History is made as the Hill reach the summit
IFC FINAL - Fancied O'Mahonys edged out in gripping contest that goes to extra-time
Meath Hill...0-16
Navan O'Mahonys...0-14
After extra-time
Sometimes dreams do some true; the unlikely becomes the reality. Meath Hill proved that today when they claimed their first ever IFC title at Pairc Tailteann.
Nobody would have predicted before the championship got underway that the Hill would be crowned champions. After all they have been around for 121 years and never reached the summit when it came to the intermediate grade - until today that is.
The nearest they got to such lofty heights previously was in 1986. It was then they made it to the final only to be defeated by Gaeil Colmcille by two points, 0-7 to 1-6.
Two points was the margin today only this time they were on the right side of the fence, the winning side - and how their supporters cheered and savoured the moment. How they basked in the fact that they were witnesses to history.
There were a few tears too but that's only to be expected on this the day the Hill reached the top of the mountain.
And what tenacity and self belief they showed in fashioning a victory against a fancied O'Mahonys side. That unshakable belief was most obvious in the closing minutes of normal time.
With time almost up O'Mahonys launched an attack. The outstanding Aodhan Mallon lofted the ball towards the Meath Hill goalmouth. The ball broke to Sean Betson.
The O'Mahonys' player had a chance, a half-chance, for a goal. Wisely, you felt at the time, he knocked the ball over the bar. It looked like it might be enough.
Then two minutes into injury time Meath Hill, who hadn't lost a game in the championship all year, moved the ball upfield. The seconds were ticking, there was no room for error.
The ball ended up in the hands of Jack McMahon close to the O'Mahonys' goalmouth. He stayed calm and composed and directed the ball between the posts. The sides were level, 0-12 apiece.
Soon after referee Padraic Coyle blew the whistle to bring normal time to an end. Both sides would have to find an extra few ounces of energy from somewhere. Both sides would have to take the long route.
Grateful for the reprieve Meath Hill were by some distance the better side in extra-time. Thanks to one point from Gary Breslin and three from Shane McCabe (who was substituted before going back on), they led for most of the extra-time to reach the Promised Land.
Meath Hill built up deep reservoir of self belief this season. They were doubtless greatly helped along the way by the fact that they won a competition like the Corn na Boinne earlier in the year, overcoming Oldcastle in the final, also after extra-time. So Saturday's scenario was not new to them.
Manager Shane McCoy and his management team of Michael McCabe, Dean Farrelly, Noel Litchfield, Tadgh Boyle and Kieran Slavin had got a tremendous level of commitment from the players and with each victory they achieved belief grew and the prize drew nearer and nearer.
In pleasant autumn conditions today and on a pristine pitch, the Hill once again showed an iron will to carve out a victory.
They led 0-5 to 0-4 at the break in normal time and helped to make this game a memorable encounter by defending stoutly and breaking quickly upfield. O'Mahonys also showed similar qualities ensuring this was real topsy turvy game that kept the crowd of about 2,500 enthralled all the way.
Among Meath Hill's most potent assets were the attacking pair of James Mooney and Gary Breslin. Their pace and ability to get on the ball caused O'Mahonys all sorts of problems. Breslin finished the afternoon with six point, two frees.
He was one of seven Meath Hill players who got on the scoresheet with Cormac Sheehy lofting over three points from frees while Jamie Slavin, Jack Slavin, McMahon, Damien Turley and McCabe pointed from play. Meath Hill had a greater fluency to their attacks.
In contrast O'Mahonys struggled at times to break through the Meath Hill cover. Only one of their starting forward division - Robbie Kelleghan - scored from play. The others were Darragh Murphy, Sean Betson, Aodhan Mallon and Darragh Maguire who got two points, one from a mark.
Mallon also marked his top quality display with three superb frees. One in particular was exceptional, the player floating the ball between the posts from a very awkward angle in front of the terrace. Mallon's cool accuracy was a big factor in keeping his team in the game.
With Brian Dillon filling in very effectively as a playmaker - similar to a quarter-back in American football - O'Mahonys regularly put together multi-phase moves but they were unable to create a clear-cut goal chance for all their possession.
They were simply unable to breakdown a highly organised, highly motivated Meath Hill defence that forced a number of turnovers. It was all part of what made up a truly exceptional, unforgettable day for Meath Hill who after 102 years on the road have finally made it to the senior ranks.
They will treasure this win for a long, long time to come and rightfully so.
Meath Hill - Dominic Yorke; Damien Turley (0-1), Thomas Carolan, Andrew Monghan; Conor Marry, Jamie Slavin (0-1), Peter Griffin; Jack Slavin (0-1), Ryan Owens; Cormac Sheehy (0-3 frees), Jack McMahon (0-1), Gary Breslin 0-6 two frees); James Mooney, Sean Owens, Shane McCabe (0-3). Subs - Ciaran Farrelly for McCabe 48m, Ben Gogarty for Griffin, Jake Gillen for Owens 59m, McCabe for Sheehy 67m, Sheehy for McMahon 88m.
Navan O'Mahonys - Niall Devlin; Darragh Murphy (0-1), Brian Dillon, Sam Formosa; Sean Betson (0-1), Niall McGrane, Aodhan Mallon (0-4 three frees); Mike O'Reilly, Darragh Maguire (0-2 one mark); Shane Maguire, Robbie Keeleghan (0-6 five frees), Ronan Clarke; Oisin O'Brien, Duggie Dillon, Ivo Fitzherbert. Subs - Conor Finnegan for McGrane 17m, Craig Munnelly O'Toole for Clarke 50m, Conor Brady for S Maguire 54m, Evan Coffey for D Dillon 61m, Cormac Keyes for Brady 62m, Louis Collins for D Maguire 68m, Dillon for Ivo Fitzherbert 71m, Eoin Joyce for Keelaghan 77m.
Referee - Padraic Coyle (Seneschalstown).