KILBRIDE…0-20
CASTLETOWN…1-16
“David O’Leary of Arsenal…This kick could decide it all…Yes! We’re there.” George Hamilton’s immortal utterance on the midweek afternoon during which the nation did indeed hold its breath in the midst of the penalty shootout between Ireland and Romania at the 1990 World Cup in Genoa, Italy. . Even the haymaking stopped. It wasn’t haymaking season in Pairc Tailteann on Saturday last, and it was only one half of one parish that held its breath, but David O’Leary’s kick did indeed decide it all.
As one of the greatest resurrections in GAA history – certainly the best ever in Meath – reached fulfilment. If you were born any time after 1971, you’re probably wondering what on earth is this eejit on about? So allow me to explain.
When Dunboyne won the Meath JFC in 1962, the other half of our parish, Kilbride, won the IFC the same day. Defeating Walterstown by 3-08 to 1-03. But the difference between the terms of what happened thereafter could scarcely have been more stark.
Whereas for our lot, proper elevation through the ranks in Meath football didn’t happen in earnest until the mid to late 1980s, Kilbride’s impact on the game in the county was immediate and sensational.
A first SFC title followed just two years later and Tom Keegan’s Cup was also a Christmas dinner guest in ’66, ’67, ’68 and ’71. That would almost certainly have been the case in ’65 too had Martin Quinn not taken a dignified peaceful protest and sit down on the match ball after being vexed by a refereeing decision.
The upshot of which was Skryne being awarded the Keegan in the Co Board meeting rooms. Thus, with a soup spoon sized dollop of irony, the ’65 final henceforth became known as the Martin Quinn Final.
As was and still tends to be the case with smaller rural clubs, the Kilbride team of the era was made up, largely, by three or four families. The Quinns, the O’Sullivans and others like Pat Bruton, Pat Rooney, Paddy Reilly, Tommy Mahon and Austin Reddin.
Perhaps inevitably, though, once that golden generation took their leave of centre stage the fortunes of the green and red dissipated to, even from a neutral perspective, worrying levels.
Yet they always managed to produce quality footballers along the way like (in my time) Kevin Quinn, Dernot White, Robbie Rooney, Richard, Andrew and Conor Rennicks, Richard ‘Chalkey’ Bruton and his brother John, and Brian White. A smattering of whom got a run on county teams.
I mean no harm by mention of the fact that, years back, a fair few of those listed sought transfers to join St Peter’s Dunboyne and, though obviously disappointed from the perspective of my own club that none of them were sanctioned, in fairness to stalwarts uf the Kilbride club, holding onto those lads was the formative foundations of the revolution we now see unfolding before us.
In situations such as this, one is always wary of naming names for fear of leaving somebody out. So, sticking to what is a time honoured policy, mention will only be made of those known to me.
Folks like Patsy and Ann Farrell, Mena Geraghty (RIP), Pat Donnellon (RIP), Noel White, Austin Reddin and current club Chairman Micheal Thornton. Forgive me, though, if I reserve special mention for a couple of people sadly gone to the committee rooms in the sky before the greatest of days returned but whose legacy was pivotal in the plotting and navigation of the journey to where it is now and will continue for at least another generation if not further still.
Tommy and May Mahon and their family. For as long I can recall, well before than and indeed up to the time he succumbed to ill health, Tommy Mahon was synonymous with the production of young football talent. Not only in Kilbride, but throughout our county. Most notably when he played his part in two All Ireland MFC successes in 1990 and 1992. Which, of course, in themselves were the catalysts for Sam Maguire being on the banks of the Boyne for Christmas in 1996 and 1999.
Home is where the heart is, though, so it should be no surprise at all that Tommy and May’s family are all steeped in all things GAA. Ciaran being a fine corner forward in the green and red during his playing career while I recall with great clarity the Mahon girls playing camogie with neighbouring Dublin side St Margaret’s, who were, from memory, the nearest exponents of the ladies’ clash of the ash.
So even with that pedigree, the next generation were always likely to be not only immersed therein but well capable of making their mark too. That said, I don’t think the family would mind me saying the ‘page’ got another bit of black type when Claire married David Harford, who was the fulcrum of the St Vincent’s Ardcath side for many years and represented Meath at several grades.
Moreover, as well as their own two lads Cian and Josh developing into top quality footballers, the couple, along with many others no doubt, were instrumental in bringing the club to a point where they could begin to field their own underage teams again.
Not surprisingly, that, in turn, the proliferation of their own underage sides has coincided with the return of Kilbride players to the Royal County colours. And how fitting it was that not only was Josh Harford among the first to make that step – alongside Conor McWeeney – but that it was on a Minor side which went all the way to All Ireland glory in 2021.
Be in no doubt that Tommy Mahon was the happiest and most proud man in Heaven that day when Shaun Leonard of St Colmcille’s kicked Meath football into the promised land and, we all hope, afforded them/us the opportunity push on and attain success at the highest level which the county has been starved of for far too long.
In a cruel irony, though, both Josh and Conor sustained serious injuries in the wake of that All Ireland win which left both unavailable at club level for lengthy spells at different stages in the interim. Yet besides that, those who were then Leo Turley’s charges won the county JFC with a bit to spare, gave a very respectable account of themselves at provincial level and then gave Navan O’Mahonys their bellies full of it in the IFC semi final last term.
Even at that, though, only if Hans Christian Andersen was serving his time with Patsy Farrell or Roald Dahl was a regular in Sweeney’s could how their sensational return to the top table played out have been envisaged.
Having toppled perennial contenders St Patrick’s at the quarter final stage, Anthony Moyles’s side then summarily dispatched a St Michael’s side on which there are several players of which yours truly is a great admirer. Namely Brian O’Reilly, Matthew Halpin and Gearoid O’Malley. However, even though the victors put 3-23 on the vanquished outfit, there would still be no room for complacency against a Castletown team who themselves have proven well capable of adaption since they’ve been promoted to Intermediate a couple of seasons ago. Remember, it’s not all that long ago they had a right go at usurping Fossa of Kerry with none other than the brothers Clifford in tow.
As for the club season just concluding, Justin Carry-Lynch’s crew could scarcely have been in better fettle heading into the climax of the race for the Mattie McDonnell Cup. Having already won the Div. 4 FL and Corn Na Boinne (intermediate cup competition) titles prior to sailing through the group stages of their championship campaign and advancing to the final with more ease than would have been expected.
Now, we have all heard of a game being ‘end to end’, but never in 35 years of observing what goes on between the white lines has the description been more apt. Perhaps fittingly, Kilbride’s Davy O’Leary had the first and last say on a day of tremendous tumult but that would only tell a particle of this epic which would leave Spielberg short on writing paper.
Because, though it was young guns like Finn White, Harford, O’Leary and McWeeney who were blazing a trail for the other half of this locality, decorated warriors like Killian Price, Killian Smith, Rian McConnell, Kevin Ross, Declan Cribben and the exceptional Darren Finney kept those from the vicinity of Tu Va right on their coat tails.
And so it continued throughout the second half until one last surging intervention from McWeeney teed up O’Leary whose kick did indeed decide it all.
What a story. What a day for our parish. I am almost sure, the first time ever both ends of the parish will be in the draw for guardianship of Tom Keegan in 2026. Interesting times ahead to say the least.