Hurling's Aristocrats
December 31, 1999
Kilmessan put their name on the Meath roll of honour for the 24th time in October. Royal County reviews their successful year.
After failing to win a single Meath Senior Hurling Championship title in the eighties. Kilmessan have finished the century on a high note with the 1999 Jubilee Cup triumph giving the aristocrats of the small ball game in the Royal County the title for the third time in the nineties.
Aristocrats? Yes the 3-10 to 1-8 victory over Killyon in the final on the third of October in Trim put Kilmessan on the roll of honour for the 24th time. They had just edged ahead of their great rivals Trim.
While Kilmessan have enjoyed 24 SHC outright successes, there is the strange statistic that a senior football title was gained before the first of the senior hurling victories. The first of three SFC victories came in 1903.
The first of the 24 SHC titles was annexed in 1907 and some of the surnames are the same as brought the coveted trophy back to the south county village last autumn. Like Horan, O'Neill and Maguire.
After that initial entry on to the county hurling roll of honour Kilmessan were not Meath kingpins again until 1922 and further successes followed in that decade, in '24 and '27. The latter year was a special one for Kilmessan and Meath hurling with Joey and Bosco Loughran, Michael 'Ike' Madden and Willie Smyth the club's representatives on the All-Ireland junior winning outfit.
Around that time there were five Maddens, four Colliers, four Smyths and three Colliers on the Kilmessan hurling squad. There were promising young hurlers on the way up with the club capturing three minor titles between 1928 and '32 and a junior success following in '32.
The '30s and '40s were both decades of outstanding success for Kilmessan. Further SHC titles came to the parish in '34, '37, '38 and '39. Also SFC honours were gained in 1936 and '39. The football and hurling double was attained in 1939 and that was not achieved again until Navan O'Mahonys did it in 1985.
While neighbouring Skryne emerged as a mighty football force in the '40s with six SFC triumphs, Kilmessan kept in step on the hurling fields with a six in a row SHC sequence of success between 1943 and '48.
Tony and Pat Donnelly, Joey Loughran, Paddy and Mick Kane and Niall Collier were among the stars of that golden era and all that quintet were also part of Meath's second All-Ireland junior hurling side in 1948. Remarkably Joey Loughran was on both winning outfits spanning 21 years.
Strangely Kilmessans name does not feature on the adult roll of honour during the '50s. Trim was the dominant force in those years and with most of the star players of the previous decade having retired, Kilmessan dropped down to junior ranks. Still some of their players were part of SHC successes in 1953 and '54 with group side St. Patrick's which also included hurlers from Dunshaughlin and Oberstown.
The glory years returned for Kilmessan in the '60s with four SHC titles being annexed in that decade, in '61, '62, '65 and '69. Among the stars of this years were goalie Seamus Smyth, Dinny Donnelly, Dom O'Brien, Sean Collier, Eanna Giles and Jack Connor.
When Kilmessan defeated Ratoath in the 1969 SHC final their half forward line was made up of three All-Ireland senior football medal winners of two years earlier, Paddy Mulvany, Mattie Kerrigan and Jimmy Walsh.
Also in 1969 the Kilmessan club's grounds were officially opened. The park was jointly dedicated to Tony Donnelly and Joey F Loughran and the occasion was marked by a senior football challenge game between Meath and Galway.
The 1970s was an exciting decade for hurling in Meath with Athboy and Boardsmill sharing the senior titles before Kilmessan gained a fine three in a row between '76 and '78.
There was no shortage of heroes in blue and white in those years. Hurlers like Patsy McGovern, Fintan Murphy, Paddy O'Brien (winner of seven SHC medals), John Curtis, Bobby White, Niall O'Riordan, Cyril Maguire and Eugene O'Neill.
When Kilmessan trounced Boardsmill to the tune of 4-8 to 0-7 in the 1978 SHC final they were bringing the senior title to the club for the 21st time. Then curiously there was no outright success in the '80s, the next title triumph coming in 1990 when Kildalkey were defeated in the final.
When Kilmessan prevailed by 0-11 to 0-8 in the first Meath SHC decider of the last decade of the century, they had three playing links with the three in a row of the '70s, Sean Horan, Ger Hynes and Eugene O'Neill.
A number of new stars emerged in the nineties. Eugene O'Neill sent over eight points in the 1990 final and his son, Anton, was on that winning side. Anton was one of the 'big men' of the recent successes.
Other sons of former club heroes kept the successes flowing. Willie, Paul, Tony and David Donnelly are sons of Dinny and grand nephews of the legendary Tony, the outstanding Nicky Horan carries the mantle of father Sean and Patrick McGovern, son of Patsy, is another carrying on a family tradition.
A memorable aspect of Kilmessan's 1-18 to 1-7 victory over Rathmolyon in the 1997 final was the magnificent contribution of 14 points from Nicky Horan, Ger O'Neill, another son of Eugene, scored the winners goal.
Martin Curran, a corner back for the successes of 1990 and '97, was the coach for the 24th triumph, and his charges went through the seven match campaign in style, winning all of their games.
A crucial victory was secured in the opening round when defending champions Trim, who eventually got the better of Kilmessan in extra time in the 1998 final replay, were defeated by 1-11 to 0-6 at Longwood.
Midfielders Nicky Horan and David Donnelly and forwards Jimmy McGuinness and Ger O'Neill were the fore in the first round victory in May. The 1998 beaten finalists were always in front after Ger O'Neill first score after a couple of minutes and it was 0-6 to 0-2 at the break.
Veteran Jack Smith enjoyed a lot of success in the '90s, helping his hurling club to three SHC successes and also being part of Dunderry's first ever SFC triumph in 1995. He got the goal in the opening round against the holders when finishing a delivery from Nicky Horan to the net ten minutes after the restart.
Three points from the younger O'Neill at the end left eight between the keen rivals. All of Kilmessan's games in the 1999 SHC except one - against Killyon in the last group tie - were won by wide margins. So the last Meath senior hurling champions of the century were never under much pressure on the route to that 24th title.
In subsequent outings they finished in front by twelve, nine, ten, three, 14 and eight points. After Trim it was Athboy, who lost by 2-4 to 3-13. The team in green held their own for a good way in the first half of the Kildalkey clash before goals from Nicky Horan and Ger O'Neill in the last five minutes before the break left it 2-5 to 1-1.
Promoted Longwood were Kilmessan's third round opponents. The game was initially fixed for Trim but then the venue was charged to Longwood. Home advantage did not prove that important as Curran's charges won by 2-13 to 1-7. Nicky Horan scored 1-8 and Leon Maguire netted the first goal. It was 2-5 to 0-5 at the break.
Kilmessan welcomed back Paul Donnelly and Jimmy Maguire for the 3-11 to 1-7 victory over Rathmolyon in a midweek St Loman's park clash in July. The 1996 winners led by 1-7 to 0-4 at the break before failing to score in the second half. Both returning players got among the goalscorers and Ger O'Neill also found the net.
Both sides were already through to the last four when Kilmessan and Killyon met in Trim on August 22nd. A flying start which yielded three goals and a ten point lead in the opening ten minutes set up the side in blue for two more points. Nicky Horan grabbed the first goal and then Paul Donnelly netted twice.
Surprise packets Wolfe Tones provided the semi-final opposition for Kilmessan but were no match for Curran's charges who romped to a 2-16 to 1-5 victory. With Willie Donnelly and Anton O'Neill in dominant form in the middle of their opponents defence, there wasn't must joy at the end of most of the Tones attacks.
The Oristown parish outfit kept reasonably well in touch in the first half at the end of which they trailed by 0-5 to 0-9. Then early in the second half Nicky Horan pointed a free and Paul Donnelly shot a goal. Once again Horan was top scorer, this time with 1-6 and his goal was the last score of the game.
The final - the first ever between Kilmessan and Killyon - was a disappointing tie, especially when compared to the exciting two tier tussle in 1998. Despite their opponents being tipped for glory in one quarter, the former went into the decider as warm favourites.
And that favouritism was comfortably justified. Killyon failed to benefit from wind advantage in the first half and Nicky Horan stuck for the first of two goals, from a free, after 27 minutes. Ger O'Neill was fouled and the stylish midfielder crashed the sliothar to the net.
Kilmessan were ahead for just the second time. With O'Neill sending over a point from the right corner, they were 1-5 to 0-4 to the good at half time and were never headed again.
With Killyon badly missing the injured Martin Massey, the side in blue and white managed to double their interval lead by the time that referee Fergus Smyth sounded the final whistle.
"Man of the Match" Anton O'Neill was in terrific form at centre back as Mark Gannon tried to inspire his Killyon colleagues. But Kilmessan started the second half as they finished the half with two goals and a point in the opening three minutes.
The action had only resumed when Ger O'Neill kicked the sliotar past Pat Gannon and over the line. Then enter Nicky Horan with a superb point from play and his second low drive past netminder Gannon. Paul Donnelly provided a pass and the classy number nine soloed through before goaling.
Even though Killyon promptly responded with a goal from Mick Ryan and a Noel Davis point to reduce the arrears to five, that was as close as Killyon got. At the start of the last quarter Jimmy McGuinness, who had come as a substitute for his first outing since the opening round, was pulled down and Horan blasted the penalty to the net.
Nicky Horan scored 2-4 in the final to bring his total for the 1999 Meath SHC to 5-41. Ger O'Neill also had a very productive campaign, contributing 3-13.
Meanwhile the honour of being the last man to be presented with the Jubilee Cup this century fell to wing back John Horan, brother of Nicky. The captain and coach Curran were both quick to describe the victory as 'a great team effort.'
Kilmessan's 1999 SHC winning team was: Barry McGuinness; John Davis, Willie Donnelly, Charlie Keena; John Horan, Anton O'Neill, Patrick McGovern; David Donnelly, Nicky Horan; Jack Smith, Paul Donnelly, Jimmy Maguire; Ger O'Neill, Eddie O'Brien, Leon Maguire. Subs: Jimmy McGuinness, James Battersby, Tony Donnelly.
Kilmessan's U16s emulate senior success
Kilmessan's U16s added the championship to the Jubilee Cup a week after the seniors had won their battle with Killyon. Boardsmill suffered the same fate as Killyon on a scoreline of 0-6 to 0-4 in the replay at Trim.
A strong first half display (five of their six points came in the opening thirty minutes) laid the foundations for the success. With wind assistance, Colin Curran (0-3) and one each form Alan Duffy and Rory Flaherty gave the eventual winners a 0-5 to 0-0 lead at the interval.
Boardsmill looked like making a game of it when they reeled off three early second half points but Kilmessan defended bravely and were rewarded when Curran's fourth point sealed the victory.
Peter Reynolds, Shane Maguire, Mark Ryan, Tony Horan, Rory Flaherty, Sean Stephens, Donal Clynch and Curran were outstanding for the winners.
Kilmessan - S. Clynch; K. Reilly, J. Clifford, J. Byrne; M. Ryan, S. Maguire, T. Horan; R. Flaherty (0-1), S. Stephens; A. Duffy (0-1), P. Reynolds, D. Clynch; C. Curran (0-4), C. Lawlor, S. Horan.
Subs - P. Maguire, P. Reynolds, P. Keena
Carroll's double strike sinks
O' Mahonys
When a team manages to score a mere four times they usually struggle, but goals win matches. Just ask Kilmessan who hit the net three times en route to defeating O' Mahonys in the under 14 camogie final last July at Kiltale. An Ashling Carroll double inspired the Tara girls to a 3-1 to 2-0 victory over their town counterparts. The difference between the teams was the ability of the Kilmessan forwards to notch goals at vital times.
Helping Miss Carroll out were Amy Carolan who also netted, while Sarah Martin completed the scoring with a point.
Others to impress for the winners were Doreen Sheridan and Denise Fitzgerald
The winning Kilmessan team was - C. Maguire; E. Doyle, J. Horan, N. Sheridan; M. Horan, D. Fitzgerald, N. Rogan; S. Martin(0-1), F. Horan; B. Reynolds, L. Reynolds, S. O' Neill; A. Carroll(2-0), S. Horan, A. Carolan(1-0).
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