Turbulent year for Meath hurling
November 30, 2003
It wasn't meant to end as it did. A home game against Carlow in early May and suddenly Meath's ambitions for 2003 were left in tatters. The championship exit was greeted with a silence that aptly portrayed the sense of disappointment and shock. There had been other disappointments and other shocks but on this occasion you could also sense a growing degree of pessimism about the future of Meath hurling.
In order to understand the extent of the pain it is necessary to cast our minds back to last year and Michael Duignan's first year in charge.
The former Offaly star was seen by Meath hurling officials and supporters as the man to take Meath to a higher plane. There was no wild talk of Leinster titles or of gaining parity with Kilkenny, Offaly or Wexford. However, there is a level just below that occupied by the aforementioned trio ... and it is comprised of Dublin and Laois.
Meath needed to get onto this level ... and at last the Royal County hurlers appeared to be capable of waving goodbye to the province's third level teams ... Carlow, Westmeath, Kildare and Wicklow.
Events in Duignan's first year in charge encouraged the belief that the target was well within the scope. Relegation from Division 1 was seen not so much as a disaster, more an opportunity to re-group.
Carlow were beaten in the championship in Dr Cullen Park and then Laois were beaten on a memorable occasion at Pairc Tailteann. Meath hurling was on it's way!
There was a defeat by Dublin in the preliminary final in Tullamore but that would be part of the learning process and the defeat by Offaly in the first round qualifiers was regarded in a similar light. The experience gained from four championship outings would reap significant rewards in 2003, and Nicky Horan's All-Star nomination was not only a significant honour for the player himself but also a genuine acknowledgement of the efforts being invested in Meath hurling. The outlook could be described as promislng ... at least
The defeat by Offaly in mid-June brought the inter-county senior hurling year to an end and the next competitive outing wasn't until the Walsh Cup clash with Dublin at the end of January. Dublin had the benefit of a win over down in the same tournament a week previous and it showed as they romped to a 2-26 to 0-10 victory.
It was an experimental Meath line-up ... Davin Reilly, Anton O'Neill, and Fergus McMahon had apparently opted out of the panel, Declan Murray had also declared himself unavailable while Thomas Reilly was injured. Paul Donnelly would miss the entire campaign because of suspension.
Prior to the start of the National League, it was confirmed that Eddie Priest, the former county and Kildalkey player had succeeded his club colleague as a selector alongside Michael Duignan, Paddy Kelly and John Hunt.
Arklow was the setting for Meath's return to Division 2 NHL action after two years in the top flight. Conditions were difficult but Meath produced a solid performance to beat Wicklow by four points, 0-11 to 0-7.
The most encourraging aspect of their victory was the manner in which they pulled away from their opponents in the last quarter and there were excellent displays from both Dan Dorran and Nicky Horan, the latter accounting for six points from frees. There were three sendings-off ... David Callaghan and two Wicklowmen saw red.
Whatever satisfaction was gained from the victory in Arklow was totally erased within a week when Kerry visited Pairc Tailteann and inflicted severe damage to Royal County morale with a 2-19 to 0-11 walloping.
It was Kerry's third League outing and they showed glimpses of the potential that had Limerick worried for most of their championship encounter later in the summer. Meath had first benefit of the significant breeze but were in trouble at half-time when they were only on level terms at 0-8 each.
While the home team squandered at least three excellent goal opportunities they could have no complaints about the result and the second-half display was as bad as any Meath supporter could remember. Kerry and Antrim were always going to be the main rivals for promotion ... and having failed to take advantage of the home venue against the Kingdom, hopes of a quick return to Division 1 all but disappeared as early as the second round.
A place in the second series was booked on the following Saturday with a facile win over Longford. The final score was Meath 4-16 Longford 1-12. There was never going to be any doubt about the outcome and the only purpose served was the restoration of some confidence in the aftermath of the Kerry debacle.
Mickey Cole had a fine game scoring two goals while Neville Reilly also grabbed a brace. Nicky Horan scored 0-8 but his club colleague Charlie Keena received a red card.
Carlow were the visitors to Pairc Tailteann for the last of the first series of games. Ray Dorran was an absentee through injury and his place at full-back went to Pat Roche. The ever-improving Seamus Wallace was at corner-back.
For the second successive game Meath bagged four goals and emerged with a 4-9 to 2-8 victory. This was an encouraging display especially as it came about only a month prior to the championship clash of the two teams.
It was all square as the game entered the final quarter but goals from substitute Padraig Coone and Mickey Cole wrapped it up for Michael Duignan's team.
A degree of momentum was beginning to generate and it intensified further with a hard-earned victory over Down at Pairc Tailteann in the first round of the second series of games.
Four points separated the teams at the final whistle, 2-10 to 12 points with the goals coming from Padraig Coone and substitute Keith Callaghan. The team was beginning to have a settled look about it although questions remained about the absence or disinterest shown by a handful of players whose experience would have been of immense benefit to the team.
The game against Antrim was always going to be the crunch encounter. The form indicated that Antrim should come out on top especially after their win over Kerry. Had you been told that Meath would score 5-7 you would probably have invested heavily in a win for the visitors but Antrim's 1-22 was enough to keep the points in the north and end Meath's prospects of promotion.
With the championship drawing closer it was a most encouraging performance from Meath. Ray Dorran's sending off turned out to be a significant handicap in the closing stages and despite a genuinely spirited display, Antrim's ability to take their points emerged as the difference between the teams.
A goal from a free by Daniel Fagan in the last minute of normal time put Meath ahead and Nicky Horan added a point to increase expectations of a shock result but Antrim were not to be denied and a last gasp goal from substitute Darren Quinn turned out to be the decisive score.
There was nothing but pride at stake when Westmeath were the visitors to Pairc Tailteann for the last game in the League but it was looked on as another useful exercise in the Championship preparations.
Michael Duignan's men won by 4-17 to 3-11 with Nicky Horan scoring a fine total of 2-6. However, with Kerry accounting for Down and Antrim doing likewise with Carlow, Meath were out of the promotion race.
Controversy had flared in the closing stages of the League and in the build-up to the Championship. Clubs refused to play their first round Championship games in order to assist the county team management's preparations and there was a belief that the 'debate' would emerge as a positive factor for the championship show down with Carlow.
The League campaign, in which there were only two defeats, (to Division 2 finalists Antrim and Kerry), had been reasonably encouraging and with a League win to their credit over Carlow there were authentic grounds for optimism.
Despite having played against Antrim Kevin Dowd was ruled out through suspension adding further to an impressive list of 'unavailables' but the Carlow team included eight of their under 21 squad and against such a background it was difficult to oppose Meath in the pre-match analysis.
The home team had first use of the breeze but failed to take advantage and it was Carlow who led by a point at half-time, 0-9 to 1-5. Meath played poorly throughout the first half, the only bright spot being Nicky Horan's goal. Seamus Wallace and Pat Roche played heroically in defence but in other key areas Meath were playing second fiddle to the visitors.
And the situation worsened after the break as Carlow whipped over four unanswered points to open up a five point gap. With nine minutes of normal time remaining Eimhin Lynam raised Meath hopes with a slightly fortuitous goal from a free and when substitute Keith Callaghan added a point only the minimum margin separated the teams. Nicky Horan drew the teams level with a point from a free and it looked odds on a Meath victory, or a draw.
However, a poor clearance out of the Meath defence led to Gary Doyle scoring the winning point and an unfortunate Championship exit for the men in Green and Gold.
Ultimately it was Meath's failure to perform to their potential that cost them the game and to say that hurling in the county had received a setback was a gross understatement.
Carlow subsequently lost to Laois on a scoreline of 5-15 to 1-9 and despite the encouraging wins over Carlow and Laois in 2002 and the promising League display against Antrim in April, it looks as if Meath's quest for a place in the second tier of Leinster hurling is still some distance away.
The team that played Carlow was; Mark Gannon (Killyon), Seamus Wallace (Drumree), Pat Roche (O'Mahonys), Paul Gannon (Dunboyne), Johnny Watters (Dunboyne), Cathal Sheridan (Kiltale) 0-1, Martin Horan (Kilmessan), Brian Perry (Killyon), Daniel Fagan (Kildalkey), Mickey Cole (Rathmolyon) 0-1, Dan Dorran (Longwood) Charles Keena (Kilmessan) 0-2, Eimhin Lynam (Trim), 1-2, Ray Dorran (Longwood), and Nicky Horan (Kilmessan) 1-3, Substitutes; Sean Corrigan (Kildalkey), Keith Callaghan (Dunderry) 0-1, David Dorran (Longwood) and Padraig Coone (O'Mahonys).
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