Fight against relegation is looming for woeful Meath
THERE was no need for a Status Yellow or indeed any other warning when this ‘Beast from the East’ visited Semple Stadium for an NFL Division 2 tie last Saturday evening.
Meath promotion hopes lay in tatters following yet another abysmal display from a team that has lost its way after making a promising start in their bid to finally escape to the top tier. And to make matters worse, Clare’s victory over Cork on Sunday now leaves Andy McEntee’s side occupying one of the two relegation spots.
It seemed that Meath learned absolutely nothing from the hiding down in Breffni Park six days earlier and any hopes of a backlash following that display failed to materialise.
This latest performance was probably worse than that displayed against Cavan, with the Royals’ weaknesses cruelly exposed in most sectors of the pitch.
The home side, who reached the All-Ireland semi-final two years ago, did virtually everything much better than the visitors. Time and again they succeeded in breaching the Meath rearguard, while their play was much more varied than Meath’s predictable, slow and ponderous build-up.
They also had the ability and indeed the confidence to hit the target from distance. However, they proved themselves no world-beaters as they squandered possession on numerous occasions, while keeper Evan Comerford was off the radar with a number of his kickouts.
It was a game where Meath failed to led at any stage and never looked like winning. The longer it progressed the more difficult it became for the visitors, who simply ran out of ideas as their confidence completely evaporated. On the evidence of this and other recent outings, the remainder of the campaign will likely develop into a relegation battle rather than a
Tipperary Meath 2-15 1-10
promotion one.
Target man Conor Sweeney, who finished with nine points, caused all sorts of problems when Tipperary decided on the long ball to the danger area, and on numerous occasions he outfielded Conor McGill. For Meath keeper Andy Colgan this game proved a nightmare and in the opening half he lost possession twice, resulting in a goal and a point.
Apart from corner back Donal Keogan, who fought tenaciously throughout, Meath would have been on the receiving end of an ever bigger defeat. Mickey Burke, who returned to the fold, produced his usual wholehearted display, while Bryan Menton tried hard to turn the tide around the midfield area.
Graham Reilly opened Meath’s account in reply to a Josh Keane point which came within 40 seconds of the throw in. By the fifth minute the hosts had opened up a 0-3 to 0-1 lead, with Liam McGrath and Conor Sweeney on target.
However, on 14 minutes Meath were back level at 0-4 each, following scores from Padraig McKeever (two frees) and Sean Tobin. Earlier Donal Keogan threw his body at a goal effort from Robbie Kiely, resulting in a free for Tipperary and a booking for the Rathkenny man, having been deemed a foot block.
Tipperary were having trouble winning their own kickouts, but after Sweeney pointed them ahead from a free they never lost the lead subsequently. A point from midfielder Liam Casey left it at double scores on the half hour mark, 0-8 to 0-4, before James McEntee from an acute angle had Meath’s final score of the half.
Meath played into a stiff breeze in that opening half and could be happy enough to be just three in arrears - until they conceded a goal in added time. Keeper Colgan failed to deal with a Sweeney delivery and Michael Quinlivan pounced to rifle to the net, leaving it 1-8 to 0-5 at the break.
Points from McKeever, McEntee and Reilly in a three-minute spell gave Meath hope at the start of the second half, but all that good work was undone when Bill Maher broke through to finish to the net with a low effort and restore his side’s six-point advantage.
The visitors’ evening was summed up less than two minutes later when Bryan McMahon broke through the Tipperary cover but fell over with only keeper Comerford to beat.
Tipperary were nine clear with 10 minutes remaining and then McMahon helped set up Bryan Menton for Meath’s goal. However, the Royals were unable to build on that score and Tipperary finished on the front foot with points from Sweeney and substitute Sean Carey.
TIPPERARY: Evan Comerford; Alan Campbell, Shane O’Connell, Kevin Fahey; John Meagher, Robbie Kiely, Jimmy Feehan; Liam Casey 0-1, Steven O’Brien 0-1; Brian Fox, Josh Keane 0-1, Liam McGrath 0-1; Conor Sweeney 0-9 (6f), Bill Maher 1-0, Michael Quinlivan 1-1. Subs: Paddy Codd for O’Connell (36), Liam Boland for Fahey (61), George Hannigan for O’Brien (66), Sean Carey (0-1) for McGrath (70). MEATH: Andrew Colgan; Seamus Lavin, Conor McGill, Donal Keogan; Daniel O’Neill, Mickey Burke, Shane McEntee; Bryan Menton 1-0, Harry Rooney; James McEntee 0-2, Graham Reilly 0-2, Eamon Wallace; Sean Tobin 0-1, Padraig McKeever 0-4f, Cillian O’Sullivan. Subs: Brian Power for O’Neill (28), Bryan McMahon for Tobin (34), Donal Lenihan for O’Sullivan (52), Adam Flanagan for Rooney (57), Thomas O’Reilly 0-1 for McKeever (57), Brían Conlon for S McEntee (68).
Niall Cullen (Fermanagh)