The Meath players who captured the Centenary Cup in 1984 (from left) were: back -Michael Downes, Donal Smyth, Eamonn Barry, Gerry McEntee, Willie Rogan, Joe Carr, Liam Hayes, Joe Cassells, Frank O’Sullivan, Mick Lyons, Martin O’Connell, Colm O’Rourke JJ McCormack, Paddy McIntyre, Joe Casey; front - Colm Coyle, Phil Smith, Bernard Flynn, Finian Murtagh, Padraig Finnerty, David Mooney, Padraic Lyons, Robbie O’Malley, Liam Smith, Jimmy Fay, Gerry McLoughlin, Brendan Melia, Mattie McCabe.

Centenary Cup win was the start of a golden era for Meath

Fergal Lynch

Published: Thu 13 Jun 2024, 10:41 AM

Forty years have past since the first inklings of a great Meath team emerged in the Centenary Cup win on 20th May 1984.

Sean Boylan had already made his mark by winning the O'Byrne Cup in 1983, a small step in football, but a giant leap for Meath. However the Centenary Cup really gave Royals hope and the final victory over Monaghan was many young supporters first taste of Croke Park glory - mine included.

The Centenary Cup, as the name suggests, was a once-off knockout out competition to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the GAA and with Dublin and Kerry (both of whom went on to contest that year's All-Ireland SFC final) knocked out early it proved to be a wide open and exciting competition.

On their way to the final Meath registered big wins over Carlow, Galway and Cavan, while they had just three points to spare against Laois in round two.

In the tight, tense low-scoring final Monaghan started strongly and kicked three points in the opening four minutes. The Ulster side also hit the post, but Meath stayed in touch and were level, 0-6 each, at half-time.

Meath threatened to pull away in the second-half, but they could never shake off their doughty opponents who added five wides in that period to bring their tally to nine for the contest, while in contrast Meath kicked just two over the hour.

Meath's midfield were stifled by Monaghan's crowding and the supply of ball into Colm O'Rourke, Bernard Flynn and Finian Murtagh was slow. When it did arrive Gerry McCarville had the edge in defence.

Mattie McCabe, who came in for the injured Eamonn Barry, and Colm Coyle were Meath's main attacking threat as Nudie Hughes limited the impact of Liam Hayes as Monaghan's third midfielder.

Padraic Lyons benefitted from Hughes deployment further out the field and along with Joe Cassells and Martin O'Connell was probably Meath's best on show in the 0-10 to 0-8 victory.

The honour of lifting the Centenary Cup fell to Joe Cassells, a late replace as captain for the injured Eamonn Barry. Barry was denied the honour of leading out his county by an ankle injury which he picked up the previous Sunday in the semi-final win over Cavan.

Meath - Jimmy Fay; Robbie O'Malley, Mick Lyons, Padraic Lyons (0-1); Padraig Finnerty, Joe Cassells, Martin O'Connell; Liam Hayes, Gerry McEntee; Colm Coyle, Mattie McCabe (0-3), Liam Smith (0-4); Finian Murtagh, Colm O'Rourke (0-2), Bernard Flynn. Subs - JJ McCormack for McCabe, Mickey Downes for Flynn, Gerry McLoughlin for Finnerty.

Monaghan - K O'Neill; D Loughman, G McCarville, E Sherry; K Murray, S McCarville, D Flanagan; E McEneaney, H Clerkin (0-1); K Finlay (0-3), R McCarron, K Treanor; E Hughes (0-4), M Caulfield, Bernie Murray. Subs - Brendan Murray for S McCarville, A McArdle for Treanor, E Murphy for Caulfield.

Referee - Seamus Aldridge (Kildare).