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In 1967, Ollie Shanley was at left corner-forward on the Meath
team which defeated Cork to capture the county's first All-Ireland
title since 1954. Royal County supporters had to wait exactly
another twenty years before they would celebrate more All-Ireland
success.
A long wait also came to an end for Simonstown Gaels in 1987 as
the aforementioned Ollie Shanley, ably assisted by Mick 'Murphy'
Sweeney and Mickey Clarke, masterminded the club's first ever
adult football title success - the Junior B.
Duleek - Ollie's native club - were defeated in a replay after
the drawn game had finished level, 1-7 apiece. The following is
the report on the replay which appeared in the Meath Chronicle:
Simonstown Make Breakthrough
Simonstown Gaels
..1-7
Duleek
.1-6
The two halves of this Division 2 FC final replay at Seneschalstown
on Sunday evening were as different as buttermilk and brandy,
writes Tom Mooney.
The first was as busy and chaotic as a country town on market
day and equally frustrating, but the second was a cracker and
produced some of the most exciting, absorbing and entertaining
fare seen in the county this year.
Duleek will wonder for months how they lost this. They were clearly
the better team in the first half and for periods in the second.
They brought plenty of goodies to the market, but failed to sell
enough of them and had to return home dejected.
Simonstown Gaels who were winning their first championship at
adult level, did reasonably well at midfield in the first half
as Seamus McKeever and Colm Brady fielded delightfully on occasions.
Dominate
But Shane Harford was in fine form here for Duleek, who dominated
both in attack and defence. Paul Finnegan, Michael Woods, Brendan
McKenna and Thomas Dillon were on song at the back.
However, though the forwards had plenty of possession and though
Kevin Carroll was sparkling on the forty, Duleek were unable to
push home their advantage and led by only 0-3 to 0-2 at the break.
Dillon, Reilly and Carroll accounted for Duleek's first half tally,
but of greater significance was the number of chances they wasted.
They had five wides (the same as Simonstown) but most of the losers'
misses were from easy positions.
Blocked
In addition, the Gaels' goalie, Jim McCann, blocked at point blank
range from Carroll and another chance of netting went abegging
from the rebound.
Aidan O'Hare and Kieran O'Brien pointed for Simonstown who gave
a hint that they were capable of far better when Duleek goalie
Paddy Callaghan was forced to a great save by substitute Ciaran
Conlon.
Conlon, along with O'Hare, was most effective up front for the
Gaels, and Martin Boyd, John McLarney and Brian Flanagan were
prominent at the back.
Intoxicating
The buttermilk of the first period had not prepared the sizeable
crowd for the intoxicating stuff which was to come. The sides
were level - for the second time in the game - within 60 seconds
of the resumption when O'Hare pointed and the teams were on equal
terms five times altogether over the hour.
The goals came within three minutes of each other. A delightful
overhead flick by Conlon knocked over a Colm Keys centre into
the Duleek net at Kieran O'Brien put the Gaels 1-4 to 0-3 up with
five minutes gone.
But Carroll hit back with 1-1 to tie the sides again and the teams
were still deadlocked in exciting combat after Harford and O'Hare
had exhanged points. O'Hare's score was a magnificent effort from
near the endline and the same player edged the Gaels ahead from
a free at the end of the third quarter.
Rasping
A Dillon pass put Duleek forward Colin Taplin in a great position
his rasping shot went over off the crossbar when he seemed sure
to net.
That was to be their last shot on target and, though Simonstown
managed only one further score - O'Hare's fourth pointed free
and fifth in all - it was enough to clinch victory.
The Simonstown selectors must take a large share of the credit
for this victory. They introduced three subs who contributed more
than some who started. In addition, they moved Peter Murphy from
full-forward to midfield after the interval and into defence when
Duleek piled on the pressure in the closing stages.
These changes worked very well and foiled Duleek who had come
from six points down to force the replay. But there was to be
no reprieve this time, particularly as McLarney, Flanagan, Murphy,
O'Hare, O'Brien and Keys had the bit between their teeth in the
second half and were not going to be denied.
Credit
Referee Austin Geoghegan also must take a large measure of credit
for the entertainment value of the second half. He let the play
flow, intruded as little as possible and was deservedly complimented
after the game by Co. Board vice-chairman Tommy Collins who presented
the cup to Collie O'Brien, captain of the victorious Simonstown
team.
Simonstown - J McCann; C O'Brien, M Boyd, J McLarney; B
Flangan, M Sweeney, P Lynch; C Brady, S McKeever; A O'Hare (0-5),
K O'Brien (0-2), C Keys; T Brennan, P Murphy, R Brady.
Subs - C Conlon (1-0) for R Brady, R Clerkin for Brennan, P Brennan
for Lynch.
Note: Although this was Simonstown's first adult title success,
it was the club's second team. Simonstown were also competing
in the Junior 'A' championship at the time. In fact, we qualified
for the Meath JFC final in 1986 but were defeated by Bellewstown.
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