Meath Hill, who had suffered some sour disappointments in the last couple of years, finally enjoyed the sweet taste of success at Pairc Tailteann, Navan last Sunday when winning the J.F.C. title for the first time since 1942. With the Matthews duo catching virtually everything around the half way line. Liam McCabe giving them great backing and the forwards combining nearly, Meath Hill looked far the better side in the firsthalf. After Cunningham caught a Sean Boyle centre and shot over to give them the lead after 90 seconds one of the best passing moves of the hour brought a fifth minute goal when Michael Kieran set up Cunningham for a well taken shot to the net.

Reilly opened Moynalty's scoring two minutes later but the losers had a couple of fortunate let offs before Francie Yorke, a nice shot from a tricky angle, and M. J. Martin from a free, strengthened the winners position with points. Meath Hill led by 15 to 0-2 after 40 minutes with Tom Matthews hitting a lovely point on the run from around 30 metres and Martin tapping over a free awarded for a foul on himself.

 The winners wrapped the game up in a 60 seconds spell during which Yorke punched over a Tom Matthews centre and then Tony Boyle darted through for the clincher. Captain Liam McCabe who afterwards received the Matt Ginnity cup from Co. Board chairman Brian Smyth, was really superb for much of the second half when he broke up numerous raids. With such a resolute defence and a competent midfield pairing. Meath Hill could well be a force in the intermediate grade next year, but they must improve their finishing.

Scorers : Meath Hill - J. Cunningham (1-1), T. Boyle (1-0), F. Yorke, M. J. Martin (0-2 each). T. Matthews (0-1), Moynalty - C. Reilly, M. Casey, T. Sullivan (0-1 each). Meath Hill - J. Lee: M. McCabe, H. Maguire, D. Griffin, A. Carroll, G. Gunn, L McCabe, T. Matthews, P. Matthews, T. Boyle, M. Kieran, S. Boyle; F. Yorke, J. Cunningham, M. J. Martin.

Moynalty - P. Farrell; J. McKenna, T. Nevin, T. Lynch, H. Lynch, A. Clinton, T. P. McKenna; F. Doyle, P. Nevin, S. McEntee, G. Curran, C. Reilly, T. Sullivan, M. Casey, R. Farrell. Sub - G. Bradley for B. Farrell. Referee - P. O'Dwyer (Dunshaughlin).

Famous matches against Drumree in 1996

(From the Meath Chronicle) 1996 J. F. C. Semi-Final    Drumree 0-14 - Meath Hill 0-14

John Treacy's pointed free in the last minute rescued Drumree's JFC dreams at Pairc Tailteann last Sunday. Meath Hill looked to have snatched victory a minute earlier when ace marksman Francis Callaghan slotted over his 12th point of a thoroughly entertaining semi-final played in very difficult conditions. Meath Hill - B. Lee, J. Owens, J. Cunningham, J. Kieran, P. Owens, P. Boyle (0-1), T. Owens, T. Matthews, L. Breslin, J. Callaghan (0-1), F. Callaghan (0-12), D. Crosby; P. Kieran, E. Boyle, D. Farrelly. Subs. - M. Shekleton for T. Owens, M. Breslin for Matthews, B. Kieran for Crosby. Referee - Seamus McCormack (Walterstown).

Hill Secure Dream Ticket

Meath Hill 1-14 - Drumree 0-12

Meath Hill set up a dream final with arch rivals and neighbours Drumconrath when outscoring Drumree in a pulsating JFC semi-final replay at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday writes Carlo Divito. It seemed almost impossible that the two sides could conjure up such entertaining football as the week before when they thrilled a huge crowd who had turned out to watch Meath's opening roune NFL clash with Cavan. This time the spectator count was lessened considerably but, if anything, the excitement level grew alid in comparison to the SFC game which followed, both sets of spectators made their presence felt.

Corner-backs John Owens and James Kieran impressed, while full-forward Emmet Boyle worked tirelessly and created several of Callaghan's scoring opportunities. Strangely enough, Callaghan wasn't responsible for the opening score. That honour fell to his colleague Paul Kieran who pointed excellently on the turn following a Matthews pass. More was to come as the teams averaged a score every two minutes during the first half which finished level (0-9 to 1-6). Drumree enjoyed a dream start to the scored half when Kelly made space and fired over a brilliant 35-metre point and although the Hill responded with three points from the Callaghan's (Francis two and John one), Drumree cut the advantage to the minimum (0-11 to 1-9), when Willie Brennan made the most of a mix -up in the winners' defence and pointed from close range. But Treacy's sending-off spelled disaster and after a 10-minute spell, the Hill assumed control and dominated the remainder of the contest. Points from Callaghan (two) and one each by Paul Kieran and Matthews sealed victory and set up the final that everyone outside Drumree wanted to see.

Meath Hill - B. Lee, P. Boyle F. Carolan, J. Kieran, T. Owens, P. Owens, M. Shekleton, T. Matthews (0-1), L. Breslin (0-1), J. Callaghan (0-1), F. Callaghan (1-9), D. Crosby, B. Kieran, E. Boyle, P. Kieran (0-2), Subs. : M. Breslin for Crosby, S. Farrelly for B. Kieran.

Drumree - T. Murphy, S. Walsh, J. Cullinane, D. Doyle, R. Sheridan, A. Fitzpatrick (0-1), S. Mahon, W. Brennan (0-1), P. Doyle, D. Fitzpatrick, J. Rattigan, R. Curley, M. Boyle (0-2), E. Kelly (0-5), J. Treacy (0-3) Subs : P. Rattigan for A. Fitzpatrick, P. Gaughan for Doyle. Referee - Joe Harlin (St. Patrick's).

From the Meath Chronicle

Meath Hill 0-5 - Randlestown (Eire Og) 0-1
(abandoned after 25 mins)
Meath Hill played with the advantage from the Railway goal and sent the ball near the Randlestown end lines but mainly through the play of McHugh the Eire Ogs assumed the lead and for a short time Randlestown looked like scoring but a good defence by Callan was effective and again the Eire Ogs quarters was the scene of the action. Here James Carolan from the right side narrowly missed scoring but with Sheanon in possession a minute later Meath Hill gained their first point.
Randlestown then took up the running and McHugh sent the ball convenient to the Meath Hill goal when a fine kick from Maguire of Meath Hill sent the ball close to the centre when a foul occurred from which Randlestown kicked a point. Both teams were alternatively on the defensive and later a free to Meath Hill landed the leather near the Eire Og posts and of the end of short struggle L. Carolan scored a point. Again McHugh for Randlestown and Cheevers for Meath Hill were prominent and off a kick by the latter Sheanan caught the ball and punted a point from a long way out.
Later Sheanan again scored and in a short time after Owen Daly was responsible for another minor. Randlestown tried for a score and some fast play resulted in Martin Feeley and one or two others transferring play to Meath Hill territory where a long shot from McConnell left Meath Hill again holding the advantage. A row arose at this stage between two players and the Eire Ogs left the ground. Meath Hill 0-5 Randlestown 0-1 - Meath Hill team. (17 a side)
John Boyle (captain), P. Boyle, L. Carolan, John Carolan, James Carolan, John Carolan, P. Tierney, Patrick Daly, Owen Sheanan, W. Callan, B. McKenna, Jas. Rogan, Jas McConnell, J. Maguire, John Keelan, John McDonnell, Jas Kiernan. Referee Joseph Curran, Castletown.
The game ended abruptly about twenty five minutes after the start and thus the crowd were denied the privilege of seeing to the end what promised to be a close and exciting contest. Until the unfortunate occurrence which ended the game the Meath Hill men were holding more than their own and had the hour been played through they should with ordinary luck have been successful. Meath Hill were after scoring a few points and Randlestown one when Keely the captain of the latter team in endeavouring to get through with the ball along the side line was held by James Kieran a Meath Hill man. Instead of appealing to the referee the Eire Og captain took the law into his own hands and committed on unseemly assault on the player who had held him. This act raised the ire of the Meath Hill men and with some of the spectators rushing in it seemed as if a melee was inevitable. The referee Mr. Curran whistled up the ball and ordered Keely off the ground and he was followed by the remainder of the team who declined to continue the contest. The Meath Hill players remained on the ground and eventually the referee announced that he would reserve his decision and report the facts to the next meeting of the county committee.
 

Meath Hill lose to Castletown in 1903 Semi Final

Meath Chronicle Report

On Sunday 23rd August, 1903 Castletown played Meath Hill in the semi-final of the Meath football championship. Owing to Meath Hill not turning up at the prescribed time, play did not commence until shortly after 4 o'clock, Castletown were first to take the field and were all dressed alike in green jerseys with a yellow sash across the right shoulder and white knicks. They presented a splendid specimen of Irish manhood to the 2,000 spectators present. Meath Hill wore white and blue jerseys with pink knicks and as they faced their stalwart opponents, their boyish appearance evoked general surprise from the spectators who had never seen them before the majority of them being under 20 years of age. Mr. Coady Kilmessan, soon had both teams under way and from the start it was seen that Castletown were the best fielded and had the best of manners and although Meath Hill were playing a great game, they were greatly behind at half time. Castletown 2-5 Meath Hill 0-3. On resuming the play was very fast for some time but Curran scoring a goal for Castletown left Meath Hill disheartened and play was rather slack to the end. The final score was Castletown 3-8 Meath Hill 0-3 and so Castletown went on to play Kilmessan in their second final in as many years.

Matt Nulty

Meath Hill's most famous footballer, Matt Nulty, was not a member of the 1942 team. He was born in Rathlagan but played his early football with Drumconrath under the guidance of Fr. McManus who spotted Matts talent during the half - time kick about which was a feature of matches at that time. During the interval as many as fifty men would crowd onto the pitch to show off their skills to the watching spectator hoping to get a place on the team the next day. Matt was spotted and played at centre back on the Drumconrath team which won the Junior Championship for the first time in 1928. He went on to play for Meath in 1930-1932 and for Leinster on 5 occasions winning a Railway Cup medal for himself in 1932. Matts playing career was brought to a premature end when he suffered a serious knee injury playing for Syddan against Moynalty and he missed out on Meath's first success at National level - the league win in 1933. He returned to action some ten years later and played with Meath Hill until 1945 the year of his untimely death at the age of 38.

Peter McDermott, former Meath footballing great, recalls seeing Matt Nulty play for Leinster when they won the Railway Cup in 1932. Matt played at right full back on that team, had a great fetch and made up for a short kick - with his style of carrying the ball Paudie O'Shea style, before laying it of to a colleague. To quote 'P.0' of the Irish Times; "the four Meath men on the Leinster team, Nulty, Meade, Rogers and McGuinness were the best they had".

Leinster (1932) J. Higgins, M. Goff, P. Martin, P. Byrne, D. Burke (Kildare), J. McDonnell, P. Hickey, T. O'Dowd (Dublin), M. Nulty, T. Meade, M. Rogers, T. McGuinness (Meath), D. Walsh, J. Delaney, D. Douglas (Laois).