1894 clash between Dublin and Meath set template for current clash

Dublin v Meath - Where it all began: Kevin Mallonrecounts the first meeting between Meath and Dublin in 1894, which bears many similarities to today's rivalry between the sides.

" . . . never in the history of the association has public feeling been aroused to such an extent as by the coming contest."

- Comment on the Dublin-Meath 1894 Leinster SFC replay

Dublin and Meath first crossed swords in the Leinster championship at Clonturk Park, Drumcondra on October 14th, 1894.

Quick off the mark, Dublin stormed into a four-point lead but little by little Meath closed the gap and with time running out Dublin's lead was reduced to a point. Aided by the wind, Meath launched one last desperate attack and in the final minute the never-say-die visitors scored a dramatic late equaliser to send the tie to a replay and set in motion a series of protracted disputes which took more than four months and another two games to resolve.

With the GAA at a low ebb due to the Parnell crisis earlier in the decade, only four counties - Dublin, Kilkenny, Meath and Wexford - took part in the 1894 Leinster football championship.

The first semi-final on September 9th, 1894, between Meath (Pierce Mahony's) and Kilkenny (Commercials) was played on the Nine Acres in the Phoenix Park in front of what Sport described as "an immense gathering which included a considerable sprinkling of provincials". Believing Meath unlikely to turn up, Kilkenny failed to send their strongest team and as a result Meath had an easy 1-6 to 0-0 win.

In the other semi-final, Dublin (Young Irelands), the All-Ireland champions of 1891 and 1892, travelled to Kilkenny to meet Wexford (also Young Irelands), the reigning All-Ireland champions. It proved a wasted journey. Wexford, unable to secure rail transport, failed to turn up and so the game was refixed for Clonturk Park in Dublin, an enclosed ground on the Drumcondra Road opposite St Patrick's Teacher Training College.

The enormous crowd expected a titanic struggle but to everyone's surprise Dublin, wearing the now famous blue and white for the first time, completely outplayed their opponents, winning by 1-10 to 0-0 to set up a first Dublin-Meath Leinster final.

This game was again fixed for Clonturk Park (the venue for the All-Ireland finals of 1890, '91 and '92) and while Central Council had charge of the match, the local club, Hugh O'Neill's, with clubrooms on Botanic Avenue, prepared the ground and provided stewards.

Navan Pierce Mahony's (the Meath champions) were named after Pierce Charles de Lacy Mahony of Listowel, Co Kerry, a former Member of Parliament for North Meath. Mahony was famously accused of assaulting another MP, MJ Kenny, in the hall of the Four Courts, claiming Kenny had referred to him at a meeting in Moynalty as a "cross" between a "Kerry souper" and a "Hindoo woman". According to the Drogheda Argus Mahony took exception to the reference to his mother.

The Young Ireland's team, based in the Meath Street area and largely made up of Guinness Brewery workers, was selected the previous evening, appropriately enough, in Michael Flanagan's pub (The Gaelic House) in Strand Street.

Even before the throw-in a dispute arose over who should act as referee. After a considerable delay Meath agreed to the Central Council appointee, JJ Kenny, the first secretary of the Dublin County Committee.

When the teams finally lined up and caught hands before the throw-in, it was the physical appearance of the Meath team which evoked most praise, "a finer display of stalwart athletic manhood never stepped on to a football arena".

Undaunted Dublin, playing into the Clontarf end, were four points up after just 25 minutes and it was only defensive mistakes from short kick-outs that allowed Meath back into the game. At the break Dublin led by 0-4 to 0-2 but shortly after the restart Meath worked the ball inside the Dublin 21-yard mark. The resultant play brought about "one of the most scientific specimens of attack and defence ever witnessed on an Irish football field" before "the provincials . . . by dexterous passing secured their third point".

More drama followed. A Dublin point was disallowed and then Meath, amid intense excitement and within a minute of full-time, engineered the point that levelled the game. Final score: Dublin 0-4, Meath 0-4.

In the aftermath of a momentous match both teams received praise, although one correspondent felt "the ability and energy of the referee was at times taxed to the limit . . . by flagrant beaches of the rules".

On the proposal of Meath's county committee chairman Richard T Blake of Ladyrath, Central Council fixed the replay for Athlumney, Navan on November 4th, 1894. Blake, of wealthy farming stock, a former Castleknock College student and a future general secretary of the GAA, guaranteed "good grounds" and "fair play".

The venue was Tom "Strong" McNally's field (the ground of Navan Commercials) near Athlumney Castle, ironically only a stone's throw from Johnstown, a residential area now dominated by natives (and flags) of Dublin.

Sparing no expense, Blake employed five men for two days to prepare the Athlumney ground. The pitch was properly enclosed. Sidelines and goallines were cut out of the turf and 21 and 40 yard lines were marked with whitewash and flags.

However at 3pm on Saturday, too late to inform the match-going public, Blake received a telegram stating Dublin would not be coming. A letter from the Young Irelands captain John Kennedy which appeared in the same day's Evening Telegraph confirmed Young Irelands were "not prepared to play on that day".

Unaware of events, thousands of Meath supporters, many according to Richard Blake "poor country people who had walked up to 10 miles to see the game", were bitterly disappointed.

With Dublin in breach of Rule 9, by failing "to attend and play at a time and place appointed" Meath claimed the match and the Leinster title. Central Council rarely supported such claims and so it was no surprise when the match was refixed for Navan on December 16th.

Taking the 9.30am train from the Broadstone Station, Dublin arrived in Navan in plenty of time for the 2.30pm throw-in.

The game followed a similar pattern to the first with Dublin's "brilliant tactics and scientific skill" matched by Meath's "head-long dash and endurance".

Dublin led at half-time by 0-1 to 0-0. With five minutes to go that had increased to two. Then, as in Clonturk Park, Meath hit back and in the final few frenetic minutes managed once again to level the match. Final score: Meath 0-2, Dublin 0-2.

The rules specified 30 minutes extra-time but with darkness falling further play was impossible and so an unprecedented third game was required to decide the tie.

Meath wanted the replay in Navan. Dublin wanted it in Clonturk Park. On the casting vote of chairman Frank B Dineen (the man who later purchased Jones's Road for the GAA), Central Council fixed the game for Clonturk Park on February 17th, 1895.

The two months between the first and second replays served only to intensify the nation's interest in the saga and a record crowd was anticipated. In the week before the game, however, the Dublin area experienced severe frost and then a heavy snowfall. Almost inevitably the game was called off, postponed for a further week.

Just in case the public needed reminding in the days before the refixture, a notice in the Daily Independent, described the upcoming event as a "sensational match" urging Gaels to "assemble in your thousands at Clonturk Park on Sunday to witness the crème de la crème of Gaelic football".

The game on February 24th, 1895 brought another enormous crowd to Clonturk Park many of whom gained free admission by scaling the surrounding wall.

Backed by the wind Dublin enjoyed another whirlwind start. Team captain Kennedy scored the first point. Another five Dublin points followed and then just before half-time the home crowd was stunned into silence by a breakaway goal for Meath. Half-time: Dublin 0-6, Meath 1-0 (a goal equalled five points at that time).

In a low-scoring second half the Dublin defence, and George Roche in particular, was outstanding. Meath did manage another two late points but Dublin had by then added a Dick Curtis goal to finish comfortable winners. Full time: Dublin 1-8, Meath 1-2.

The first Dublin-Meath saga had finally come to an end but one of the Leinster championship's greatest and enduring rivalries was only just beginning.

DUBLIN: G Charlemont (goals); J Kennedy (capt), L Kelly, D Flood; J Errity, J Kirwan, T Mahony; G Roche, J Silke; R Curtis, D Hughes, P Kiely; P Murphy, M Byrne, J Geraghty.

MEATH: M Murray (capt); H Pentleton, M Beggan, P Clarke; JF Poole, TF Duignan, P Mullen; TJ Cahill, B McCabe; J Sharkey, P Cregan, P Fitzpatrick; J Russell, T Hegarty, W Feely.