Provincial decider a right Royal occasion
‘THE drought is over,’ a Meath supporter exclaimed excitedly at the final whistle in O’Connor Park, Tullamore, last Saturday.
There wasn’t a drop of rainfall in sight, but all those around him understood. Meath had won arguably their first significant title in a decade following this Leinster MFC victory over a disappointing Kildare.
Forget about the scoreline - Meath won this game pretty much as they liked. The Lillywhites registered a goal and three points in the last 10 minutes to put a much more respectable look on the outcome, but from start to finish there was only one team in it.
Meath were well on their way to victory when leading 0-11 to 0-3 at the break, and within seven minutes of the restart they were out of sight after a goal from wing forward Bryan McCormack left it 1-13 to 0-4.
It proved to be another polished display from the young Royals who put together some fine passages of play and scored at ease throughout.
Joe Treanor’s charges showed quality in abundance in every sector of the pitch as they set up
Meath Kildare 1-15 1-7
an All-Ireland quarter-final clash against beaten Ulster finalists Derry this coming Saturday.
There was some tremendous defensive work at times as Meath held their opponents to a single point from play in the opening half. By the three quarter-way stage, four of the starting Kildare forwards had been called ashore, an indication of Meath’s supremacy in that area of the pitch.
Meath were no less impressive in attack, with all six forwards contributing points by the end of the opening quarter. They conjured up some delightful scores as Cian McBride and Adam Reilly provided a solid platform at midfield.
This was Meath’s 11th success at this level, the last of which arrived in 2008. The victory went some way in compensating for what has been a disappointing year on all fronts for Meath teams. And following on from the success of last year’s Under-17s it gives hope of a much brighter future.
Luke Mitchell, who was named Electric Ireland Man of the Match following his haul of eight points, had his side off the mark from a free on three minutes.
The Meath goal had a fortunate let-off a minute later when an effort from Jack Smith was knocked onto the woodwork by Eoghan O’Haire.
Meath settled into the game, with Luke Kelly, Bryan McCormack and Darragh Swaine all accounting for fine scores. Sam Morrissey opened Kildare’s account on 11 minutes, but while they produced a number of promising moves, time and again they were unable to execute the finish.
Captain Matthew Costello and Mitchell added to Meath’s tally, while David Bell hit two excellent efforts from distance. Jack Smyth converted a free and Kildare’s only point from play in the half came from Alex Beirne after Meath had squandered possession.
Meath hit the last four points of the half, with three of them coming from the boot of Mitchell.
By the end of the third quarter Kildare had emptied their bench but had only added a single point to their first-half tally, another free converted by corner forward Smyth.
Mitchell started the second half where he left off in the first, with a brace of points, and when Costello picked out Bryan McCormack with a ball over the Kildare defence the Moynalty man made no mistake to put the game out of reach. Mitchell then added to his tally to leave it 1-14 to 0-4.
One of the negatives from a Meath viewpoint was that they took their foot off the gas in the final quarter, only adding a point in that period. They could certainly have found the net on further occasions, but Kildare custodian John Ball produced a couple of outstanding blocks to deny Meath further goals.
Meath keeper Sean Brennan tipped a rasping effort from Marcus Kiely over his crossbar in the closing stages, but Kiely did manage to find the net in added time, scoring from close range after Jack Smyth had floated a free into the danger area.
Centre back Conor Harford must be considered a doubt for the Derry match after picking up a nasty-looking shoulder injury at the beginning of the final quarter. MEATH: Sean Brennan (Dunderry), James O’Hare (Rathkenny), Harry O’Higgins (Drumbaragh), Cathal Hickey (Seneschalstown); Conor Farrelly (Walterstown), Conor Harford (St Vincent’s), Sean Coffey (Ballinabrackey); Adam Reilly (Moynalty), Cian McBride (St Ultan’s); Darragh Swaine 0-1 (Clann na nGael), Matthew Costello 0-2 (Dunshaughlin), Bryan McCormack 1-1 (Moynalty); David Bell 0-2 (St Colmcille’s), Luke Kelly 0-1 (Na Fianna), Luke Mitchell 0-8, 4f (Dunshaughlin). Subs: Oisin McCloskey (Na Fianna) for Harford (46), Colin Hawdon (Oldcastle) for McCormack (48), Adam Treanor (Walterstown) for Swaine (55), Brian O’Hanlon (O’Mahonys) for Bell (55), Luke Newe (Ratoath) for Hickey (56), Killian Hogan (Donaghmore/Ashbourne) for Reilly (59).
KILDARE: John Ball; John Lynch, Sean Hill, Jack Hamill; Nick Jackman, Kevin Kelleher, Paddy McDermott; Liam Broderick, Marcus Kiely 1-1; Sam Morrissey 0-1f, Alex Beirne 0-1, Michael McGovern; Eoghan O’Haire, Aaron Kennedy, Jack Smyth 0-2f. Subs: Padraig Behan 0-1 for O’Haire (22), Muiris Curtin 0-1 for Morrissey (28), Daniel Caulfield for Jackman (h-t), Oisin O’Loughlin for Hill (h-t), Drew Costello for Beirne (38), Sean Englishby for McGovern (45).
REFEREE: Darragh Sheppard (Dublin)