Over three decades ago a highly committed hurler from the Boardsmill club helped Meath to a very significant victory over Kildare in the Walsh Cup at Trim. The Lilywhites were highly regarded in the small ball code in those days, turning in some superb performances against the top counties. They were clear favourites to defeat Meath on that bitterly cold late March day in 1977, but the Royal County, who were coached by Des Ferguson, turned in one of their greatest performances in many a long day to win by a massive 6-9 to 1-3 and provide the home supporters with renewed hope for the future. The man from Boardsmill was none other than TJ Reilly who lined out at left corner-forward in a last line of attack that also included Kildalkey's Cecil Geoghegan and newcomer Dan Breen from Colmcille Gaels who contributed 4-3. There was a very generous helping of Boardsmill players, as the team also included David Perry, Mick Payne, Michael Garrigan and Seamus Carney. There was also a man from the Dunboyne club who was later to become the most successful manager in the history of Meath football. His name was Sean Boylan and he played a prominent role in the win after being introduced as a substitute at left half-back. He had earlier lined out with his club in a league match, so the herbs were obviously working back then too! Push the clock forward a few years - 30 or so - and that man TJ Reilly was still playing hurling and playing it successfully too as he was goalkeeper on the Boardsmill team that won the Div. 2 HC for the first time in nine years. That was all of 33 years after he had been voted 'Meath hurler of the year' and a long time after he helped Boardsmill to win the Senior Championship three years in succession between 1973 and '75. Is he the oldest player to win a championship medal in the county? Most likely. Reilly, the chairman of both the Hurling Promotions and Development Committee and Fixtures Committee, has to be admired for his tremendous loyalty to club and county and this success must have given him enormous satisfaction. However, the Div. 2 HC campaign didn't start so encouragingly for Boardsmill when they suffered a 0-13 to 2-13 first round defeat against Kildalkey, but they recovered well to reach the semi-finals where they beat Killyon by 1-7 to 1-5 at Athboy, thanks largely to a late goal from John Nolan. That set up a final meeting against Rathmolyon at Kildalkey for Derek Fitzsimons' team and it turned out to be a tremendously entertaining match, despite the heavy rain during the second half. Reilly played extremely well for Boardsmill in the deserved 1-11 to 1-3 victory, but it was the accuracy of Peter McLoughlin which really stood out in the first half when he scored seven points (five frees) in succession to help his side to a 0-9 to 0-3 interval lead. Paul O'Brien and Stephen Doyle were also on the mark with points in that period and when the experienced Nolan netted eight minutes into the second half Boardsmill were well on their way to the title. Rathmolyon's Noel Fagan responded with a goal at the other end, but that was the only time the Village troubled the score board operator in the second period. Boardsmill were eight points clear at the end and it was a proud moment for captain Mark Reilly when he received the Mattie O'Brien Memorial Cup. The Boardsmill team in the final was - TJ Reilly; E. Corrigan, M. Reilly, T. Murray; C. Leonard, S. Guy, J. Mitchell; L. O'Brien, J. Cotter; S. Doyle (0-1), P. McLoughlin (0-7), O. Jones (0-1); F. Ennis, J. Nolan (1-0), P. O'Brien (0-1). Subs - A. Hoey (0-1) for Cotter, D. Kealy for L. O'Brien, P. Dunne for P. O'Brien. SENIORS FAIL TO QUALIFY There was disappointment for the Boardsmill senior hurlers in 2007 when they failed to reach the knockout stages of the SHC after a divisional campaign that brought victories in the opening two rounds, but three successive defeats after that which derailed their qualification aspirations. Boardsmill, again managed by TJ Reilly, opened their group B campaign with a 2-10 to 1-11 victory over Drumree at Dunsany when a late goal from Eoin Dunne did the trick. Thomas Reilly, who contributed 1-6 overall, also rowed in with a second half goal for the 'Mill who led by 0-6 to 0-5 at the break and failed to impress. Blackhall Gaels, who had been trounced by Kilmessan to the tune of 41 points first time out, provided the second round opposition, again at Dunsany, and Boardsmill made it back-to-back wins when scoring by 1-19 to 0-10. A lucky goal from Robert Guy helped them to a 1-10 to 0-4 lead at the break, but Blackhall reduced the deficit to six points, before the 'Mill pulled clear in the closing stages. The standard of opposition got a lot stronger next time out when Boardsmill met Kilmessan at Kiltale and that's where their winning run ended as they suffered a 0-9 to 1-14 defeat. Kilmessan held a slender 0-7 to 0-6 lead at the interval, but a scoring burst that brought 1-3 in a four-minute spell early in the second period put the issue beyond doubt. Athboy was the venue for a fourth round assignment against Killyon and it was all to play for at the break when the Hill of Down side led by 0-8 to 0-6. Boardsmill had plenty of possession in the second half, but they made poor use of it as Killyon pushed ahead to win by 0-19 to 0-9. A third successive defeat against Kildalkey in the last round of group matches at Longwood put paid to Boardsmill's hopes of advancing from the section. Kildalkey looked to be heading for a comfortable win when they led by 1-16 to 0-12 late in the game, but goals from Thomas Leonard and Eoin Dunne reduced the deficit to the minimum. Boardsmill attacked frantically in search of an equaliser or a winner, but neither arrived as Kildalkey won by 1-16 to 2-12 to secure second place in the group on eight points, two behind Kilmessan and two ahead of Killyon. Boardsmill were out of contention on four points. "It was disappointing enough," was Thomas Reilly's reaction to the Senior Championship campaign. "I suppose there are a lot of things happening in the club, between hurling, football, camogie and ladies' football. We tend to be depending on the same people each year. "We are a small club and it can be difficult in small clubs. We have players who are also involved in managing under-age teams within the club. "We struggled in the Senior Championship this year. I suppose we need to find a bit more consistency and need to improve our preparations." FABULOUS UNDERAGE WIN Boardsmill achieved a very notable and historic underage success early in the summer when they won the Under-16 'A' HC title with a fully merited 3-10 to 1-14 final victory over Dunboyne at Kilmessan. This triumph was built on a tremendous first half performance which enabled Boardsmill to move into a 3-7 to 1-3 half-time lead and that left Dunboyne with a mountain to climb. A highlight of the opening period was a stunning goal from Cathal Flattery with a shot on the run from 20 metres, while Vivian Dwyer and Niall O'Rourke also found the net to leave Boardsmill in a very strong position. To their credit, Dunboyne battled back to within a point in the closing stages, but Flattery fired over to secure the title for Boardsmill. It was a solid team performance, with Ray Hatton superb at full-back and Flattery, Niall Weir, Dwyer and top-scorer O'Rourke also particularly effective. The honour of accepting the Michael Leonard Cup went to captain Hatton. The Boardsmill team in the final was - D. Regan; C. Darby, R. Hatton, J. Carr; N. Weir, J. Bird, S. Hoey; N. O'Rourke (1-6), S. Barrins; S. Kelly, C. Flattery (1-2), R. Geraghty; F. Flattery, B. Quinn, V. Dwyer (1-2). FOOTBALLERS SURVIVE It turned into a survival mission for the Boardsmill footballers in the Junior Championship, but they held onto their status when they defeated Gaeil Colmcille in a replayed relegation play-off. Boardsmill's group A campaign opened with a 0-7 to 1-10 defeat against a talented Clann na nGael side at Kildalkey and that was followed by a 1-6 to 0-14 loss to Drumree at Summerhill when they managed only a brace of second half points after leading by 1-4 to 0-3 at the interval. An injury to goal-scorer Bert McLoughlin proved a major blow. Longwood are another of the stronger teams in the junior grade and they beat Boardsmill by 2-9 to 0-7 in a third round match, also at Summerhill, before the 'Mill secured their first point of the group stages with a draw (3-3 to 1-9) against Moylagh at Athboy. It took a sensational late rally to secure a share of the spoils. Moylagh led by 1-5 to 0-1 at half-time and were still seven points clear at the three-quarter stage. A John Mitchell goal gave Boardsmill hope, but when Keith Hamilton hit the post from a penalty they looked doomed to defeat. Moylagh appeared certain to win when ahead by 1-9 to 1-3, but Boardsmill never gave up and a great goal from David Farrell was followed by another from Vinny Guy to earn them a dramatic draw. Boardsmill looked set for another draw in the fifth round against St. Mary's at Dunsany after Guy had netted again, but the Donore/Lougher combination snatched a 0-9 to 1-5 victory with a late point. They did secure another draw (1-8 to 0-11) in the final round against Curraha at Dunshaughlin - an outcome that guaranteed JFC status for Curraha next year and sent the 'Mill into a relegation struggle. It was Curraha who led by 0-7 to 0-3 at the interval and by six points early in the second half, but Boardsmill recovered and led twice in the closing stages, before Curraha got a late equaliser. The first opportunity to secure survival in the grade came in a play-off against Gaeil Colmcille at Athboy and this was a thrilling contest which finished level (Boardsmill 1-12, Gaeil Colmcille 0-15) after extra-time. Gaeil Colmcille led by 0-8 to 0-3 at half-time, but aided by a brilliant goal from David Farrell Boardsmill recovered and went ahead, but were caught by a late equaliser. The Kells men led by a point midway through extra-time and pushed two ahead, but Farrell and Hamilton were on target to draw the 'Mill level. They dominated the remainder, but didn't get a winner, and it was off to Simonstown for the replay four days later. This time there was no denying Boardsmill's dominance as they won by 2-10 to 1-4, with Vinny Guy giving them the tonic of an early goal and Farrell adding a string of points to open up a 1-5 to 0-4 half-time lead. Gaeil Colmcille got a goal on the restart, but they failed to score again as the 'Mill assumed control. When Hamilton scored a fortunate late goal from a '45' the issue was beyond doubt and Boardsmill had survived. Tweet

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