboyne's hopes of marking their Centenary Year by winning the Senior Football Championship faltered at the semi-final stage when they lost to Trim, but Gerry Cooney's team did enough during 2002 to suggest that they aren't too far off the standard required to go all the way. The St. Peter's outfit certainly have youth on their side, with much of the team still under-21, and the quality of their performance against Gaeil Colmcille in the second-half of the play-off marked them out as a team with plenty of potential. Dunboyne were drawn in Group D along with Gaeil Colmcille, Dunshaughlin, who went on to win a third successive Keegan Cup, and Summerhill and made a less than encouraging start to their campaign when they were shocked by the Kells side in the opening round at Pairc Tailteann. They held a slender 0-6 to 0-5 lead at half-time, but managed only two points in the second period as they went under by five points on a 1-10 to 0-8 score line. "We had made a great opening to the All-County League, winning our first four games, but to be blunt about it, Kells stuffed us in the opening round," said Dunboyne PRO Brendan Boylan. "That defeat knocked us back a lot, but a major plus was the fact that we had to meet Dunshaughlin in the next round. The lads didn't need any motivation to try and beat the champions of the previous two years." Dunboyne knew they needed something from that game at Skryne and they got it in the shape of a draw (0-8 each) as Andy McEntee slotted over a '45' in injury-time to earn a valuable point that gave them everything to play for going into the final group match against Summerhill at Dunsany. "On the day, I suppose we could have beaten Dunshaughlin," added Boylan. "But, as they later demonstrated in the final against Trim, they are a very crafty team." The match against Summerhill proved to be a very tight encounter. Dunboyne made a dream start by scoring 1-1 in the first six minutes, the goal coming from Ger Grehan, and a second goal from Andy McEntee helped them to a 2-2 to 0-6 half-time lead. Summerhill got the deficit down to a single point, but Dunboyne held out to win by the narrowest margin (2-8 to 0-13). That priceless win meant they tied for second position in the group with Gaeil Colmcille, the side that had beaten them first time out. A play-off to decide second spot in the section followed and this time there was no slip-up and Dunboyne won by 1-17 to 3-7 thanks to an outstanding second-half performance which was surely as good as any produced by a team in the 2002 championship. "That was our best display of the season," said Boylan. "As in the first round meeting, Kells took the game to us, but we got 1-11 in the second-half, including 1-9 from play. It was one of the best matches of the year." The victory set up a quarter-final meeting with Colm O'Rourke's Simonstown Gaels at Skryne and despite kicking 17 wides, Dunboyne still managed to win by 1-10 to 0-10. "Dunboyne had developed a pattern of making slow starts and we were a point behind at half-time in a match that took place five days after the Kells game," said Boylan. "Gary Watters got a goal early in the second half that was important, but the turning point was a Simonstown penalty. We put David Gallagher back into goals and he saved John Lunney's effort." Dunboyne were weakened considerably by the absence of county midfielder Nigel Crawford for the semi-final against Trim and fell into arrears in the opening period, trailing by 2-5 to 0-4 at the interval and by eight points early in the second half. But they battled back extremely well and drew level with a Robbie Brennan point. However, they were rocked by two injury-time points from Paul Gilsenan frees and Trim won by 2-8 to 1-9. "The match against Simonstown was on September 1 and we didn't play Trim until October 13," said Boylan. "So the Moyles affair didn't help us. Again, we started slowly, but rallied well during the second half. Robbie Brennan equalised a minute and a half into injury-time and the game looked like ending in a draw, but Trim won two frees and scored from both of them to win. "Nigel Crawford was a huge loss in that match. He had been injured while playing for UCD in the Dublin Championship a couple of weeks earlier." The SFC campaign didn't bring any silverware for the 1998 champions, but Boylan is very optimistic about the future, especially as the team contains so many young players who can only benefit from playing at this level. "We have a very young team," he added. "Four of the six backs are under 21, as are three of the forwards. It also has to be appreciated that we were fighting relegation three years ago and since then we have lost Brendan Reilly and Enda McManus. "We now know that we can live with the best and we will be pushing hard to win the title next year." Dunboyne's Junior C team enjoyed a great run in their particular championship, but it ended in disappointment as Ray Mitchell's side lost the final to Boardsmill. Dunboyne advanced from Group H, which also included Ratoath, Donaghmore/Ashbourne, Dunshaughlin and Slane, and then edged out St. Michael's by 0-11 to 0-9 in a preliminary quarter-final, before drawing with Simonstown Gaels at the last eight stage. The replay was also very tight, but Dunboyne scraped through by the minimum margin (1-7 to 0-9). Rathkenny were next up at the penultimate hurdle and Dunboyne had things much easier this time, winning by 0-12 to 1-4 to set up a final meeting against Boardsmill at Summerhill. Boardsmill are more renowned as a hurling club, but their footballers, coached by Des Hamilton, lifted the Royal Meath Association Cup after defeating Dunboyne by 0-12 to 0-5. It was the first football title won in the club's history. They laid the foundations for their success in the opening half as they built up a 0-8 to 0-1 interval lead. Dunboyne had a chance to get back into contention early in the second half, but Sean Moran blazed over the bar for his side's only score from play and the same player also drove over the bar from a penalty 10 minutes from the end. The Dunboyne team in the final was - P. Brady; Martin Moffat, D. Watters, J. Watters; C. Clarke, G. Timoney, S. McKenna; Matthew Moffat, F. Dunne; J. O'Connor (0-1), B. Hennebury, A. O'Connor; Sean Moran (0-4), D. Barron, W. Hunt. Subs - K. Delaney for Hennebury, L. McNamee for Dunne, Stephen Moran for Hunt, N. McKenna for Delaney. Dunboyne's second string also enjoyed a useful run in the Junior 'A' Championship and topped Group C on eight points after winning four of their five matches. But they were eliminated at the quarter-final stage when going under by 3-11 to 0-11 against a Dunsany side that went on to reach the decider where they lost to Nobber. Thomas O'Connor was a key player on the Meath minor team that journey so successfully through the back door to reach the All-Ireland final where they were beaten by a very strong Derry side. Johnny O'Connor and Barry Comer were substitutes that day. Dunboyne Get Closer Defeat is hard to take at any time, no more so than in a final, and especially when the title appears to be heading in your direction. Such a fate was what befell the stickmen of Dunboyne in the Jubilee Cup finale in late September. Disappointing yes, but Brendan Boylan opines that, on reflection, they can be more than satisfied with the advances they have made in the small ball game in recent times and optimistically look to the future. It was indeed appropriate that in this, the centenary year of the club that hurling should hit the headlines. For 100 years ago, the arrival of Mr Bob O'Keefe, in whose honour the magnificent Leinster Championship trophy is named, to teach in the area marked the beginning of organised G.A.A. in the area. His arrival signalled the beginning of a golden era for hurling in the parish as a couple of minor championships and four senior championships were captured in the early 1900's. After the Feis Cup was attained in 1934 and the Junior crown in 1941, the next important events in Dunboyne's hurling history occurred towards the end of the 1950's when a Junior title was annexed (1956) and two consecutive Minor competitions visited the Dublin border town in '58 and '59. The latter triumphs were a very important milestone as the vast majority of the players from those sides formed the core of the team that earned senior status for the club and contested three championship finals at the top grade in 1963,'64 and '65 only to be defeated by Ratoath, Boardsmill and Kilmessan respectively. Another teacher, Willie Lyons, did great work in developing football in the club from the time of his arrival in 1978. Brendan Reilly, Enda McManus and David Gallagher are just three of the many fine players who began under his tutelage and went on to greater things. Why did he digress to talking about football in a hurling article, you might ask? The reason is simple, the situation in Dunboyne mirrored that throughout the county, football began to improve and the other code was forced to take a back seat. All that said however, they did win three Intermediate championships in 1982, 1986 and 1989 but in that time they were something of a yo-yo team. They would gain promotion, linger in senior for a few seasons before dropping down a grade again. The resurgence currently in full swing regarding the small ball game in the area can be traced back and attributed to December 17th 1997, when, at the A.G.M., a motion calling for a hurling committee to be set up was passed. Sean McManus and John Reilly spearheaded this and soon afterwards pulled off a major coup for the club by acquiring the services of John Gorry to act as coach. The former county star had an immediate impact and it didn't take long for improvement to show as, in his first year in charge he guided the club to a place in the last four of the IHC only to watch his side go under to eventual champions Longwood, though they did win the Grade 2 league and U-21 HC Special. The U-21 title was to prove very significant the following year as the vast majority of that team guided the club back to its rightful place, with the elite of Meath hurling. The big challenge in the year of the new Millennium was to ensure that the club lost the yo-yo tag once and for all. When they were defeated in their opening trio of games back in the top flight against Kiltale, Trim and O'Mahonys, it didn't look all that promising but they showed great courage and no little skill to overwhelm then champions Kilmessan as well as Athboy to secure their status. In 2001, further progress was made as they qualified for the last four only to go down to a stronger, more experienced and Tommy Dowd inspired Dunderry though they did capture the O'Growney Cup shortly before Christmas which meant the could face in 2002 with great hope. The club received another major boost prior to the commencement of the playing season when Gorry joined the club's playing ranks. Confidence was high facing into the championship opener against Killyon everything seemed on course when a David Moran goal gave them a two point lead late in the game with time elapsing. However, while Dunboyne were still celebrating Paul Feeney netted at the other end to steal the tie for Sean Ryan's men and leave Gorry and company with a mountain to climb if they were to secure their knock out place. Their task was simple, win all the remaining games or crash out. They entered their second round clash with Trim like rebels with a cause and, inspired by Neville Reilly who amassed a personal tally of 3-5, did the needful and emerged on the right side of a 4-12 to 2-10 score. Over the months that followed, tight finishes would become their trademark, this was first seen with the victory over Kildakey while an even greater escape act was pulled off in the next round against Gorry's former colleagues from Rathmoloyn. It was a pulsating contest from beginning to end as Neville Reilly and Mickey Cole became engaged in a battle between themselves. Reilly appeared as if he was going to have the last laugh as his side held a 0-11 to 0-09 advantage close to full time until Graham Whelan scored what everyone assumed had to be a match-winning goal which would spell the end of the Dunboyne dream. Yet another twist was to follow though, as the opposition jumped for joy, and with custodian Stephen Reilly still on the ground, wing back Leo Reilly found substitute Sean Moran who drew the defence before off loading to scorer supreme Neville Reilly who crashed the ball to the net and kept the dream alive. Dunboyne entered their last group game against Longwood knowing that one point would see them through to a meeting with O'Mahonys in the last four. To be honest there's not a whole lot one can write about the game as it was, quite simply, the Neville Reilly Show! The diminutive forward registered an amazing 1-11 to hold off anything Mick Healy, the Dorrans and Michael Burke could throw at Dunboyne as they ran out comfortable winners, 1-15 to 0-11. They entered the penultimate stage keen to atone for last season's Dunderry disappointment, but, as had become customary with them, were slow out of the traps as Donal Fitzsimons fired past Stephen Reilly before the McKeigues, Ciaran Dunphy and Tommy Loughran inflicted further damage. Their ace marksman eventually put them on the board before Sean Moran spectacularly brought them right back into the game when doubling on Darragh Smith's centre to send it past the very competent Navan 'keeper. By half time, they had etched out a 1-04 to 1-03 lead, though Eddie Priest must have been bemused to see his side trail at the midway point, considering their dominance. It has to be said though that you always felt that their wides would eventually cost them and indeed they did as the second period developed into a free taking contest between Reilly and Loughran with the accuracy of the former ultimately being the deciding factor as his side edged into the a senior final for the first time in 37 years as they bided to end an 88 year title famine. The big thing on final day for Dunboyne was to settle quickly against an experienced and streetwise Kilmessan side and this they duly did as Barry Watters hit the post with a shot straight after the throw in before Darragh Smith and Neville Reilly settled them with quick points. The remainder of the opening period was a real ding dong affair with Davin, Leo and Neville Reilly registering memorable scores for the black and amber army and Paddy McGovern, Nicky Horan, Jimmy McGuinness and Mark Reilly doing likewise for Ollie Horan's men as the first half fittingly ended 0-07 apiece. More of the same followed after the resumption as the tie became a cliffhanger until Dunboyne suddenly got a grip on the game and went 0-13 0-11 clear thanks to scores from Davin and Neville Reilly. The title appeared to be heading their way until, eventually, experience told, 'keeper Mark Brennan found Paul Donnelly whose long range missile sent Peter Reynolds free and he bundled the ball past Stephen Reilly before Horan and sub Eddie O'Brien completed the smash and grab raid by the aristocrats. It was a sickening way to go down for Gorry and his men; it was a game they lost rather than Kilmessan won. Still, the player/coach and Vinny Maguire were the only members of the starting 15 over 30, with their experience and the vast amount of young talent at their disposal, it shouldn't be too long before the Jubilee Cup is being decked out in black and amber ribbons. The Duboyne team and subs on that fateful day were: S Reilly, D Moran, D Reilly, P Gannon, L Reilly, T O'Connor, N Watters, V Maguire, Barry Watters, S Moran, J Watters, D Smith, N Reilly, J Gorry, Brian Watters. Subs - P Fagan for S Moran, D Byrne for J Watters. Tweet

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