This date 25 years ago, 28 May 1995, Pairc Tailteann provided the setting for Meath against Offaly in the opening round of the Leinster Senior Football Championship.

Meath 1-15 Offaly 1-5

The large crowd that descended upon the Navan venue could hardly have envisaged the slow start from the home side.

Meath failed to score in the opening twenty five minutes as the visitors opened up a 1-4 to 0-0 lead.

The Royals lost Graham Geraghty early on to injury and the poor weather conditions, wind, sleet and rain, unlike the weather we have today, seemed to unsettle the Royals.

But Sean Boylan’s charges burst into life in those remaining minutes. Tommy Dowd got the first score, Brendan Reilly followed suit and then man of the match Evan Kelly hit two as Offaly went in at the break 1-5 to 0-4 in front.

It was a different Meath in the second half as Offaly were totally outclassed. The home team urged on by a large following held the opposition scoreless for the entire 35 minutes. 

Colm O’Rourke, dropped for the first time in his career having made his debut in 1976, was introduced early in the second half and the Skryne man got the important goal along with two points. 

Meath outscored the Faithful 1-11 to 0-0 to set up a quarter final date with Longford.

Meath scorers: Evan Kelly 0-5, Colm O’Rourke 1-2, Tommy Dowd 0-3, Brendan Reilly 0-2, PJ Gillic, Trevor Giles and Brian Stafford 0-1 each.

Meath: Conor Martin, Robbie O’Malley, Martin O’Connell, Enda McManus, Graham Geraghty, Brendan Reilly, Cormac Murphy, PJ Gillic, John McDermott, Jimmy McGuinness, Trevor Giles, Evan Kelly, Tommy Dowd, Brian Stafford, Ollie Murphy. Subs: Tom Hanley, Jody Devine, Colm O’Rourke

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