MEATH… 1-22
DUBLIN… 1-18
It is a long held policy in this seat, which merges into necessity, that, when one is playing into the wind and/or under the black cloud owing to the draining influence of non sporting matters, sport will generally be the first port of call by way of a rescue remedy.
Going all the way back as far as 1986. To the time of what I call my ‘Big’ operations. You see, when I was born my legs were tangled in an X shape, so they had to untangle and straighten them. A process which was predicated on cutting tendons at the groin and heel of each leg and then what felt like months in what could be best described as a cast modelling itself on a set of GAA goalposts, complete with crossbar.
Now, there also remain some harrowing recollections of follow up surgeries, but, if you forgive the preamble (you’re probably used to it by now), even back then an iconic sporting moment overrode the horrific realities of what one had just endured. Dawn Run’s immortal annexation of the 1986 Cheltenham Gold Cup.
“The mare’s beginning to get up”…
***
Whilst not quite as dramatic as the medical matters of the day way back then, we had definitely been facing into the teeth of a petulant wind prior to the latest standoff bewteen the GAA’s oldest and greatest rivals as defending Leinster U-20 football champions Meath began the process of trying to hold onto their title when tackling Dublin under the Ashbourne lights.
Manifesting the inclination that there’d a buzz back about Meath football, an enormous crowd thronged the border venue as Cathal O’Bric’s side took to the field with five of those who garnered Seamus Flood Cup medals last season – Eamonn Armstrong, Rian Stafford, John Harkin, Cian Commons and Jamie Murphy – in tow. And a sixth, Seimi Byrne, among the subs.
When towering midfielder Michael McIvor pulled down the throw in and charged straight towards the Dublin goal, it set the tone. Not only for the evening but for an imperious performance from the Ardcath man himself.
Still, as is often the case in clashes between the old foes, it was the boys in blue who had momentum with them first, actually opening up 0-01 to 0-04 lead. At that point, Senan Ryan and Joe Quigley were proving quite the the handful for the Royal County to tie down, but once the impish Ben Corkery weaved in and out like a skier in Chamonix and slotted over, the home side’s engine gradually began to purr.
Points followed from Rian Stafford, Eamonn Armstrong, Cian Commons and a booming two-pointer from McIvor were Meath’s contributors as the lead seemed to change hands each time the ball was kicked out. Not even a Dublin goal, manufactured almost on cue by Ryan and Quigley, could give les bleus breathing room as, almost immediately thereafter, the magnificent Jamie Murphy came thundering into the action.
Aided, it must be said, by excellent beavering from Armstrong and McIvor and Stafford, the Stamullen star hit three two-pointers on the spin before John Harkin curled over a magnificent similar effort to leave the locals in a somewhat surprising 0-11 to 1-07 half time lead.
When those who had former Ratoath and Skryne manager Davy Byrne among their management team hit three points in the first 90 seconds of the second half, O’Bric et al must have had a sense of foreboding enter their thoughts. But if it did with them, at no stage did it show with their players as, time and again, from goalkeeper Matthew Kealy to the outstanding Sam Jordan at corner back, Kilbride’s Finn White in the half backs and Armstrong, McIvor, Stafford and Murphy up top rebuffed the best of what Dublin could throw at them.
That is not to in any way denigrate the effort of any of those in green and gold because each and every one of them that saw game time stretched themselves to the point of bursting in a way only a joust with the auld enemy can prompt. Until it reached a point where it was going to be a matter of something having to give on one side or the other to decide the eventual outcome.
And when it did, it actually came about via a rule I genuinely had never seen implemented previously. A Meath player adjudged to have been denied a genuine goal scoring opportunity, thus the offending Dublin player was dispatched with a black card and a penalty awarded.
To describe what transpired thereafter, I shall borrow the phrase employed by burgeoning local sports commentator Davy Rispin to describe another incident earlier in the match – “Jamie Murphy, does he have a finish? Does he what”! after the St Patrick’s clubman dispatched a RPG to the sky blue net which, if converted by the like of Erling Haaland or Mo Salah would be all over back pages and news reels for a week!
Mind you, the lack of hysteria isn’t liable to perturb anybody in or connected to the Meath camp. It certainly didn’t among those on the pitch. Murphy’s ‘major’ gave the current provincial kingpins the lead back at 1-16 to 1-15, and though the sides did trade points thereafter, another double-double from the Pat’s man – the second of which was a complete monster of an effort from the half way line – saw the hosts home to a fully deserved and highly encouraging victory.
Right, so it was only a first round tie and there’s still no guarantee our lads will make the knockout stages, but it’s better to be looking at two points on the table than looking for them. Moreover,a first win over Dublin at this grade in 11 years.
The foundations have been laid, now to build on them.
Scorers – J. Murphy (1-10, Pen, 3x2PT), M. McIvor, R. Stafford and J. Harkin (1x2PTx3), 0-2 each), B. Corkery (0-2), E. Armstrong, C. Commons, L. Jennings and Z. Thornton (0-1 each).
Meath – Matthew Kealy (Slane); Sam Jordan (Na Fianna), Rian Early (Gaeil Colmcille), C. O’Hare (Rathkenny); Tadhg Martyn (Slane, Capt.), John Gormley (Gaeil Colmcille), Finn White (Kilbride); Eamonn Armstrong (Duleek/Bellewstown), Michael McIvor (St Vincent’s); Rian Stafford (Kilmainhamwood), John Harkin (St Peter’s, Dunboyne), Cian Commons (Seneschalstown); Ben Corkery (Clan Na nGael), Jamie Murphy (St Patrick’s), Liam Jennings (Blackhall Gaels).
Subs – C. Yore (St Ultan’s) for White, Z. Thornton (Donaghmore/Ashbourne) for Commons, H. Cahill (Dunsany) for Jennings, J. Reeves (Skryne) for Early F. Hartigan (Dunshauglin) for Gormley.
Referee – Darren Byrne (Wicklow).
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