The man in the 'Cap

It is a source of great regret, and no little embarrassment that the history of the GAA in Meath has not been written. The county has contributed much to the well-being of the Association in the course of it’s 115 year history and a book on the subject would make for interesting reading as well as providing something of a sporting and social record of life in the Royal County. It’s not as if there was a scarcity of achievements or a lack of pride in them ... more a fear of the awesome nature of the task.

Such an exercise will no doubt be completed in the not-too-distant future and when it is, the name of Peter McDermott will figure prominently. It is even reasonable to suggest that it will feature more than any other.

Such has been his contribution to the GAA in Meath that a biography would be a viable exercise, and such are his powers of recall and his meticulous attention to detail and accuracy that it would become something of a football bible in the county ... and beyond.

Just think about it...........one of the country’s leading footballers, All-Ireland winning captain, county selector, All-Ireland referee, County Board secretary, match reporter and succesful businessman ... all at the same time!

Although he first saw the light of day in Belgooly, Co. Cork, Peter grew up in the Cushinstown area and played at minor level with Rathfeigh and also with a team called Young Irelands in the Bellewstown/ Cushinstown district. He won a MF championship with Rathfeigh in 1936 and an IFC medal with Donaghmore in 1938 and his displays soon came to the attentions of the county selectors.

In his first year on the county team, 1940, Meath retained the Leinster title and he was at centre-field for the All-Ireland semi-final against Galway. Unfortunately, they were beaten, and his colleagues missed out on the opportunity to avenge the previous year’s controversial defeat by Kerry. However, two succesive Leinster titles meant that Meath were no longer the poor relations in the province’s pecking order after a distinct lack of success throughout the first three decades of the century. The future looked reasonably bright for young McDermott.

His status was further enhanced with a winning debut at left-half-forward on Leinster’s Railway Cup-winning team of 1944 and two year’s later he won his first National League medal medal when Meath defeated Wexford in the final. By this stage, Peter’s administrative talents had been recognised and he was Central Council delegate in 1945 and ‘46 and Leinster Council delegate in 1946 and again from 1948 to 1952.

It must also be mentioned at this stage that when Down qualified for the All-Ireland Junior semi-final in 1946, they called on Peter to become involved in their preparations. They went on to win the title, their first in any grade, and a relationship was born that was to have even more significant results 14 years later.

Meanwhile, on the field of play Peter collected his second Leinster medal in 1947 when Meath defeated Laois in the final. A trip to New York for the All-Ireland final beckoned but Meath were beaten by Kerry in the semi-final. Missing out on the Polo Grounds Final remains one of Peter’s greatest disappointments.
Two years later, Meath were Leinster champions again and history was made when the Sam Maguire Cup was captured for the first time after neighbours Cavan were beaten in the final.

Peter was at left-corner forward and played a key role in that memorable victory. The players became folk-heroes and, being the first team to bring football’s most prestigious prize to the county, they have held a special place in the affections of Royal County Gaels ever since.

The All-Ireland victory was part of a memorable sequence of wins ... from the Spring of ‘49 until the Autumn of 1951 they were beaten on only three occasions in 50 games.

One of those defeats was to great rivals Louth in the 1950 Leinster Championship ... Peter and his colleagues had some marvellous games with the Wee County in that era and Meath turned the tables in ‘51 but lost the All-Ireland final to Mayo. There was some consolation when the National League title was captured in faraway New York a week later. On the path to the title, Peter scored six goals. There was disapp-ointment again in 1952 when Cavan came out on top in the replayed All-Ireland final and Peter’s next appearance on All-Ireland final day in Croke Park came only 12 months later when he refereed the final between Kerry and Armagh. Penalties were rarities in All-Ireland finals in those days but Peter was unfazed by the occasion and awarded a penalty to Armagh. Bill McCorry’s miss is now part of Final folk-lore and Kerry won the title.

There wasn’t a great deal of confidence behind the Meath team in 1954 ... they were regarded by supporters and pundits as being “over the hill” and Peter, who was now County Board Secretary, and selector, was almost semi-retired. A remarkable year ended with Meath as All-Ireland champions and Peter receiving the Sam Maguire Cup as captain. He was 36 years of age.

The “over the hill” description may have been wildly inaccurate in 1954 but it was fair enough in 1955 when the Royal County were comprehensively beaten by Dublin in both the National League and Leinster finals. A fabulous era had come to an end.

Peter’s association with football was to continue with undiminished fervour. He refereed both All-Ireland semi-finals in 1955 and his second Final in 1956. He played in goals for Navan O Mahonys when they won the first of five-in-a-row in 1957 and collected another SFC medal in 1958. He had won his first with Donaghmore in 1942 and his second with O Mahonys in 1953.

Peter played a significant role as advisor to the Down team that won the All-Ireland titles in 1960 and ‘61 and became coach to the Meath team in 1966. They reached the All-Ireland Final where they were beaten by Galway but returned twelve months later to win the county’s third All-Ireland at Cork’s expense.

Peter’s preparations were meticulous and his analysis of the opposition was years ahead in coaching terms. The 1967 victory was followed by the invitation to travel to Australia and his organisational ability, as well as his coaching know-how, were the major factors in the success of the historic trip. On returning, he produced a souvenir booklet, “Gaels in the Sun” , a magnificently detailed account of the tour. Even in his playing days, Peter was a regular contributor to the GAA columns of the “Drogheda Independent”.

His pioneering efforts to establish a link with Australian Rules Football were recognised when he was appointed manager of the Irish team for the games against the Australians in Centenary Year.
His 52 championship appearances was a record for a Meathman until Colm O Rourke came along and his six Leinster successes has been equalled only by Martin O Connell. He was honoured with the GAA’s Hall of Fame Award in 1990 and he is currently Honorary President of Meath County Board. Besides all his illustrious achievements it is most important to record the fact that Peter McDermott is one of nature’s gentlemen.