The 20th September, one of the most important dates in the history of Meath GAA for on this date Meath won the 1987 All Ireland Senior Football Championship for the first time in twenty years and in 1992 the Royals clinched their second All Ireland Minor Football Championship in two years.

When Mick Lyons climbed the steps to the presentation area to receive the Sam Maguire Cup it ended twenty years of frustration for Royal followers. Meath defeated Cork 1-14 to 0-11 with Colm O'Rourke getting the winners goal in the opening half.

Mick Lyons raises The Sam Maguire Cup

On their way to their first All Ireland success since 1967 Meath defeated Laois 1-11 to 2-5, Kildare 0-15 to 0-9, Dublin 1-13 to 0-12 (Leinster Final) and Derry 0-15 to 0-8 in the All Ireland semi.

That Meath team that lined out against Cork in the final:  Mickey McQuillan, Robbie O'Malley, Mick Lyons, Terry Ferguson, Kevin Foley, Liam Harnan, Martin O'Connell, Liam Hayes, Gerry McEntee 0-1, David Beggy 0-3, Joe Cassells, PJ Gillic 0-1, Colm O'Rourke 1-1, Brian Stafford 0-7, Bernard Flynn 0-1. Colm Coyle and Padraic Lyons came on as subs.

All Ireland Senior Football Champions 1987

It was also the date that Meath won their third and last All Ireland Minor Football Championship title. Peter Sullivan captain the team to that 2-5 to 0-10 final day victory over Armagh. A Michael Farrelly goal proved vital. The game was played before Donegal's historic first All Ireland SFC success. Meath accounted for Laois, Louth, Wexford, Westmeath (Leinster Final) and Cork (All Ireland semi final) on their way to the decider.

Meath Minors celebrate after defeating Armagh

The Meath team on All Ireland Final day was Brendan Murphy, Kenny Cantwell, John Brady, Jimmy Smith, Paul Shankey, Joe Tighe, Barry Sheridan, Derry Hunt 0-1, Neville Dunne, Conor Harten, Caimin Hall, Gareth Bell, Philip Duff, Peter Sullivan 0-1, Trevor Giles 1-2. Subs: Paul Nestor 0-1 and Michael Farrelly 1-0

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