The Road to Glory – 75 Years On

September 25 1949 is a date which is etched in the memories of Meath Gaels as the inaugural time the county reached the summit of the Gaelic Football world. Brian Smyth became the first Meath man to get his hands on Sam Maguire.  Here we recount the story of that famed season.

Meath 0-11 0-05 Kildare

A superb defence and the accurate place-kicking of Frankie Byrne were chief factors in earning Meath a winning start to the 1949 campaign at Croke Park.

Kildare had the edge at midfield, but the Meath defenders, with Paddy O’Brien setting a bright headline, were superb and gave little-away.

Meath points, other than from frees, were according to the ‘Meath Chronicle’, “about as easy to get as cheers for King Billy in the Falls.”

Meath 0-14 4-00 Wexford

Attendance: 21,792

This was a thrilling encounter with football of a high standard and one to command a rare place in the annals of the game by virtue of the fact that Wexford failed to score a single point.

However, their goals flair had the Slaneysiders ahead at the interval somewhat against the run of play by 3-00 to 0-08.

Meath played good football in the second half and conceded just a goal from a penalty to run out deserving winners.

Meath 1-05 1-05 Louth

Attendance: 32,000

A late rally culminating in a point by Paddy Meegan in the last few minutes earned Meath a somewhat fortunate draw.

Louth were much the better team for most of the game.  Their interval lead of four points did not do justice to their superiority.  However, Meath did not allow heads to drop and came more into the picture from midway through the second half.

As the game moved towards a close, McDermott fielded a Kevin McConnell free, passed to Meegan who ensured a replay for Meath with a good equalising point.

Meath 2-09 3-06 Louth

Attendance: 31,845

This game also ended all square as a result of a last gasp score. Meath, playing fast, incisive and clever football, looked “home and hosed” when they led by 2-09 to 1-05 with time almost up.

But Louth staged a grandstand finish to amazingly score 2-01 without reply and earn another replay.

The game was played on a rock hard pitch after a week of sunshine but the teams still provided some spirited passages of football.

Frankie Byrne’s sharpshooting did much to keep Meath in the title chase.  McGuinness was another whose finishing meant much to the Royal County.

Meath 2-05 1-07 Louth

Attendance: 39,034

This was the best of the three games in terms of the all round quality of the football provided.  And, in keeping with the keen exchanges of the entire marathon it was a late, late score that finally earned the Royal County the narrowest of victories, but a well-deserved win nonetheless.

Paddy Connell, who went in as a substitute, proved the hero of the day.  Coming up to the end of the game, he sent over a peach of a point from forty yards to end a memorable chapter in the annals of football.

Leinster Final

Meath 4-05 0-06 Westmeath

Attendance 37,000

This was a disappointing game, which produced few passages of good football and brightened mainly by a sparkling display by right full-back Seamus Heery.

Meath opened smartly with a Frankie Byrne point from a free and a goal by Peter McDermott to lead at the interval by 1-04 to 0-02.

All-Ireland Semi-Final

Meath 3-10 1-10 Mayo

Attendance: 48,200

Meath gave a first-class display of sure fielding and accurate kicking to earn a well-merited win over a generally more fancied Mayo side and so qualify for a first All-Ireland senior final appearance in ten years.  The exchanges were keen throughout and the match proved a very exciting affair.

Meath led at the interval by 0-05 to 0-04, despite playing against the wind.

Mayo levelled immediately after the restart, but then came the score that really turned the game Meath’s way.  It was a somewhat fortunate goal as a long shot by Matty McDonnell bounced over the head of the oncoming Mayo goalkeeper to end in the net.

Paddy O’Brien and Frankie Byrne were particularly bright stars for the Royal County.

Matty McDonnell who hit two goals, Seamus Heery, Brian Smyth and Paddy Connell were others who impressed.

All-Ireland Senior Final

Meath 1-10 1-06 Cavan

Attendance: 79,460

Referee: D. Ryan (Kerry)

Cavan, not surprisingly, with their wealth of experience, started favourites, but Meath quickly demonstrated that they were not in Croke Park merely to make up the numbers.

They were into their stride straight from the throw-in, took the lead with a Matty McDonnell point after just two minutes and with the game only twenty minutes old, were well on their way to history as they led by 0-06 to 0-02.

At half time the challengers were 0-07 to 0-03 ahead and looking good.

However, Cavan were in no mood to easily relinquish their title.  They came back well early in the second half and with their ace sharpshooter Peter Donohoe on the target, were soon just two points adrift and were moving well.

Then came the moment that history was really made.  Paddy Dixon ended a Cavan raid and from the clearance Paddy Meegan went off on a pulse-raising hand-to-toe run.

His hard and accurate shot was saved by goalkeeper Seamus Morris.  However, he failed to hold onto the ball and Bill Halpenny was in like a flash to crash home a vital goal.

That crucial score put Meath ahead by 1-08 to 0-06, but visions of a comfortable run-in over the rest of the game were quicky dispelled as Mick Higgins boosted Cavan morale by finding the back of the Royal County net.

However, Meath proved their Championship calibre by refusing to allow that set-back knock them out of their stride.  They finished the stronger team and points by Frankie Byrne and Paddy Connell ensured that Meath at last joined the ranks of All-Ireland senior championship winners.

The Meath selectors caused something of a surprise by recalling to midfield Jim Kearney, who played at left half-back against Kerry in the 1939 final.  He played up until 1947 but did not appear during the 1048 campaign.

However, he was added to the panel for the first replay against Louth and made an appearance as a substitute during that game.

Kearney was called into action at midfield for the final and the move paid a handsome dividend for Meath.  He and Paddy Connell held control in the vital midfield area to prove very influential figures in fashioning the historic win.

Micheál O’Brien had one of his best-ever games for Meath and Paddy Dixon kept a close guard on Cavan danger man, Mick Higgins.

Christo Hand, Byrne, McDonnell and dashing captain Smyth were others who stamped their personalities in fine style on the victory effort.

The Scoreboard

Frankie Byrne was Meath’s leading scorer in the campaign and also one of only two players to score in all eight games.  The other was Brian Smyth.

Byrne finished comfortably ahead in the chart with a splendid return of 1-29.

The Meath panel as per the programme for the All-Ireland Final was as follows:

1. K. Smyth; 2. M.O’Brien; 3. P. O’Brien, 4. K. McConnell; 5. S. Heery; 6. P. Dixon; 7. C. Hand; 8. P. Connell; 9. J. Kearney; 10. F. Byrne; 11. B. Smyth (Capt.); 12. M.McDonnell; 13. P. Meegan; 14. W. Halpenny; 15. P. McDermott; 16. C. Smyth; 17. P. Carolan; 18. L. McGuinness; 19. D. Taafe; 20. J. Bashford.

Highlights of the 1949 All-Ireland Final can be seen by clicking the link: Meath become the High Kings of Ireland

This article originally appeared in ‘Golden 49’ers’, a commemorative publication to mark the golden anniversary of the 1949 All-Ireland success.