That triumph half a century ago was achieved with a fully deserved victory over a gallant Kiltale team in the final at St Loman's Park, Trim, as Boardsmill won a goal feast by 7-5 to 3-6 to take the senior crown just two years after they had won the junior title. Boardsmill had demonstrated the extent of their progress earlier in 1958 when they secured their first major success since achieving promotion by getting the better of Trim in the O'Growney Cup final and by the time they worked their way through to the championship decider they were clear favourites to complete the big double Fitness was a key ingredient for a generally young Boardsmill team in the final as they took control in the last quarter to push clear and be 11 points ahead when referee Brian Smyth sounded the last whistle. The scenes that followed were full of joy and jubilation and it was a proud moment for team captain Paddy Brady when he received the cup. However, it was Kiltale who looked the more likely winners in the early stages of a match played in very difficult underfoot conditions as they raced into a 1-3 to 0-0 lead before Boardsmill had a chance to find their feet. Mickey Kane and Mickey Regan settled Kiltale with early points and when Billy Delaney rattled the net with a brilliant goal and then slotted over a free, the Boardsmill supporters must have been wondering if this was going to be their day after all. But as time wore on they warmed to the occasion and Higgins gave them a major boost with the first of their seven goals. Sean Garrigan, who was also in the thick of the action when Boardsmill won the senior title four times in five years in the first half of the 1970s, was a major thorn in Kiltale's side with his stunning solo runs from midfield and he scored his team's first point. The sides exchanged points and then the opening period finished with both teams scoring a goal. Paul Daly was on the mark for Boardsmill, but the green flag had barely stopped waving at one end of the pitch when the one at the other end did likewise after Kane had netted for Kiltale. That goal gave his side a 2-4 to 2-2 lead at the interval and it was all to play for in the second half. The exchanges remained close in the early stages of the half, but as the period progressed the 'Mill gradually gained the upper hand. Kevin Murray cut the deficit to the minimum with a point and then Daly had Boardsmill ahead with a magnificent goal which sent gasps of admiration around the Trim venue. Tommy Murray scored what proved to be their last point, but there were still goals aplenty to come - four of them for the winners. Daly completed his hat trick of goals to open up a decisive 4-5 to 2-5 advantage and with Kiltale visibly tiring it was only a matter of how much Boardsmill would win by. Dickie Connolly, Garrigan and Higgins all found the net and Delaney's late goal for Kiltale was no more than a consolation. Despite the difficult conditions, the match produced many passages of high quality hurling and was played in a tremendously sporting manner. The 10 goals obviously added to the enjoyment, while there were some outstanding individual performances, especially on the Boardsmill side. Brady played a real captain's role with a magnificent display in the full-back line and his lengthy clearances were a memorable highlight of the final. Garrigan thrilled the crowd with his midfield prowess and those brilliant solo runs, but this was very much a triumph built on a solid team performance, with fitness a vital ingredient. Boardsmill scored seven goals, but it might have been a lot more but for a brilliant display by Kiltale goalkeeper Christy Gorman who produced a number of magnificent saves when the pressure was on. Billy and Paddy Kelly, Tommy Kane and Delaney were among the others to stand out for a Kiltale team which contributed so much to a very enjoyable final. It was six years later before Boardsmill won the Senior Championship again in 1964 and they were also successful in 1971, '73, '74 and '75 during a truly golden era for the club. The teams which contested the 1958 final were: Boardsmill - J Mullally; P Brady, J Farrell, J Farrelly; A Murray (0-1), K Murray (0-1), N Higgins (2-0); S Beglan, S Garrigan (1-1); P Donohoe (0-1), D Connolly (1-0), P Daly; T Gunning, T Murray (0-1), P Daly (3-0). Kiltale - C Gorman; T Kane, P Kane, B Kelly; M Diviney, P Kelly, J Kane; M Kane (1-2), S Walsh; M Regan (0-1), P Butterly, F Englishby; S McGlynn, B Delaney (2-1), S Clavin (0-1). Subs - P Mangan for Englishby, T Mulligan for Clavin. Referee - Brian Smyth (Batterstown). SURVIVAL ACHIEVED IN 2008 Back in 1958 Boardsmill were celebrating that historic success in the top flight, but push the clock forward 50 years and their feeling at the end of the Senior Championship was surely one of relief rather than jubilation after they struggled to hold onto their status. Boardsmill, who failed to qualify for the knockout stages last year after winning their first two group matches and then losing the next three, were drawn in group B of the 2008 championship along with Na Fianna, Navan O'Mahonys, Dunboyne, Drumree and reigning champions Kiltale. They opened their campaign with a very searching test against Kiltale at Longwood and the Jubilee Cup holders came out on top by 2-17 to 1-10 to open the defence of their crown as they would have wished. Navan O'Mahonys, who were beaten by Na Fianna in the opening round, were Boardsmill's next opponents at Kiltale and this proved to be a very one-sided contest as the town side won by 4-12 to 0-7. What had the appearances of a hugely significant match in terms of survival lay ahead in the third round when Boardsmill came face to face with fellow strugglers Drumree. This game also took place at Kiltale and when Drumree triumphed by 4-9 to 2-4 the alarm bells were really starting to ring for the 'Mill. After a lengthy break the championship action resumed with a very difficult assignment against Dunboyne, but this game had to be abandoned because of a serious leg injury sustained by Boardsmill's Thomas Reilly after 25 minutes. The rearranged fixture took place at Pairc Tailteann where the St Peter's men won by 2-17 to 2-8 and with four successive defeats in the section Boardsmill were clearly in serious trouble. Na Fianna and Drumree were thrown out of the championship as a result of incidents in their group match and were involved in a relegation battle with Boardsmill. The 'Mill lost to Na Fianna by 1-10 to 1-16 at Trim in an initial play-off, but when the pressure was on they responded with a 2-9 to 0-13 victory over Drumree in a group relegation play-off at Kiltale to secure their top flight status. Niall O'Rourke scored a first half goal for the winners who held a slender 1-5 to 0-7 lead at the break. Drumree went ahead early in the second period, but a goal from Vinny Guy proved enormously helpful to Boardsmill who went on to win by two points. Goalkeeper Stephen Masterson came to their rescue near the end when he saved well to deny David Troy a goal. It was also a battle for survival for Boardsmill in Div. 1 of the Hurling League, but they achieved it there as well when getting the better of Clann na nGael by 2-16 to 2-8 in a relegation play-off. FOOTBALLERS EARN CRUCIAL WIN A victory over Drumree also ensured that Boardsmill will be playing in the Junior Football Championship in 2009, but like the senior hurlers they too endured a difficult qualification campaign this year, though it got a lot better in the latter stages of group matches. Boardsmill were drawn in a section that also included two of the championship favourites, Longwood and Ratoath, as well as Drumree and the second string teams from Skryne and Gaeil Colmcille. A first round defeat against Ratoath on a 0-6 to 1-8 score line at Summerhill was followed by a heavy loss to Gaeil Colmcille (0-6 to 3-11) at Kilskyre and another reversal by a big margin (1-5 to 3-11) when they played Longwood at Ballivor. Things improved a little in the fourth round at Kiltale when Boardsmill drew with Skryne (1-7 each), but with only one point in the bag after four matches they were in danger of falling into the relegation dogfight like in 2007 when they later got the better of Gaeil Colmcille after a replayed play-off to ensure their survival. This time they avoided the horrors of the play-offs when they defeated Drumree by 2-8 to 0-9 in their last group game at Bective. David Farrell's goal helped Boardsmill to lead by 1-3 to 0-3 at the break and Vinny Guy also netted in the second period to guide them towards victory and safety in the junior grade. That win enabled them to move onto three points and that left them ahead of both Drumree and Gaeil Colmcille on two. Tweet

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