With the Covid 19 Lockdown extended for another number 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 wins over Kerry in senior football championship are as rare as hen’s teeth but there was one day, September 2nd 2001, that will live long in the memory of all Royal supporters.

Meath completely outclassed Kerry in what turned out to be one of the most extraordinary All Ireland football semi-finals in the history of the championship. Sean Boylan’s magnificent team clinically dismantled the All Ireland champion, winning in a canter by no less than 15 points. No one like to see a team so completely overwhelmed as Kerry was, but in truth such was Meath’s dominance that the margin of victory could have been doubled. It was just that kind of day when everything Meath touched turned to gold and surprisingly Kerry’s challenge disintegrated at a very early stage. (Brian Carty - The Championship 2001)

Meath 2-14 Kerry 0-5

In the past, All Ireland semi final hammerings were the sole preserve of Kerry teams but they were forced to swallow a dollop of their own medicine against a Meath team which scaled the limits of perfection and, in the process, turned the Gaelic football world upside down.

Paidi O Sé’s team - which included the much heralded trio of Johnny Crowley, Mike Frank Russell and Dara O Cinneide in attack - only scored four points from play and, amazingly just one point in the second half.

Meath on the other hand boasted ten scorers, with halfbacks Hank Traynor and Nigel Nestor and substitute John Cullinane making rare appearances on the score sheet.

Not even the earlier than usual introduction of the legendary Maurice Fitzgerald in the 27th minute could knock Meath off their stride.

Moments after the Cahirciveen man’s arrival, John McDermott ghosted up the field to drop-kick a goal and establish a 1-6 to 0-4 half time lead.

For once, and when least expected, Royal County fans were treated to a stress free afternoon and they certainly made the most of it, cheering every kick of the ball as if it were the winning score in an All Ireland final.

Kerry fans were seeking the refuge of their cars as early as the 45th minute, with Meath fans pointing them in the direction of the exits.

Evan Kelly like a lot of people, struggled to explain what had happened. “It’s a shocker, even for ourselves, to beat the All Ireland champions like that”. It’s a strange feeling to be playing Kerry at practice match pace for the last 15 minutes, but we had just one of those days when everything went right for us. We really clicked and beat them in every part of the field” he said after the one sided contest.

Meath scorers: Ollie Murphy 0-4, Ray Magee 0-3, John McDermott and John Cullinane 1-0 each, Evan Kelly 0-2, Nigel Nestor, Hank Traynor, Trevor Giles, Richie Kealy and Graham Geraghty 0-1 each.

Meath: Cormac Sullivan, Mark O'Reilly, Darren Fay, Cormac Murphy, Donal Curtis, Hank Traynor, Nigel Nestor, Nigel Crawford, John McDermott, Evan Kelly, Richie Kealy, Trevor Giles, Ollie Murphy, Graham Geraghty, Ray Magee.
Subs: John Cullinane, Paddy Reynolds, Mick O'Dowd, Jody Devine.

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