There was a change at the top in Meath hurling in 2005 with the Kilmessan-Trim stranglehold of the last few years being broken as Killyon returned to the summit, taking the SHC title for the seventh time and enjoying a first outright triumph since 1991. The seventh success was attained some 86 years after the first in 1919 and after many barren years, the foundations for a return to the summit were laid in the '70s when there were numerous underage trophies annexed. The Killyon club amassed a remarkable total of 31 hurling titles between 1972 and '80 from the under 13 grade up to senior. In 1979 a gap of 60 years was bridged when Boardsmill were decisively defeated by 4-7 to 0-4 and the Jubilee Cup went to the Hill of Down for the first time. The winning team that year was - Vincent Duignan; Jimmy Duignan, Billy Dixon, Paddy Doyle; Oliver Carney, Patsy Molloy, Eamonn Stenson; Martin Dempsey, Sean Ryan; Lar Tyrell, Ambrose Connolly, Tom Massey; Jimmy Connolly, Jimmy Mitchell, Dermot Dempsey. In the 1979 campaign Jimmy Mitchell netted three goals in both the semi-final against Kiltale and the final. He finished the championship with a total of 8-3. The SHC title was retained in each of the next two years and there were further outright triumphs in 1984 and '91. Killyon were not expected to go all the way in 2005. In the group phase they finished up as joint top with Kiltale, whom they beat by two goals. They won four games and suffered a defeat to Rathmolyon. They began with a 3-11 to 1-11win over Kiltale and that was followed by a 1-14 to 0-14 success at the expense of Boardsmill. In the third round Sean Ryan's charges had five points to spare over Navan O'Mahomys, 1-14 to 0-12, but then there was a setback as Rathmolyon inflicted a 1-16 to 1-9 defeat. But that was their only defeat of the campaign and they recovered well with a 2-15 to 2-4 victory over Longwood ensuring a place in the last four which looked likely from the outset. Killyon went into their first semi-final since 2002 as rank outsiders against a Kilmessan side who were going for a fourth title triumph on the trot and were strong favourites to extend the winning sequence. But the men in green and red turned the form book upside down with a 3-12 to 1-14 victory at Trim. "The reigning champions were made play second fiddle to a physically superior and well drilled Killyon side'' stated one report of the second of the semi-finals in which the outsiders were well on the way to a surprise success when 3-4 to 0-7 to the good at the break. They began promisingly with Padraig McKeown shooting over the bar soon after the start and team captain Clayton Keegan grabbed their first goal after four minutes following a long free from full back Brian Perry. It was 1-3 to 0-5 after 19 minutes but then Killyon netted two more goals in the last six minutes before the break. For the first of them Mark Gannon latched on to a long delivery from midfielder Noel Davis and finished well to the top left corner of the net. Then James Mitchell reacted quickly to pounce on a long free from centre back Ray McKeown to send the third goal past opposing 'keeper Mark Brennan. Killyon netminder Stephen Quinn thwarted Kilmessan on a number of occasions with a string of crucial saves while Perry, Ray McKeown and Patrick Ryan did well in front of him. Gannon finished the game with 1-6 and Padraig McKeown sent over six points. Although the deficit was reduced to two points by the end of the third quarter, Killyon did not panic and points from Gannon, Mitchell and Padraig McKeown helped them win with four to spare. Former county netminder Gannon was doing well in his role of poacher and finished up with 1-6 to his credit. After that win Killyon could look forward to a final clash with Kildalkey, who had earlier edged out Kiltale. Although the unexpected final pairing attracted a large attendance to St Loman's Park as the title tie returned to Trim and there was a buzz of anticipation before the game between clubs who had clashed in the 1980 decider. Although the match did not reach great heights, it was a sporting contest with referee Gerry Kelly of Navan O'Mahonys not having to produce a card during the hour. The new champions took their scoring opportunities better than their rivals who were left counting the cost of 17 wides. 'Killyon in seventh heaven' read a headline in one local paper after the 2--9 to 0-7 triumph. "Killyon showed great economy with their scoring chances, worked tirelessly in defence and came out on top in most of the individual battles, ensuring that they were well worth their eight points victory in front of well over 2,000 spectators'' wrote Paul McCabe in The Weekender. They again got off to a productive start, netting their first goal after five minutes with corner forward Padraig McKeown finishing to the net to leave the eventual winners leading by 1-0 to 0-2. A James Mitchell attempt was blocked and McKeown was alert to fire home the loose ball. Killyon were not headed after that and the first goal separated the sides at the interval when the board read 1-5 to 0-5. Five of the winners' points were struck from frees with Mark Gannon converting three and McKeown sending over two as well as getting one score from play. Calvin Ryan hit two points from play in the first half. The Killyon rearguard performed solidly with 40 plus veteran Michael Ryan playing well on former Meath and Leinster star Pat Potterton. Johnny Mitchell and Noel Davis showed up well at midfield with Mark Gannon and young Calvin Ryan also to the fore in the attack. Killyon increased their lead in the second half. Six minutes from the end Ambrose Connolly crossed from the right and substitute Darren Ryan, son of winning manager Sean, netted the second goal. It was a special and overdue triumph for Sean Ryan who was in his ninth year at the Killyon helm. Kit Mitchell, J. J. Carney and Derek Murray were his fellow selectors and Ryan said ''maybe it was time we won it but it was definitely worth the wait.'' "We didn't miss much on the day and they will be very disappointed after hitting so many wides. They started well and then we got the goal which appeared to settle us. It is often said that goals win matches and the points began to come after our first goal,'' he added. Sean Ryan paid tribute to long-serving stalwarts Michael Ryan and Mark Gannon, saying "they have put in so much over the years and they gave their all today.'' The manager was also full of praise for goalkeeper Stephen Quinn, who again made a few crucial saves including a spectacular diving stop near the end and was following in the tradition of father Paddy who won five SHC medals playing between the posts. Sean Ryan described Quinn as the best goalkeeper in the county as the celebrations began. The Killyon team which won the 2005 Meath SHC title was: Stephen Quinn; Michael Ryan, Brian Perry, David Mitchell, Patrick Ryan, Raymond McKeown, J. J. Gilsenan; Johnny Mitchell, Noel Davis; Mark Gannon, Calvin Ryan, Clayton Keegan; Padraig McKeown, Ambrose Connolly, James Mitchell. Subs - T. Duignan for D. Mitchell, Brendan Pollock for C. Ryan, Darren Ryan for Keegan. Killyon completed a notable double when their third adult team lifted the JHC 2 title with a 1-12 to 0-11 final victory over Clann na nGael at Boardsmill seven days after the senior triumph. There was a good sprinkling of underage players on the winning team while there were some veterans involved too. Left half forward David Raleigh took the scoring honours with eight points, five of which were struck over from frees. Killyon led by 0-8 to 0-5 at the break and the introduction of 42-year-old Pat Gannon in the second half was crucial to another title going to the Hill of Down. Pointed frees from Raleigh were keeping Killyon in front and then with eight minutes to go came the goal Gannon provided the pass and full forward Leighton Massey made no mistake. Goalkeeper Joey Connor, full back David McKeown, midfielder Paul Feeney and top marksman Raleigh impressed most for the winners. After the final whistle Killyon captain Sean Carroll received the cup from the Hurtling Board's veteran assistant secretary Brian Smyth. Killyon's JHC 2 title winning team was: J. Connor; J. Dixon, T. McKeown, P. Rattigan; R. Massey, P. Ayres, Oliver. Treacy; S. Carroll, P. Feeney; P. Keoghan, E. Greene, D. Raleigh; E. Keegan, L. Massey, B. Conway. Subs - P. Gannon for Keegan, M. Rattigan for R. Massey, P. Doyle for Ayres. Tweet

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