In the world of sport 21 years goes by very quickly. The year 2000 was a busy one on all fronts for Meath GAA. 

Here’s a few snippets to begin with.

Hurling stars Davy Fitzgerald, Colin Lynch, Niall Rigney and Pat Potterton along with Wexford manager Liam Griffin attended the Meath Juvenile Hurling Board School of Excellence at Gormanstown College. The aim was to boost hurling in the weaker counties.

Cormac Sullivan, Paddy Reynolds, Trevor Giles, Graham Geraghty and Ollie Murphy were part of the Leinster team that lost out to Ulster in the Railway Cup final. Mattie Kerrigan was coach.

Robbie O’Malley, Mattie Kerrigan, Donie Mooney, Johnny Sullivan, Gerry Cromwell and Tom Lappin formed the Meath golf team that defeated a strong Kerry team in the prestigious Donal Keenan Inter-county Golf Tournament in Athlone.

Martin O’Connell got the surprise of his life when he arrived at the St. Michaels Clubhouse. The Millennium Man thought he was a there to present underage medals but as he took to the stage Brendan Cummins produced the famous ‘This is Your Life’ red book. There was over 400 in attendance.

For the fourth year in a row Meath ladies bowed out at the All Ireland semi final stage losing to Waterford 1-17 to 0-8 at Parnell Park. Meath: S. Coleman, P. McNeilis, M. Sheridan, L. McKeever, D. Mangan, AM Dennehy, L. Keenan, S. Dooley, N. McNeilis 0-1, F. Mahon, D. O’Carroll, D. Shaw, E. Duffy 0-3, J. Shield 0-1, C. O’Brien 0-3. Subs: E. O’Carroll, G. Nulty, J. Quinn.

Trevor Giles captained the Ireland team that took on Australia in the International Rules series at Croke Park. Other Meath players to make Brian McEniff’s squad were Darren Fay, Graham Geraghty and Cormac Sullivan. Donal Curtis, Nigel Nestor and Mark O’Reilly had trails but did not make the cut. The visitors won both matches.

The Meath minors lost out to Dublin in the Leinster semi final at Croke Park. Played before Dublin and Westmeath (SFC) the young Royals went under 2-14 to 0-10. Meath: J. O’Brien, G. Beirne, K. Slattery, R. Flanagan, S. Harmon, G. Farrelly 0-1, B. Kelly, S. Crawford, N. Ronan 0-1, P. Treacy 0-1, S.McKeigue 0-1, M. Doran 0-1, S. Harte, M. Lowther 0-1. I. McCormack 0-4. Subs: T. Brosnan, C. McGrane, J. O’Reilly.

It was a tremendous year for former Cortown footballer Johnny Murtagh. The top jockey was on board Sinndar that won the The Derby and Irish Derby, as well as the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

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