Proud Royal tradition an inspiration for Kevin Reilly

Some footballers find themselves with big boots to fill. Others find themselves wearing a famous numbered jersey. Kevin Reilly found himself in the big boots and famous numbered jersey of Four Kings.

It’s what happens when you take over the Meath full back position from four men who between them wore the number three jersey for 50 years, spanning all seven of the county’s All-Ireland triumphs.

No wonder it’s taken Reilly a while to feel entirely comfortable in the position. But now in his 10th season as Meath full back, the boots and jersey are beginning to feel like his own.

Reilly first took over as Meath full back in 2005, and before that, the position had belonged to four men – or Four Kings, as chronicled in Philip Lanigan's recent book: Paddy O'Brien was full back in Meath's All-Ireland winning teams of 1949 and 1954, followed by Jack Quinn (1967), Mick Lyons (1987 and 1988), then Darren Fay (1996 and 1999).

Indeed Fay did briefly return to the position, in 2008, having come out of retirement, with Reilly playing centre-back instead. For the player who had grown up idolising Fay that was about as good a football lesson as anyone could get.

“It’s well documented, with all that’s been written about Meath full backs, what a great, proud tradition is there,” says Reilly who will also captain Meath from full back for Sunday’s Leinster football semi-final against Kildare at Croke Park.

“I’d still feel very privileged to be able to wear that jersey. Because it is still a great honour, considering the people that have worn it before. Unfortunately, players just pass through that jersey, and before long, there’ll be somebody else wearing that number three.

“You just hope you’re able to do it proud, put in some big performances, and help the team as best you can. But there is something special about that number three jersey, for sure.”

Strong impression

Watching Fay perform in the golden Meath era of the 1990s made a particularly strong impression on the young player from the Navan O’Mahony’s club, although that wasn’t the only reason why Reilly ended up as a full back.

“Yeah Darren Fay was very much an idol of mine, and I was fortunate to be able to play with him for a couple of years, learn from him. We all know what he did in the past, and he was a role model growing up, and we just hope to live up to the standards he set for himself.

“Mick Lyons was a little before my time, although I’ve seen many a clip of him, too, and he was a colossal full back, really dominated that small square.

“But for me, growing up, my two older brothers also played full back, and unfortunately I was just put there. Simply because they were defenders too.

“I still relish the chance to get out the pitch a little more, at club or county level. In fact I made my debut for the senior club team at full forward. I do enjoy playing out the field, but I suppose my best position would be full back.”

No one would burden Reilly with the prospect of being the first Meath full back of the last 50 years not to win an All-Ireland, and at 28, there is still time to make it Five Kings.

A serious Achilles tendon injury, two years ago, didn’t help his or Meath’s game, but there is a sense of greater consistency now under manager Mick O’Dowd.

No fear

Meath certainly put it up to Dublin for more than half of last year’s Leinster final, and there’s no hiding the fact that Meath would relish that chance again – which makes Sunday’s showdown against Kildare so captivating, from both sides.

“I suppose going into the Leinster final, last year, we’d no fear,” says Reilly – not that anyone in Meath ever feared Dublin.

“We were in a strong position with maybe 55, 60 minutes gone. We just failed to push on. There’s no getting away from it. But it’s well documented that the Dublin bench are quite strong, and they emptied the bench that day and pulled away in fairness to them.

“I think that was the major difference. But again, we’re not going to fear any team. I think we have the ability to challenge any team.

“I just think we have to put a plan in place, continue train hard to get up to that level. That’s where we aspire to be. But in terms of supporters, I think they’re right to expect the best out of this team, that Meath, as a proud football county, should be contesting for top honours.”

The only worry for Reilly, and for Meath, is a growing injury list: forward Michael Newman – who scored three goals against Carlow in the quarter-final – is set to miss out with a hamstring injury, while Eoghan Harrington and Bryan Menton are also doubtful. Eamon Wallace and Conor Gillespie are already gone for the season with cruciate ligament injuries.