Jimmy Geoghegan: Songs and silverware dominate a memorable occasion

It had been a while since we had heard the old song echoing around Croke Park. Certainly a long time since we had heard the familiar lyrics after a Meath team had landed a title, any title, at senior level.

"Oh beautiful Meath you've got all that I need/Your rivers they flow with delight/Your fields are so green, there's plains to be seen/ And your towns are so gay and so bright" were the words that boomed out over the Croke Park sound system after Saturday's victory.

On it went. "Fishing down on the Boyne, I remember the time/You would think it was all just a dream/And wherever you roam, there's no place like home/And the beautiful county of Meath."

And for a moment or two Meath supporters weren't shy, or too self conscious, to join in. They sang with gusto too, celebrating the county's first football championship success at senior grade since the Leinster final of 2010.

The controversy that surrounded that game (sparked by Joe Sheridan's goal and all that) meant there was a cloud over the occasion.

The clouds shrouded the Big House on Saturday evening too but they couldn't dampen the sense of delight that prevailed among the followers of the Royals.

"At long last," said one great GAA man from Meath, well known along the banks of the Boyne. "At long, long last. It may have been 13 years but it felt like 23," he added.

Indeed it did and for some the sight of Donal Keogan lifting the handsome trophy that is the Tailteann Cup - named, of course, after the Olympic-style games once held in Teltown - is proof positive that this Meath team has turned a corner. That they are, as another follower shouted, "On the way back."

Only time will tell just how true that is but on Saturday Meath certainly played with and enterprise and effervescence, especially in the second-half, that bodes well, the power of the collective neatly represented in the individual displays of the two Jacks - Jack Flynn and Jack O'Connor. Between them they contributed 1-6 of Meath's second-half tally. Both fired over inspiring points, O'Connor's late goal representing a postscript to a very productive outing for him even though he didn't come on until 46 minutes in.

Flynn was picked from the throw-in and he put in an resourceful opening half. Then he simply moved up to another level after the break, winning the official 'Man of the Match' award.

Sean Coffey must surely have been in the mix too. The Ballinabrackey man has grown in stature with each game since making his championship debut against Offaly back in April.

The quality and consistency he has shown makes him the 'Find of the Season'. On Saturday he wasn't in the least overawed, subdued or bowed down by having to perform in a stadium that steadily filled up as the countdown to the Dublin, Monaghan All-Ireland SFC semi-final picked up pace. In fact he was inspired by the unique pressure such occasion brings.

The way he turned over ball with his tigerish tackling - then used whatever possession he got with intelligence and insight - suggested a player who had years of experience at the highest level. To the manor born.

Sean Brennan was another too who displayed an ice-cool temperament with his kick-outs that invariably found their targets. There was also the sharp saves he made on Saturday and in other games.

There was a decent showing of Meath supporters for this game - although they were outnumbered by Down fans - certainly if a survey of the most popular colours in the stands were anything to go by. Hill 16, was different.

That area, of course, was dominated by the blue of Dublin as fans piled in for the second game.

Up at the back, however, was a little Kop. A small knot of youthful supporters in green and gold who bravely sought to give expression to their hopes by breaking into "Come on you boys in Green" once or twice in the second-half as the contest drew to a conclusion and the prize was within reach.

That too was another indication of new sense of pride among the Royal contingent.

Not that you would have thought heading out the Navan Road that Meath had won anything. There were no cars with flags flying from windows. No horns blaring as they headed back down the M3.

Yet back in Navan some of the natives were clearly delighted. Overjoyed even.

One man, who who has followed his county for years felt that "Meath were back, we're coming back." A touch of hubris? Perhaps, but he looked as pleased as punch.

He looked so pleased you suspected it wouldn't have taken much for him to sing a few bars either; to give a hearty rendition of the song that ends with the familiar line: "And wherever you roam, there's no place like home/And the beautiful county of Meath."

It has been a while, all right, since it has been heard in HQ. The Meath fans who made the trip on Saturday, and paid hefty €50 a ticket, will be hoping, no doubt, to hear it again in Croker in the coming years.