Royals are rumbled by Donegal at the death
THE win needed to propel Meath football back into the limelight seems as far away as ever despite an encouraging display in this Round 3A All-Ireland qualifier played before an attendance of 11,100 at Pairc Tailteann last Saturday evening.
The Royals gave the Donegal men a run for their money but a victory over one of the so called top teams in the country remains elusive.
This was probably Meath’s best opportunity in a number of years of taking a ‘major scalp’ in the championship but their efforts came up marginally short in a game that was level on 11 different occasions.
And while the performance had its merits the statistics reveal that all Meath has to show for their efforts in this years championship are wins over Louth and Sligo.
Hardly earth shattering progress for a county without a success over anyone of significance throughout most of the decade.
As the closeness of the exchanges reveal this one could have gone either way and extrawas very much on the cards with the sides level in the second of three minutes of added time.
However the game took one final twist as Paddy McBrearty lofted over a great effort with his trusty left boot to seal the win for the men from the North West.
And while Meath boss Andy McEntee lamented a number of refereeing decisions that went against his team Donegal probably deserved to progress as they had a little more about them than the hosts who it has to be said displayed admirable fighting spirit throughout.
A number of Meath players performed heroics but the Royals didn’t have anyone of the calibre of Michael Murphy, McBrearty and Ryan McHugh.
Between them this trio accounted for 1-12 of their sides tally and it wasn’t only their scoring prowess that proved crucial. Their guile, knowhow and ability to bring other players into the match was invaluable in a very young Donegal team in transition.
Captain Murphy showed all of his experience and was the conductor in chief at midfield throughout what was a gigantic struggle between two perfectly matched sides. Both teams defended in numbers when needed and Meath’s defensive structure was solid for the most part though Murphy and McBrearty ability to shoot long range points at times proved invaluable.
The hosts started without Ronan Jones whose injury against Sligo a week earlier looks like a long term one. He was replaced by another youngster Brian Conlon who was having his first start at this level and the Simonstown player turned in an excellent display alongside Bryan Menton at midfield.
Donal Lenihan and James McEntee both shot wides before Lenihan was on the mark with his first of seven points from frees on five minutes. The teams were level on five different occasions throughout the half and ended at 0-7 apiece at the break.
Boosted by scores from Graham Reilly and Ruairi O Coileain Meath went 0-3 to 0-1 clear in the early stages and the game was 25 minutes old before Donegal took the lead for the first time following a point from Murphy.
Jason McGee’s second point of the half left the visitors leading 0-7 to 0-5 on the half hour mark before Meath finished with points from the two Donals, Keogan and Lenihan.
Donegal went close to finding the net on 33 minutes but Conor McGill made a great block to deny Eoghan Bán Gallagher. The visitors did have the ball in the net a minute later when Murphy and Ryan McHugh combined to set up Hugh McFadden who finished from close range but the ‘goal’ was ruled out, presumably for a square ball, a fortunate let-off for the Meath men.
Both sides endured mixed fortunes with their finishing throughout the half but Lenihan was unlucky with one effort from play which was gathered by keeper Mark Anthony McGinley over his crossbar. What at significant block that proved to be at the final whistle.
The second half followed a similar trend to the first with packed defences and Meath again opening up a two point lead in the early stages following a fine score from Shane McEntee. It was still a two point game after Lenihan converted his sixth free on 50 minutes.
By the time Ruairi O Coileain had Meath opening wide of the second half Donegal had already shot wide of the target on five different occasions, an indication that they were beginning to edge the exchanges.
McGill made another crucial block to deny Jamie Brennan before Frank McGlynn reduced the deficit to the minimum with a 52nd minute point.
Donegal were level straight from the kick-out, Paddy O’Rourke’s short a wayward effort going into the grateful hands of McBrearty who promptly dispatched it over the bar.
The eventual winners then hit a third successive point as McBrearty got the better of Donal Keogan before splitting the posts. That score was cancelled out almost immediately at the other end by James McEntee.
Eoin McHugh added to the Donegal wide tally before the visitors struck for a goal. It was a flowing move started and ended by Ryan McHugh and involved Martin McElhinney and Eoghan Bán Gallagher.
That score on 60 minutes should have been the game changer but instead Meath demonstrated that they weren’t going to give up easily as they responded in the best possible style with a goal of their own.
James McEntee made the break and when his effort was blocked in a crowded goalmouth Cillian O’Sullivan followed up to finish to the net. It got even better for Meath after that as Menton then pointed his side back in front.
However it was the Donegal men who produced the stronger finish as they outscored the home side three points to one in the final seven minutes.
McBrearty converted a free following a very rash challenge by O’Sullivan on Mark McHugh which resulted in a black card for the Moynalvey man. Another free, this time from Murphy edged Donegal in front but Lenihan cancelled that out following a foul in Donnacha Tobin.
Meath did have a chance after what proved to be McBrearty’s match-winner but Donal Keogan got caught in two minds as an opportunity opened up in front of him and possession was eventually lost.
The real merits of this Meath display can only be judged by Donegal’s progression in the campaign.
DONEGAL: Mark Anthony McGinley; Caolan Ward, Neil McGee, Kieran Gillespie; Paddy McGrath, Ryan McHugh 1-0, Frank McGlynn 0-1; Jason McGee 0-2, Michael Murphy 0-5 (2f); Eoghan Bán Gallagher, Ciaran Thompson, Eoin McHugh; Martin O’Reilly, Hugh McFadden, Paddy McBrearty 0-7 (3f). Subs: Martin McElhinney for Thompson (43), Jamie Brennan for McFadden (48), Karl Lacey for O’Reilly (58), Mark McHugh for McGlynn (60).
MEATH: Paddy O’Rourke; Donal Keogan 0-1, Conor McGill, Mickey Burke; Pauric Harnan, Brian Power, Shane McEntee 0-1; Bryan Menton 0-1, Brian Conlon; Ruairi O Coileain 0-1, James McEntee 0-1, Graham Reilly 0-1; Sean Tobin, Cillian O’Sullivan 1-1, Donal Lenihan 0-7f. Subs: Mickey Newman for Tobin (h-t), Donnacha Tobin for S McEntee (61), Eamon Wallace for O’Sullivan (BC 66).
REFEREE: D O’Mahoney (Tipperary).