With the Covid 19 Lockdown extended for another number weeks and with no sign of the GAA calendar resuming we, with the assistance of Royal County Meath GAA Yearbook and the Hoganstand.com archives, will revisit some memorable moments on the Meath club and county scene over the past 20 years.

After decades of dominance by an elite band of teams, a number of new forces emerged since the mid '90's and 2006 winners Wolfe Tones became the 6th first time holders of the Keegan Cup in 12 years.

An amazing feat by the Oristown parish side who were operating in the junior ranks in 2003.

The dramatic rise up the ladder by Tones was a tribute to a very talented and dedicated group of players and their shrewd coach, Tony Kearney. Not many of Kearney's players would be that well known outside of Meath but they have shown huge commitment and gave their loyal and enthusiastic supporters so much too cheer about over the last number of years. However 2006 was the Year of the Tones, the season they peaked.

Path to the final

Round 1 Wolfe Tones 0-13 Cortown 0-7

Round 2 Wolfe Tones 1-11 Skryne 2-7

Round 3 Wolfe Tones 1-11 Dunboyne (holders) 0-9

Round 4 Wolfe Tones 1-16 Seneschalstown 0-11

Round 5 Wolfe Tones 2-6 Trim 2-6

Round 6 Wolfe Tones 0-13 Walterstown 1-11

Round 7 Wolfe Tones 4-15 Ballinlough 0-13

Quarter final Wolfe Tones 2-6 St. Pats 0-7

Semi final Wolfe Tones 1-11 Simonstown 0-10

After disposing of one Navan side Wolfe Tones,only  formed in 1975, were then paired with another outfit from the town in the final. Sixteen times previous winners O'Mahonys were to provide the opposition on the big day.

O'Mahonys had been warm favourites for outright glory but Wolfe Tones had other idea and in the words of their manager after the game "we did not go to Navan just to play in the county final but to win it". The bookies had been offering odds of 3/10 O'Mahonys and 5/2 Wolfe Tones before the game.

Hoganstand.com picks up the running on match day

Wolfe Tones completed their remarkable rise through the ranks of Meath football by winning the Common Hardware sponsored SFC title and lifting the Keegan Cup for the first time at the expense of favourites Navan O'Mahonys at Pairc Tailteann. 

Wolfe Tones  1-9 Navan O'Mahonys  1-7 

After leading by 0-6 to 0-5 at half-time having played with the wind in the opening period, Wolfe Tones made a decisive burst by scoring 1-2 in the eight minutes immediately after the restart. Cian Ward got those crucial scores including a wonderfully struck goal from an acute angle in the 33rd minute to make it 1-7 to 0-5 and then completed his haul with a pointed free five minutes later. 

The talismanic 20-year-old forward finished with 1-7 to his name and his total included six pointed frees and another from a '45' and was a deserving winner of the Colum Cromwell trophy as 'Man of the Match'. Ward also emerged as the top scorer in the championship which yielded a substantial dividend both for him and his club. 

However, it was the 'Tones irrepressible team spirit that saw them resist a strong O'Mahonys rally in the latter stages and collectively their defence deserve much credit for this merited success. 

Pointed frees from Paddy Smyth and Stephen Bray got O'Mahonys back into contention and the margin was down to the minimum when the latter player latched onto a long delivery from Cormac Reilly and fired home a brilliant goal. 

That left it 1-7 to 1-8 in the 51st minute but despite numerous opportunities O'Mahonys couldn't get back on terms and Alan Fox gave Wolfe Tones some breathing space with a pointed free in stoppage time. 

When Ward picked up a knock in the final quarter, Tommy Dowd entered the fray to become one of the few players to have won SFC medals with different clubs, having helped Dunderry to their sole senior success 11 years ago. The former All Star also led to club to Junior C championship success to complete a memorable year for the club.

After the game team captain Darren McGrath was pressnted with the Keegan Cup

Wolfe Tones - D. Nolan; R. Brady, C. McLoughlin, C. Reilly; B. McGinn, E. Harrington, S. Sheppard; S. Corrigan, G. Beggy; A. Fox (0-1, free), D. McGrath, N. McLoughlin; D. O'Neill (0-1), J. Tiernan, C. Ward (1-7, 0-6 frees, 0-1 '45'). Subs - T. Dowd for Ward (49 mins), A. McKeown for Sheppard (56 mins), P. Caffrey for Tiernan (60 mins). 

Navan O'Mahonys - M. Brennan; C. Reilly, K. Reilly, N. Dunne; S. MacGabhann, N. McKeigue, L. Russell; C. McGuinness (0-1), M. Ward; D. Bray, P. Smyth (0-2, frees), H. Finnegan; S. McKeigue, T. Loughran, S. Bray (1-4, 0-1 free). Sub - D. Moran for S. McKeigue (39 mins). 

Referee - J. Smith (Dunshaughlin).

 

 

 

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