Glory of '96 still fresh in O'Reilly's memory

On the national scene Meath are very well represented with many high-profile and well-regarded journalists plying their trade in sport, politics and current affairs.

In a series of features over the last few weeks FERGAL LYNCH asked some of those national journalists to take time out from their hectic schedules to pen a few words recalling their favourite sporting memory.

Today we feature the Newstalk Off The Ball's Aisling O'Reilly who tells of divided loyalties in her family home before Meath's All-Ireland SFC final victory over Mayo in 1996.

A camogie and footballer with Ratoath, Aisling O'Reilly has also played senior football for Meath. Having started out with Dublin’s 98FM on their events and promotions team, Aisling loved the buzz of the media industry and knew immediately she wanted to continue to pursue it. After sampling many different aspects of media and training in many areas of the station, sport has always been Aisling's passion and it was her dream to be a sports reporter. Over the past few years Aisling has worked as a sports reporter and researcher at Newstalk & Off The Ball.

AT JUST four-years-old, the 1996 All-Ireland SFc final between Meath and Mayo is not only my earliest sporting memory it is still my most memorable Meath GAA memory.

Being so young, obviously I didn't know the significance of the game or that Mayo were hoping to end a 45-year wait for Sam maguire, but I do remember thinking this is a big one.

Growing up in Ratoath, the Mayo flag was a common sight. This was especially true on Porterstown Lane, where my grandparents had come to from Belmullet over 70 years ago, bringing that fierce Mayo pride with them.

The morning of the game I remember my Mam leaving out me and my sister’s Meath jerseys as she rushed off to work in Dublin.

She arrived home later that day, just in time for the game, holding a Meath and a Mayo flag the size of me in her hands.

My Nan and Grandad's house was just across the field from ours, and it was where the whole family would gather to watch the match. Myself and my brothers, sisters and all my cousins would crowd around the telly to watch the game.

But this game was different!

A game, as I'm told now, that nearly divided the family - who do I support?

Every time Mayo played, my Grandad would swap his everyday black hat for a red and green one for good luck. I idolised my Grandad, so I too would wear the Mayo cap anytime they played since I knew it would make him proud.

So that was just the way it was, if Meath were playing Mayo, I’d wear my Meath jersey and Mayo hat, that way I felt I kept everyone happy. Tough decisions to be making at four years of age let me tell you.

I remember the excitement, the screams and roars and how on every big score myself and my cousins would run out to the road to wave the flags, one Meath and one Mayo, waved by a girl in a Meath jersey and a Mayo hat. Cars would drive by beeping and probably saying to themselves “a confused bunch in there.”

A draw, 1-9 to 0-12 points and no one could believe it, especially the stunned faces that thought it was Mayo’s for the taking. Meath lived to fight another day! But a replay, could we handle another final after barely scraping a draw?

It didn’t start too pretty, not that I knew that then. The famous brawl that’s still talked about today. Losing Mayo’s Liam McHale and Meath’s Colm Coyle, what a blow.

Up until the finish everyone was on the edge of their seats, and then the final whistle blew. Meath ahead by one, 2-9 to 1-11, they had done it. There were hugs and cheers from the green and gold corner, faces buried in hands in the green and red.

That afternoon we waited with our flags on the Fairyhouse road for the cars of supporters to arrive back from Croke Park. There were flags flying out of the car windows, beeping and cheering.

It’s a memory that will always stick with me.

The Royals were the 1996 All-Ireland champions.