It would have been a brave man, or a fanatical Meath supporter in the Spring of 1989 to predict that Meath would win three successive Leinster Under 21 Football Championships. After all in the 25 year history of the competition, only one provincial title had come to the Royal County and that was in 1985 when a team captained by Robbie O’Malley and including both Brian Stafford and Bernard Flynn brought the cup to Boyneside for the first time. Then in 1989, Barry Ferguson’s men captured the county’s second title before going under to Galway in the All Ireland semi final. In 1990 Dunderry’s John Brady captained the side as they retained the title before losing to Tyrone in an exciting semi final at Breffni Park. Was three in a row a probability or a pipe dream?

Coach Mattie Kerrigan and trainer Christy Moore could call on seven players, John Brady, Tom Halpin, Martin Kirk, Kevin Macken, Adrian O’Halloran, Billy Shaw and Ciaran Smith, from the team that lost out to Tyrone the year before. John McDermott, Peadar McCaffrey, Kevin Cahill, Alan Gillic and Cathal O’Bric were also included as were six of the All Ireland minor winning team of 1990; Tony Byrne, Brendan Kealy, Terry O’Connor, Enda McManus, Graham Geraghty and Noel Collier.

A goal from Ballivor’s Terry Connor and five points from Moynalvey’s Adrian O’Halloran put Meath in the driving seat as they recorded an opening round 1-9 to 0-3 win over Carlow at Dr. Cullen Park on St Patricks Day.

Meath qualified for the provincial final with a 0-15 to 1-8 win over Offaly despite conceding that goal after three minutes at Pearse Park Longford. The Royals were on level terms, 0-7 to 1-4 at the break and with Tony Byrne in outstanding form Mattie Kerrigan’s side went on to record a comfortable victory.

For the second successive year Wicklow provided final day opposition, this time in Portlaoise.

The Meath squad. Front l-r: Graham Geraghty, Tony Byrne, Brendan Kealy, Enda McManus, Terry Connor, Billy Shaw, Peadar McCaffrey, Cathal O’Bric, Noel Collier, Martin Kirk, Cormac Murphy. Back l-r: Christy Moore (trainer), Alan Gillic, Ciaran Smyth, Kevin Cahill, John McDermott, Tom Halpin, John Brady, Kevin Macken, Neil Cooney, Paddy Martyn, Adrian O’Halloran, Philip Kinsella, Colm Keyes

John McDermott was available and lined out at half forward. His switch to midfield at half time proved crucial but it was the Royal County’s full back line of Cathal O’Bric, Tom Halpin and Man of the Match Kevin Macken who did most to achieve victory. Goalkeeper John Brady made several match winning saves while Billy Shaw was once more in outstanding place kicking form and ultimately it was his accuracy that proved vital. Wicklow led a the break 1-3 to 0-2 but the holders upped their game in the second half to claim their third title in a row by the minimum 0-9 to 1-5.

After the game Meath captain Peadar McCaffrey was presented with the cup. 

A week after claiming the Leinster title Meath lost out to Kerry, 2-7 to 1-6, in the All Ireland semi final at Limerick’s Gaelic Grounds. Tyrone went on to defeat Kerry easily in the All Ireland decider.

The Meath team that claimed the county’s 3rd Leinster U21 FC title in a row was: John Brady, Cathal O’Bric, Tom Halpin, Kevin Macken, Peadar McCaffrey, Enda McManus, Noel Collier 0-1, Kevin Cahill, Paddy Martyn, John McDermott, Billy Shaw 0-5, Brendan Kealy, Terry Connor 0-2, Neil Cooney, Adrian O’Halloran. Subs: Graham Geraghty, Alan Gillic, Martin Kirk, Tony Byrne.

Meath claimed their one and only All Ireland title two years later and have claimed three more provincial titles, 1996, 1997 and 2001, since that ’93 triumph.

 

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