Boardsmill, O'Growney Cup winners 1977, front l/r: Sean Garrigan, Vincent Guy, Michael Garrigan, Luke Gibbons, James Regan, Eamonn Cosgrave, Sean Garrigan (junior), Ben Kelly. Back: Louis Gunning, Mick Payne, Danny Fay, Michael Mooney. Joey Grehan, Larry McLoughlin, Seamus Carney, John Connolly, TJ Reilly
when Dunboyne were the beaten finalists and by the time Boardsmill won their third in 1971 the great rivalry with Kilmessan was up and running. They had met in a much delayed semi-final the previous year when Kilmessan triumphed. The ‘Mill had won five successive Under-21 HC titles between 1966 and 1970 as the Trojan work carried out in the juvenile ranks under the guidance of men like the late Peadar Lehane bore fruit, so it’s easy to understand why they soon became such a powerful force at senior level. That 1971 senior final was the first meeting of the clubs at the ultimate stage since Kilmessan’s runaway success in 1962 – though there had been other less significant clashes – and it took place in late November at Trim where Boardsmill came out on top by 2-5 to 2-3. Defences were generally on top in a well-contested final and a true star of the show for the ‘Mill was full-back Sean Garrigan who turned in a magnificent performance. Not far behind him was 17 year-old David Perry at right half-back who demonstrated tremendous assurance for one so young. Boardsmill made the best possible start when Mick Payne scored an early goal and they had opened up a 1-2 to 0-1 advantage by the end of the first quarter. However, with Dinny Donnelly and Bobby White proving influential Kilmessan rallied and boosted by a goal from Jimmy Walsh they edged to the front, before Vinny Guy pointed at the other end to leave the teams level on 1-3 each at the break. Kilmessan had suffered a big blow late in the first half when Niall O’Riordan was forced out of the
action due to injury. Goalkeeper Joey Grehan was another hugely important player for Boardsmill in the opening half as he pulled off three great saves and the ‘Mill were in front early in the second period when team captain Guy found the net. Mickey Mooney and Seamus Carney added points to leave them in control with a 2-5 to 1-3 lead. Kilmessan were in deep trouble and their only score of the second half – a late goal from White – just wasn’t enough. It’s interesting to note that Boardsmill also made an impact in football in 1971, reaching the JFC final where they lost to Donaghmore. They were still promoted and played at intermediate level for three years. There was further disappointment for Kilmessan when they lost to Athboy in the 1972 SHC final which wasn’t played until spring of the following year at Pairc Tailteann and by the time the 1973 competition was ready for its conclusion Boardsmill and Athboy were the finalists. There was no doubting Boardsmill’s superiority as they won a fourth Jubilee Cup thanks to a 5-8 to 0-7 victory. TJ Reilly bagged three of the goals, two of them in the first half which helped his team to a 2-3 to 0-4 interval advantage. Two more goals from Vinny Guy in the closing stages sealed a runaway success. Seamus Carney rowed in with six pointed frees. Carney was top scorer in the 1974 final when Boardsmill defeated Kilmessan by 4-15 to 4-6 at Trim. TJ Reilly gave Boardsmill the lead after 30 seconds with a point and they were never headed in a disappointing decider which they led by 2-8 to 1-4
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at the interval. The in form Carney made a telling personal contribution of 2-5 and Danny Fay and Sean Garrigan contributed 1-2 each. Eugene O’Neill and Charlie Killion both registered 12 for Kilmessan and Jimmy Walsh and Mattie Kerrigan got the other goals. The honour of captaining the victorious Boardsmill team went to Mick Payne. Boardsmill made it three SHC titles in succession in 1975 when they again defeated Kilmessan in the final at Trim. This was an extraordinary year for the club as they also won the O’Growney Cup earlier in the year with a final victory over Athboy, defeated Kilmessan in the JHC decider and claimed the MHC when beating Athboy in the final which acted as a curtain-raiser to the senior showdown. Despite suffering a defeat at the hands of keen rivals Athboy in the group stages Boardsmill advanced to the semi-finals where they defeated Kildalkey by 3-12 to 2-6 and that set up yet another tussle with Kilmessan in the final on the last Sunday of October. Boardsmill made many great comebacks in 1975, including turning around a 10-point deficit in that O’Growney Cup decider, and they had to do so in the SHC final as Kilmessan raced into a 3-5 to 0-8 interval advantage after Eugene O’Neill, Charlie Killion and Jimmy Walsh had goaled. Cyril Maguire, one of the most gifted hurlers ever to grace the playing fields of Meath, and Niall O’Riordan were controlling midfield for Kilmessan and it took some superb