ALL-IRELAND SFC SEMI-FINAL THROWBACK Underdogs Donegal tested Meath's mettle
'WHAT A SCARE' roared the headline above Paul Clarke's report in the final Meath Chronicle of August back in 1990.
The story unfolded underneath told of Meath's great fortune in overturning Donegal to book their place in their third All-Ireland SFC final in four years.
'Confidence and experience propelled Meath to a crunch showdown with Cork as they lived dangerously, but survived in this highly entertaining and fiercely contested All-Ireland Senior Football Championship semi-final at Croke Park,' opened Clarke in his match report.
Oh how times have changed. Next Sunday Meath will wander up to Croke Park, written off as tourists going to the Big Smoke for a day out. Back in 1990, those roles were reversed - let Clarke continue.
'Those who expected Donegal to travel south and die peacefully were given a rude awakening as the Ulster champions threw everything they had at the Royal County and turned in the finest performance to come from an Ulster side in years.'
Clarke went on to explain that the underdogs were, however, found wanting in the most crucial department as they struggled in attack hitting just 1-7 in response to Meath's winning number of 3-9.
Bernard Flynn chipped in with 2-2 for Meath, Brian Stafford recorded 1-2, while PJ Gillic's contribution of four points was notable for Sean Boylan's side.
Donegal travelled home that evening regretting their 12 wides and the concession of Flynn's 19th minute goal left them trailing 0-1 to 1-3.
Despite that promising start Meath stuttered as Donegal outscored them by the same score for the remainder of the half.
Manus Boyle converted a penalty with one of the last kicks of the half after he was fouled by Mick Lyons to make it 1-4 each at the break.
The early tone of the second period was very much even, but once Gerry McEntee joined the fray Meath started to dominate midfield.
Brian Stafford first-timed David Beggy's centre to the net and Donegal's heads had only just stopped spinning when Flynn added his second and Meath's third goal.
Meath could even afford a missed penalty of their own from Stafford when eight up, but their margin of victory was flattering as the Royals were very much indebted to an outstanding display from goalkeeper Donal Smyth and the full-back line of Bob O'Malley, Mick Lyons and Terry Ferguson.
The other Meath Chronicle reporter on duty that day Colm Keys (now of the Irish Independent) described Meath's task against Donegal as resembling 'a group of contractors, on the verge of a major development, facing up to a well cemented wall which was causing an obstacle to progress.
'All the heavy machinery the contractors could call upon wasn't yielding instant results - what was required was patience.
'And as they chisled away the task became more infuriating as they realised how difficult this task would be.'
Keys praised Meath's persistence - 'Meath won because they knew they had to. Rarely does a wall fall down upon its demolishers', but he also admired Donegal's battling qualities.
It was certainly a day when substance prevailed over style and Robbie Brennan will take that type of a win all day long next Sunday.
The teams from that 1990 All-Ireland SFC semi-final were:
Meath - D Smyth; B O'Malley, M Lyons, T Ferguson; M O'Connell, K Foley, B Reilly; L Hayes, C Brady; D Beggy (0-1), PJ Gillic (0-4), T Dowd; C O'Rourke, B Stafford (1-2), B Flynn (2-2).
Subs - G McEntee for Brady, M McCabe for Dowd, Brady for McEntee.
Donegal - G Walsh; P Carr, M Gallagher, J Cunningham; D Reid, M Gavigan, M Shovlin; A Molloy, B Murray; J McHugh, M McHugh (0-1), J McMullen; D Bonner (0-3), T Boyle (0-1), M Boyle (1-2).
Subs - T Ryan for J McHugh, I Gavigan for M McHugh, J B Gallagher for Murray.