The most dramatic conclusion to any Meath GAA final in 2006 was in the Senior Hurling Championship decider when Rathmolyon snatched the title from the grasp of Dunboyne with a sensational goal in added time at the end of an entertaining encounter. By Noel Coogan After just failing to make the last four in the previous year's race for the Jubilee Cup, the men from the Village enjoyed a great run to glory, playing seven and winning seven. After trouncing Kildalkey to the tune of 27 points in the penultimate round they struck late with Gary Cole getting a touch to a free from brother Mickey to give the club the title for the third time. After losing three SHC finals in the '80s, Rathmolyon struck gold in 1993 and took a second title three years later before Kilmessan denied them in the '97 decider. Then after a few years in the wilderness they have come really with manager James Heffernan from Westmeath getting the best out of the players and team captain Mickey Cole showing inspirational leadership on the pitch. The long-serving stalwart was certainly in sharp form in the opening round clash with Drumree at Kiltale, the county forward scoring 2-10 in the 3-12 to 2-12 win. Unfancied Drumree made much of the running but Rathmolyon finished the better and George Bagnall came on to score a goal and a point. 'Trim side left out in cold as Cole strikes for Rathmolyon' read one newspaper headline after the second round clash at Boardsmill which ended with the board reading 1-14 to 0-13. The match report suggested that the victory by the men in green and white should boost their confidence and stand them in good stead for possible qualification to the knockout stages. We did not know it at the time but that was an understatement. Mickey and Gary Cole shared all bar four points of the winning total with the former sending over seven points and the youngest of the three brothers helping himself to 1-3. The goal came early in the second quarter and some of the top scorer's points were described as wonderful. Rathmolyon were behind by the minimum (1-6 to 0-10) at the break but some fine scores from Mickey Cole enabled them to edge ahead on the run to the winning post. James Heffernan's charges went on a scoring spree in their third round outing at Longwood, trouncing Blackhall Gaels by 6-11 to 2-3. Five of the winning side found the net with Gary Cole grabbing two goals and brother Mickey, Kevin Fagan, John Farrell and George Bagnall also raising the green flag. In the fourth round there was a 'trailer' for the final with Rathmolyon defeating Dunboyne by 3-11 to 1-14 in a Saturday evening tussle in Trim. The eventual winners trailed by 1-5 to 1-9 at the break and by 1-5 to 1-12 six minutes into the second half. In the last quarter Mickey Cole was moved closer to the Dunboyne goal and he played a big part in the comeback. Goals from Gary Cole and substitute George Bagnall were also crucial as a place in the last four was booked. The winning streak was maintained in the last round of the group stages when Boardsmill were defeated by 3-15 to 0-14 at Kildalkey. Rathmolyon did not take long to show their teeth and with about 20 seconds gone wing forward Packie O'Brien finished to the net and they went on to lead by 2-10 to 0-4 at the break. Corner forward John Farrell gave a taste of what was to come a few weeks later when scoring 2-4, his first goal coming after a quarter of an hour and the second seven minutes after the restart. With goalkeeper Stephen Ennis, Eamon Regan and Aaron and Kevin Fagan also showing up well, Boardsmill were playing second fiddle for most of the hour. 'Demolition job by slick Rathmolyon' was one heading after the surprisingly easy 5-16 to 0-7 win over Kildalkey in the second semi-final at Trim. Kildalkey had been the beaten semi-finalists in 2005 and a first round win over defending champions Killyon suggested that they could again be strong challengers for the Jubilee Cup. But they failed to make a match of their latest penultimate round tie with John Farrell inflicting most pain as the electrician sparkled in a display which yielded 4-4. Mickey Cole again made his mark with a return of 1-7 while full forward Tommy Lynch put in the other goal. It was 2-8 to 0-5 at the interval and five minutes into the second period the game was over as a contest when Farrell netted his second goal. A puck-out from Stephen Ennis was caught by Mickey Cole who passed to Lynch for the number 14 to set up Farrell. Although Rathmolyon caused the umpires to wave flags 21 times, three of their starting forwards did not get on target. But supporters hardly worried too much about such a statistic as they celebrated the win and looked forward to the final against Dunboyne, who had edged out championship favourites Kilmessan in the first semi. Rathmolyon would be in opposition to former club stalwart John Gorry, who was one of the main stars of the title triumphs of the '90s and had been the Dunboyne manager for a few years. Before the final Gorry said if Rathmolyon were playing anyone besides his adopted club, he would be cheering for them. Gorry's opposite number along the sideline, James Heffernan, should be still playing hurling but he lost the sight of an eye in an accident while assisting his home club St Oliver Plunkett's in 2001. As well as coaching Rathmolyon, he is a GAA development officer in Westmeath. In the final Rathmolyon performed moderately in the first half at the end of which they trailed by 0-8 to 2-3. They could have been more than the minimum margin in arrears at that stage. Mickey Cole sent over seven of their first eight points, seven of them from play, and his midfield partner, Aaron Farrell, got their other score in the first period. James Heffernan comes across as a very mild mannered man but he must have had a few strong words for his players during the interval for they resumed in a much more positive manner Rathmolyon sent over the first four scores after the restart with Mickey Cole, who was switched from midfield to centre forward in the second period, levelling from a free before John Farrell hit the next two and Gary Cole left three between the sides. The arrears had been brought down to the minimum when Mickey and Gary Cole were involved in swift build-up and Tommy Lynch blasted to the net to leave the board reading 1-13 to 2-6. The quality of play was much better in a lively second period than in a scrappy first half. The first wide after the switching of ends did not arrive for 15 minutes. With Neville Reilly, from frees, and Stephen Moran hitting vital scores, Dunboyne got back into the match and Rathmolyon may have sensed a disappointing conclusion when Padraig Coone shot his side back into the lead. However, James Heffernan said afterwards that he had drilled into his players to keep going until the final whistle and said it was not the first time they had pulled a game out of the fire in 2006. Mickey Cole was the main inspiration throughout the final. As well as stroking over ten points, eight from frees, the number eight was all over the pitch and there was no contest for the'_man of the match' award. The odds were on him bringing his total to 0-11 and a draw when he stepped up take the last free. However, he mishit and brother Gary was on hand to get the winning touch. Veteran referee Jimmy Henry sounded the final whistle soon after that and the Jubilee Cup was on the way to the Village for the first time in ten years. Hurling Board chairman T. J. Reilly described the final as 'a fantastic game' with brilliant scores, brilliant individual displays and at the end glory for one for one team and heartbreak for the other side. When Mickey Cole went up for the presentation he brought Rathmolyon number 29 Cathal O'Malley on to the rostrum with him. O'Malley recovered from a serious car accident early in the year and the captain promised him a place on the victory podium if the title was won. The long-serving skipper said the players burst themselves since February but they stuck with it and got the result that was wanted at the end of the campaign. After training for nine months, we know what it's like to have a baby," quipped the captain. Then Cole remarked that Trim was the best place for the county hurling final. The 2006 decider was blessed by ideal weather conditions on a sunny afternoon but it would not have been so pleasant for the attendance of around 2,500 had the heavy rain of the previous day continued. James Heffernan, who had Paddy Boggan and Terry Pearle as his assistants, was in his second year with Rathmolyon and certainly got the best out of his charges. But the players gave him great commitment and training and playing games since February was a long stint for all concerned. But it was well worth it when the campaign had that dramatic conclusion. The Rathmolyon team which won the 2006 Meath SHC was: Stephen Ennis; Joe Gantley, Thomas Walsh, Graham Whelan; Mark Lynch, Eamon Regan, Neil Cole; Mickey Cole, Aaron Fagan; David Farrell, Gary Cole, Tommy Cosgrove; Kevin Fagan, Tommy Lynch, John Farrell. Subs - George Bagnall for D. Farrell, Shane Doherty for Lynch, James Whelan, Packie O'Brien, Daniel Whelan, Paul Heffernan, Eamon Doran, Noel Healy, Ronan O'Brien, Joseph Regan, Anthony Cunningham, Terry Pearle, Paddy Carolan, Cathal O'Malley, Peter Clancy. Tweet

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