The boys of ‘72 and their shot at the big time

Among the people I came across on that trip to Wexford Park before Christmas to cover the Castletown and Dunshaughlin games was the ever affable, ever pleasant Pat Jennings - and invariably the chat turned to football.

Pat was a goalkeeper but is not, I hasten to add, the Newry netminder who played for Arsenal, Spurs and Northern Ireland, who also bears the same name. This particular P Jennings played for Meath minor footballers in the early 1970s and helped the Royal County to a Leinster MFC title in '72; no mean feat. After all Meath have only won 13 Leinster MFC crowns since the competition started in 1929.

In '72 the young Royals defeated Dublin, 3-8 to 1-10, in the provincial showdown. No doubt those who were involved can hardly believe it's just over 50 years ago. No doubt also memories from that summer - when they were young and God was in His heaven - remain deeply ingrained on the players' minds.

Some went on to conquer bigger mountains in the world of the GAA - but for others that win over Dublin was perhaps the only time they tasted a victory in Croke Park; the peak of their careers. It was only the second time Meath had won a Leinster MFC crown, the first was chalked up in 1957 with the pioneers of that year going on to claim the All-Ireland title itself.

However, the boys of summer '72 fell short in their quest to go all the way. They were defeated by Tyrone in the All-Ireland semi-final, 0-10 to 3-10. The Ulster side included a certain Mickey Harte. The Meath team also included Joe Cassells. The Navan O’Mahonys player was already displaying the class that would ensure he was part of the Meath set-up when they won the Sam Maguire in 1987 and '88. Mick Ryan was another who graduated from the 1972 minors to the senior team and played in the 1975 NFL final victory over Dublin as did Eamonn O'Brien, who not only played for Meath seniors but managed them to a Leinster SFC title in 2010.

Gerry Reynolds, Martin Dempsey and Gerry Dempsey were just some of the others who came from renowned GAA families. John V Farrelly who became a Fine Gael TD was also part of the team.

The Meath team and substitutes who lost to Tyrone were: Pat Jennings; Seamus Farrelly, Mick Conroy, Eamonn Young; Seamus Fanning, Pat Callinan, Gerry Reynolds; Joe Cassells, Mick Ryan; Martin Demspey, Eamonn O'Brien, Seamus Brennan; Gerry Dempsey, Bernie McGuinness, Mick Kennedy. Subs - Martin Gallagher, Paul Murphy, Ollie Clynch, Pat Coyle, Tom Nugent, Pat Shankley, Phil Smith, Denis Carroll, Fergus Duffy, Noel Young.