The gap to Boardsmill's last annexation of the Jubilee Cup stretches back over three decades to the year they completed a fabulous three in-a-row in 1975 and their hopes of regaining the title this year appeared to be enhanced considerably when they beat Trim in a play-off, but they then bowed out against Dunboyne. Boardsmill didn't exactly set the group stages of the Senior Hurling Championship alight, but they still just missed out on an automatic semi-final place after winning twice, drawing twice and losing just once in a section that was to produce the two finalists, Rathmolyon and Dunboyne, and also included former kingpins Trim, Drumree and last year's intermediate winners Blackhall Gaels. TJ Reilly was the Boardsmill manager, with Eamonn Cosgrave and Michael Leonard acting as selectors, and when they were drawn to meet new boys Blackhall in the opening round it looked like a good opportunity to get off to a winning start and that's how it worked out at Trim as they won by 10 points on a 2-15 to 2-5 score line. The Kilcloon/Batterstown combination rocked them with an early goal, but that proved a wake-up call for Boardsmill who scored a succession of well-taken points, before Stephen Gibbons notched the goal that propelled them in the direction of a useful 1-8 to 1-3 advantage at the interval. They continued to push clear in the second period and a fortunate Gerry Jones goal killed off the Blackhall challenge, though the intermediate champions kept battling away and replied with their second goal. However, it was nothing more than a consolation score and Boardsmill had comfortably got off to the desired winning start. The conditions were very difficult when Boardsmill travelled to Longwood to play Dunboyne in the second round and the highlight of the match was an outstanding second half display from the 'Mill who recovered well from a 0-4 to 1-7 interval deficit to go very close to making it a second win on the bounce. Dunboyne failed to score for the opening 23 minutes of that second period and a goal from Eoin Dunne restored parity at 1-7 apiece, before points by Neil McLoughlin and Gerry Jones edged Boardsmill ahead. Dunboyne found their feet again to draw level, before Thomas Reilly put the 'Mill back in front and substitute John Nolan missed a goal chance that might well have secured victory. In the end, Dunboyne pounced with a late Stephen Moran equaliser and it finished 1-10 each. Another draw (0-11 each) followed against Trim at Kildalkey and after three rounds of qualification matches high flying Rathmolyon were on top with a maximum six points, followed by Boardsmill and Dunboyne on four and Trim and Drumree on two. The clash with Drumree in the fourth round at Trim looked like a game Boardsmill should win and despite the concession of three goals that's how it worked out as they came through by 2-13 to 3-3 to stay on course for the semi-finals. Thomas Reilly gave Boardsmill the perfect start when he goaled in the first minute and, backed by the wind, they pushed ahead to lead by eight points (1-9 to 1-1) at the change of ends. But Drumree were determined and closed the gap to four within 10 minutes of the restart, before the 'Mill responded with a superb goal from Gerry Jones. Drumree had scored two goals by that stage and they struck with a third, but Boardsmill had already done enough to secure a victory that left qualification for the last four in their own hands. The worst that could happen was that they would end up in a play-off position, but that could be avoided if they even drew their final group assignment against table-toppers Rathmolyon. But Boardsmill missed out on the opportunity to secure second position in the group and automatic qualification for the semi-finals when Rathmolyon defeated them by 10 points (3-15 to 0-14) at Longwood. The concession of sloppy goals in the first half left them with a mountain to climb at the break when they trailed by 0-4 to 2-10. Thomas Reilly, who scored 13 of Boardsmill's 14-point haul, slotted over frees with reasonable regularity, but it was goals they needed in the second half. They didn't get any and instead they conceded a third as Rathmolyon coasted to a runaway win to book their place in the semis against Kildalkey. The reality for Boardsmill after that loss was that they would have to negotiate two major obstacles if they were to make the last four as they finished tied for second place in the group with Trim and Dunboyne on six points, well adrift of Rathmolyon who had won all their games and were on top with a maximum 10. Boardsmill negotiated the first hurdle when they edged out Trim by 0-18 to 0-16 after extra-time at Kildalkey, but Dunboyne were improving as the competition progressed and they halted their progress in a second play-off when winning by 1-18 to 1-8 at Trim, thus advancing to a last four meeting with Kilmessan. Without Thomas Reilly, who had broken his hand against Trim, Boardsmill were seriously handicapped, but they still made a fabulous start and led by 1-4 to 0-0 after David Leonard had notched the goal. However, the advantage was down to 1-5 to 0-6 at the interval and they managed only three points in the second half as the St. Peter's side added an impressive 1-12 to pull away for a clearcut victory. Boardsmill had got good value out of the 2006 Senior Championship, playing seven matches, but that was little consolation as they failed to reach the semi-finals. "We were great in the first half against Dunboyne, but we just never came out for the second," said club secretary Eric Cribben as he reflected on Boardsmill's elimination from the Senior Championship. "We started seriously well and built up a good lead, but we died a death in the second half. "We had beaten Trim in the first play-off and it was great to win that one. I think we hadn't beaten Trim since 1982. But unfortunately Thomas Reilly broke his hand in that game and he was a huge loss to us against Dunboyne. Thomas is a class act." The Boardsmill second string played in the Div. 2 HC and came through a group that also included Clann na nGael, Drumree, Dunderry, Donaghmore/Ashbourne and Gaeil Colmcille with a 100 per cent winning record. That put them into a semi-final against Na Fianna which ended level at Longwood, but they bowed out in the replay when going under by 0-9 to 1-11 at the same venue. Following their memorable win in the Junior B Football Championship last year, Boardsmill moved up to the JFC for the 2006 campaign and, while they didn't manage to reach the knockout stages, they certainly weren't disgraced. Dessie Hamilton, who guided Meath to the Leinster JFC title, managed the team and Michael Leonard and Anthony Reilly were selectors. When the championship draws were made last spring Boardsmill came out in Group A along with St. Mary's, champions to be St. Ultan's, Clann na nGael, St. Vincent's, Moynalvey, Dunboyne and Dunsany and they made their debut in the grade with a match against Clann na nGael at Kildalkey. The Athboy/An Gaeltacht combination opened up an early three-point lead, but a Stephen Gibbons goal revived Boardsmill in a big way and they went on to lead by 1-6 to 0-4, before Clann na nGael recovered to be level at the break. They upped the tempo in the second period to move ahead, but a Vinny Guy goal gave the 'Mill hope. However, they were eight points adrift at the end as it finished 2-15 to 2-7. A first win in the grade arrived in the second round at Bective when Boardsmill defeated St. Mary's by 1-12 to 0-10 thanks to a very good display. The performance was full of passion and commitment as they moved into a 0-9 to 0-3 interval lead and, while Mary's reduced the arrears, an Eoin Dunne goal sealed the win. Keith Hamilton top-scored with seven points. When Boardsmill look back on their third round performance against St. Ultan's at Athboy they will realise that they're not that far off the required standard to at least reach the knockout stages. Ultan's, who went on to win the title, won by only two points (1-14 to 2-9) and were well and truly rattled by the Junior B title holders. Hamilton and A. Geraghty scored goals for the 'Mill in the first half, during which they twice led by two points, and they trailed by the minimum (2-4 to 1-8) at the interval, before the Bohermeen/Martry combination just did enough to win. Boardsmill's heaviest defeat of the championship campaign came in the fourth round when Dunsany beat them by 3-17 to 1-6 at Kiltale, but they bounced back very well to get the better of St. Vincent's by 3-11 to 1-10 at Bective. It represented a touch of revenge for the dramatic loss to the Ardcath men in the 2003 Junior B final and the 'Mill were well on the way at half-time when they led by 2-6 to 0-4 after David Farrell and Stephen Gibbons had scored the goals. Eoin Dunne notched a third goal in the second half and Paul Dunne was particularly impressive. Dunboyne's second string provided the opposition in the sixth round at Kiltale and Boardsmill's hopes of reaching the knockout stages suffered a big blow when the St. Peter's men won by 0-13 to 0-12. The winners led by 0-9 to 0-5 at half-time, but the 'Mill upped the tempo in the second period to move into a healthy advantage. However, Dunboyne finished strongest to win. Boardsmill's only draw of the group campaign followed in the final round when Keith Hamilton scored nine of their 12 points as it finished 0-12 to 1-9 against Moynalvey at Summerhill. At the end of the campaign Boardsmill had won two of their seven matches, drawn one and lost four for a points tally of five. The Boardsmill team in the Junior D FC came through a group that also included Longwood, Summerhill, Trim and Clann na nGael, but they went out at the quarter-final stage when Ratoath beat them by 2-16 to 2-4. Tweet

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