This date 32 years ago: The day Mayo favoured the physical approach
August 21, 2020
The staring XV for the 1988 All Ireland SFC semi final win over Mayo. Front l-r: PJ Gillic, Mattie McCabe, Bernard Flynn, Padraic Lyons, Robbie O'Malley, Liam Harnan, Kevin Foley. back l-r: Colm O'Rourke, Mick Lyons, Gerry McEntee, Michael McQuillan, Martin O'Connell, Brian Stafford, Liam Hayes, David Beggy
Meath 0-16 Mayo 2-5
In a switch of colours Meath wore a plain yellow jersey with green togs. Mayo were in red and green. Royal County Meath Yearbook takes up the running for the 1988 All Ireland SFC semi final on August 21st 1988.
The build up to the Mayo match is remarkably low key. No eurphoria. Just a job to do. Mayo were writing their chances off in every paper you picked up. Not the proper attitude of a team just after winning a provincial decider. Gamesmanship perhaps. Stafford was back. Coyle dropped. Could Bernie Flynn strike his early season form?
Another windy semi final day in Croke. Not as bad as the previous Sunday. Anything but wind though.
Meath have first advantage. Again the slow start. Mayo do a Meath. Or some scribe wrote. They favour the physical approach. Tight marking backs and a high fielding midfield duo. Royal County scores are scarce. PJ Gillic retires with concussion. Colm Coyle is introduced. Twenty five minutes gone and maybe Meath are in trouble. But a golden spell before the break shatters our fears. A good lead is established. Stafford and Coyle are on song.
This advantage is increased on the resumption. Meath are cruising. But enter stormy waters. A mix up in the Royal defence. Big Liam McHale gains possession and bang. The umpire stoops. For the green flag. Mayo’s big contingent are in full voice. God how nice it was to see two sets of supporters mixing and so relaxed. A far cry from the tense atmosphere of the League and Leinster final days. The Royal County regroup. Add a little more awareness to their play.
But TJ Kilgallon is starting to pick up a lot of loose ball around the middle of the field. The ball floats towards the canal goals. McQuillan has it well covered. Not a Western jersey in sight. Then that moment of insanity, of madness that sometimes surface within a nightmare. Perhaps these things are meant to be. The Pats man hesitates. Glances at Lyons. Loses concentration. Will I or won’t I go for the ball? It rebounds off Michael’s body right into the path of an inrushing Anthony Finnerty. Again that green flag.
The West is surly awake by now. Luck is their ally. How can they go wrong? The Meath backline is under severe pressure. McHales height is causing all kinds of problems. Another goal. No it’s disallowed. Then McQuillan dives to concede a 50. Mayo’s chance is also deflected into touch. Hectic stuff but the green and gold find their third wind. Stafford settles the nerves and another battle with the men from ‘De Banks’ is due in a months time.
Meath: Michael McQuillan, Robbie O’Malley, Mick Lyons, Padraic Lyons, Kevin Foley, Liam Harlan, Martin O’Connell, Liam Hayes, Gerry McEntee, David Beggy 0-1, PJ Gillic, Mattie McCabe 0-1, Colm O’Rourke 0-2, Brian Stafford 0-9, Bernard Flynn. Subs: Colm Coyle 0-3, Joe cassells, Finaian Murtagh.
Tweet
