Following the frustrations of 2000 when they failed to fulfil the Jubilee Cup final against Trim because of a dispute over the fixing of the game, Kilmessan's SHC triumph in 2002 was especially sweet. More especially because it was achieved in the club's Centenary Year and also because it was their 25th outright success. The 1-14 to 0-13 victory in last September's decider brought Kilmessan level with their keenest rivals, Trim, at the top of the roll of honour. While living in the shadow of the men in red since 1987, the Blues have had their days in the sun and were again among the most fancied of the title contenders last spring. And why not as new coach Ollie Horan had experienced county players of the last few years like Nicky Horan, Paul Donnelly, Anton O'Neill, Charlie Keena and Jimmy McGuinness to spearhead the latest challenge for honours. While Meath have not had the strength in depth to challenge for national honours at inter county level, they have had individuals who could hold their own with the best hurlers in the land. Nicky Horan is undoubtedly one of those and in the 2001 championship he finished up as third top scorer with a total of 3-19. Paul Donnelly, the 'daddy' of the team at 35, has given tremendous service to both club and county while Anton O'Neill is another long-serving stalwart who has worn both the blue and white and green and gold with distinction, although not figuring much in the latter colours in the 2001 championship. One Kilmessan player who created a big impression with Meath this year was Charlie Keena, especially in the All-Ireland qualifier against Offaly at Pairc Tailteann with Royal County manager Michael Duignan remarking after the game: "that was as good a display by a wing back as I have ever come across, he was absolutely incredible." Jimmy McGuinness is obviously better known as a footballer, having been one of the big men of the 1996 All-Ireland triumph. With his inter county football career appearing to be over, Duignan drafted him into the hurling team. However, troubled by injury, he was on and off his club and county sides over the last few months. Ollie Horan took over from Martin Curran, who coached Kilmessan to their 24th SHC title in 1999, and his selectors were Joe Burke and Ger Dineen. Burke is also the club's efficient PRO while Cork-native Dineen plays junior hurling. After the disappointments of 2000 and the following year when Trim inflicted a heavy semi-final defeat, there was a burning desire to get back to the top of the Meath hurling tree. "We had a point to prove this year. We were very disappointed over what happened in 2000 when we didn't get to play the final and even more disappointed when well beaten by Trim at the semi-final stage last year," remarked James Battersby, who had been part of the triumphs of 1997 and '99. Kilmessan looked unlikely to make up for those setbacks when after scoring a decisive opening victory over Athboy last May, they were held to a draw by Boardsmill and then lost by the minimum margin to Navan O'Mahonys. "The game against Boardsmill was a bit of a disaster for us. Our top players just did not perform in that match and things just did not happen for us on the night. Even though we lost to Navan O'Mahonys, the Kilmessan performance was much better and that was encouraging," remarked Ollie Horan in an interview before the final. The campaign began with a comfortable 5-7 to 2-9 victory over Athboy at Trim with Ger O'Neill grabbing 2-1 and Nicky Horan scoring 1-4. Some years ago a clash between these two clubs would have created a lot more interest but there was only a handful of spectators for this opener. Similarly Boardsmill are not the force they were in the '70s. But although Horan scored 1-5 and Ger O1Neill found the net again, the men from the 'Mill gained a 3-7 to 2-10 draw. On a Thundery night in June Kilmessan suffered their only defeat of the 2002 SHC when Navan O'Mahonys outscored them by 1-12 to 1-11 in the only tie to survive the dreadful weather that Friday evening. Nicky Horan was sent off in the closing stages after being shown the yellow card twice. A brilliant goal from Jimmy McGuinness edged Kilmessan ahead near the end but late points from Donal Fitzsimons and Tommy Loughran gave the Navan side the spoils. With three points dropped, it was an uphill struggle for Kilmessan from then on. James Battersby pointed out that it was difficult to get big numbers for training early in the year. "A few of the lads were with the county hurling squad and others were involved in football with Dunsany and Skryne. The Kilmessan sessions usually take place on Monday and Wednesday evenings," he said. Kilmessan then got back on the winning trail with victories over Dunderry (1-12 to 0-5) and Kiltale (2-12 to 0-12) to advance to the last four again. McGuinness got the goal in the defeat of the 2001 beaten finalists while Horan sent over seven points and Ger O'Neill added 1-1 to his tally in the success over Kiltale. Kilmessan had a close call in their 'semi' clash with Killyon, which was a repeat of the 1999 final pairing. Killyon, who trailed by 0-3 to 0-10 at the half way stage, looked set to retain their 100 per cent record in the championship when leading by two points with time almost up. However, Nicky Horan then sent over his ninth point of the evening and then minor Stephen Clynch shot over the leveller to send the tie to a replay. Kilmessan made no mistake eight days later with a 1-14 to 1-6 victory after leading by 0-9 to 0-3 at the break. Horan again shot nine points and the younger of the O'Neill's grabbed his fifth goal of the campaign. For the second year in succession a 'new' team advanced to the Jubilee Cup decider with Dunboyne accounting for O'Mahonys in the other semi-final to qualify for the county's hurling showpiece for the first time since 1964. The fact that the final was fixed for Pairc Tailteann was a boost for the small ball game in the county. James Battersby feels that the extra game against Killyon was a big help in his side's bid to regain the title, remarking, "that brought us on a lot." As the closing stages of the championship were reached, the numbers at training sessions improved considerably. "Martin Curran and Ollie Horan have a bit in common as coaches. Both are very tactically aware, have a deep love of hurling and also a strong desire to see Kilmessan win titles," remarked the former county coaching and games development officer. In the final it was very much a case of Kilmessan taking their scoring chances much better than Dunboyne as the respective wides totals of five and 15 testify. After the sides were level at 0-7 each at the break, a goal by Peter Reynolds, son of former Walterstown footballer Gerry, 28 minutes into the second half sealed the title. Once again Nicky Horan took the individual scoring honours with seven points and that brought his championship total to 2-45. That was short of the magnificent 5-41 accumulated during the winning run in 1999. Two years before that, the sharpshooter hit 0-14 in the final victory over Rathmolyon. The honour of receiving the trophy, which was first competed for in 1936, went to corner back Paddy McGovern, who was one of the top performers in the decider. Back in 1975 Paddy's father, Patsy, skippered Kilmessan from goals, but after leading Boardsmill by eight points in the final, defeat was eventually their lot. While uncle and nephew Ollie and Nicky received plenty of plaudits after the triumph, another member of the Horan clan, Martin, was unlucky to miss the final because of injury. At 18 and 19, Stephen Clynch and Peter Reynolds were the youngest members of the winning team while wing forward Mark Reilly returned from a spell in England to contribute to the success. "We thoroughly deserved the victory because we put the work in. They are a great bunch of lads and I have nothing but praise for them. We showed true spirit today, so I am absolutely delighted," said Ollie Horan. "Our experience told because it was an hour of very hard hurling. But we probably deserved to shade it, it made up for the disappointments of previous years," remarked Paul Donnelly. The Kilmessan team which brought the 25th SHC title to the club was: Mark Brennan; Paddy McGovern, Paul Donnelly, John Horan; Charlie Keena, David Donnelly, Anton O'Neill; James Battersby, Nicky Horan; Stephen Clynch, Peter Reynolds, Mark Reilly; Ger O'Neill, Jimmy McGuinness, Leon Maguire. Subs - Eddie O'Brien for Reilly, Andrew Keena for Maguire. Also on panel, Martin Horan, Barry McGuinness, Declan O'Rourke, Alan Duffy, Paddy Keena, Richie Donnelly, Mick Dennehy, Darragh Harlin. Tweet

Most Read Stories