Dunboyne claim epic U16 win
December 31, 2000
210 minutes of football were required before Dunboyne finally took the U16 FC crown.
Without doubt, the most exciting county final of 2000 was the u-16 clash between St Peter's, Dunboyne and Navan O'Mahony's. Three games, plus two periods of extra-time, were required to decide the destination of the Benny Caffrey cup and, in the end, it was Dunboyne who prevailed.
The opening installment of the trilogy, played at the beginning of August, finished on a scoreline of 1-8 to 1-8 and it was Dunboyne supporters who were wiping the sweat from their brows at the final whistle. Referee Seamus O'Connor was generous in his estimation of extra-time and allowed just enough time for midfielder Tomás O'Connor to blast a 20m free from his hand to the net to give his team a second bite of the cherry.
Although St Peter's were fortunate to earn a draw, it would have been a grave injustice had they been beaten. They were by far the better side for the majority of the opening three quarters and should have had the Benny Caffrey cup sown up long before a late O'Mahony's revival propelled them into a four point lead.
O'Connor and Colin Clarke gave Dunboyne the early initiative with a point apiece in the opening five minutes but nonetheless the Dunboyne forwards, with the exception of Clarke, Aidan O'Connor and Gerard Grehan , struggled to build on their team's superiority.
They should have been a lot more ahead than just three points - Clarke got a second - by the time O'Mahony's opened their account after 20 minutes. Midfielder O'Connor replied but a brace of points from O'Mahony's left just 0-4 to 0-3 in at the interval.
Clarke and Grehan edged St Peter's back in front on the restart and at that stage you would have bet your life savings on them going on to clinch the title.
O'Mahony's had other ideas, however, and were thrown a lifeline with a fortuitous goal. Dunboyne 'keeper Stephen Moran had an outstanding game overall but he won't like to be reminded of the moment when his attempted clearance kick was blocked down and O'Mahony's gained a penalty from a resultant push.
The Brews Hill outfit took full advantage before adding another point to go one ahead. O'Connor squared things up shortly afterwards but an O'Mahony's purple patch, which yielded four unanswered points, looked to have sealed the issue.
Aidan O'Connor blazed over the bar to leave just a goal in it before Tomás O'Connor came to the rescue with that late, late equaliser.
Sean McGarrell was the central character in Act 2 a week later as it was his late point which ensured that these two talented teams still remained deadlocked at the end of 150 minutes of football. Not even extra-time could produce a winner.
Again it was a fair outcome although O'Mahony's did probably feel aggrieved as they led by three points with 13 minutes of extra-time remaining and kicked 17 wides in comparison to Dunboyne's 12. But it was they who trailed with time almost up before a late point sent the game into extra-time. 0-12 to 0-12 was the score at the end of normal time.
The St Peter's management must have been getting some lessons of Sean Boylan, however, because, once again, their team displayed tremendous character and refused to throw in the towel when their backs were against the wall.
Corner backs Matthew Moffat and Stephen McKenna produced sterling performances, Brian Comer, Padraig Conway, McGarrell and substitute Niall McKenna also played starring roles but if there was a man-of-the-match award Gerard Grehan would have been the recipient. Playing the third midfielder role, he won plenty of possession and also chipped in with three valuable points.
Conway opened the scoring for Dunboyne but they soon trailed by 0-4 to 0-1 before Grehan struck for his first point. Both sides hit the same amount of scores in the second quarter and the team in blue and white stripes had a 0-7 to 0-5 advantage at the interval.
Points were exchanged at the beginning of the second half before Dunboyne went on a scoring spree, hitting five successive points from Brennan, Niall McKenna, Conway, Aidan O'Connor and Grehan. The Brews Hill side regained their composure to restore parity but a 59th minute Grehan free looked to have been enough before that late O'Mahony's effort forced extra-time.
Navan made the most of their reprieve to go three points ahead in extra-time but McGarrell (two) and Conway ensured that Dunboyne weren't going to be denied in a tension-filled final five minutes.
The final chapter to this enthralling encounter was dominated by Gerard Grehan. Playing closer to goal than in the second game, the number 14 put his name on 1-4 of his side's winning total of 1-11. O'Mahony's could only manage 1-2 for the hour!
The Dunboyne lads were in control from start to finish. Tomás O'Connor and Colm Brennan were always on top at midfield while centre-forward Aidan O'Connor gave Grehan plenty of support up front.
1-6 to 1-2 was the half-time scoreline, and with the Dunboyne rearguard excelling, O'Mahony's failed to raise a flag in the second half. Points from McGarrell, Aidan O'Connor and Grehan propelled Dunboyne into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead. Grehan struck for his goal after eight minutes.
The blue and white stripes replied with a goal four minutes later and another close, nip and tuck affair looked on the cards. Grehan (2) and Stephen Moran put some daylight between the sides and from there on, after O'Mahony's last point in the 26th minute, it was all one way traffic.
Torrential rain marred the second half but, nonetheless, the St Peter's youngsters continued to press home their advantage. Aidan O'Connor and wing-back Colin Clarke added further points. Tomás O'Connor increased their lead to eight with two approaching the end and Grehan rounded off a fine personal display with the last point of the game in injury-time.
And so it ended. 210 minutes of non-stop, excitement filled, action. Dunboyne are Meath u-16 champions for 2000. Both teams deserve tremendous credit for the entertainment they served up. Roll on the minor in two years time!
The St Peter's XV which eventually got the better of O'Mahony's was - J O'Connor; M Moffatt, J Bruton, D Carr; C Clarke (0-1), B Comer, N Whyte; T O'Connor (0-2), C Brennan; N McKeever, A O'Connor (0-2), P Conway; S Moran (0-1), G Grehan (1-4), S McGarrell (0-1).
The Brady Bunch
Oliver Brady has been involved with the St Peter's, Dunboyne club for approximately 40 years now. So who better to ask about the club's future prospects on the football and hurling fields.
What odds would you get on a St Peter's, Dunboyne Meath SFC and SHC double in the coming year? Former club chairman Oliver Brady reckons he'll have £10 on it whatever the price.
"That would be a wise bet," laughs the affable Brady. "Remember where you heard it first!," he adds.
Whatever about the footballers emulating the achievement of 1998 and getting their hands on the Keegan Cup, surely it's asking too much of the hurlers who have just completed their first year back in the senior grade having gained promotion courtesy of a Intermediate final victory over Kilskyre in 1999.
Although, they're 1-15 to 0-1 championship annihilation of reigning Jubilee Cup holders Kilmessan raised quite a number of eyebrows and suggests that Oliver's prediction may not be too far off the mark afterall. That win plus their earlier defeat of Athboy preserved their senior status for next year.
"To be fair I think the stewards could have been called in for that one. Kilmessan were already qualified for the knock-out stages and probably weren't as keyed up for that game as they would have been had the circumstances been different.
"In saying that, however, we played excellently and that performance highlighted the hurling talent that we have in the club. The main objective at the start of the year was to stay up in the senior championship. We have some very good young hurlers coming up through the ranks which are capable of making a big impression in Meath hurling circles but I would say that we need another year or two to get the blend right.
"Dunboyne was always a predominantly hurling club but after the junior football championship win of 1989 football began to take over."
The football revolution which St Peter's experienced in the late eighties and early nineties culminated in the capture of Meath football's blue riband prize, the Keegan Cup, in 1998. Oldcastle were overcome on that memorable occasion.
"That was a fabulous achievement," recalls Oliver. "It was just a pity that some of our most dedicated members never got the opportunity to see it happen. Ronnie Keague, for example, was around for donkey years. He used to bring spare laces in his bag in case any of the lads needed them and was a great servant to the club."
County star Enda McManus was captain on that historic day. Unfortunately, a back injury forced him to announce a premature end to his county career following the shock exit at the hands of Offaly in this year's Leinster championship. Oliver says he will be sorely missed.
"I believe that Enda has decided to call it a day at club level as well and he will be a massive loss to both the club and the county. I think he was the most underrated player on the Meath team which won the All-Ireland last year and never got the credit he deserved. He was an inspirational figure on the Dunboyne team and will be extremely difficult to replace.
"Brendan Reilly came back this year after a long lay-off and played with the club's second team so hopefully Enda will have a change of heart in the future if he feels the back is up to it."
If 2000 is to be Enda McManus' last time to don the gold and black jersey, it is not a year that he will recall with fondness. The Dublin border club failed to qualify for the knock-out stages of the championship.
They drew their opening game against 1999 Intermediate champions Syddan, lost to Simonstown and finished off the campaign with a win over Gaeil Colmcille.
"The footballers were disappointing this year but I have full confidence in their ability to bounce back. They will be very hungry next year after the long lay off and I would expect them to perform much better."
If next year fails to deliver any form of silverware, Oliver won't be too downheartened however. He's optimistic that the work which has been invested in underage football and hurling within the club will reap its deserved rewards at some stage down the line.
"A lot of good work has been invested in the underage in the club over the past number of years. We contested the U16 football final this year and all our teams fared out well in their respective championships. The Summer Camp this year was also a tremendous success.
"Every £100 spent on underage now could be worth £1,000 in the future so it's very important that we continue to encourage the youngsters to play gaelic games."
Oliver has been "on and off" the Dunboyne committee for the past 40 years. He did a nine year stint as chairman which ended in 1991. He dropped off the committee last year but, as he says himself, is "still doing as much as ever!".
Hurling was always his number one preference and he distinguished himself on the playing field. His medal collection boasts U14, U16, minor and two intermediate hurling medals. He represented St Pats, an amalgamation of local intermediate sides, in three county senior finals but never got his hands on a senior souvenir.
His playing days finished approximately 20 years ago although he did make a brief return at the age of 50 when Dunboyne were short on numbers for a game against Longwood in Kilmessan.
Oliver is happy with the direction in which St Peter's, Dunboyne is being steered by its Executive Committee, under the chairmanship of Sean McManus. A lack of pitches is one problem that he would hope to be rectified in the near future.
"Things are going well but the one problem we have is a shortage of pitches. We have one and rent another but that's not enough with the amount of teams we field from underage to adult, in both football and hurling. And ladies football has really taken off in a big way within the club and that's putting added pressure on our facilities.
"I maintain that when the council give permission to a developer to build in the area they should insist on the developer paying money into a fund. Not a GAA fund, but a parish fund which all voluntary organisations can benefit from. A real sore point with me is the way a developer can walk away after building 100 houses or so with his pockets full without contributing anything to the parish."
Oliver continues: "We're still in the process of looking for land to develop more pitches. We're hoping the Council will be able to do something for us as the price of land nowadays, particularly in an expanding town like Dunboyne, is out of the reach of all GAA clubs."
Just as well the Keegan and Jubilee Cups aren't out of Dunboyne's reach as well so!
U-12 Reserve crown heads to Dunboyne
St Peter's and Paul's...........................3-13
St Colmcille's......................................2-10
1949 All-Ireland winning Meath captain Brian Smyth had reason to be happy about this u-12 Reserve FL success as his grandson, Niall, was the star of the show hitting a personal tally of 3-5.
Played in Skryne at the beginning of July, the Dunboyne side led by 2-10 to 0-7 at the break and others to play well included Donal O'Loughlin, Michael O'Grady, Ciaran O'Reilly, Craig Berrigan and Niall McWilliams.
Winning captain Graham Moran received the cup from Juvenile Football Board secretary Paul Halligan after their 3-13 to 2-10 win.
St Peter's and Paul's - D O'Loughlin; G Moran, D Geraghty, D Kavanagh; M O'Grady, R Keaney, R Wall; C O'Reilly (0-1), M Brady; O Dolan, D Glenn, K Gilligan; N Smyth (3-5), C Berigan (0-4), N McWilliams (0-3).
Subs - T Keaney for Dolan, D Rowe for Glenn, P Dobbs for McWilliams.
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