After winning the 1987 All Ireland Meath carried their form through the ’87-88 NFL campaign that culminated in a final day clash with Dublin.

The neighbours met in the opening round, it finished in a draw Dublin 2-5 Meath 0-11, and both made their way to the decider. 

The Royals failed to perform the first day out and were lucky to leave Croke Park with a draw, 1-8 0-11, Brian Stafford kicking seven points.

There was much room for improvement from the All Ireland champions.

Royal County Meath Yearbook carried the following report.

And improvement there was for the replay. Even wee Bernie upped his game and proceeded to play his best game in a Meath shirt. Back to that later. The opening ten minutes were played among a helter skelter type pace. Poor old Pat Lane came to Dublin that day intent on making this latest clash of the giants the first free flowing game between the duo since the re emergence of Heffo’s Dubs. The pace suited Meath. Dublin’s frantic attempts to make inroads were repulsed. Their players were harassed and tackled. All within the laws of the game. Some opposing players found it hard to take. A few minor skirmishes erupted and then Kevin Foley became the victim of circumstances. It was enough, if this fact even existed, to spur on Meath to greater things.

We talked about second and third great from the previous month. Meath started the May game in fourth gear and on the Trim players dismissal upped into overdrive. No panic measures. Young Brendan Reilly dropped back to wing back and nullified the Duff threat. O’Rourke playing brilliantly operated as a third midfielder. Stafford gave Hargan, the dominant figure in the drawn match, the proverbial roasting. McEntee ruled the midfield airwaves. Meath were a good piece clear at the interval and the breeze to come. Big Liam Hayes settled the issue long before closing time. One can visualise dear old Michael O’Hehir going something like this “Hayes has it. 60 yards out. Going on a solo run. 50, 40, 30. A gooaaal”. Dublin were a shattered team.

O’Malley and the Lyons Bros put up the shutters at the back. There was simply no way Barney and Co. were going to get a free passage through to McQuillan’s goals. And at the other end Flynn was tormenting and teasing a variety of opponents and including the great hearted Noel McCaffrey.

Meath’s situation resulted in a 1-3-3-3-3-1 formation. For long spells it was a one and one situation between Flynn and his marker. Nobody inside the the Dublin 30 yard line except the Colmcille’s wizard and his shadow. And in that situation the pacey Bernard is magic. The points followed. So also the Tennents around Croke that evening. Another milestone in Meath’s football history was reached. 

History will also tell you that Sean Boylan’s charges retained the ’New Sam Maguire Cup’ the following September beating Dublin in the Leinster final 2-5 to 0-9.

Final score Meath 2-13 Dublin 0-11

Meath: Michael McQuillan, Robbie O’Malley, Mick Lyons, Padraic Lyons, Kevin Foley, Liam Harnan, Martin O’Connell, Liam Hayes 1-0, Gerry McEntee, Brendan Reilly 1-0, PJ Gillic, Mattie McCabe 0-1, Colm O’Rourke 0-2, Brian Stafford 0-5, Bernard Flynn 0-5.

Tweet

Most Read Stories