Out of the shadows

Meath hurlers took a major step out of the shadows at Croke Park on Saturday when they won the Nicky Rackard Cup for the first time with a merited 2-18 to 1-15 victory over a hard-working London side. Notable, perhaps, is the fact that Meath"s last major piece of silverware was also achieved against the same opposition all of 16 years ago in the All-Ireland SHC B decider at Ruislip. Meath manager TJ Reilly can be proud of his achievements this year. His goals, at the outset, would have been promotion to the NHL Div 2 and victory in the Nicky Rackard Cup. Saturday"s victory against London was an ideal antidote for defeat by Kildare in the league final and the performance of a young team, sprinkled with some experienced performers, augurs well for next year. That Meath achieved victory without suspended inter-provincial star Stephen Clynch is actually another positive for next year"s campaign in the Christy Ring Cup. Clynch was red-carded in the semi-final victory against Armagh at Pairc Tailteann and an appeal against his suspension was turned down by the hierarchy last Thursday night at GAA headquarters. Clynch was relegated to the role of spectator and was utilised by LMFM"s Frank Dempsey as a match analyst on Saturday. 'We look like we might win the game, provided we don"t fade too much in the second-half,' he told the Meath Chronicle at half-time as the Royal County took a 2-10 to 0-9 advantage to the dressing room. Despite enduring an 18-minute second-half blank on the scoreboard, Meath survived a spirited London rally after David Kirby"s third-quarter point gave them a substantial 2-15 to 0-10 advantage. London whittled away Meath"s lead to a goal (1-15 to 2-15) by the 29th minute, but their rhythm was disrupted by a four-minute stoppage due to an injury which Kildalkey man Fregus McMahon sustained. McMahon enjoyed an excellent game at midfield for London, but was stretchered-off the pitch with a leg injury. The break in play gave under-pressure Meath an opportunity to re-group and it was fitting that another point from wing-back Kirby got them going again. 'I"m disappointed that I missed the final, but I"m thrilled that we won, everyone has worked hard for this success and it"s great for the likes of Mike Cole and Nicky Horan who got vital goals in the first-half,' added Clynch as team captain Neil Hackett was presented with the cup. Next year Meath"s young guns will play in the NHL Div 3A again which will provide valuable experience as they prepare for an assault on the more challenging Christy Ring Cup. After too many years in free-fall, Meath hurling is once again starting to make progress. And what better way to announce your arrival than with a first championship victory in Croke Park, 11 years after they were mauled by Offaly in the Leinster SHC at the same venue on a day when McMahon scored their last point at the venue.