Meath get job done in Louth
MISSION accomplished for Meath and for Louth the ignominy of completing the league campaign without a single point to show for their efforts.
However what an anticlimactic finish to the league for both counties at the Gaelic Grounds, last Saturday.
Meath deservedly won to preserve their Division 2 status but were flattered by the eight point margin of victory.
Survival was about the only crumb of comfort they could take from what has been a hugely disappointing campaign.
The Royals were hoping to emerge from the division after near misses in the last two years but in the end were forced to fight for their lives to stay in it.
Even in victory Andy McEntee side show little to suggest that their Leinster campaign will be an extended one.
As for Louth, well Pete McGrath must be wondering what he let himself in for.
The Down native looked a disconsolate figure along the line as Meath turned the screw in the second half.
With his side depleted due to the absence of five players and his subs bench resembling an Aldi shelf at the height of a snow storm, there was little to enthuse about following this performance.
With their fate decided two games ago and nothing to lose Louth needed to produce some sort of performance ahead of their Leinster championship encounter against Carlow.
The Wee County needed a proactive display but instead some of their players seemed more intent in stopping their opponents from playing by foul or fair means.
Their play at times was right down cynical and it was hardly surprising that they failed to see out the 70 minutes with a full quota of players.
Midfielder Tommy Durnin was sent off on receipt of a second yellow card in the closing minutes while earlier Anthony Williams was shown a black card for a needless late challenge.
Eight other players were booked, including five from Louth, in a clash that had had far too many Deli Alli moments over the 70 minutes.
This game certainly wasn’t one for the purist.
A heavy pitch and a tricky wind didn’t help matters but both sides produced some dreadful football at times, particularly in the opening half when the hosts enjoyed the advantage of the elements.
The absence of Ryan Burns in attack didn’t help Louth’s cause and without him the home side struggled to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
Wing forward Gerard McSorley had the distinction of being the only Louth starting forward to score from play.
Midfielders Durnin and Declan Byrne both contributed points while the Wee County’s remaining scores came courtesy of William Woods and his second half replacement Tadhg McEneaney, both of whom converted two frees.
Ross Nally went closest to finding the net for the home side 10 minutes into the second half when pulling first time on a loose ball but his sweetly struck effort was wide of the target.
Midfielder Paddy Kennelly pointed Meath in front within 40 seconds of the start before Louth hit back to enjoy their best spell of the game during which Woods converted two frees and Byrne hit a fine long range effort to leave his side leading 0-3 to 0-1 after 15 minutes.
Woods was unable to build on his promising start from placed balls and his confidence completely deserted him after he was off target with a couple of efforts.
Had Louth made the most of those chances they might have made a game of it but they had to depend on McSorley’s point late in the half to give them a 0-4 to 0-3 interval lead.
Meath were also guilty of squandering chances after wing back James McEntee and Ben Brennan had points to draw the sides level.
The visitors who packed their defence at times in the opening half came more out of their shell on the restart and it eventually reaped reward.
Shane McEntee had the sides level on 40 minutes and Meath added four more points after that to open up a 0-8 to 0-4 lead.
It could have been more at that stage but McEntee hit an effort the wrong side of the post from close range after being set up by Sean Tobin.
Substitute McEneaney eventually had Louth off the mark in the second half with a 57th minute point.
Graham Reilly responded to that with his only score of the game before Thomas O’Reil-
ly and Donal Lenihan (free) increased the Meath lead.
Durnin from long range and McEneaney left four between the teams with about five minutes remaining.
Meath took advantage of their numerical superiority following Durnin’s dismissal and it was centre back Donal Keogan who cut through the Louth rearguard before spotting the unmarked Lenihan who slapped the ball to the net for the games’ only goal in added time.
Lenihan then added to his sides tally from a free with the last kick of the game.