Pat and Paddy Reynolds, both All Stars, both All Ireland and Leinster SFC medals winners and both half backs, brave, tough in the tackle with a passion for going forward.

Looking back at the 1997 Leinster SFC semi final replay against Kildare yesterday on TG4 on can only be amazed by the heroics of that Meath team against a very good Kildare side despite some very dubious refereeing decisions against us. Looking down and out in the second half of extra time, a typical Meath fought back. Fay, Dowd, Giles and Devine were immense. 

But there was one player that caught our eye, half back Paddy Reynolds. The victim of a nasty knock to the head in the opening half, the Walterstown star appeared 'out of it' and was taken off. 

Team doctor Jack Finn and physio Anne Burton showed deep concern. The large volume of Meath supporters present expected a replacement but typical of Reynolds. He was having none of it and within a few minutes had dusted himself down and came back on to give an outstanding display.

By coincidence we came across this very interesting player profile on his father Pat senior from the 1984 Leinster Football Championship finals programme. 

Pat Reynolds not only proved a champion competitor among defenders in inter-county football, an exciting and intelligent exponent of attacking wing back play, but he also earned a unique niche in Meath history in 1971. That year he was named at left half back in the initial Carrolls All Star football selection, the only Meath player honoured that season.

Just over three years before coming Meath's first Carrolls All Star, Reynolds was a member of the party from the Royal County that blazed an historic trail with a tour of Australia. Meath played five games and won them all.

They travelled to Australia as reigning All Ireland senior champions. A powerful half back line of Pat 'Red' Collier, Bertie Cunninghan and Reynolds was one of Meath's best weapons in forging out the 1967 Sam Maguire Cup win over Cork.

Pat Reynolds excelled as an athlete in his youth, and won medals in the sprints, hurdles and shot putt while in Franciscan College Gormanstown. He also turned on the style as a footballer, but as a forward.

However, it was as a defender that he made his mark quickly and impressively with the county. After playing with the minor side for two seasons, he helped Meath from the pivotal position to win the Leinster junior title in 1964 and within weeks of that success was called up at No.7 for a Leinster championship game against Louth. 

Later in the year Reynolds won a Leinster medal in the top grade, and went on to add further provincial souvenirs to his collection in 1966, 1967 and in a memorable game in 1970. That was the game when Meath hit back from a ten points interval deficit to beat Offaly.

The tireless and dependable wing back with the attacking flair appeared as well with Leinster, but he did not get among the Railway Cup medals. However, he had another major national success in 1975 when Meath won their only National League title in the past 25 years with an upset final victory against Dublin.

The Walterstown club man was not in his usual left back spot in the final, but at centre half.

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