Royals rumble on with victory over Lilywhites
MEATH and Louth are firmly on course for a Leinster JFC Final clash after the Royals dispatched the challenge of the Lilywhites in this quarter-final tie at Pairc Tailteann last Wednesday evening.
It took a goal from substitute Cathal McConnell to finally see off the challenge of the visitors and it set up a home semi-final date with provincial holders Wexford on Wednesday week.
The Bective clubman struck on 52 minutes following good work by Jason Scully, at a stage when the Royals had surrounded the initiative, and the goal proved sufficient to see them over the line.
Meath had earlier opened up a seven-point advantage heading into the final quarter, but they then had that lead wiped out by the resurgent Kildare men. The hosts defence was given a difficult time of it by former senior star Padraig Fogarty who lined out at full forward for the Lilywhites.
Fogarty accounted for 1-12 of his side’s tally, including 1-4 from play, with the goal coming on 51 minutes and reducing the deficit to two points, 1-16 to 1-18. He then added a point from play before David Malone drew the sides level.
McConnell’s timely goal broke Kildare’s momentum and a point from Eoghan Lawless was all the visitors managed after that.
Overall, Meath deserved their win in what was a fast-flowing encounter, with plenty of fine scores from both sides. The hosts controlled proceedings for long spells and were eight points clear at one stage in the opening half.
How they managed to allow Kildare back into it on a number of occasions will be of concern to manager Conor O’Donoghue ahead of the semi-final against the Model County, who are chasing a three-in-a-row Leinster titles.
O’Donoghue, who was only recently appointed to the position, said afterwards that he was uncertain going into the game how his side would perform.
‘Realistically we hadn’t done the type of preparation you would usually do with a team, so we were relying on the quality of the players on the field,’ O’Donoghue said afterwards. ‘There was very little management involved - you pick a team and it goes out and it delivered on the day.
‘Some of the guys that are involved with the senior squad were a huge help to us. Adam Flanagan put in a serious shift and I thought he dominated the game and there was one or two other lads as well.
‘It was nice to win it. It was very difficult to know how it was going to go, but thankfully it went in the right direction for us.’
Meath started brightly with points from Kevin Ross and Paddy Kennelly, before Jason Scully netted after being set up by Daire Rowe on five minutes.
Scully almost snatched a second goal 30 seconds later, but his blistering shot crashed off the crossbar.
Ben Brennan, until he was forced off with an injury and replaced by McConnell, and Daire Rowe both accounted for three points, and Kevin Ross was also in fine form as the entire Meath attack contributed to the first-half scoring.
Kildare relied heavily on Fogarty for scores throughout the opening half and the full forward contributed five points.
Neil Scanlon, who hit two points in the half, went close to finding the net on 26 minutes but was denied by a fine save from Meath keeper Johnny Lynch. That save ensured that Meath enjoyed a 1-12 to 0-9 cushion at the break.
Captain Daire Rowe, who earlier picked up a knock, didn’t appear for the second half and was replaced by Curraha’s Neil Shortall. Kildare were quickly off the mark in the early stages and by the 34th minute had cut the deficit in half.
Meath rallied to the challenge
and entering the final quarter they had regained their six-point advantage, 1-17 to 0-14. Ross, with his fifth point, extended the lead before Kildare hit back with a goal and four points in a five-minute spell to gain parity.
The hosts looked to be in real trouble at that stage, but then a slip-up in the Kildare defence was seized on by Scully who presented McConnell with the simple task of a tap-in goal.
MEATH: Johnny Lynch (Moynalty); J Reilly (St Michael’s), Luke Moran (Trim), Michael Flood (St Brigid’s); David Toner (Curraha), Declan Smyth (Dunsany), Sean Reilly 0-1 (Moylagh); Adam Flanagan (Clonard), Conor Farrell (Dunderry); Paddy Kennelly 0-2 (Dunderry), Ben Brennan 0-3 (St Colmcille’s), Stephen Coogan 0-2 (Dunderry); Jason Scully 1-1 (Oldcastle), Daire Rowe 0-3 (Syddan), Kevin Ross 0-5 (Castletown). Subs: Cathal McConnell 1-0 (Bective) for Brennan (21), Neil Shortall (Curraha) for Rowe (h-t), Niall Jones 0-1 (Dunboyne) for Flanagan (42), Paul Lynch (Moynalty) for Coogan (49), Ciaran O’Rourke (Trim) for S Reilly (54), Jamie McDonald (St Colmcille’s) for Scully (59). KILDARE: D Campbell; N Devane, T Barron, C O’Shea; M Stewart-Byrne, G Waters, J Setright; D Fitzpatrick, J Jennings; D Malone 0-1, M Nolan, E Lawless 0-1; B Noone 0-2, P Fogarty 1-12, N Scanlon 0-3. Subs: J Merrins for Barron, S Maughan for Jennings (both h-t), C Byrne for Fitzpatrick, C Germaine for Scanlon (both 49), S Lawler for Nolan (60). REF: B Tiernan (Dublin)