With the Covid 19 Lockdown extended for another three weeks and with no sign of the GAA calendar resuming we, with the assistance of Royal County Meath GAA Yearbook and the Hoganstand.com archives, will revisit some memorable moments on the Meath club and county scene over the past 20 years.

Meath claimed their 10th Leinster minor football championship title in 2008 with a final day win over Offaly in Croke Park. It was the Royals second title in three years and things looked very good for football in the county for the future.   

Pat Coyle's side had a very busy few months playing no fewer than 13 matches, seven in the Ulster League and 6 in the championship. They won nine, drew two and the two defeats were at the hands of Tyrone, who also got the better of them in the replayed northern decider.

The Leinster campaign began with a 1-14 to 1-9 win over Louth in Pairc Tailteann to set up a clash with a Gerry McEntee trained Dublin team at Parnell Park. Meath advanced 0-14 to 0-10 after extra time. The visitors went in at the break 0-5 to 0-4 in front but with 10 minutes gone in the second half David Ryan was sent off and Meath were down to 14. Dublin led 0-9 to 0-6 and Meath looked in trouble. But not for the first time the young Royals showed their mettle and with Mickey Newman kicking a wonder point from a sideline ball, Mark Collins slotting over a free and Mark Battersby levelling following a pass from Paddy Gilsenan, it was 0-9 each at the end of the hour. With full numerical strength restored Meath outscored Dublin five points to one in extra time to earn their place in the semi final against Longford.

Played in Pairc Tailteann the teams were level at the break 1-6 each but with 5 minutes gone in the second half the Midlanders had opened up a 2-8 to 1-6 lead. But typical of this squad they picked themselves up and a Battersby goal along with a Damien Carroll point tied the game up with 9 minutes to go. Meath's third goal arrived courtesy of Carroll and further points from Newman and Carroll earned Meath a 3-10 to 2-9 win and a place in the provincial decider.

Offaly provided the opposition on the 20th of July in Croke Park. The young Royals raced into a 0-7 to 0-3 lead only to be pegged back by two Offaly goals. Meath recovered and points from Mark Collins and Mickey Newman narrowed the gap as the Faithful went in at the break with a 2-4 to 0-9 lead. Darragh Smyth got a crucial goal and Meath led 1-13 to 2-5 with 45 minutes gone and looked set for victory.

Offaly had other ideas and scored five points without replay to tie up the game. But then came the winning score. After a close in free by Mark Battersby, who was barracked by Dublin supporters on Hill 16 as they waited for the SFC final showdown with Wexford, fell short, the ball was recycled out to David Ryan who struck the winning point.

With the Leinster minor triumph coming the day after the Meath seniors flopped in Limerick, it was a very welcome success for Pat Coyle and his selectors, Martin Blake, Richie Cahill and James Battersby. After the game Tommy Johnson climbed the steps of the Hogan Stand to receive the Leinster MFC Cup. Meath scorers in the Leinster final were Darragh Smyth 1-1, Mark Collins 0-4, Mickey Newman and Mark Battersby 0-2 each, William carry, Damien Carroll, Andy Tormey and Paddy Gilsenan 0-1 each.

Meath advanced to the last four with a 2-9 to 0-10 win over Tipperary in Portlaoise but lost out, again, to a very strong, and eventual winners, Tyrone outfit in the semi final 1-21 to 2-7.

The Royals had to wait another ten years for their 11th provincial title with Matthew Costello leading a very talented squad to a final day victory over Kildare in Tullamore.

The Meath squad: Sean Dalton, Darragh Smyth, Mark Collins, Enda Nulty, Mark Battersby, Tommy Johnson, Ciaran Lenehan, Stephen O'Brien, Brian McGrane, Jake Regan, David Ryan, Damien Carroll, Brian Menton, Michael Newman, Jamie Owens, Mark Collins, Padraig Curran, Andrew Tormey, Patrick Coakley, John Kelly, Sean Curran, Donnacha Tobin, Paddy Gilsenan, William Carry

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