With the Covid 19 Lockdown extended for another three weeks and with no sign of the GAA calendar resuming we, with the assistance of Royal County Meath GAA Yearbook, will revisit some memorable moments on the Meath club and county scene over the past 20 years. To view photos from this game click here

After so many disappointing final days over the past few decades, Kildalkey eventually found a crock of gold at the end of the rainbow when proving too good for Dunboyne in the 2009 Meath SHC decider played in Pairc Tailteann on the first Sunday of October thus ending a 57 year wait to land the Jubilee Cup.

The Village lost the 2008 decider after a replay to Kilmessan.

On the way to the 2009 decider Kildalkey defeated Boardsmill 1-14 to 1-4. Na Fianna were dispatched in round two, 2-16 to 2-6, the returning Noel Kirby top scorer with 1-7. Round 3 was another comfortable win, Killyon beaten 2-10 to 0-7 in Longwood.

Pat O'Halloran's charges suffered their only defeat of the campaign when going under to final day opponents Dunboyne in round 4 by the minimum 1-13 to 1-12 on a Tuesday evening in Pairc Tailteann.

It meant that Dunboyne topped the group and Kildalkey would face O'Mahonys in the quarter final. The eventual champions needed a late Noel Kirby free to level matters and they pulled away in injury time to seal a 1-18 to 1-14 win with the important goal coming from future Meath manager Nick Fitzgerald.

They looked to be heading out of the race at the semi final stage with holders Kilmessan opened up a 6 point lead with five minutes remaining. A Nick Fitzgerald goal narrowed the gap and in injury time points from Kirby and Podge Geoghegan sent the tie to extra time. A Seanie Heavy goal along with the accuracy of Kirby put Kildalkey into the final on a 3-19 to 1-17 scoreline.

Unlike their quarter final and semi final games there was nothing close about the final. Kildalkey had too much for Dunboyne and ended up easy winners 1-19 to 2-8.

Again Noel Kirby took the scoring honours, this time with a total of eight points, including six frees and a 65. One of the highlights of the first half was a massive pointed free by Kirby inside his own half.. The centre forward picked up the man of the match award although afterwards he said the trophy could have went to any of his 14 team mates. Remarkably Nick Fitzgerald found the net in his 3rd successive SHC outing.

Captain Mairtin Doran paid tribute to some Kildalkey stalwarts who toiled for the club without tasting championship glory - men like Pat Priest, Pat Potterton and Sean Kealy, who was a selector for the triumph.

It was a fifth county final for Waterford native Nick Fitzgerald and a first title triumph. "I had been on the losing side three times with Kildalkey and once in a London final. It means everything to me to win this one" said the veteran full forward.

Kildalkey scorers: Noel Kirby 0-8, Nick Fitzgerald 1-1, Podge Geoghegan and Derek Doran 0-3 each, Tony Fox 0-2, Sean Corrigan and Seanie Heavey 0-1 each.

Kildalkey squad: John Anderson, Eoin Redmond, Padraig Potterton, Sean Corrigan, Nick Fitzgerald, Maurice Keogh, Conor Dunne, Ger Geoghegan, Daire Lahart, Paddy Conneely, Colm Kane, Francis Doran, Seamus Dunne, Tony Fox, Dan Fagan, Gary McNally, Ross Flynn, Karl Leavy, Enda keogh, Mairtin Doran, Noel Kirby, Gary kelly, Stephen Forde, Derek Doran, Michael Potterton, Tommy Masterson, Padraig keogh, Padraig Geoghegan, Eoin Potterton, Sean Heavey.

2009 was the start of a magnificent Jubilee Cup treble and to round off a memorable year the club also won the Junior Hurling Championship beating Ratoath in the final.

Tweet

Most Read Stories