Saints can go marching back to senior ranks

One of the theories doing the rounds within Meath hurling for some years now asserts that for hurling in the county to be strong and vibrant it needs to thrive in the big centres of population – particularly in the rapidly-increasing ‘new’ towns close to Dublin.

One of those places of massive growth is Dunboyne and from there the local St Peter’s club has, in recent times, fielded teams in hurling and football at senior levels.

The football team has held onto its status as a top-flight outfit but last year the club’s senior hurling side was relegated to the intermediate ranks, losing out in all six of their games.

Dropping down a level can be a descent into a prolonged spell in the wilderness for any team because it’s not easy to get back up again. Not one bit. Sometimes it can take years. However, this year St Peter’s should make an immediate return to local hurling’s Promised Land.

Among the most remarkable statistics of the small ball game in this part of the world is that St Peter’s have not won a SHC crown since 1914 but there are strong indications that, despite their demotion last year, moves are underway to transform the situation.

In 2023 for instance, the Saints won the MHC (as well, remarkably, as the MFC) and players from that crop are now starting to emerge onto their first team.

The word on the street is that the club have for this upcoming campaign recruited a number of talented players from Munster hurling strongholds such as Cork and Tipperary, who are living in the area. They can be added to their own home-grown talent.

With players such as Sean Quigley, Sean Callinan, Sean Cregan and Niall Smyth forming the core of a team that contains both youth and experience Dunboyne can pose a formidable threat.

Of course having the resources available, in terms of a big playing panel, doesn’t necessarily equate to success. That’s part of the challenge facing Dunboyne manager Sean McMahon and his management team – finding the right balance; that elusive winning formula.

Who will be their nearest rivals? Drumree were somewhat unfortunate to miss out on the title in 2024. They reached the final but did not perform to their best on the big day, leaving the way open for champions Navan O’Mahonys.

The Drums remain under the guidance of Frank Bawle but the word is they have lost five or six of their regulars from last year’s campaign. That hemorrhaging of talent could ultimately scupper their ambitions this time around.

Still, they have some have a contingent of accomplished players such as Josh Wall, David Reilly, Evan Curley, AJ Collins and Cathal McCormack. Drumree picked up some encouraging results also in the league including an eight-point win over Kildalkey although their Div 2 was patchy. They are sure to be in the running.

One team who will also feel they have real reason to be optimistic is Rathmolyon. They lost out to O’Mahonys in last year’s IHC semi-final – and what a contest that turned out to be.

This was a little classic, a real gem embellished by quality hurling and the honest endeavours of all those involved with the men in Green only denied victory in the dying seconds of normal time. Both teams attacked with abandon and O’Mahonys prevailed, 0-28 to 4-13, in extra-time.

Rathmolyon had enough chances to win that game. That realisation might drive them on to make amends this time around.

Another of last year’s defeated semi-finalists were Donaghmore/Ashbourne. Their loss to O’Mahonys in the last four hurt. It was the second successive year they lost a semi-final. That kind of stuff can be a powerful source of motivation too.

There’s a big push on to develop hurling in the Ashbourne area and leading the charge is team manager and former Meath player Colm O Mealoid. He’s one of those who feels the long-term, robust health of Meath hurling depends on the game blossoming in the big population areas.

“For Meath to succeed you need all the towns to be promoting the game but particularly where the big populations are it’s really important hurling is strong in those areas,” he asserts.

St Pat’s are sure to be formidable. They too have a swathe of young talented players such as Alex Hutchinson, Alex Curran, Tom Elliott, Seanie Reilly. They were defeated by Drumree in last year’s semi-final. This time around they are in a very challenging Group B.

As ever Boardsmill are sure to feature at the business end of the championship. Their encouraging form in Div 3 of the league suggests that, under new manager Neil Heffernan, they could go further in the championship then their quarter-final placing last year.

An interesting managerial appointment was that of Mark Lynch taking over Wolfe Tones. The former Rathmolyon hurler did a fine job when in charge of Blackhall Gaels. Can he take the Tones to the next level?

Kilskyre/Moylagh will want to build on the winning the inaugural IHC B title last summer.

In the final they defeated Gaeil Colmcille who, in turn, could find it difficult to get out of a strong Group A this time around.

Kildalkey and the reigning junior champions, Kilmessan will pose plenty of serious questions for the teams they face along the way while Trim will have plenty of youthful players to draw on but they may struggle to pick up the victories against hard, rugged opponents.

It would take something special for a second club side to win the IHC. It’s an unlikely outcome. The vote goes with St Peter’s to regain their senior status.