Overdue success for Royal County hurlers

Laps of honour, trophies and treasured memories. They were all part of the bill at Croke Park on Saturday as Meath bagged the Nicky Rackard Cup for the first time. The sceptic will point out that this was "only" the Rackard Cup yet it was a national competition and victory does put Meath back in the Christy Ring Cup. Apart from brief spells in both halves Meath always looked the most likely to win this encounter as they fired home two first-half goals to lay the platform for a deserved victory. The sight of stand-in captain Neil Hackett raising the Nicky Rackard Cup provoked a loud cheer from the Meath supporters who made up a small attendance to see the minnows of the game turn out in three finals. And they enjoyed the unique sight of a Meath hurling captain accepting a piece of silverware at headquarters. As Hackett accepted the trophy Stephen Clynch had to painfully watch from the stand as his colleagues went about their task of dismantling a spirited if limited challenge put up by the Exiles. Apart from the final result there was so much for Meath to savour from this encounter. There were two spectacular goals, a slew of skilfully taken points. Underpinning the Meath performance was a desire to win the game for Clynch who they felt the player had been harshly suspended. It was a cause celebre that superred them on. The last time a Meath senior hurling team visited Croke Park was back in 1998 when they were trounced by Offaly in the Leinster SHC. Two players who were involved with Meath at that time - Mike Cole and Nicky Horan - played major roles in engineering this victory with their first-half goals providing a cushion that proved invaluable. Croke Park has changed a lot since 1998 and Meath has also undergone sharply contrasting fortunes with a new low reached last year when they were demoted to the Rackard Cup. As soon as he took charge TJ Reilly said that his primary aim was to get the team back to the Christy Ring Cup - he achieved that goal on Saturday. Right from the start Meath performed with a hunger and a confidence that augured well for them. Meath"s first touch was usually excellent, the fitness levels of a high enough standard to maintain the momentum and withstand considerable London pressure. It was one of those days when just about every Meath player was on his game and their combined efforts made this the team"s best display of the year. The sides were level twice in the opening half however, at no stage did London go in front. At half-time Meath were ahead by 2-10 to 0-9. Everything looked set for a big win. Perhaps believing they had done the job Meath allowed London back into the game and for 19 minutes in the second-half they failed to trouble the scorekeeper. With six minutes remaining the deficit was reduced to just three points. There were even whisperings of extra-time. Then one point from David Kirby and two from Hackett from frees closed out the game. It was fitting that Kirby should be involved in wrapping up proceedings as he had a superb outing. There were eyebrows raised when he was chosen as a half-back for the Armagh game. He had played there at under-age level and quickly fitted into the role. On Saturday he excelled in the position making a number of important clearances and sweeping over those two memorable points - one from half-way, the other carved out after he ran through with the ball on his stick before he pointed skilfully. He also shipped what looked like a bad leg injury in the second-half. He played on despite the knock. Hackett"s contribution was again immense. In addition to the five points he scored, the Dunboyne man revelled in the open spaces of Croker embarking on a number of pacy runs that left opponents in his wake. After 12 minutes Hackett raced clear of two London players to slot the ball between the posts and put his side 0-5 to 0-2 in front. There was 23 minutes on the clock when Meath made the big breakthrough with a remarkable goal. Joey Keena did well to get to a poor London clearance. Keena won the ball 60 metres out and lofted it goalwards. The London netminder Patrick Gannon looked to have it. Full-forward Horan with great skill flicked the sliotar one side of Gannon, neatly took it on his stick before firing to an empty net. It got better for Meath eight minutes later when James Boyle went on one of his many high-energy runs and lofted the ball goalwards from under the Cusack Stand towards Hill 16. Cole darted into open space before grabbing the ball and firing high to the net. The two brilliant goals were part of a well-crafted show provided by Meath with others making huge contributions. Keena did well when he was moved out to the half-forwards and fired over two excellent points. Boyle and Garvey worked tirelessly in the engine room and the Meath defence, who came under a spell of sustained pressure in the second-half, played well with Conor Burke, Enda Fitzgerald and Michael Foley forming a sturdy full-back line. Stephen Quinn played his part with a couple of good saves most notably from Martin Finn, London"s top scorer. Martin Horan returned to near his best form and along with Paul Fagan and Kirby ensured London had to work hard for every score. London had their dangermen with Mark Mythen always a handful and Henry Vaughan showed what he could do when he took a pass from Finn before firing to the net on 16 minutes into the second-half. Meath survived the storm to push on and deservedly win. Once again Meath racked up a big score and some of their points were little classics. Peter Durnin made his mark with a memorable effort after he spurned a few chances while Kevin Fagan found the range in the second-half. The Rathmolyon player was also unlucky not to get a goal as he had a shot cleared off the line by London defender Eamonn Phelan. All six starting forwards scored in what was a memorable occasion for Meath hurling and their small band of long-suffering supporters. SCORERS Meath - N Hackett 0-6, four frees; N Horan 1-3; M Cole 1-1; P Garvey 0-2; D Kirby 0-2; J Keena 0-2; P Durnin 0-1; K Fagan 0-1. London - M Finn 0-6, two frees, one "65"; H Vaughan 1-1; M Mythen 0-3; K McMullan 0-2; C O"Dwyer 0-1; K Forde 0-1; E Morrissey 0-1. THE TEAMS Meath - S Quinn; C Burke, E Fitzgerald, M Foley; M Horan, P Fagan, D Kirby; J Boyle, P Garvey; P Durnin, N Hackett, M Cole; J Keena, N Horan, K Fagan. Subs - G O"Neill for Cole 55 minutes; R Massey for Durnin 68m. London - P Gannon; S Fox, C Burke, E Phelan; K Forde, N Healy, K Kennedy; K Downes, F McMahon; M Mythen, C O"Dwyer, T Twomey; H Vaughan, M Finn, K McMullan. Subs - E Morrissey for Forde half-time; F Tierney for T Twomey 51 minutes; N Cody for McMahon 63m. REFEREE Owen Elliott (Antrim).