Lessons are learned as hosts hold their nerve
Meath Armagh
MEATH achieved something that they haven’t managed over the past numbers of years and they were richly rewarded at a breezy Pairc Tailteann on Sunday.
They built on the promise shown in their previous outing against Donegal to deservedly overcome Armagh’s stiff challenge and it earned them two precious NFL points, even if they were somewhat flattered by the margin of victory.
After coughing up the lead in Ballybofey the previous week the pressure was on to deliver a performance that would get them back to winning ways. Meath did exactly that and for once they didn’t wilt when their lead came under severe pressure in the second half. Instead they kicked on in the closing stages, stymying the Armagh revival to put themselves firmly in the promotion mix.
The strong breeze which blew down the pitch into the town goal had a massive bearing on proceedings throughout. With the advantage of the elements in the opening half Meath showed a tremendous work ethic as they opened up a nine-point lead by half-time.
However, the hosts were under the cosh for much of the second half and their hopes looked per-
Division 2 Results Next fixtures Table
Meath Fermanagh Donegal Tipperary Kildare Armagh Clare Cork
2-13 0-13
PWD L SD 3 2 0 1 8 3 1 2 0 2 3 2 0 1 0 3 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 3 0 2 1 -6 3 1 1 1 6 3 0 1 2 -12 Pts 4 4 4 3 3 2 1 1 ilous as Armagh reduced the deficit to the minimum by the 56th minute.
Meath, though, held their composure and stretched the lead back out to three following two pointed frees from Mickey Newman.
They made the game safe in added time when substitute Ethan Devine prevented a Graham Reilly delivery from going over the endline and eventually finished to the net from close range.
The victory, coupled with results elsewhere, leaves the Royals vying for top spot along with Donegal and Fermanagh. However, the chasing pack of Kildare, Clare and Tipperary are just a point behind, leaving little room for error in what is a very competitive division.
The hosts made the best possible start in the opening half, with four points inside five minutes.
Midfielder Shane McEntee opened the Meath account and Mickey Newman (free), James McEntee and Darragh Campion also added points.
The half was 14 minutes old before Stephen Sheridan had Armagh off the mark.
Meath then went almost 20 minutes without a score until Mickey Newman converted from the penalty spot following a foul on Thomas O’Reilly.
Further scores from Newman and Cillian O’Sullivan followed before Rory Grugan struck for Armagh second point.
Meath then added three further points to lead 1-9 to 0-3 at the break. Their workrate throughout the opening half was first class, especially in attack as they hassled and harried, preventing Armagh from creating any sort of momentum.
The second half was a replica of the first, but this time it was the hosts who were forced to soak up the severe pressure as Armagh went about reducing the deficit in emphatic fashion.
Points from Stefan Campbell, Rory Grugan (two frees) and Rian O’Neill left it 0-7 to 1-9 within eight minutes of the restart. The Armagh scoring sequence was interrupted only by a Mickey Newman pointed free as Ryan McShane, O’Neill (two), Grugan and Campbell added further scores to reduce the deficit to the minimum.
Meath were in danger of being overrun at that stage, but twice in as many minutes Donal Keogan drove upfield and drew frees which Newman converted to stretch the lead back to three points and help lift the siege.
The introduction of Eoin Lynch, Graham Reilly and Ethan Devine all proved positive from a Meath viewpoint in the final quarter and they went four clear following Thomas O’Reilly’s 66th-minute effort.
Those scores broke Armagh’s momentum and there was no way back for the Orchard County who badly missed their suspended talisman Jamie Clarke.
The home side made certain of the victory with Devine’s goal, before Rian O’Neill pulled a point back deep into added time.
MEATH: Andy Colgan; Seamus Lavin, Conor McGill, Ronan Ryan; James McEntee 0-1, Donal Keogan, Niall Kane; Bryan Menton, Shane McEntee 0-1; Cillian O’Sullivan 0-1, Ben Brennan 0-1f, Darragh Campion 0-2; Bryan McMahon, Mickey Newman 1-5 (1-0 pen, 5f), Thomas O’Reilly 0-2. Subs: Eoin Lynch for Kane, Graham Reilly for Brennan (both 53), Ethan Devine 1-0 for McMahon (64), Mickey Burke for O’Sullivan (67), Gavin McCoy for Ryan (70).
ARMAGH: Blaine Hughes; Mark Shields, Aaron McKay, James Morgan; Aidan Forker, Greg McCabe, Connaire Mackin; Stephen Sheridan 0-1, Niall Grimley; Jemar Hall, Rory Grugan 0-4 (2f), Ryan McShane 0-1; Stefan Campbell 0-2, Rian O’Neill 0-5 (4f), Ryan Kennedy. Subs: Joe McElroy for Campbell (61), Jarly Og Burns for Hall (64), Aidan Nugent for McShane, Paul Hughes for Kennedy (both 67).
REF: Rory Hickey (Clare)