Brendan Boylan: The chasm at U-20/21 has been filled and the winning habit woven into this group of superb young players

1990 was an extraordinary year. The World Cup in Italy, my first time in both Croke Park and Pairc Tailteann and Cork winning the All-Ireland double.

There are personal stories attached to all of the above which will offer context to the main body of what appears hereafter.

If taking them in chronological order, my Croke Park debut was first up. April 14th for the National Football League semi final between Meath and Cork. An early ninth birthday present. Meath beat Cork 0-14 to 0-10, but the abiding memory of the day was Colm O’Rourke being shoved into the wall in front of the old dugouts by a certain Rebel.

On to the World Cup. The school summer holidays hadn’t come around when the action kicked off, but, by the time the penalty shootout against Romania came around, school was well and truly out.

But haymaking season was very much in though. However, even that most important of operations was briefly halted so that Pat Bonnar and David O’Leary altering the course of history was witnessed.

So to September, the two great Gaelic football foes of the time faced off once again with the Sam Maguire at stake.

Regrettably, that day will forever rank as one of the most disappointing performances of Sean Boylan’s tenure. And that, aligned with an imperious display in midfield by Cork’s Shay Fahy enabled them to easily make their own piece of history.

However, the main points of interest with regard to our story here occurred on the night after the final heartbreak.

Firstly because my wheelchair of the day was parked right beside the team bus. Thus, I got to meet the entire panel and backroom team as they boarded the bus to move on to the County Club. But just before they pulled away, it was noted that the one acquaintance which hadn’t been made was that of the skipper.

To my eternal delight, a combination of Sean and Mick McAuley, aka Magoosh, Meath’s answer to Charlie O’Leary at the time, summoned he who is now ar Bainisteoir to the bus door.

Move on nine years from that night. It’s another Monday after an All Ireland final. Meath and Cork again. Except this time, three Dunboyne clubmen and four parishioners - Enda McManus, Nigel Crawford, David Gallagher and Nigel Nestor - carried Sam Maguire up through the middle of the village.

Then, there was the obligatory address by the herbalist, as the masses hung on every word. I doubt he or anybody else thought it would be his last All Ireland winning proclamation. Yet all these years on, the weight of some of those words have lingered like an itch needing to be scratched. Last Monday night, the flame passed on.

“Nine years ago tonight, we gathered here, defeated and disappointed, having been beaten by a great Cork team. But on that same night, two young men carried an All Ireland trophy through these same streets. Enda McManus and Graham Geraghty - All Ireland Minor winners. Today is the dawning of a new era, for a new group of players, who are proud to carry the torch first lit by Brian Smyth and the men of ‘49”.

April 29th, 2024, the torch passed to a new generation. I don’t think Jack Kinlough, John Harkin or Luke Carolan (or their captain, Liam Kelly) brought the Seamus Flood Cup on tour this time round, but my conviction that last Monday night’s Leinster u-20 FC final victory over Louth is the most important for men’s football in the county since that Tom Markham Cup success 34 years beforehand is steadfast.

In fact, it might actually be more important than the 1990 win itself. Simply because the unwarranted and counterproductive realignment of the underage competitions has made bridging the gap between them and senior an even more onerous task.

However, by virtue of their own Minor win of 2021, Cathal O’Bric’s charges are already inculcated into a winning culture and - regardless of how they fare against Kerry at the weekend - with these lads on the horizon, the future for Meath football is a bright one.

Indeed, already, Brian O’Halloran, John O’Regan and Jack Kinlough have seen game time with Colm O’Rourke’s crew this season. And you could compile a list the length of your leg of those likely to follow them.

In their moment of triumph at Parnell Park, Eamonn Armstrong and Jamie Murphy produced two of the finest displays seen by Meath men at any grade for quite a while.

Though it is undoubtedly an overused cliche, in one sense, regardless of what transpires in Thurles on Saturday, this Meath group are now in bonus territory.

The chasm at U-20/21 has been filled and the winning habit woven into this group of players has been upheld. As a consequence of which the conveyor belt of exciting talent coming through in the county continues apace.

There’s no reason, though, for them to settle for the ‘bonus territory’ option. Yes, Kerry were impressive in their defeat of Cork. In Daniel Kirby (son of former Kerry midfielder William), Cormac Dillon, Aidan Crowley and Luke Crowley (son of Johnny) Tomas O Se’s troops boast attackers capable of giving any defence headaches.

But have their own rearguard came up against players of the quality of Armstrong, Kinlough, Shaun Leonard, Hughie Corcoran or Murphy? I doubt it. Indeed, if Cork were even a fraction less profligate the narrative of this piece could be entirely different.

Circumstances may prevent me from making the trip to Tipp, but rest assured, every ball will be kicked in spirit. Drive on lads, ye are undoubtedly the best team in the competition, I’ve no doubt ye will prove so again.

Your achievements have lifted spirits to a degree that some people, cough, might even struggle to put into words.