KEVIN HARDING HELPS SLANE TO FAMOUS WIN
SLANE are Meath intermediate football champions for 1968. They won the title after sixty minutes of dazzling football at Navan on Sunday, and so brought a championship to the Boyneside village for the first time since their junior side came out on top in 1952. The final score was Slane 1- 9, Bohermeen 1-7. This was a game which many people thought would be won by Bohermeen. They had displayed grand form during the year, especially in the latter months when they registered good wins over DunshaughMn and Enfield, while Slane were expected to find it difficult to get into top form due to the fact that they had won their way into the final some two months ago. But Slane, with plenty of vocal support to urge them on went into this game not hearing of defeat. Their forwards swept down the field in great style in the first half, and their approach always provided very real danger to the Bohermeen defence which strove valiantly to contain them.
Slane fully deserved their five first half points lead.
On the resumption Bohermeen seemed to be getting right back into the game, and smashed a goal and a point.
Their accurate forward, J Vale, began to dominate and Bohermeen looked to be on their way.
But Slane, with memories of championship final reverses in 1955 and 1961, refused to let these set-backs undermine their determination to bring home the laurels on this occasion. Again their forwards got to within scoring distance, when Dessie Moore succeeded in getting the ball away as he fell, it travelled to the youthful Kevin Harding who shot it to the net for an all-important goal. A point had been scored previously and the teams were back to where they had started after the interval.
Bohermeen monopolised the scoring after this and registered three points without reply , while two wides also came their way in other attacks.
The winners had good defenders in A. Harding, J. Conmy, Kit Doggett; the mid-field players, B. Hand and L. Kearns did well , while Tony Johnston, Dermot Wogan and Billy McMenamin formed the best line on the field; the latter being particularly conspicous. Kevin Harding was best in the first line of attack.
For Bohermeen, L. Brady was a sound full-back, and had good support from F. Flanagan, J. Henry (Captain), and J. Kavanagh. Sean Rennicks had not his usual game at midfield and D. Murtagh and “Sylvie” Rennicks were earnest attackers.
Kit Doggett and Tony Johnson had Slane’s opening scores and Kevin Harding and Dermot Wogan added to it, before Johnson struck again with Doggett getting the last score. Harding’s second half goal proved the turning point. SLANE: N. Kealy, M. Harding. A. Harding, J. Conmy, K. Doggett, F. Conmy, P. J. Mooney, B. Hand L. Kearns, T. Johnston, D. Wogan, W. McMenamln, K Harding, T. Harding, D. Moore. Subs: J Mooney and D Moore.
Folowng the game, the c cup was presented to he Slane Captain Kit Doggett by Rev. P. Tully, C.C. Chairman of the Meath Co. Board.
Mr. Peter Brady visited the Slane dressing room after the game and congratulated the Slane lads on behalf of the Bohermcen team.
SEMI FINAL JOY TOO FOR SLANE
Slane intermediate footballers have won their way into the final of the Meoth championship following their hard-earned 2-8 to 1-7 win over Drumree at Skryne on Sunday lost. Thus Slane are back in the championship decider for the first time since 1961.
The winners got a great deal of encouragement from an early goal from the youthful Kevin Harding, who seized upon a kick-out to waltz his way towards the goal where his parting shot went straight to the net.
This was replied to by Drumree when they sent over a point, but Slane seemed to be on the victory path when they notched two further minors.
Then came what could have been disaster. A Drumree player sent the ball goalwards and the Slane goalie advanced to catch it. However the hall hopped on the hard ground before he could reach it and, to the consternation of the Slane players and fans it hopped into the net for the easiest of goals. The Slane goalie redeemed himself with two saves soon afterwards but Drumree were not to be denied and two points put them into the load for the first time. Slane drew level with a point just before half time.
The sides traded wides on the resumption before Drumree had a point to lead. Slane then had a real match-winner of a goal scored by Tony Johnston, who just succeeded in getting the ball into the corner of the net despite the attention of a number of defenders. The Drumree goalie saved well in another Slane attack but Slane pointed a free to improve their position.
Slane had two further points before their goalie was again in the limelight when he tipped a dangerous shot over for a point for the opposition. Slane had another minor which was followed by a like score from a free to Drumree. Slane were hard-pressed during the final ten minutes of the game and one attack in particular almost yielded a goal, before Drumree had their final point from a free. Slane pointed a free and then had three wides before the final whistle which left them victors.
Best for the winners were F. Conmy K. Harding, T. Johnston, P. J. Mooney, N. Kealy, B. Hand, B. McMenamin and D. Wogan.
Drumree had the edge at midfield for most of the hour, where the highjumping T. Troy did more than just what his name implies—he succeeded to a great degree. Sean Doyle, J. Rourke and inter-county star Jimmy Walsh were also seen to advantage but the display of the side was not up to that of previous occasions.
Slane did extremely well to come out on top against such experienced opponents.