Dunboyne are champions after 210 minutes of non-stop, excitement filled, action
April 03, 2021
The Dunboyne squad that won the 2000 Meath U16 FC. Front l-r: N. McKeever, P. Conway, S. McGarrell, A. Barker, S. Moran, P. Fagan, G. Timoney, C. Brennan, D. Brown, D. Carr. Back l-r: N. White, D. Watters, G. Grehan, C. Clarke, B. Comer, M. Moffatt, J. Bruton, A. O'Connor, S. McKeena, K. Donlon, T. O'Connor
The question that was often asked - pick your best game from the year 2000. Look no further that the Meath Under 16 Division 1 football championship final. It took 210 minutes of outstanding football to separate Dunboyne and O'Mahonys 21 years ago.
Here's how the title finally endedup with St. Peters
210 minutes of football were required before Dunboyne finally took the U16 FC crown. Without doubt, the most exciting county final of 2000 was the u-16 clash between St Peter's, Dunboyne and Navan O'Mahony's. Three games, plus two periods of extra-time, were required to decide the destination of the Benny Caffrey cup and, in the end, it was Dunboyne who prevailed.
The opening installment of the trilogy, played at the beginning of August, finished on a scoreline of 1-8 to 1-8 and it was Dunboyne supporters who were wiping the sweat from their brows at the final whistle. Referee Seamus O'Connor was generous in his estimation of extra-time and allowed just enough time for midfielder Tomás O'Connor to blast a 20m free from his hand to the net to give his team a second bite of the cherry.
Although St Peter's were fortunate to earn a draw, it would have been a grave injustice had they been beaten. They were by far the better side for the majority of the opening three quarters and should have had the Benny Caffrey cup sown up long before a late O'Mahony's revival propelled them into a four point lead.
O'Connor and Colin Clarke gave Dunboyne the early initiative with a point apiece in the opening five minutes but nonetheless the Dunboyne forwards, with the exception of Clarke, Aidan O'Connor and Gerard Grehan , struggled to build on their team's superiority.
They should have been a lot more ahead than just three points - Clarke got a second - by the time O'Mahony's opened their account after 20 minutes. Midfielder O'Connor replied but a brace of points from O'Mahony's left just 0-4 to 0-3 in at the interval.
Clarke and Grehan edged St Peter's back in front on the restart and at that stage you would have bet your life savings on them going on to clinch the title.
O'Mahony's had other ideas, however, and were thrown a lifeline with a fortuitous goal. Dunboyne 'keeper Stephen Moran had an outstanding game overall but he won't like to be reminded of the moment when his attempted clearance kick was blocked down and O'Mahony's gained a penalty from a resultant push.
The Brews Hill outfit took full advantage before adding another point to go one ahead. O'Connor squared things up shortly afterwards but an O'Mahony's purple patch, which yielded four unanswered points, looked to have sealed the issue.
Aidan O'Connor blazed over the bar to leave just a goal in it before Tomás O'Connor came to the rescue with that late, late equaliser.
Sean McGarrell was the central character in Act 2 a week later as it was his late point which ensured that these two talented teams still remained deadlocked at the end of 150 minutes of football. Not even extra-time could produce a winner.
Again it was a fair outcome although O'Mahony's did probably feel aggrieved as they led by three points with 13 minutes of extra-time remaining and kicked 17 wides in comparison to Dunboyne's 12. But it was they who trailed with time almost up before a late point sent the game into extra-time. 0-12 to 0-12 was the score at the end of normal time.
The St Peter's management must have been getting some lessons of Sean Boylan, however, because, once again, their team displayed tremendous character and refused to throw in the towel when their backs were against the wall.
Corner backs Matthew Moffat and Stephen McKenna produced sterling performances, Brian Comer, Padraig Conway, McGarrell and substitute Niall McKenna also played starring roles but if there was a man-of-the-match award Gerard Grehan would have been the recipient. Playing the third midfielder role, he won plenty of possession and also chipped in with three valuable points.
Conway opened the scoring for Dunboyne but they soon trailed by 0-4 to 0-1 before Grehan struck for his first point. Both sides hit the same amount of scores in the second quarter and the team in blue and white stripes had a 0-7 to 0-5 advantage at the interval.
Points were exchanged at the beginning of the second half before Dunboyne went on a scoring spree, hitting five successive points from Brennan, Niall McKenna, Conway, Aidan O'Connor and Grehan. The Brews Hill side regained their composure to restore parity but a 59th minute Grehan free looked to have been enough before that late O'Mahony's effort forced extra-time.
Navan made the most of their reprieve to go three points ahead in extra-time but McGarrell (two) and Conway ensured that Dunboyne weren't going to be denied in a tension-filled final five minutes.
The final chapter to this enthralling encounter was dominated by Gerard Grehan. Playing closer to goal than in the second game, the number 14 put his name on 1-4 of his side's winning total of 1-11. O'Mahony's could only manage 1-2 for the hour!
The Dunboyne lads were in control from start to finish. Tomás O'Connor and Colm Brennan were always on top at midfield while centre-forward Aidan O'Connor gave Grehan plenty of support up front.
1-6 to 1-2 was the half-time scoreline, and with the Dunboyne rearguard excelling, O'Mahony's failed to raise a flag in the second half. Points from McGarrell, Aidan O'Connor and Grehan propelled Dunboyne into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead. Grehan struck for his goal after eight minutes.
The blue and white stripes replied with a goal four minutes later and another close, nip and tuck affair looked on the cards. Grehan (2) and Stephen Moran put some daylight between the sides and from there on, after O'Mahony's last point in the 26th minute, it was all one way traffic.
Torrential rain marred the second half but, nonetheless, the St Peter's youngsters continued to press home their advantage. Aidan O'Connor and wing-back Colin Clarke added further points. Tomás O'Connor increased their lead to eight with two approaching the end and Grehan rounded off a fine personal display with the last point of the game in injury-time.
And so it ended. 210 minutes of non-stop, excitement filled, action. Dunboyne are Meath u-16 champions for 2000. Both teams deserve tremendous credit for the entertainment they served up. Roll on the minor in two years time!
The St Peter's XV which eventually got the better of O'Mahony's was - J O'Connor; M Moffatt, J Bruton, D Carr; C Clarke (0-1), B Comer, N Whyte; T O'Connor (0-2), C Brennan; N McKeever, A O'Connor (0-2), P Conway; S Moran (0-1), G Grehan (1-4), S McGarrell (0-1).
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