In a rather glum year for Meath football teams the Leinster success by Dessie Hamilton's junior side was the only bright spot in 2005. By Noel Coogan. The provincial title was gained with a final victory over Louth at Drogheda at the end of June but the team captained by Stephen Dillon from Syddan was denied a second All-Ireland triumph in three years when Cork took national honours at Portlaoise on the last Saturday of July. The campaign began with a runaway win over a very poor Kilkenny outfit in a ridiculously one-sided encounter at Pairc Tailteann. 'What can one say about a game which ends with one of the teams 23 points to the good at the final whistle?' one of the reports in the local press started. Meath 3-19, Kilkenny 0-5 read the scoreboard when the agony ended for the visitors. Meath had eight of the All-Ireland winning side of two years earlier with John Curry again in goals, Trevor Bannon, Ciaran McLoughlin, Paddy Nugent and Barry Kieran in defence, Jim Gallagher at midfield and Ian McManus and Barry Lynch in attack while Kilkenny fielded former Cortown club player Paul Mullins at centre half back. Kilkenny once beat Meath in a Leinster football final. That was back in 1911 and they have not been represented in that championship for over 25 years. Before travelling for the first of two trips to Navan on the first day of June (they later played London in the Tommy Murphy Cup at the same venue) they had gone seven years without a provincial junior football win. There was little chance of the losing trend being broken even though the black and ambers held their own in the early stages. However, they were handicapped by the absence of a few players because of hurling commitments and they were four points in arrears when wing back Paddy Mullally was shown a straight red card after 24 minutes. A defensive mix up gifted Meath's first goal on 12 minutes when John L McGee fired to an unguarded net after taking a pass from Barry Lynch. Meath led by 1-9 to 0-3 and the only surprising thing about the second half was the fact that Kilkenny added two points. Eleven players in green and gold shared in the big total and Ian McManus, who top scored with 1-4, and Peter Curran added goals in the second half. That was no not the only mismatch involving the Meath junior footballers in 2005 as a few weeks later they disposed of London with 15 points to spare at the same venue. They got a match when defeating Wicklow by 2-13 to 1-13 in their provincial semi-final at Aughrim. Meath, who led by 1-7 to 1-2 at the break, could have won by more to spare. They had wing back Gordon Hynes just before the end. Ian McManus brightened up the game with six points in the first half. The visitors increased their advantage to eight points before Wicklow shook themselves to get to a kick of the ball off the leaders. Stephen Dillon and John L McGee got the goals for the winners for whom Paddy Nugent, John Donoghue and Hynes impressed in rearguard. The Leinster JFC title went to Meath for the 15th time after 1-9 to 0-5 victory over Louth in a dull decider. Although it was a near perfect evening for football, the standard of play was low with elementary mistakes on both sides. Louth, seeking a first junior title since 1966, were boosted by the presence in attack of former county senior Colin Kelly who, however, was forced to retire injured before the break and then early in the second Christy Grimes, another wearer of the red and white at senior level, came on. But neither made a major impact and two points, the first from Kelly and then a McManus free, set the tone for the remainder of the contest. After the game Meath manager Hamilton said that Louth's running off the ball while on the attack caused his side some problems. But the Wee County front men were like dogs with lots of bark but little bite. Louth manager of the time, Val Andrews, was also in charge of the juniors and his side was well in touch before Rory Maguire netted the game's only goal. Finishing to the left corner of the net after 31 minutes following a pass from Peter Curran. With Dillon and Lynch (play and free) having sent over points for them, Meath led by 1-4 to 0-2 at the break. "We struggled at midfield but our full back line (Trevor Bannon, Ciaran McLoughlin and Paddy Nugent) gave little away," said Hamilton who brought on Conor Brennan to improve matters around the halfway line in the second period. Meath went 13 minutes without a score after the change of ends before McGee made it 1-7 to 0-4. Maguire, the best forward on view on the night, increased the lead before David Reid kicked over his second pointed free and Brennan completed the winning total. With Ulster still not holding a junior championship, the All-Ireland tag is a bit misleading for this championship. Certainly the British winners are a poor substitute for Tyrone or Armagh (or Cavan) and the first of the penultimate round ties was another penance. The first six minutes were even with Andy Hanley replying to an opening point from Ger McCullagh. But then reeled off 1-6 and it was not a contest after that. The scores were 1-9 to 0-4 at the break, Rory Maguire having helped himself to 1-4 by that stage. So one-sided were the exchanges that the home side could have had four goals in the first half. Before finding the net, Longwood clubman Maguire had an attempt tipped over the bar by London 'keeper Aidan McGorey, a point by McGee could have been two more and McManus missed an opportunity. London could only manage two scores from play and they were reduced to 14 men when midfielder Gearoid O'Brien was sent off for a second yellow card offence after 47 minutes. As well as hitting 19 scores, the winners kicked 14 wides. Six days later Cork beat Sligo by 0-10 to 0-7 to earn a final tilt with Meath on Saturday, July 30th. Before that game Boardsmill clubman Dessie Hamilton, who was an IFC winner with Ballivor in 1971, defending the inter county junior grade, saying that competition in the grade can nurture young talent. Two members of the 2003 All-Ireland winning junior team, forwards Stephen Bray and Brian Farrell were in the 2005 senior attack. Then in 2004 Niall McLoughlin, Brian O'Reilly and Mark Ward were involved in Hamilton's first year in charge and they also figured on Sean Boylan's side this year. Like the Leinster JFC final, the All-Ireland decider was a disappointing affair with Cork winning by 0-10 to 1-4 and Meath only managing two points from play. The sides were level after 57 minutes before the Munster side added three points. Cork were worthy winners, they hit a total of 13 wides compared to five by their opponents when taking the title for the 13th time. The sides were level at 0-3 each at the break after Meath netminder John Curry brought off three fine saves. But, apart from the Ballinabrackey number one, Meath had few competent performers. But Paddy Nugent turned in an outstanding display in the left corner of defence. The Royal County side started brightly with Peter Curran giving them the lead but then they had to wait nearly 40 minutes for their next score from play. That was a well-taken goal by Rory Maguire which had the sides level for the third time, 1-4 to 0-7. Even though Meath had a few more chances, they did not score any more. Cork substitute Denis O'Connor made his presence felt with two points and Daniel Goulding sent over his fifth point. In the dying seconds Meath had one last chance of saving the day but a free from John Donoghue into the goal area was cleared out. "Over the hour Cork were probably that little bit stronger. John Curry made a few fantastic saves to keep us in it in the first half. We were under pressure early in the second half and they were winning midfield. We were in big trouble at that stage, then we made a few switches and it helped. The goal from Rory Maguire levelled it for us, we got opportunities to go ahead but it didn't happen for us," said Dessie Hamilton. "Cork were good. Their backs were solid, they didn't give our forwards an inch and they were very fast as well," added the manager who can look forward to a third term in charge in 2006 after being unopposed for the position. The team which brought Meath its 15th Leinster junior football title was: Trevor Bannon, Ciaran McLoughlin, Paddy Nugent; Barry Kieran, John Donoghue, Gordon Hynes; Jim Gallagher, Stephen Dillon; Peter Curran, Ian McManus, Ger McCullagh; Rory Maguire, Barry Lynch, John L McGee. Subs - Conor Brennan for Gallagher, Wayne Reilly for McManus, Keith Hamilton, John Bruton for McGee, Ian Mullins for Kieran. Tomas Blake, Eoin Dunne and Ronan Kelly figured in other games. Tweet

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