The start of something great
January 28, 2021
Silverware for the 1991 Meath Under 16's. Front l-r: Terry Shields (Simonstown), Nigel Woods (St. Colmcilles), Paddy Reynolds (Walterstown), Brendan Murphy (Trim), Brendan Martin (Simonstown), Colm Clarke (O'Mahonys), Oliver Murphy (Carnaross), Tomas Blake (St. Brigids). Back l-r: Philip Duff (Syddan), Shane Byrne (Drumconrath), Niall Farrelly (Gaeil Colmcille), Niall Black (St. Patricks), Hank Traynor (Simonstown), Niall Walsh (Clonard), Trevor Giles (Skryne)
Meath defeated Cavan in the 1991 Gerry Reilly Cup final played in Moylagh.
The young Royals were behind 0-6 to 0-4 at the break but an Ollie Murphy goal swung the game in Meath’s favour and went on to win 1-14 to 0-13.
Hoganstand Weekly GAA Magazine gave a very interesting insight to that very talented squad many of which went on to win All Ireland medals in the Green and Gold.
The Meath players are not without pedigree either. Number 7 Paddy Reynolds of Walterstown wears the same number his father, Pat, so often wore with distinction when winning All Ireland titles with Meath in 1967 and an All Star in 1971. Pat of course in now a Meath senior selector with Sean Boylan and Tony Brennan. Centre forward Philip Duff, who was the star of the victory over Cavan, is a nephew of Tom Duff, Meath’s midfielder in the 1954 Leinster final v Offaly, a game in which Tom had the misfortune to break a leg, thus missing the All Ireland final.
Meath were captained by Brendan Murphy from Trim, who earlier this year kept goals for the Meath minors in their championship game v Dublin and his hugh kickouts is a major asset.
Midfielder Niall Walsh has the unusual distinction of playing with two counties this year. A Clonard clubman who attends Edenderry Vocational School, Niall played for Offaly in the Vocational Schools Championship and won a Leinster medal after beating his native Meath in a semi final replay.
There is a link with last years All Ireland Minor champions, for members Barry Sheridan and Richard Kealy are brothers of Cathal and Brendan respectively, who lined out in the powerful Meath minor attack.
Meath, like Cavan have a strong link with St. Patricks College, this one from Navan where Colm O’Rourke is a teacher and assists Padraig Nolan with coaching and training.
Michael McBride, Meath reserve keeper, forward Brendan Martin and Trevor Giles who has been giving some scintillating performances at midfield for Meath, all played for St. Pats in their first ever appearance in the Hogan Cup final in Croke Park last April. A further four Under 16’s, Terry Shields, Hank Traynor, Ruebens McManus and Colm Clarke also attend St. Pats.
Among Meath’s top scorers have been corner forward Tomas Blake, who scored 1-17 in the O’Reilly Tournament and who, ironically, lives less than a mile from the Cavan border, while Oliver Murphy from Carnaross and Shane Byrne from Drumconrath have totalled 3-7 and 1-13 each.
Meath also participated in the Leinster Under 16 Blitz that year and in addition to the players already mentioned had great performances from Carnaross full back Conor Woods, and his namesake Nigel from St. Colmcilles in the No. 4 jersey. Niall Farrelly of Gaeil Colmcille gave a versatile performance in defence, midfields and attack while county Under 16 champions Kilcloon had three representatives, Tony Regan, Paul Nestor, who scored 2-2 in Carlow and Kevin Gannon 0-3.
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