It's a topsy turvyworld
December 31, 1999
1999 was a year of mixed emotions for the Slane club and its followers. The All County Division 3 League success was their first adult success since 1993 but their relegation from the senior grade was a bitter pill to swallow.
As a result of their relegation play-off defeat at the hands of Moynalvey, Intermediate football now looms over the horizon for Slane. It's a prospect from which little comfort will be gleaned over the winter months but the facts of the matter, however, is that Slane have the players to make an immediate return to the senior ranks.
The likes of Eamonn Gibney, Stephen Carolan, Declan Kearns, Johnny Cullen, Brian McConnon and Wayne Harding, to name just a few, would get their place on any team in the county. And youthful players like Shane Coyle, Keith Harding and Wayne Clarke augment the experience of the Martyn brothers, Gerry and Paddy.
In the space of a week, (17th Oct.-24th Oct.), the village club experienced contrasting emotions. The league success heralded the highs, seven days later the lows arrived in abundance when Moynalvey had a point to spare over them in the relegation play-off when referee Jim Smith of Dunshaughlin sounded the final whistle.
Their relegation is all the more puzzling when one considers that their championship campaign got off to the best possible start with a first round victory over Cortown.
0-15 to 2-6 was the end scoreline when these two met in Walterstown at the beginning of April. Cortown led by two points at the end of the first quarter but Slane dominated the remainder of the first half and reeled off seven points to establish a six point interval lead.
The outstanding Declan Kearns was responsible for the majority of those points and Eamon Gibney, Stephen Carolan and Colm Reilly were also on target.
Cortown were backed by the wind for the second moiety but with corner backs Wayne Harding and Nicholas Tallon in fine form they found Slane too difficult a proposition. Three points from Kearns and one from Gibney earned the village team a memorable win.
Harding, Tallon and Brian McConnon caught the eye in the winner's defence, Gerry Martyn and Stephen Carolan enjoyed the upper hand at midfield while Gibney, Colm Reilly and Kearns were the stars of the attack.
It was a dream start for Slane but subsequent defeats against Kilmainhamwood, Navan O'Mahony's, Simonstown and Kilmainhamwood again (in a group play-off) meant they needed to beat Moynalvey to preserve their place in the top flight.
Their preparations for this do-or-die clash were badly hampered when they were denied the services of Brian McConnon (injury) and Frankie Feeley (illness).
Nonetheless, they should have avoided the trap door but were guilty of wasting too much possession in the final quarter of the field. Moynalvey, in comparison, were more economical in front of the posts. Each time a chance presented itself they appeared capable of raising a flag, particularly in the first half.
Their full forward Willie Byrne gave an early indication of what was to follow when he opened his side's account. Slane, whose management for the year consisted of Liam Buggy and long serving officials, Mick Scully, Larry Kearns and Gerry Gough, trailed Moynalvey for the remainder of the game.
Both goals arrived early on. After six minutes a speculative attempt from Byrne deceived Slane 'keeper Gavin O'Brien and finished in the net. Slane replied almost immediately with Eamonn Gibney shooting to the net following a through ball from Declan Kearns.
The team in blue and white trailed by two points at the interval, 1-5 to 1-3. Gibney and Kearns were Slane's main threat in the forward division and points from them had the sides level 11 minutes into the second half.
Moynalvey regained the intiative with a brace of points before a fisted Gibney effort and a point from wing back Shane Coyle restored parity. Moynalvey weren't finished however and a 56th minute point sealed Slane's fate.
A review of their march to the A.C.F.L Division 3 title will make more pleasant reading for followers of the village team.
Duleek was the venue and Donaghmore/Ashbourne provided the opposition in the decider but were unable to prevent Slane from capturing their first adult crown since the Junior 'B' win of 1993, the Stephen Carolan captained outfit ran out winners on a scoreline of 1-10 to 0-8.
When the two sides met earlier in the competition, Donaghmore/Ashbourne earned the spoils (St. Marys and St. Ultans also defeated the eventual winners during the course of the competition) so there was no fear of Slane adopting a complacent approach.
Brian McConnon sustained the injury which would later rule him out of the relegation play-off at training the Thursday night before this encounter but with former Meath player Gerry Martyn producing an inspirational display at centre field, Slane had sound foundations from which to build.
Others who played prominent roles in securing the title included Stephen Carolan, Shane Coyle, Eamonn Gibney, David Rooney and free taker Declan Kearns (who contributed 1-6 to his team's final tally).
Donaghmore were first to open their account but this was the only time they held the initiative throughout the sixty minutes. Kearns drew the Navan Gas sponsored side level soon after, then Wayne Harding and Kearns again punished slack defensive play to open up a gap. That gap could have been wider but Colm Reilly's goal effort was well saved.
Top marksman Kearns added another point from a free before his goal gave Slane a 1-4 to 0-1 margin at the end of the first quarter.
Slane were 1-6 to 0-3 ahead at the interval. Donaghmore/Ashbourne made switches at midfield but Martyn's influence never waned.
The same can't be said for the forwards and Slane supporters' nerves were tested as they failed to hit the target for twenty minutes after the resumption. Playing against the wind didn't help matters but a point from Declan Kearns got them back on track.
Their defence came under sustained pressure during this period and 'keeper Gavin O'Brien was called into action when making a fine fingertip save at the expense of a point. Soon after O'Brien's crossbar was rattling but the ball rebounded to safety.
Kearns and Gibney eased Slane concerns with the last two points of the game to wrap up the tie.
The Slane team which defeated Donaghmore/Ashbourne was as follows - G. O'Brien; P. Mooney, P. Martyn, W. Clarke; S. Coyle, S. Carolan, J. Cullen (0-1); G. Martyn, E. Gibney (0-1); M. McWeeney, D. Rooney (0-1), K. Harding; C. Reilly, D. Kearns (1-6), W. Harding (0-1).
Subs - S. Gough, A. McMenamin, R. Tallon, P. O'Farrell, R. Wogan, A. Mongey, B. Fogarty.
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