PHOTO: Clonard's Cyril Treacy

Meath Junior D Championship Group B – Round 1

Clonard 2-14 Boardsmill 2-8

There are many unique and wonderful characteristics of the GAA and one of them must be the Junior D Championship. Some say ‘D’ is for Danger, others say it’s for Desperate, but in the case of this clash between neighbours Clonard and Boardsmill, the onlookers might just say ‘D’ is for Delightful.

This Clonard ‘D’ squad assembled in Kildalkey in it’s usual fashion with all the pre-match talk not about tactics or fringe players, but instead whether ‘bainisteoir’ Eamonn Campbell had succeeded in assembling his ‘nicotine fifteen’. Of course, in typical manner the ‘Big Mans’ players didn’t let him down, as they all arrived, along with the luxury of a couple of substitutes.

The first score on the board came in very appropriate circumstances for this championship when veteran Clonard keeper David Campbell strolled up the field to take a ’45, the 44-year-old must have got tired as opted to kick short to the onrushing fellow veteran Niall Walsh, who duly kicked confidently over the black spot. A fine start of Clonard, especially considering the combined age of 86 years between the pair, and they both needed a 5 minutes break after their exploits.

Clonard registered further scores from Ray Brennan, nearing his 45th year, and the sweet left boot of minor Dylan Dixon as they raced in to early lead of 0-4 to 0-1. In the Clonard full back line it was plain to see the players who had benefitted from action with the first team in the league with Johnny Campbell and Cyril Treacy showing great turn of foot and pace to advance with ball in hand and setup several counter attacks, often resulting in scores. Kenneth Darby was also excelling at this level, pulling the strings at centre-forward and winning numerous breaking balls at midfield. Clonard’s many fine performances around the field meant they went in at the interval 5 points to the good, Clonard 0-8 Boardsmill 0-3.

Boardsmill had the benefit of the stiff breeze in the second half, which was a worry for many of Clonard ‘oldies’ as they knew running against it would make them even slower. However, the long ball was the clever option and was taken on many occasion. On one such ball the wily Ray ’Biffo’ Brennan showed the skills he has learned since moving over the border to Meath when he fielded a high ball superbly on the end line and squared it to fellow welterweight Barry Connolly. Connolly was fouled as four Boardsmill defenders pounced, resulting in a penalty award for Clonard. All the calls were for expert penalty taker Ciaran ‘2 Shirts’ Darby to make the trip up from full back, and he duly obliged and didn’t disappoint his supporters when he despatched high to the top right corner of the net.

Boardsmill were not deterred as they faced a 7-point deficit 10 minutes in to the second half and replied with 2 goals and a point in a five-minute spell to level the game. Their first goal was an opportunist one as a 13 metre free in front of goals was quickly taken and blasted to the net despite Stephen O’Reilly's efforts on the goal-line. The second was a thing of beauty as their midfielder ran in to space inside the 20 metre line and blasted high to the top corner past the flying dive of Campbell.

This was now either team’s game to win, and the bookies and numerous experts on the side-line had Boardsmill at the shorter odds, considering that breeze and surely the many veteran legs of Clonard would tire in the last 15 minutes of the game. But the players backed themselves and responded with experience and guile. Brothers in law, Niall Walsh and Ken Darby again came up trumps with points, along with scores from play by local publican Pauric ‘Hardy’ O’Donovan and car sales manager Shane Dunne. The crucial score though came from Connolly at full forward, as his strength again proved a nuisance for the Boardsmill full back line as he punched to the net after a long punt from the half forward line.

Boardsmill could only respond with a solitary score, a point coming two minutes from time, and as the final whistle blew, it was Clonard’s Junior D’s who registered the win, just like their Junior A counterparts two weeks previous, on a final score line of Clonard 2-14 Boardsmill 2-8.

The Clonard dressing room post-match was a jovial and entertaining place to be, and despite the lowest grade of football in the County, this championship provides wonderful enjoyment for both the youngest and oldest players in the club, who may otherwise miss out on the pleasure. Based on this, D is certainly for Delightful.

TEAM: 1.David Campbell 2.Johnny Campbell 3.Ciaran Darby (1-0 pen.) 4. Cyril Treacy 5.Aaron Duignan 6.Alan O’Donoghue 7.Cormac Fitzsimons 8.Stephen O’Reilly 9.Shane Dunne (0-1) 10.Pauric O’Donavon (0-1) 11.Kenneth Darby (0-4 0-1f) 12.Dylan Dixon (0-2 0-1f) 13.Ray Brennan (0-2) 14.Barry Connolly (1-1) 15.Niall Walsh (0-3 0-1f)

Subs: John McNevin for R.Brennan (exhausted), Mark Daly for J.Campbell (dog-tired/injured)