Draw is not enough
O’Brien shoots sixteen points as Wicklow share spoils
IT’S hard to be enthusiastic about hurling in December. With sporadic showers of sleet, snow on the hills and the air temperatures just above freezing, it just seems to be an unnatural time of year for the ancient game.
In fairness to both sides involved in this encounter, they served up a well contested and enjoyable game with the visitors looking likely winners at a number of stages during the game. However, a spirited display by the Garden County side kept reeling the Royals back in at times when they appeared to be getting away.
In the end a fine point from John Henderson gave the home side the draw that their display deserved. And then the calculators came out in an effort to decide which side had won a semi-final place in the concluding stage of the competition.
Both teams had suffered big defeats to Antrim in their first outings, but Wicklow had lost by a greater margin than Meath thus allowing the Royals to squeeze through to the last four.
Both sides had changes to their selected line out. Wicklow started Gary Byrne and Jonathon O’Neill with Luke Evans and Seanie Germaine dropping out while the visitors had Simon Ennis and Ross Kerrigan in for Sean Geraghty and Jacob Ryan.
Andy O’Brien got Wicklow on the scoreboard almost immediately when he pointed a free in the opening minute. However, Meath were the more assured of the two sides in the opening stages and led by 0-3 to 0-1 coming up to the ten-minute mark.
Padraig O’Hanrahan pointed a 65 and a free with full-forward Alan Douglas adding another. Andy O’Brien responded with a second Wicklow point from play to leave the homesters just a point adrift at 0-3 to 0-2 at the ten-minute mark.
However, Wicklow came back strongly in the next ten minutes. Andy O’Brien pointed two frees and Jonathon O’Neill landed a classy point when he brought an Eoin McCormack pass under control with his hurl and landed a sixty-metre point all in the same movement.
A point from a free by Padraig Hanrahan and another from play by Niall Smullen left the scores all square at 0-5 apiece at the twenty-minute mark.
Hanrahan edged Meath back ahead with a pointed free but James Cranley levelled again.
Andy O’Brien pushed the home side ahead with a point from play, but Niall Smullen squared up matters again for the Royals. 0-7 apiece at this stage but Meath put on a burst from here to the half time break with points from the sweet striking Smullen, Nicky Potterton, a free from Padraig Hanrahan and a further score from Mickey Mullen to put clear daylight between the sides, leaving the Royals ahead by 0-11 to 0-7 at the break.
Padraig Hanrahan and Andy O’Brien exchanged points from frees in the opening minutes of the second period. Two further quick points from play by Mickey Mullen and Michael Burke put the Meath men two goals ahead with just six minutes gone.
However, to their great credit Wicklow had the gap down to one point by eleven minutes.
Danny Staunton landed a great point from a line ball, James Cranley and Andy O’Brien had two quick points from play, Andy landed another from a free and John Henderson also pointed from play.
Meath still led by 0-14 to 0-13 but they now knew they were in a game. Alan Douglas stretched the lead back to two points.
Three Andy O’Brien points, one from a 65 and two from long-range frees completed the Wicklow comeback and they were now ahead 0-16 to 0-15.
However, Meath struck a hammer blow when Mickey Mullen scrambled home the only goal of the game as the twenty-minute mark arrived.
The Wicklow defence could certainly feel aggrieved that a defender was bundled over from behind as he attempted a clearance in the build-up to this.
However, play continued and Meath now led by 1-15 to 0-16.
The tempo of the game had risen considerably, and excitement was great as both sides now battled for supremacy.
Danny Staunton reduced the leeway. Points were now rapidly exchanged and Jack Regan (2), Alan Douglas (2) and Mickey Mullen (2) brought the Meath Tally to 1-21 at the end of normal time.
A great four-point burst from Andy O’Brien kept Wicklow fighting for the result. He landed a 65 and three marvellous long-range frees. When Gavin Weir pointed the gap was reduced to two points as the game entered time added on. Andy O’Brien and John Henderson saved the day with two further points from play to leave the final tally at 1-21 to 0-24 - a draw.
While this game will count little when the league gets under way in the New Year, Eamonn Scallan must have been pleased with the spirit displayed by his charges, particularly in the second half when the game appeared to be going away from Wicklow.
Andy O’Brien’s tally of sixteen points was a great personal display from the St. Patrick’s clubman who landed four points from play, two 65s and ten points from frees - some shooting by any standard.
Scorers – Meath: Mickey Mullen 1-4, Padraig Hanrahan 0-6, Alan Douglas 0-4, Niall Smullen 0-3, Jack O’Regan 0-2, Michael Burke and Nicky Potterton 0-1 each.
Wicklow: Andy O’Brien 0-16, Danny Staunton 0-2, John Henderson 0-2, James Cranley 0-2, Jonathan O’Neill and Gavin Weir 0-2 each.
MEATH: Charlie Ennis; Shane Brennan, Simon Ennis, Ross Kerrigan; Luke Moran, Keith Keoghan, Shane Whitty; Padraig O’Hanrahan, Peter Slevin; Jack Walsh, Michael Burke, Niall Smullen; Mickey Mullen, Alan Douglas, Nicky Potterton. Subs: Jack O’Regan, Paddy Potterton.
WICKLOW: Robert Fitzgerald; Dale Quinn, Brian Kearney, Martin O’Brien; Ciaran Breen, Billy Cuddihy, John Henderson; Jack Doyle, Eoin McCormack; Garry Byrne, Daniel Staunton, Jonathon O’Neill; George O’Brien, Andy O’Brien, James Cranley. Subs: Gary Hughes, Padraig Doyle, Sean Maloney, Gavin Weir.
REFEREE: James McGrath (Westmeath)