Junior B success more than made up for senior heartbreak as Dunderry delivered yet more championship success to the parish. The Keegan Cup may not have ended up in Dunderry, as many believed it might, but there was still good reason for the black and whites to celebrate in the Autumn as the club's second string emerged victorious in the Junior 'B' championship. Nobody was saying that it was adequate compensation...but the players celebrated as if they had won the county's premier competition. Perhaps it was the exciting manner in which they clinched victory over Kilmainham in a dramatic finish or maybe it was the relief of going some way towards atoning for the seniors' replay defeat by Kilmainhamwood. The fact that two of the team's veterans, John Brady and Sean Kelly, who have been deeply involved in the club's most memorable days, combined to produce the late winning point was also a source of great joy for supporters. Of all the clubs in Meath, Dunderry were the most active throughout the year. They fielded football teams at Senior, Junior 'B' and Junior 'C' championship levels and in the 'A' and 'B" leagues, (Two teams in the 'B' leagues). And they also had teams in the Senior and Junior hurling championships and leagues. Statistics are difficult to come by but it is a reasonable to assume that the club contested more adult games than any other in the past twelve months...a remarkable achievement. The Junior 'B' team eventually brought the championship to the club, just reward for the mentors who succeeded in overcoming the difficult task of keeping a panel together at this level. The team that lined out in the final showed only two changes from that which took the field against Clonard in the second round and the substitute who came on that day was in the line-up for the decider. The team was managed by Billy Bligh and trained by Barry Callaghan with Pete Conaty, Tommy Mulligan and Jim Harte as selectors. They persevered with a defined group of players and resisted the temptation to weaken the Junior 'C ' team. Likewise, the senior panel was adhered to throughout the Summer. The Junior 'B's got their campaign away to an encouraging start with a good win over Walterstown but Clonard were expected to provide sterner opposition in the second round at Longwood. And it looked as if pre-match expectations would be fulfilled in a closely-fought first half. Dunderry led by three points at the break but they took control on the resumption and denied their opponents a single score in the entire second half. The goals in an emphatic 2-12 to 0-3 victory were scored by John Brady and Paul Bartley. Another comfortable win over Duleek, 1-14 to 0-8, followed before Cortown provided the fourth round opposition at Martry. Dunderry supporters had every reason to worry when their team was outplayed throughout the first half and were behind by 1-2 to 0-3 at the break. The situation changed dramatically on the resumption and goals from Ger Brady and Paul Bartley provided the platform for an emphatic double-scores victory, 2-12 to 1-6. A place in the semi-finals now became a real prospect and another comprehensive win over Castletown, 1-16 to 1-4, sealed the much-coveted place in the last four. Gerry Conaty was in splendid form with six points while Ivan McCormack, later to make his senior debut against O Mahonys on the same evening, also accounted for six of his team's points. The winners' only goal was scored by Paul Bartley. The semi-final against St. Patricks was played at Dunsany where the black and whites dominated the first half but were holding on for dear life in the closing stages. Anthony Kane was the dominant figure in the opening thirty minutes and his goal, direct from a '45, appeared to set his team on the road to victory. He was also in accurate form with his free-taking and was involved in most of the scores that led to Dunderry's seven point interval lead, 1-9 to 0-5. It was just as well that they had such a cushion as the men from Stamullen fought back bravely in the second half to get to within three points but Kane's goal remained the difference between the teams at the final whistle, 1-13 to 0-13. It was a minor surprise that Kilmainham qualified from the other side of the draw but they were appearing in the final strictly on merit. They emerged from a Group that included Summerhill, Seneschalstown, St. Patricks, Na Fianna and Longwood and there was no doubting their credentials. They were most impressive when sweeping aside Clonard's challenge in the semi-final and they arrived in Pairc Tailteann accompanied by huge support. Being one of the county's smaller clubs, they also enjoyed substantial neutral support. Anthony Kane opened the scoring with a point from a free but the black and whites were rocked on their heels a few minutes later when Kilmainham's Mark Lynch scored a superb goal at the end of a lengthy solo-run. Dunderry's response was swift and effective...Sean Kelly and Thomas Doherty were involved in the move that led to a goal from Gerry Conaty who then pointed a free to give his team an early two point advantage. The game was lacking in quality at this stage and only three further points were added before half-time, Tommy Leavy getting Dunderry's. There was just one point between the teams at the break, Dunderry 1-3, Kilmainham 1-2. In stark contrast to the fare on offer in the first half, the game improved substantially on the resumption and when points from frees were swapped in the first five minutes, the indications were that it was going to go all the way to the wire. Kilmainham's challenge received a huge boost when David Farnan fisted a Mark Lynch centre to the net and Dunderry appeared to be in deeper trouble when the Kells parishoners went three points ahead within minutes. Billy Bligh's and Barry Callaghan's team were now forced to dig deep, and as the excitement increased, Tommy Leavy got them back into contention with a point. With Kilmainham still leading by two points, a crucial incident occurred...their influential centre-half-back Peter Curran was dismissed by referee Noel Martin leaving Sean Kelly as the 'extra man'. Both players had receive yellow cards in the early stages and when Curran dragged Kelly to the ground, the referee had little choice. Anthony Kane pointed the free to leave just one point between the teams. Significantly, the momentum was now with Dunderry but they found the opposing goalie Robert O Dowd in top form. His colleagues took heart from some superb saves and David Farnan gave them renewed hope with a great point as the game entered the closing stages. At this point it looked as if a draw was the best that Dunderry could hope for but their numerical advantage was all-important as Sean Kelly reduced the deficit to the minimum and the former county star, now free from the attentions of Curran, was also involved before Gerry Conaty levelled the match with a point from a free. It was nail-biting time as Anthony Kane put Dunderry ahead with less than five minutes remaining but Barry Lynch, who had caused Dunderry endless problems throughout, brought the teams level again at 2-6 to 1-9. A draw appeared certain but there was still another twist in the tail...John Brady gained possession for Dunderry in their half-back line and showing all his experience, went forward while looking for support. Eventually, he spotted Sean Kelly with some space out on the left wing and delivered an inch-perfect pass. Kelly still had much to do but, despite the pressure, his kick sailed between the posts for a remarkable winning score. While it was easy to understand Kilmainham's intense disappointment, Dunderry deserved great credit for refusing to throw in the towel. On a number of occasions they were on the ropes but continued to draw on their greater reserves of experience and resilience to chisel out a hard-earned victory. The final score was 1-10 to 2-6. Although listed at centre-field, Sean Kelly moved to centre-half-forward where he had a huge influence on his team's victory. Michael Horan starred at centre-half-back while Ger Brady and Anthony Kane battled relentlessly at centre-field. Gerry Conaty and Paul Bartley were a constant threat to the Kilmainham defence while Thomas Doherty and Tommy Leavy also had their moments. The winning team, and scorers, was; Fiachra Geraghty, Paddy Gorey, Conor Callaghan, John J McGourty, Barry Hegarty, Michael Horan, Tony O Brien, Sean Kelly (0-2), Anthony Kane (0-4), Thomas Doherty, Ger Brady, John Brady, Gerry Conaty (1-2), Paul Bartley, and Tommy Leavy (0-2). Substitutes used were Paddy Darcy and Gareth Dooley. Captain Fiachra Geraghty was presented with the Cup by the Vice-Chairman of the County Board Tommy Collins. Dunderry complete Junior B double Dunderry completed the Junior B double when collecting the hurling title with a narrow victory over Dunboyne in an exciting final at Pairc Tailteann in early October, on a scoreline of 1-13 to 3-6. The game was supposed to be the curtain-raiser to the Jubilee Cup decider but took centre stage when Kilmessan failed to show. Dunderry's victory was based on a never say die spirit as twice they battled back from behind to snatch the win from the jaws of defeat. Dunboyne could have snatched it in the end and thought they had when Dunderry 'keeper Martin Kelly appeared to spill a late shot from Jack Dowdall over the line. Neither umpire thought so however and referee Michael McDonagh waved play on. The team in black and white trailed by seven points (0-3 to 2-4) after conceding two goal in as many minutes in the first half but they fought back to trail by just the minimum at the interval. A point from Michael Minogue had put Dunderry on level terms, 1-7 to 2-4, within 30 seconds of the restart but Dunboyne responded with a speculative long drive which deceived 'keeper Kelly and ended up in the net. A further point left Dunboyne 3-5 to 1-7 to the good but this proved to be their last score for eighteen minutes as Dunderry mounted their second revival. With Tommy Dowd in excellent form at centre-back and the Brady brothers, John and Ger, gaining the upper hand at midfield. Dunderry pushed forward. Former Meath senior hurler Philip Cahill finished as his side's top scorer with five points (three from frees while Gerry and Trevor Conaty were others to impress up front. Points by Gerry Conaty (two), Sean Kelly and Cahill restored parity by the 46th minute, 1-11 to 3-5. Points from Minogue and Cahill gave the Stafford Fuels sponsored side the advantage and, despite a late Dunboyne point and that goal scare, they held on for a deserved victory. Dunderry - M Kelly; T McDonagh, C Coogan, K Fagan; P Carroll, T Dowd, T Coogan; G Brady, J Brady; T Conaty (0-2), P Cahill (0-5), O Howley; G Conaty, S Kelly (0-2), M Minogue (0-2). Sub - M Duffy for Howley. Tweet

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