Meath battle hard to beat Longford
MEATH LONGFORD 3-17 1-16
MEATH had to battle hard to see off Longford in this opening round GAME of the Gerry Reilly U-16 FT played in Millbrook, Oldcastle on SUNDAY evening.
With wind advantage in the first half, Meath had points from Luke
Mitchell (two) and Brian O’Hanlon before Cian Dooner opened Longford’s account from a free.
The home side stretched the lead to four points in the early stages before Longford enjoyed a spell of dominance to draw level.
Meath though finished the half stronger and with Dooner converting a penalty they enjoyed a 1-9 to 0-8 cushion at the break.
Longford opened the scoring in the second half with a brace of points but by the end of the third quarter Meath had extended their lead 2-11 to 0-10, their second goal coming from Luke Mitchell.
That lead extended to nine points by the 51st minute but Longford staged a rally and boosted by a penalty goal they closed the deficit to two points.
However the clinching score from Meath was their third goal from Seneschalstown’s Sean Commons.
Meath’s Adam Reilly was presented with the Respa ‘Man of the match’ award by John Farrelly (Oldcastle GFC).
MEATH: Sean Brennan (Dunderry); Conor Hetherton (Oldcastle), Harry O’Higgins (Round Towers), Conor Farrelly (Walterstown); Colin Hawdon 0-2 (Oldcastle), Luke Newe (Ratoath), Jeaic Timmons (Rathkenny); Adam Reilly (Moynalty), Killian Hogan (Donaghmore/Ashbourne); Adam Treanor (Walterstown), Zak Fitzsimons (Slane), Dylan Morgan 0-2 (Round Towers); Adam Kelly (Dunderry), Luke Mitchell 2-4 (Dunshaughlin),Brian O’Hanlon 0-5 (O’Mahonys). Subs: Darragh Swaine (Clann na nGael) for Fitzsimons, Luke Kelly (Na Fianna) for Newe, Bryan McCormack (Moynalty) for Reilly, Sean Commons 1-0 (Seneschalstown) for O’Hanlon, Joe Moore 0-4 (Seneschalstown) for A Kelly.
REFEREE: Margaret Reilly (Cavan).
Fixtures
Friday, July 7th at 7.30 - Meath v Louth.
Saturday, July 8th at 2pm - Laois v Longford; Westmeath v Wicklow (7.30).
Sunday, July 9th at 7pm - Dublin v Monaghan.