Before we get to the match itself I must share with ye my reaction when I saw the fixture.Surely ,said I, there is some mistake.Is it possible that the Parish of five hundred houses would be taking on the combined might of that vast swathe of housing and massive population from Dunboyne to Donaghnore and all areas in between.There must be a mistake said I.For a lifetime hurling has been steady in Dunboyne and Donaghmore.Sean Boylan.a hurler before he was a footballer,the immortal Brian Smyth,all the Reillys,ex comrade Colm Brennan,the Moyleses,My good friends Ciaran and Teresa Clinch and son and daughters,the Hutton's,the Mac Intryes,dedicated hurling people all.And that's just a few.Is it possible that hurling has sunk so low that only one team from this entire area is competing in a B Shield Final against us.Talk about David against Goliath.
Yeah ti's true,Not only that but Drumree are joined up with Blackhall and Wolfe Tones with Kells. in this vital age group.So from Kilcock to Ardcath and Navan to Kigscourt we have 3,yes 3 hurling teams under 16.My God this is unbelievable.And I hear Navan is joined up with Donaghnmore in underage Camogie.
Looks like this generation will consign hurling in Meath to the dusty pages of history.What a disgrace.
And no red flags raised at Club,County ,Leinster nor Croke Park.In GAA terms this is a national emergency.Never has so much money been raised from setting our crown jewel to aid the promotion of the games of our competitors,never has so many people been employed to promote the game,And this is the result.
It is no surprise however.I heard Sean Kelly say that his proudest day as President was when Ireland played England in rugby in Croker.And the present guy is now on to further promote our competitors advance by offering a further six provincial grounds to the savvy Rugby boyos in case they might need them.
Yep, remember when Seanie swore that only Croker would be rented to help out our poor neighbours for Ireland's sake and that the rental would be used to promote our games.Now we see how hollow those pledges were.We have given up the ghost in 75% of our county on promotion and competing in our ancient game and left the area wide open for our competitors.I guarantee you that there are many multiples of three teams playing soccer and rugby in these areas.
I would say that the Sight easy lucre blinded the most passionate advocates of the sell out and alienated those fior Gaels who were driven by idealism.Now you have the result.
But it is not too late,if people of genuine idealism and vision take control.My proposals are:
1. Restructure the Club Scene to allow a maximum of 1,000 houses per club catchment area
Look for inspiration to ourselves,Boardsmill,Kimainham ,Killion.Kilskere ,Ballinlough ,Carnaross.It is eminently doable if idealistic and determined people get involved.
2.It amazes me that that so many good GAA people ,mainly those who can#t emigrate are languishing on the dole while so many social problems exist in their localities.These decent and suitable people should have their dole payments upped to enable them to put time with their local GAA Clubs in promoting the games ,thus saving society a huge fortune in combating social disturbance.
There are enough men now Fine Gael T.D.s who owe their political prominence to the GAA that it is high time they delivered for us.Name them out yourself.
And I'm not talking nominal tokenism here but real action.
It is time the GAA as a body called in some ofthe favour owed it for selling its Jewel's for a mess of pottage ,got its finger out before it is too late and put the pressure on Edna whose political prominence arose because his DA won an All Ireland.
None of this is in any way critical of the youngsters who played us on Sunday nor the mentors who manage them.They at least are to b e lauded for keeping the game alive in what appears to be a hurling wasteland.
The game was played in KIlmessan on an overcast but not wet pitch and offered some entertainment as play swung from one end to the other and each team in turn had the winning post in their grasp.Masterson from Boardsmill was a fair referee.He played .You'd know.
The Border boys started well going five points up after fifteen.We fought back to within three points at half time .Score.2-3 to 0=6 against us.After a second half full of skill,determination and huge effort from both sides level again.Us 1-10 them 3-4,
After the first period of extra time we led2-12 to 4-4
At full time us 2-13 and them 4-7.
Another day out and no complaints either side.
We have a fair team.This is the first time I saw them play and they are a decent bunch of hurlers with great potential and no shortage of guts.
Team.
Owen Smyth.
Mickey Dowdall Tomas O Conaire.
Aaron Feeney Luke Martyn Killian Conway
Killian Leonard Conor Dempsey
Alex Walsh Robert MC Cab Mark Kanee
Pearse Hickey Danny Morris
Subs.Eoin Daly(used )
Peter Casey.
Owen ,Tomas and Danny are as good at hurling as they are at football,where I saw them more ofter and at close quarters .No wonder.Trish Smyth well knew her ash from her elbow on the Camogie field agus do bhi athar Tomas,Tomas freisin,in a peilidor iontach.And Danny from a great GAA tradition on his father's side and the son of a fair yielder of the Cama n didn't miss it.
Mickey has a hidden hurling heritage in his genes,Aaron is as god as his Da was when I mentored him underage and as tough as nails,Lukie is a game winner and as good if not n better than Joey and Jane at his age.He has skill in buckets.
Christine Leonard can be proud if Killian who is tough ,skillful and fearless ,just like herself when she graced the CAmogie fields of Meath and KIllian Conway is one tough ,skillful and sticky son of a bitch to have marking you.I mentored his father Philip years ago and this lad is just t like him,fearless.
Conor Dempsey is right up there ,more skillful maybe than his father Dermot,i#d say but not as tough yet.He has time.
bob Mac Cabe has the genes of Sugsie and his great granduncle Barney a ,the first Dunderryman to field in an Ireland, coursing through his veins and it shows in his excellence .
Pearse Hickey gives his all but put his foot where his hurl should be and retire4d injured.
I must admit I didn't see much of young Kane and Walsh before Sunday and was most impressed by their tenacity ,toughness and no little skill in play.
Owen Dal is the spit of his DA Dan but a player of far superior status and is a good one too.
Our Mentors were Mick Minogue and Dermot Dempsey,Two decent,sound and timid men,I assure you.
It takes two to tango and the Border boys gave as good as they got and with our lads,produced a hurling spectacle worthy of any occasion.
Roll on the replay.
Pearse Hickey Danny Morris.
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